To Kill A Moral Man

The Right Choice

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Warnings: child abandonment, mention of minor injury, negative self image, ignorance and prejudice towards magic, fainting, a battle, mention of destruction, talks of kidnapping a child (as a joke)
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As most kids his age, Virgil had believed he could do almost everything an adult could, namely going to sleep late and playing without his parents' strict gaze on him.

Now, however, the belief seemed to shutter.

Scared, tired from the long walk and so very alone, he realized he wasn't as mature as he believed.

A crow circled above him, landing on a thin branch above him next to a second black fathered crow.

"Poor thing" it croaked, ruffling its feathers.

"Poor creature" the second crow agreed.

Virgil frowned up at them.

They repeated those words, loud and mocking.

A bad tune.

Observing the sky, Virgil shivered.

Nightfall was soon to come.

Already the sky began to darken, but he had nowhere to go.

He didn't think about how he's likely to die within the next few hours, once the sun dissappears over the horizon and the predators of the night come out.

What he did instead was cower at the thought of the monsters that surely live in the forest.

The crows crowed louder.

Behind him, a shuffle.
The boy startled, ready to flee, when he heard a stern voice.

"Hey kid, what are you doing here? Don't you know it's dangerous to be out here this late?" she lectured.

Virgil didn't answer. He was glued to his place, still considering running away.

But where to?

The woman frowned, looking around her in concern.
"Where are your parents?" she asked with a softer voice, crunching down to meet his eyes. "Are you lost?"

Virgil took a shuddering breath. "No," he finally talked, "they told me I can't live with them anymore" his eyes began to prickle with tears.

"I see" the woman gave him a sympathetic smile, "would you like to come with me then?"

He took a second to consider.

He wasn't supposed to talk to strangers, especially not to the residents of the forest.

But he was also tired and cold.

Eventually, he nodded and took her hand as they walked through the tall trees, away from the dangers of the night and into a wooden cabin.

The crows changed their lyrics.

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Patton walked through the town, the morning sun shining on him as he basked in its warmth.