A Hawk's Shadow

Returning

        The moon slowly moved across the sky, and the stars faded as the sun slowly moved upwards. The sky moved from the dark blue of the night, to a pale blue, before moving into a peach orange. It then faded into a pink. There wasn't a cloud in the sky. As the sun rose, a hill directly in the path of the light from the sun, cast a large shadow over Yosemite Valley. As it moved higher and higher in the sky, the shadow receded and light was brought to the little valley. The light woke the two up, and as soon as breakfast was eaten, they packed up, and headed back to Erani, just east of here. Micah was quite sullen the journey back, as he knew that Mr Alacrity was quite frustrated about having to backtrack.
"Mr Alacrity," Micah suddenly said. "There was a dragon in Yosemite, right?"
His answer was curt and straight to the point. "Yes."
"Can I tell everyone how you fought it?"
"I'm afraid no one will believe you."
"Yes they will." Micah was adamant.
"You can go ahead and tell them what you want. Just don't be disappointed when they don't take your word for it."
"But Mr Alacrity, all I have to do show them the dragon in the valley. Then they would." Micah looked at him.
"No one from Erani will step a foot into Yosemite; it is too feared. You are braver than most from your village or perhaps just too curious for your own good." Beside him, Kindle flapped his wings a couple of times than resettled into the position he was in. Alacrity raised his hand and started stroking the bird.
Micah was silent for a while. The wind had died down considerably from yesterday, and the stretch to his village was laid out before them. In fact, on the horizon, they could see the village. "Mr Alacrity, you should stay around these parts. I know you don't like people, but I like you and so you should stay for a while longer. It doesn't have to be for forever, 'cause you like to roam the land, but just a little longer." He looked up to Mr Alacrity, hopefully.
He pursed his lips. The idea of staying in Erani was not appealing to him. "I'll think about it."
They continued walking on the snow that had been hardened by the wind until Alacrity suddenly stopped. "This is as far as I go. I'll watch you from here, then I will continue on my way."
Micah seemed crestfallen, but after a moment, took Alacrity and wrapped his arms around him in a hug. For a few seconds, Alacrity didn't do anything, but soon wrapped his own arms around the boy. Then they parted, and Micah started walking towards Erani alone. Kindle let out a cry, which Micah answered by turning and waving goodbye to the hawk.
After the man was sure that Micah made it safely to his home, he turned around and started walking back to Yosemite Valley. The wind picked up, and soon it was howling in his ears and blowing snow into his eyes. But on he trudged. Forwards, and onwards, a wanderer in his heart, with no place to call home. Not anymore.
He marched towards the hills in the distance, which would disappear after a particularly strong gust of wind before reappearing into his view. Then he was on top of the same hill as before, looking down on the valley that seemed so silent and still. The sun had set ahead of him, already asleep for the night, but Alacrity wasn't ready to rest. He continued down the mountain and soon found himself at the foot of the dragon he had just slain.
The body was still warm, still hot to touch and he found himself wondering if it would ever cool off. He walked around the scaled body of the dragon, and found his knife, still wedged between two of the scales. He walked over to the claw and started pulling on the handle of his knife with all of his might. When it was released from its place, he flew backwards onto the snow with the knife clutched in his fist. As he stood, he realized that two of the scales had fallen off, and were quickly melting the snow around them. He picked them both up and slid them into his pocket. Inspired from the tales of hunters carrying tooths of the beasts they had slain; he pried a tooth out of the mouth of the dragon. It was a wicked tooth. The white tooth was a little longer than his hand, and after a few moments of admiring it, he slid it into his bag.
That was when he looked at the little valley. The hills that stood straight, shielding it from the wind outside of it. He looked at the snow that sparkled in the light of the almost circular moon. It was beautiful. Suddenly, he lost all desire to continue to wander. He could make this his home, a little house made of the wood in the valley, built beside the lake. He could see himself in his old age, sitting on the porch and staring out at the lake, perfectly content at where he was at.
Soon he was picking out the spot where he would build his house, and thinking of all the supplies he would need. The material he would have to get. He checked inside his bag and counted the money he had, his savings, and figured he might have enough. The idea wormed its way into his head.
Yes, he wanted this. He would have to go back Erani and gather the supplies, and perhaps some help. He hesitated. Doubts started to litter his mind. Then Micah's voice ringed through his head, as clear as a bell, "You should stay a while longer." With that he made up his mind, determined to build a house good to live in. After thinking about the home he would build for the next while, he finally settled down to sleep for the night beside the fire he had made.
Alacrity slept under the vast sky, and soon dark clouds rolled in, covering the sky from its former beauty. The clouds emptied themselves of their luggage and snow floated to the ground, gently at first, than in a flurry. The man woke from the sudden cold, and quickly packed up. Then he started on his way back to Erani.
It was pure luck that allowed him to reach Erani, and on a better day when he was thinking straight, he wouldn't have made the trek to the village. He could barely see three feet in front of him, and was mostly blind the entire journey there.
The natives, dressed mostly like Micah was, were surprised to see him once again in their small village. They watched him warily, wondering if he came with ill-intent.
"There has been a change of plans," he said as he pulled down the green scarf.

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        Whoa!! Is he really going to stay?? What is this??
        The picture above is close to how I picture Yosemite Valley.