Indignation Rising

Fur and Fire

The woods, indeed, provide.

Though Soren's frequent and persistent teachings slow my progress in a hunt, I find myself growing comfortable with a bow.

As I shelve my final arrow back in its quiver, Soren offers me a small pat on the shoulder, standing over my most recent kill.

This rabbit had been unfortunate. Though I always strive for a clean kill, my arrow pierced this one in its haunches.

It was enough to disable it, and the rabbit squealed a sound I could go the rest of my life without hearing again, before I was able to put it out of its misery with the small dagger I kept strapped to my thigh- a gift from Soren.

"You did well. I know that's never easy."

Soren's sympathetic eyes twinkle in the early hours of dusk.

The sun had just begun its descent over the tree tops, and I, as usual, had failed to keep track of the time.

"It gets easier." I admit, after some time.

I managed to fill the bag at my hip with the scrapped remnants of the three rabbits I lucked into getting, just as darkness begins it's descent over us.

"We best get back to the village." I say, despite my every desire to stay amongst the trees.

The trees that had never dared expect a thing from me- nor I, them.

As Soren and I make our way down the narrow path we'd made for ourselves over the years, I find myself questioning luck.

What's lucky for the hunter, is unlucky for the rabbit.

What's lucky for the guards, is unlucky for the villagers.

Three rabbits today. Three villagers this week.

Why anyone would risk that kind of death for a taste of magic is beyond me.

Desperate to think of anything else, I decide to tell Soren a secret id kept to myself for some time- awaiting the day I could see it all come to fruition.

"I've decided to leave the village." I announce, mater-of-factly.

I had wanted to say it with more tact- but further explination eluded me.

How do I explain that home has never felt like home? That this village is a prison? That my every decision for the past twenty years of my life had been made purely in the basis of surviving another day.

Soren said nothing, stopping dead in his tracks just outside the trees.

"Will that...make you happy?" Soren asks, keeping his back turned to me.

The slight pause was enough to make me realize he was upset. I'd known him long enough to pick up on his patterns and quirks; and he, mine.

"It will." I assure him, taking the lead to keep us walking towards the village, and eventually, out of the awkwardness of this conversation.

"I want you to know I've given this a lot of thought. It isn't a decision I'd made lightly. I've been saving now for some time, keeping a few pence I earn for myself each day. I have nearly enough to charter a boat to Eusaria, and a bit left over to get started- once these rabbits are sold."

I hadn't realized my heart was beating faster until I stopped talking, and it becomes a wardrum echoing in my ears.

I wait for Soren's response, but he's silent beside me- his eyes an unreadable murky mess.

"Come with me." I say, before I can stop myself.

Soren's eyes soften as he glances over me, but not in a way I'd been expecting.