The battle was over. The sun was beginning to come up above the horizon, a start of a new day. It also showed the dragons that had managed to get away with some of the livestock, fish and their lives. One Panthera was even carrying off the tribe's best yak. While the dragons seemed to be screeching out in victory, the Vikings were deathly silent as they gathered around the chieftain and his two sons. All eyes were burning into the smallest of the Terriersons. Glancing around at the angry crowd, Max rubbed his arm nervously as he suddenly blurted out, "I shot the Rabbu."
Rooster the Wise grabbed him by the neck and started walking towards their house.
"Dad, I'm telling you! I did! I shot the Rabbu and it crashed down in the forest somewhere! We have to go get it now-" Max protested, squirming around in his father's hand. Setting his son down on the ground, Rooster turned him so they were face to face and snapped, "Enough Max. I don't want to hear another word about it. Every time you step outside, disaster strikes!"
"Please just give me a chance Dad, I promise you that I will make you proud of me! Just give me that chance!"
"No, I've given you enough chances. Now go home and stay there, where you can keep out of trouble," Rooster put the last word in. Motioning for Pops to come forward and take his son back to the house, he walked away and started mumbling about having to fix half of the village once again. With a heavy sigh, Max allowed Pops to lead him away. He couldn't help but cringe when he saw the other teens laughing at him, like Mel and Buddy were, or staring at him silently, like Daisy and his crush Gidget. Was it too much to ask to impress her or his family or the entire village?!
"Alright Max, you stay here like your father said," Pops declared once they arrived at the house. Max didn't say a word as he trudged up the steps and towards his front door. He stopped when his blacksmith mentor added, "I hope you realize that your father still loves you, no matter what." The teen merely nodded his head quietly before entering his house. Sighing, Pops turned and walked away.
He didn't hear or see Max sneak out of the back door of the house.
