Flashback The Order Of Things: Food

[Theur]

10 Winter, 511 A.V It was only now that Theur began feeling the effects of the cold, even wrapped around his winter blanket, it didn’t seem to help. Still the cold was bearable as long as he moved he wouldn’t freeze, what bothered him more though was the supply of his food; he had none left. He began to remember the seller who sold him the food, promising it would last a long time. Theur never trusted the seller but bought it anyway, he believed that as long as he ate a little at a time, then he didn’t draw the short end of the stick. Ten days later and only ten days later did he find out it didn't. Fire burned in his legs, Theur was going to run back find the seller and rob him dry, If all went well destroy his stall too but that wasn’t going to happen. Theur was ten days away from Sunberth and ten days from the seller. He couldn’t possibly just run back in just one day but he couldn’t walk either, so he ran, further and further away. He promised himself that he would remember the face of that seller and the next time, the next time they meet well only the gods know what would happen. The sun was at its highest when Theur found a blessing from the gods; a small rabbit. Theur had never seen a rabbit before, he’d seen a rat before though and they seemed roughly the same size. His mouth began to water, his body arched forward as if ready to pounce and Theur didn’t know why. He was hungry yes and for the rabbit too but it felt so very wrong to him. oocBasically Theur doesn’t know where meat comes from Still he moved towards it slowly first, a spear in one hand. He still felt wrong about this but everyone’s gotta eat. Upon seeing this, the rabbit took off towards a group of trees followed by Theur giving chase. Theur was fast but two legs were no match for four. He was agile but he was no match for the rabbit. With every weave the rabbit and Theur made, the distance between them grew until the rabbit was out of sight. AAAAGGGHHHHH cried Theur in frustration and anger. He hated himself for not being quick enough, disappointed in himself for it getting away. His cry was short but loud almost primal and for a moment he was able to quiet the other sounds around him before falling to the ground, awake but so very hungry. It was only when he fell to the ground that he calmed down. Hah-Hah-Ow-hah-Owowow a weak chuckle escaped Theur’s lips. He found it funny that he chased a little rabbit and that it tired him out this much (and his own hunger too). He thought about standing up and moving on but his stomach was having none of it, if his stomach wasn't sated then Theur just ain’t moving so all he did was lie there. As he lay there he could hear the birds chirping, insects making noise, the leaves rustling in the wind. Was it always this loud. He never realized it but it was full of life outside the city and for the first time in a long time he enjoyed himself, content with just listening to the sounds of the wild. He felt relaxed, he felt at peace, he felt something crawl up his arm. At once all of Theur’s attention was directed onto his arm. It moved slow enough and by the way it felt it was proably just a worm but more importantly it was food. Water began to form around his mouth as it got closer and it crawled ever closer until... Chomp Theur’s teeth crashed down on the worm, exploding it; guts flying everywhere. It tasted like earth, grass and a raw egg all rolled into one but also sooo good. The guts of the worm attracted more and more things and all had the same fate. Some had many legs, some were crunchy, some fought back but all were food to Theur. On the first morning of the next day he continued on... with a new found appreciation for creepy-crawlies

[Theur]

25 Winter 511 A.V A strained pain rushed through Theur’s leg as he took another step. Instinctively the boy’s eyes looked down at his foot; only to be greeted by a red mess. A sigh escaped the boy’s lips; the first time hurt and the second time too but by the nth time, the once loud pain became a sting. This time was no different and just like all the other times his foot bled, Theur moved towards the closest body of water; the shoreline. Another sting greeted him there, his foot flinched but only a bit as he slowly put his foot back in the water. The waves came and both of the boy’s legs as well as his shorts had gotten wet. Theur had sat down whilst his foot would heal, it would be very uncomfortable if another foreign object were to heal inside of him (and another red mess getting said object out) besides Theur needed a break anyway. By the boy’s estimates it was three bells past noon; a good three bell walk. His mind wandered about Had it been that long the boy thought to himself. For twenty five days the boy travelled following the shoreline south. He had survived on bugs alone, sometimes he came across a really big one called crab nothing a rock couldn’t solve but it became harder and harder to find some decent grub to eat. Not to mention colder too. A red light hit the boy’s eyes and that seemed to bring the boy back. His hand moved up to shield his eyes, only to find that his fingers were wrinkled. It was time to move. His foot he moved around a bit, see how well it was right down to the toes. Satisfied Theur stood up shook his bottom as best as he could before taking that awkward first step. Uncomfortable at first but only just that; uncomfortable, it meant that Theur could continue and that meant a few more steps away from Sunberth. The further the better. The sky by now had turned to a vibrant shade of red to which Theur moved closer inland. This time it was only flat land that separated the sandy shores from soil grounds. It wasn’t always like this sometimes a rocky edge separated the two lands sometimes the beach itself wasn’t sandy. To this the boy was thankful for. For once the gods received a silent prayer from the boy. The dirt road was tough on the boy’s feet; he preferred the sand instead. The boy continued for a bit longer before finally stopping. Large sweat stains appeared all over Theur’s clothes when he finally gave in to his feet’s cries. A wave of relief washed over him and not just from his legs. From his back to his arms it seemed that all these emanated relief. On the ground with arms and legs spread out and sticky with sweat; Theur could have fallen asleep then and there. Rather than giving into that sweet temptation the boy rose. He had to set up camp and attempt a fire. Camp was the easy bit as that only consisted of a set tent; finding tinder and rocks for the fire were easy too. It was when he took out his flint did it stop being easy. Schrash, clink, ka-shhh the flint made as various objects hit it. Around the boy objects both owned or found lay around him; a knife, several rocks, a pot and generally anything made of metal or had any sort of edge to it. "Again" the boy muttered and his flint filled hand smashed down with all of his strength on the new object. A few sparks flew but it failed to set the tinder ablaze. Adamant was Theur on setting that fire that he tried a different method. By this time the boy would have given up but Theur could feel it. It was getting colder; much colder. That night like many other nights before or yet to come; Theur slept with no fire and above all Theur slept hungry. _______________________________________________________________ The next day The sun was at his highest and with hardly a cloud in sight; it beared down on Theur. Sometimes the boy forgets its winter but finding shade was the second priority the, first is to find food. Well he found it; his eyes focused on the earth, resting upon the green grass. Theur was on his knees, his hands planted on the ground, his face right up in that green grass. He had seen smaller animals eat of this stuff so why not Theur. Theur had felt weak ever since he woke up, his hunger at its strongest and yet; the boy was hesitating. The boy had managed to make excuses from the slightly logical to the absurd but one growl from his stomach put all those excuses to rest. Next he tried psyching himself up but that failed too and after that the thought of not eating popped into his mind which warranted another growl from his stomach albeit a little louder. Chimes that felt like bells would come and pass, Theur unmoving from his position until he finally took a nibble. Dry and tasteless was his first thought but nonetheless he had just chewed and swallowed a tiny bit of grass. The next bite he took was a mouthful of grass and dirt. He nearly choked but he somehow got that down and then he took another and another. He spat the next one out before taking the last bite. Each bite was like ash in his mouth but the boy's stomach quieted with every bite. His hunger began to disappear but no matter how much he ate, Theur simply did not feel full. He still felt weak. Still he wasn't hungry anymore and he was pretty sure that he could manage a walk despite the feeling of weakness. Theur picked himself up and moved towards the shore; following it south. Three days later he had fallen ill. OOCOk so grass and dirt isn’t exactly nutritious for the body all it can do is stop the feeling of hunger