A Stone's Throw Away

Act 1, Chapter 1

Once upon a time... Magic existed in harmony amongst the people of a peaceful kingdom. Until one day, there was an evil sorcerer that attacked the kingdom with his magic, wishing to dethrone the king and take the crown for himself. He believed himself better than those without magic. With an evil army at his side, the sorcerer had almost succeeded, until a witch betrayed him and helped the king, locking the evil sorcerer away with her magic. To release the sorcerer, one with good intentions had to wish to break him free of his cage. Though, no one wanted to wish evil upon the land once more, leaving him trapped forever.

"Patty!" Patton jumped, startled at the sound of his little sister's voice, and looked up from the book he had been reading from. "You've already read us this story!" She whined, huffing and kicking her feet in her bed from under the blankets. "Tell us a different one!"

"Yeah, new story!" He looked at his younger sisters, each squished into a much too small bed with one another. They each began kicking up a fuss, chanting together for a different story.

He could only sigh as he rested the worn out book down into his lap. "I've gone through all the stories already and we don't have any more books. Besides, this one is your favorite!"

Despite his words, they continued to chant. "New story, new story!"

"Girls, quiet!" Patton looked over to the bed with some of his other sisters that were a bit closer to him in age. "If you ask nicely, perhaps Patton can make up a new story for you."

"New story then, right." Patton closed the book in his lap and took a moment. "Okay, so, once upon a time... there was a princess who dreamed of exploring the world and going on a big adventure..."

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The early morning sun was just barely making its way over the horizon. The sherbet colors of the sky were blocked by mountains and starting to light up the town and surrounding forest. It was always the best part of Patton's day. He appreciated that nothing could stop the stubborn sun from getting up every single morning. Sure, clouds and rain could block it, but he knew that behind all that was the sun, making its daily journey across the sky.

If the sun can get up and face the day every morning, then gosh darn it, so can he!

He loved mornings the most. His sisters were still asleep and his parents let him keep to his own devices as they got ready for the day. Patton had to tend to the few chickens that had survived the harsh winter and tend to the few crops the poor soil could manage to grow. He always had a bandana tied around his neck to help wipe away the sweat as he worked and rolled up his sleeves as he dug in the dirt. Then, he had to separate what they could keep for themselves and what they could sell. By then, the early morning market would be open and Patton could run down with his small supply to the stand he had helped build and try to see how much he could make. Some mornings, his mother managed to throw a loaf of bread or two onto the pile. On colder mornings, fresh warm bread was the best and Patton would always come home with a few more copper coins in his pocket. Life wasn't perfect but it was what he was given to work with and that was more than enough. Most days he got to be outside and enjoy the warm sun on his tanned skin, and the rain was always a refreshing change of pace that helped crops grow, even if it didn't agree with his dark, curly hair that would always frizz up. They could only afford one raincoat and most days it was Patton's to use. He would tend to the garden and animals and still be able to go to the market with a lower risk of getting sick.

And yet... every day, Patton looked to the sky and closed his eyes as the warmth of the sun shined down on him, dreaming of the day he would finally step foot out of the town and start his own adventure. He loved his family and what he had, but nothing in the village ever changed. He and his parents pushed to keep their family warm and fed since his sisters were still so young. Even the closest to him in age was just becoming an adult, but Patton wanted to make sure they all got the chance he always wanted. They would finish their schooling first before they would help out the family in hopes that one day, they'd be able to do more with their lives. He wanted them to have the opportunity he had given up.