OUTCAST : THE PATH OF A WARRIOR

31. ALL KNEEL BEFORE THEE.

CHAPTER 31

I awoke early, father was already busy on the farm, and a promise of a hunt before sunrise. Sheanna was stirring, cuddly beside me, trying to keep warm, her slow beating of her heart drumming soothingly into my chest.

By the time we had returned from the hunt it was already lunch time
We caught a young boar, with enough meat on it to fill our stomachs and then some.

I realised how much father had missed my company on the hunt, when we almost went home empty handed.

He never complained about his disability, and rarely talked about it either. But at one point I sensed a change in him, one that I did not see before.

This happened close to the end of our uneventful hunt, when just before we called it a day, our potential prey had outrun us and had gotten away.

Just the very thought of returning home empty handed, showed obvious frustration in his manner, forever playing the role of provider for the family.

But before father could exact his anger out into the peaceful bliss of the tender woods, I had already unleashed Devin's full power, whooshing through the air towards its intended target.

Thankfully, before we left for the hunt, I realised I hadn't retrieved my faithful spear from the woods.

I had decided at the time, to leave in the woods, at the exact same place where we were ambushed by Martan, the evening we arrived.

It was still dark, sunrise was still an hour away and at the back of the house, where I was sure none were watching , and summoned the spear.

"Devin, to me!"I whispered, as it took but a short moment before landing perfectly in my outstretched hand. And then I was more than prepared, as i joined father for the hunt.

So there I was running after my prey , and as I finally caught up with it, the spear was firmly skewered through its heart.

I quickly withdrew Devin out, and threw the inanimate boar over and between my shoulders.

As I walked back towards father, I felt a sudden a presence, and I was pretty certain we were being watched.

Father was now just a few strides ahead of me, his spear firmly in his hand, and crouched low between two trees .

"I sence, five or six pairs of eyes , military I think!" Whispered father, not taking his eyes off the woods, and not too far behind me.

"I Know!" I said, whispering back. " But I don't think they're hostile, otherwise they would've attacked by now." I said softly.

"Yes agreed." He answered, looking slightly perplexed as he gazed at my catch."Let's get back. By the way that was a hell of a throw back there! Where did you say you got that spear from?"

" I didn't." I said, throwing him a cheeky smirk, as I put my arm over his shoulders.

The sunrise tricked its way onto the deep shadows, instantly bringing colour to the otherwise dull grey.
As we made our way back towards the farm, the sensation of being watched had almost but diminished.

It was midday, and the blue sky had suddenly turned to grey, mist had over run the land, blanketing the farm.

"Don't fuss over mist and dark skies!" Said grandfather to Marah, between mouthful of char-beans, a traditional crispy and spicy bean delicacy, grown on the farm.

"And it's not like you've never seen the like before!" He continued, yanking his head to one side, and dismissed the idea of it being other than normal.