Humans and Animals

Chapter 1: Leonardo

I don't know what to do anymore. I think to myself as I clean out the old run down barn.

 I have been living in this small, barely living town, since my mother died of a rare disease six years ago. The reason I hadn't left yet was, that I couldn't part with my home it held to may good memories of me and my mother before my father left us three years before, she died. My name is Leonardo but my mother just called me Leo for short, my name mean 'brave lion' she once told me and said that I should never be scared of what is to come, what will be will be. I never understood why she would think that after she passed I would live up to the name, I like to think I do but in the end it just seems like false hope to make my mother proud of me. Plus my 18th birthday is only days away, the day I'm supposed to summon my spirit animal

Everyone on there 18th birthday they are to summon their spirit animal, the animal that best suits a person's soul and personality. I have no idea what my spirit animal could be, I'm not a very sociable person. Continuing with the work I was tasked to complete, I made quick work of finishing the barn and moving on the feeding the animals. Once I had completed that task, walked down the dirt road heading to my falling down heap of wood, that I call a house. just before I reached the door, I heard the pound of several hooves of war horse coming down from the forest. Just as I look in the direction I saw a complete black horse running towards me, with a young man dressed in leather armour.

He and the group he was traveling with road straight past, and continued on to the main part of town. I didn't know what business they have here, and I really didn't care to know so I just continued my daily routine. Laying down in my rough, uncomfortable bed, I stared out the window, looking into the dark starry sky, that seemed endless, like it could go on much further than any bodies most wildest dreams, I slow drift, think of the endless possibilities I could have if I had the guts to ever leave this place.

****

Flinching from the bright sun that assaulted my eyes, woke me up, realising that I was late for the chores I had to complete this morning. In a fast pace I rushed to dress my self and grab the needed tools, and left my house, while running down the pathway to the main part of town I failed to notice someone step in front of my, and ran straight into their hard chest and landed on the ground, tools cluttering on the ground next to me, as I look up at the person that nocked me down on my ass.

It was the same young man is saw atop the black war horse yesterday as they road into town, that was now looking down at me sprawled on the dirt ground. The boy had dirt sandy blond hair and striking grey eyes, that seemed to see through me completely.

"I- I'm sorry" I said hesitantly, as all he did was stare at me. "I wasn't watching were I was going"

He was quite for a long moment before he said: "your almost 18 aren't you?" I had no idea what was going on in his head, he was a hard to read.

"yes. But I'm sorry I really have to be going" I rushed to pick up my tools and walked around the young man, before he could stop me I had rushed off from him and continued on to carry out my chores for the day.