Chapter 3
Alaric Dawnsworn
“Alaric,” my father’s stern voice echoes through the room. And he’s mad.
“I don’t see any meat on the table. You didn’t manage to hunt even a fucking squirrel or rabbit again. Pathetic.”
He looks at me like he wants an answer. I know he doesn’t want an answer. He doesn’t need one. He knows what’s going on.
My head hangs low in embarrassment. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“Sorry, sorry,” my father mocks me. “We can’t eat that, can we? You better bring somethikng home tomorrow. You do not want to know what will happen if you don’t.”
“God, Soren, leave that poor boy alone. Go hunt something yourself if his work doesn’t please you,” my mother intervenes.
My father groans. “Of course you have to protect that pathetic excuse of a son.”
“Excuse me? He’s our son! Stop treating him like he’s worth nothing just because he doesn’t meet your expectations. He is still our son.”
I hide my happy smile as my mother defends me. She’s never been afraid of my fathers fury.
“What’s going on?”, my little sister is standing at the top of the stairs with her creepy looking cat plushy.
I had that thing before her, so obviously it doesn’t look new. But that cat looks downright terrifying. Val still refuses to throw it away.
“Valka,” my father says, his voice cleary softer. “Go to bed, princess. Your mama and me are just having a little disagreement. Nothing bad.”
Val hugs her plushy to her chest. “Oh, okay. Can you read me a bedtime story, papa?”
My father smiles. “Of course, darling.” He walks upstairs and both him and my sister disappear in her bedroom.
Silence falls over the room. “Alaric,” I look over at my mother as her soft voice reaches me. “Don’t listen to you father. He’s always been stubborn. He’ll get over it sooner or later.”
A smile reaches my lips. “Thanks, mom.”
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My father has calmed down the morning. Though, there was an uncomfortable silence at breakfast. But once he had left for work, it was peaceful again.
Maybe I should try to hunt something agian. I mean, it must work at least one time.
After a few minutes of contemplating, I decide to go into the woods – hunting or not.
I pack everything I need and stroll along to the small pond hidden behind a thick layer of bushes and trees. The way there is exhauting but it’s worth it in the end. The pond is a little safe space for me.
I sit down near the water, making sure the ground is dry. I close my eyes and let out a content sigh. This is nice. Being alone. No pressure. No worries. Nothing.
Suddenly, I stir awake. I must’ve fallen asleep. Disoriented from my deep slumber, I sit up and stretch.
The sunset is gorgeous, but that also means that it’s almost dark now. I should really got going.
I stand up and turn around, but I freeze on the spot. Fuck.
About 5 meters in front of me, hiding in the bushes, is a huge wolf.
Neither me nor the wolf are moving. It is close to the ground, almost invisible between the leaves. It’s fascinating, if we’re ignoring the danger of the situation right now.
Slowly, I reach for my bow and an arrow. I’m dead if the wolf even thinks about attacking me, but I’m trying to look as intimidating as possible.
I pray to every god I can think of. The animal comes closer and I instinctively take a steps back.
Don’t kill me, please.
I shut my eyes tightly. I’ve accpeted my fate. I’m gonna die here and now.
I can hear the wolf coming closer and closer, but it doesn’t attack me.
After a few seconds, I open my eyes a little bit.
A choked scream of shock makes its way out of my throat.
The wolf is gone. Instead, there is a man standing right in front of my face.
