Howling Gears

03 - Nathan - By The Light of The Moon

The sun's rays filtered through the treetops of Shire Woods. A dense smattering of trees broken only by the main cart path from Emmerdale and Hammel's Tower to the far south and Chronomire. Nature presided here in all her systematic ways. A butterfly flapped lazily through the warm air until a toad attempted to capture it. The toad hit his mark.

"Master Nathan! Master Nathan! Have ye heard the rumors? They say the stars have fell once more. Young Star glows brightly than it has since last Fall. An ill omen to be sure. The whole of the Dragon's Head rumbles and shakes as far south as Eekheel's Ruins. Word has it that one of the hermits died from a monstrous beast looking him in the eyes and that something stirs in the Bay of Fallen Stars."

"My good man, how ridiculous thou soundeth." Nathan hopped out of the tree he was in and rolled. The only thing that stirreth should be thy pot. My stomach hungers for supper and today was an especially fruitful day. Even though you may find such trifles as religion entertaining, my life doth serves a far greater purpose."

"Stealing, Master Nathan?"

"Nay Barkley, 'tis not stealing in the same way that cheating is not the same as our deplorable tactics.

"Master Nathan, I'm afraid I don't understand."

"Pardie Barkley! you do not understand? I do not understand how you do not understand. Thou hast raised me 'ere I can remember. Mayhap you truly do not understand but methinks you just wish to hear mine story."

At this, Barkley smiled a wry smile and nodded his head. "Tell ye wot Master Nathan, if ye will be so obliging as to tell me your story as only you can, I'll be so obliging as to share this here stew." Nathan smiled at the only family he had; orphaned as a baby his parents left him for dead her in the woods with only a crate to keep him company. If Barkley hadn't found he'd surely not be here, though he refused to believe he'd have died. He pulled out his stolen stringhorn began to sing.

"Papa Forestrength was a strapping ole' man,

and Mama Forestregth always held his ole' hand.

Then along came little Nathan, who before he learned to walk; ran.

They could not keep the little rascal,

so they placed him inside a basket.

Left little Nathan Forsestrength with a bottle.

Next to the little babe was a big treasure chest,

filled with objects more precious than anything blessed.

The lid Nate did not open until greed did manifest.

Inside were books of all shapes and kinds

that too had to leave his parents mind.

With his parents, he never was recombined.

Then he saw through the trees,

not a rabbit nor a breeze

but a skinny young lad hiding in the barberries.

He was not angry, nor did he shout

but instead, asked the young lad to come out.

Stop listening in the woods, Barkley, spare him a sprout."

"Wot?" Spare who a sprout?"

"I guess that'd be me. Good evening gentlemen, my name is Mateus Quintana. I'm here looking fo-"