Kevin

I opened my eyes, light came through the window like it was the light of god. I immediately close my eyes to protect from the sun’s blazing blindness. I knew I had to get up to do some of my chores like feed the animals’ food. I am usually the first one up. I am always first one up so I got to do the chores. My uncle Nevillo never gets up early, but he does do a lot of things like make breakfast, harvest the crops, and build fences. My brother Tamvillo was a good brother. He helps my uncle forge some things, cut weeds, and sometimes hunt for us. Oh yes, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Peter.

Well I got out of bed and walk down the sturdy, dark, looking hallway. We were the poorest of our village. We live farther away from the houses near the Misty woods. The Misty woods scared me, it was always misty there, dark, no signs of pure happiness. Our village was always scared because mysterious attacks can happen.

I finally got outside the ranch.I went into the small shade near our ranch where we stored the food for the animals. I went inside the shade; it was very gloomy; I wish I had brought a lantern.Evenly I found the buckets with food and brought them outside. I look at the sun. It felt so good just to stare at the sun; it was always cover by clouds in St. Patrick’s village. Unfortunately my pleasure stopped when the fog from the misty woods covered the bright sun. I stare at that what people called the godforsaken woods. The dark misty woods look like that anything could pop out of it in any second. A chill went down my spine, and then I decided to look away and start doing my work.

After I got most of my mornings hard work done, I had one more job to do, It was my turn to go hunt for some food. I stare at the woods it was not a pretty site. The only path to the woods was to go down to St. Patrick’s town.

So I got my bow and arrow and walked to town. St. Patrick’s town was quiet as usual, the town was very peaceful too, probably the most peaceful town in the entire South. There were so many kind people here, especially the lumber jack Paul. When I got to the towns barracks, a solder with thin armor with the clover sigh on it came toward me. “Where are you going?” Barked the soldier.

There are little solders in the town, the town belongs to a small kingdom, somewhere in the woods, and they only put soldiers here to say this town is part of their kingdom. Everybody was fine with the soldiers here, because they protect and give supplies to this town.

I just realize the soldier was waiting for a answer then I replied, “I’m just going into the woods to hunt.”

The soldier looked at me suspiciously then questioned, “Why are you hunting in the forest alone without anybody and in the morning, when the forest is probably dangerous?”

“Because it’s my turn to hunt for my family; my brother does this many times.”

Then I heard a voice behind me say “Let the youngster go.”

I turn around and saw an old man. His name was Bram. He was the oldest person who lives’ in town, probably in his late fifty’s. No one can ever disobey his wishes. The solder then snarled, “Fine!” and walked away.

I told Bram thanks and the old man replied, “Don’t mention it. Tell me why are you going in to the woods?”

“It’s my turn to hunt for the family.”

“Ok but I warned you, be careful the woods are not that safe. Their filled with wild creatures and thieves.”

“Ok” I told him, and then Bram went away.

I started to go on the trail that leads to the forest, not trying to not attract any solders to question me. I finally reach the edge of the Godforsaken forest people say. The forest was so mysterious and dangerous that it is off limits to go into the forest at night. The kingdoms capital was in the heart of the forest. Me and my brother could of live there and probably be more rich but, my uncle wants to a saw distance from those. He built fences near the forest edges to prevent any of our animals to wonder in there.

I had my bow slung in my hand incase anything pops out of nowhere in these woods. I look up; the trees were so dense I It was like there was no such sky exists. The leaves and trees were as still has dead. The trees wood was all covered in moss and look pure black. The leaves where not so green, they were very long; it felt like the leaves were going to attack you. The thing I don’t like about this forest was it was so damp.

I kept going forward on the soft moist ground then I heard a noise. I slung my arrow immediately, ready to face anything that pops out of site, but it was just three men on horses. They all were wearingbrown robes that look very filthy. The first man had a long brown mustache that looked sort of weird on him. He was carrying what look like a small dagger. The other two man had black beards that made them look dangerous looking. They were both carrying daggers too. The first man then shouted out loud ,”Who are you.”

The man was speaking way too loud for my taste in the forest. I told him, “My name is Peter. What are you doing here?”

The man then repeated “What are we doing here? Were travelers that trade goods to towns.” he said it loud enough to wake up the dead.

Then I stared at their daggers and asked, “Why do have daggers?”

“And why do you have a bow slung?”

“I ask you first.” I replied getting a little annoyed with this man.

“None of your business.” snorted the man with the mustache.

“Sir.” Interrupted one of the black bearded men, “you should be a little more respectful and …”

The man with the mustache cut in, “Shut up, I did not hire you to…”

The man with the mustache then said very loudly in a hard voice, “Let’s go Mr.Broshine and Mr. Sloan.” and they throttle away with their horses.

I was so worried that that man with mustache might have spoken too loud to attract every single terrible things that live in this forest. That was very strange, and I didn’t like the looks at him for one bit.I don’t think their up to know good in town. Then when it seemed that God just bless me, a deer was just eating grass in the bushes. I slowly crawled down ready to sling my arrow. I took an aim at the deer’s heart and let go of my arrow. My shot was true, for it exactly hit where the heart was and kill the animal. I immediately went over to where the deer’s body was and took the arrow out of the body, this was the biggest kill I ever done, and my brother never killed a deer this big. My uncle will be so proud of me when I take this deer home. Then I heard a wolf howled somewhere in the forest. I decided it was time to go.

When I arrived at the village, there by the barracks was Bram again. Bram caught me looking and smiled and then said, “Am I’m glad you made it out of that forest and it look like you caught something too!”

He looked at the deer I was carrying. Then his smile faded then he looked up to where my house then said, “Some travelers went up to where your house is. They don’t look like nice gentlemen if you ask me. I think go up there and check what they’re doing; they look suspicious to me.”

I started running up the hill by the time Bram finish what he was saying. I didn’t like those travelers one bit. If they tried to do something to my uncle they will ask for it. By I the time I got up I saw my uncle talking to the travelers.

My uncle was a short man but strong. He had gray hair; he was a old man like Bram, the only thing not old about my uncle was his bright blue eyes. The main traveler with the mustache snarled at my uncle then he and his fellow companions trotted away. I ask my uncle who where they but he silence me and told me, “They just wanted some black powder. Peter, all they were begging for was black powder, they tried to trade for a bag full of silver but I rejected it.” “Did they do anything to harm you”, I asked.

“No, don’t worry about me I’m fine, they just wanted that black powder.

Then my brother, Tamvillo came out of the house. Tamvillo saw me with the deer and had a huge grin on his face. He patted me hard on the back and shouted out loud, “You caught that deer all by yourself?! That’s, that’s …amazing!

Nevillo notice the deer that I caught as well then he spoke, “Well, well, well, looks like someone has been busy! That deer can serve us food for a week! Good for you that you brought home deer!

I was glad that my uncle and brother were proud for me, but I was worried about those travelers. My uncle told me that the travelers will be back, so just ignore them. Sure enough the next day, the travelers were at the door. There were a few outrages during the conservation but the travelers left again. I told my uncle just not to answer the door when the travelers come but he didn’t do it. My uncle then told me one day, “Don’t worry about me Peter, if they keep on trying to bother are family, I will tell the baron to remove them from this village.”

“Who is the man with the mustache named?”

“His name is Kithrag.”

“Uncle if they come again report to the baron.”

“Ok I know your worried about those traders but just don’t mind them.”

And so I did, but the traders kept coming and coming. My uncle always said no to their offers and soon enough I didn’t the faces of Kithrag and his other fellow companions.

Since I was so focused on those traders, I hadn’t even notice that the month of July came in. This month was the busiest month for us, because this the trading season, the season when traders from far away come. This is when we have to bring all the crops we harvest and make profit out of it. My uncle told me and my brother to get out all the crops to the town. When me and brother were pack all of the crops in the travois, ready for the horse to pull it in to town, my uncle stayed behind. I asked him why are you not coming to town with us, but he told me in his exact words, “I will be with you two soon, I just need to make sure we have all of the crops.”

When me and my brother were going down the hill I looked back at my uncle. My uncle caught my gaze and whispered, “Don’t worry I will be fine”, so I turned my head back and stared at the town ahead of me, not knowing that those words will be the last words I heard from my uncle.

When my brother and I arrived at town we started to set up the stand. We place all of our colorful crops scattered around the stand. The town was very crowded for a small town. Some people were arguing, some are making deals, and some are greeting each other nicely. I saw some people I know in town trading too. I saw Paul the lumberjack with piles of logs near his stands. I saw Bram had a pipe in his hand who was smoking. He was selling all of these fine pipes he carved himself.

One hour past and we got a lot of good deals. This was probably the most profit we got in the trading season than ever. I was never glad for my family, but then I realize Nevillo wasn’t here yet. I then asked my brother, “Where is uncle?”

My brothers grin disappear then he said, “Go back up the hill and see if he’s coming or not.”

But then he saw by the look on my face and he told me uncle was fine.

I started up the hill, almost running. I look up at the sky, they were really gray. Then it started to rain. I heard lighting in the distance. It sounded like five miles away. I finally got to the farm, but it was on fire. Smoke filled the air; the smoke was so deep I had to take a deep breath a couple of times. I ran near the farm tom get a closer look at the fire, the fire was dying out because of the rain. I went inside the house and I called my uncles name but there was no response. I looked everywhere for him, till the last place to check was the kitchen. I looked inside the kitchen then I was in shock, right in front of was uncle laying face down, not breathing, dead. End of part 1