Warmth ~<GreenWind>~

❄️{Eleven

Lloyd had walked through the rest of Spring, which wasn't that much. Now he was in Summer.

It wasn't that much different, just hotter. And there were less flowers and blossoms on the trees and plants. It didn't smell like pollen everywhere, either.

He had gotten up to the fork in the road. Three paths.

Now, he would have been able to take one of the paths. But only if he hadn't have tripped over a rock and sent it flying, hitting a guard in the head and enraging a group of palace guards on patrol around the paths.

And he had a stick.

All Lloyd had, was a stick. The other men had swords a were way larger than he was.

And they saw him as a threat all because he tripped. A mere accident!

He tried to talk his way out of it but it wasn't happening. He took off and ran, the men chasing him.

"Guys! It was an accident!" Lloyd cried.

One of the guards coughed.

"Arruaaagh!" Another yelled.

Aggressive. Lloyd thought.

He had to slow down a little bit to shift his backpack. But he started off fast once again. He reached down and grabbed a rock (or two) and threw at the guards. He wasn't aiming for any in particular.

That only seemed to enrage them more.

Lloyd stopped. He couldn't keep running. They were going to keep on chasing. They all skidded to a stop.

Lloyd took a deep breath. He had to be brave here. "Stop."

"Who do you think you are?"

"I'm-My name is Lloyd. I didn't mean for rock to hit you. I tripped and it flew up."

"Like we'd believe that."

"Honest!"

"You should go to jail."

"I don't live here. I really need to go."

"I don't think so."

"It's important."

"So is your jail time."

Lloyd turned slowly to leave, and then took off. He hoped they'd stay behind this time. At first he was too scared to check. But when he was brave enough to look back, of course, there they were. Furious, huge men chasing after tiny Lloyd.

Lloyd didn't notice right away the scenery and temperature starting to change. It was getting chilly. The trees were losing their leaves.

Lloyd came up to a briar but had no choice but to run through it. His backpack got caught and he ripped it free and looked back. The men were gone. That's when it hit Lloyd.

They must not have been able to cross the barrier.

This is fall.