Shadowglade [On Hold]

Chapter 1

 A cold sweat trickled between Osuin's emerald eyes and dripped off his narrow nose. The increasing perspiration washed away what little competence Osuin thought he had left. His focus wavered as anxiety set in, but he couldn't slip up. His target was right there. All he had to do was move in. His body wouldn't move, and at that moment he felt the gravity of his hesitation weigh down on him. The black feline sat nonchalantly on the ledge just outside the window, licking its paw with care and gusto.

"Hurry up, dammit!"

The sudden exclamation sent the cat darting down the ledge, out of sight out of mind. Osuin groaned and peered down at a portly elder male. The man craned his neck up at Osuin as he sucked on his teeth, letting out a soft growl.

"Listen, old man, you wanted your cat and I almost had it!"

"Nonsense! You were too slow, young man! I pay you to help me with things I can't do, not slack off and stare at the stars!"

"You'd better pay me extra, old man!"

The elder simply turned and wobbled away. That always got under Osuin's skin. Most of the villagers would be grateful that someone so young would even consider helping the elderly, but as it turns out, not everyone has a benevolent streak. The day had been a long one, a day that Osuin pleaded with the gods to end swiftly. With a soft sigh, Osuin made his way to the first floor of the abandoned wood house. The creak of the floorboards was more than enough to soothe his stressed mind. Despite their soothing melody, however, each step sent a chill up Osuin's spine as he half expected to fall through. Lucky for him, he made it down the steps and out the door as safe as can be.

"Osuin, that you?"

Osuin tilted his head back and right to find a lithe young man trotting his way. His ginger hair spelled out disaster since it was unkempt, and the rubble and dirt on his otherwise smooth face revealed just how hard at work he was.

"Back from the mines already? Did old man Rigel run you out of work, or did you realize how feminine you look in the midst of all those muscular alpha males?"

"Shut it, man! At least I've got a good paying job!"

"Yeah, whatever, Sarun."

The two young men shot each other the stink eye before bursting into playful laughter. Osuin hadn't laughed in a long while. This time felt good; it felt good to cross paths with someone like Sarun. He'd always been the one to break Osuin out of his tough act.

"So, I heard Amal giving you the trash talk from down the road."

"Yeah, the old geezer couldn't even thank the gods if they granted him immortality. He's never satisfied, even if his employee tries his hardest."

"Don't sweat it. Look, drinks are on me tonight, okay?"

Osuin offered a nod as he turned to walk opposite Sarun. He shoved his hands into his pockets, fumbling with what little coin he had in his possession. In the moment, he got caught up realizing just how pathetic his life was, how poor he'd become.

***

The night seemed slightly more tense than Osuin remembered. The children weren't outside playing, usual adult banter was instead cold silence. Osuin almost wished Sarun would hurry so he could break the silence with his chatterbox personality. A heavy trench to cover his skin tight shirt and leather pants seemed sufficient for the otherwise formidable cold that awaited beyond his home. As he walked towards the door, he caught a quick glimpse of his reflection and stopped, to look into his own eyes, to look at the scar that reached across his right eye. Lifeless, cold, hurt. Memories of pain flooded out his train of thought, derailed it. He couldn't stand living another day, knowing that to the some of the villagers, he would only be known as the mischievous bastard of Olsen, his father.