Don't Have a Name Yet.

Bluer Than the Moon

I lay sleepless in my bed, and have been tossing and turning uncomfortably for hours now. I shift myself to look at Paa, softly snoring across the room and sigh. He had been so mad at me the other day. He took one look at me and automatically knew I was drunk....I had never seen him so furious before...

"Spirits dammit Taido!! Why child, would you do something so stupid when I STRICTLY told you you're forbidden?!" My father yelled, flashing the bases of his tusks with ferocity.

"I'm sorry Paa... I-I wasn't thinking..." I mumbled as I felt the ground sway beneath me.

"You're fucking right you weren't thinking you arrogant little brat!! I forbid you from TOUCHIN' alkie let alone drinking it!!" I recoil a little.

Paa never uses language like that... and he's never called me names before. His eyes were wild with wrath that was unimaginable and his face was twisted up in a permanent snarl.

"I'm sorry Paa..."

"I don't wanna hear you fuckin' sorries!! You deliberately disobeyed my word and went behind my back!! I am so angry at you I could knock your eyes into the back of you head!!" He began to pace around the room, his hands clenched into trembling fists at firmly at his sides, he looked as if smoke were to blow out of his nose his face was so red.

Then I said something stupid.

"I don't see what the problem is. I mean, I was supposed to wait a few days, but I'm going to be a man pretty soon, and--"

"Who fucking said I'd let you drink then either?! When I said never touch that bile I meant NEVER!!! Not as a damned child!!" He had stopped yelling and begun screeching at the top of his lungs. I could feel my hackles raise and my face twisted up in anger.

"You can't control my life forever Paa!!"

"As long as you're in this lodge I control your life!!"

"I'm tired of you always telling me what to do!! You can't keep babying me!!"

"Yes. I can!! I'm your father and I brought you into this world!! YOU DO AS I SAY!!!"

"FUCK YOU!!!"

And that was it. The next thing I knew I was on my duff with a busted lip. I wiped the blood off on my arm and looked up. And what I saw made my heart sink.

My father had backed up a step or two from me and was silent as death. All the unbelievable rage was gone, and fear had taken its place. He turned away as tears began to roll up and he left the lodge without utterance of a single word.

I wish I could take back what I said.

I sigh before getting up and quietly grab a pair of pants before tiptoeing outside. I sniff the air, nervous of being caught and look around.

Not a man in sight. Even the Communal Fire, which is almost never put out, is nothing more than a few lazy embers and a pile of ashes.

Slipping through the dead of night, I trudge down a trail alone with my thoughts and the moon above. The short trail quickly leads me straight to the lake. The trail opens up and spreads out to the sandy shore. I stop and sniff the air cautiously.

The moon looks so beautiful tonight. Its faint bluish-silver light dances on the placid water's surface. The sound of frogs croaking and crickets sawing away at their legs accompany me in the near silence and the fireflies bounce around and chase at the shining gray flecks of dust flowing in the soft and gentle wind.