[Flashback] That Unforgotten Day

[Atyvn]

37th of Fall, 506 AV

The soft sound of crunching and compacting snow was all that gave away the presence of the young vantha, the cold white fluff clinging to his clothes. For his usual judgment in cases such as this, he would have turned back by this point. Actually he probably wouldn’t have even left Avanthal, but he was fifteen now! A short bow and a quiver on his back and with a wooden scimitar in hand, he was ready for anything or so he thought. The stories of the dangers of the Reaches faded from memory, but the valor and men who came back shone brightly. Atyvn was a smart boy, but sometimes his imagination overwhelmed his level head. This is the reason why he snuck out of Avanthal without his parents’ consent to find some adventure. He knew the area well enough, which is what he decided as truth, from the hunts his father took him on. If he truly looked around him, he would have understood that he was lost. He kept marching, as sharp as a fifteen year old could march, through the sparse trees. What he did not know is that his father, Bretn, noticed his absence and had picked up on his trail a ways back. But that was not the only thing on his trail that moonlit night.

But now the boy was truly starting to grow frightened of the night. The rational mind that was pushed away earlier had quickly taken control once the shadows about him seemed to creep towards him. He held his wooden scimitar ready for the hungry shadows to strike at him at any moment. A rush of movement barely caught his eye and he clung to the nearest tree. His heart raced at the thought of what kind of dire creature could be stalking him. He crouched down slowly, burying himself slightly in the snow which made him look vaguely similar to a pile of snow fallen from the upper branches since snow still clung to him from the winds earlier.

Bretn grew more worried with every step. He was on his son's trail, but as it kept leading him further, it worried him of what could be out here other than himself and his son. A steel long sword was in a hilt on his belt and a short bow was slung over his shoulder. Though the sight of his son's footsteps still continued gave him hope, even if it was taken away right after at the sight of it going much farther. Something in the snow caught his keen eye. A second path of large prints weaved back and forth across his son's. His eye's widened and grew a pale yellow, his face whitening. He quickened his pace down the trail. This night would not be over soon.

Atyvn could hear the beast's breathing now; it was only a matter of time before it found him. His eyes were filled with fear and the only thoughts running through his mind were the basic instincts of survival. He could not run and he could not hide for much longer. He was doomed to a death out in the wilderness from his own stupidity and he was sure of it. He was terrified of this realization, but he knew this was it. Then he saw it. It was a pure white wolf, but it was not a regular wolf. This wolf was almost the size of a leopard, its muscles flexing under its thick fur with each stride. It was sniffing at Atyvn's footprints and was slowly getting closer to his position beside the tree. For a few moments, Atyvn marveled at the proud creature's majestic movements. It was a true wonder of nature in his mind. But it sunk in that that very creature would be the death of him. His fist clenched around his grip of his scimitar. To hell with waiting for it to kill me! It is going to have to work for its meal tonight! he thought as his eyes shifted to a raged red and he leaped from his pile of snow at the dire wolf with some attempt at a battle cry with his scimitar held back, ready to strike at the enemy it would most likely not harm.

Bretn snapped his head to the left, hearing his son's yell. His pace increased dramatically towards where he thought the source was. He drew his sword, dodging tree after tree, his thoughts only consisting of saving his son.

[Atyvn]

The wolf picked its head up to see the vatha boy rushing at it. For a moment, it gauged how much the boy was as a threat. From the scent that was coming from this less-than-significant danger, this was the creature it had been tracking. Knowing the boy to be an easy kill, it dropped into a defensive stance and a loud, low growl rumbled in its throat. It waited just as Atyvn was upon it and struck out quickly, hoping to use its weight as momentum to barrel his meal over.

Atyvn swung sloppily at the fast foe and he tried to roll away. He barely even grazed the creature's clean fur, but it hit him in the side hard. The breath left his lungs at the impact and he could feel the tingling of cold entering the hole in his clothes and passing over the light trickle of blood on his skin. He scrambled to his feet as quickly as he could, but only to get pushed by a heavy paw sending him rolling in the snow.

It was obvious the wolf was only toying with its food by now since there wasn't a logical reason the wolf couldn’t have killed the boy yet. It turned its head, baring its teeth to signal he was done playing with his food. But it turned too slowly. It was too confident in his chances.

Atyvn had regained what senses he had in the time it took the wolf to stop its proud parade. He dropped his scimitar and grabbed his bow. When the wolf turned, it saw the boy with his bow in hand and aiming at it. Atyvn let an arrow fly from about only three meters. It was way off his mark from his attempted quickness. He knew now with that miss, he was dead. His last hope to live and return home had missed its mark.

The wolf grew annoyed at the unexpected new weapon, but fury filled its eyes and took no time at all to run at the boy. This had gone on far too long for its liking. A loud yell stopped the wolf from making its charge and it looked around curiously to find what being could make a yell such as that.

There stood Bretn not too far off with his long sword unsheathed and he was glaring at the wolf.

Atyvn stared at his father in amazement. How did he find him? He shook the question from his head, not caring how at this time.

"Are you hurt?" his father asked firmly, his gaze never leaving the wolf's as he walked, with his sword ready, between the two.

"N-no sir..." Atyvn responded shakily and shook his head. A wave of security covered him. His father was here and everything would be alright. He'd go home. He'd go home and take any punishment they had to offer, but he would just be glad he was home again.

A loud growl of annoyance erupted from the wolf. It did not like this prolonging it was taking to get a mere meal.

Atyvn's security blanket fell about him. This was not good at the least. His father was a hunter, but it wasn't because he could single handedly fight a threat like this. He normally would sit and wait with two other men for a catch that was worth taking home.

"Get back." he father ordered in a monotone. He knew his son wasn't much of a fighter, but he couldn’t chance telling him to go home again. He just hoped there were no other wolves in the area in allegiance with this one.

Atyvn quickly did as he was told and picked up his scimitar in the snow slowly to not provoke the wolf. He slid in into his belt, looking like a younger kid tucking a toy sword in a rope around his waist.

[Atyvn]

The wolf decided now was as good as any to rush in, muzzle open and ready to take a chunk of flesh. Bretn held his sword defensively, holding the snapping teeth away from his face as the wolf landed on him, knocking him over on his back. He kicked the second wolf away and rushed after the wolf before it could make another charge. He landed a well-placed swing on his front leg, but in the same moment the wolf latched onto his arm and bit down hard, making Bretn drop his sword from the pain now being caused by his grip. He could feel the skin ripping and he started beating the wolf over the head with his free fist. The wolf valued its position and quickly let go to get a better strike at the man. Bretn switched his sword to his off hand, taking the wolf's momentary retreat to put him in a better position.

Atyvn could see the blood soaking his father's sleeve quickly. He couldn't help now, he could only sit and watch to see if they would live to see another day.
The wolf noticed the condition of Bretn's injury, the smell of blood was overwhelming too its keen senses. It was going to use its advantages to the fullest and it struck out at Bretn's right side, away from the sword.

Bretn couldn't side step fast enough and the wolf crunched down on his wound. He could hear the teeth grating against his bone and he yelled out in pain, rearing back his sword to plunge it into the wolf. But the wolf let go and stepped away, the sword harmlessly rushing by it. It rushed in again, but at Bretn's left side this time.

The vantha man was able to swat the wolf away, but not in time it took for the wolf to bite his side. It ripped away his clothing and leather tunic and little bit of flesh. He wasn't sure if he could win this fight. He wasn't sure that his son would get home safely. He was losing too much blood and his vision was starting to blur slightly. The previous thoughts seemed to become reality now. He swayed slightly, but kept his defensive stance.

The wolf had regained its footing and took no pause to strike again at the man, sensing his weakening state. It lashed out at Bretn's wound once more, getting a firm grip on the wound once again. It continued his rush even after biting down, slamming its body into the man.

Bretn had barely caught the wolf, but the wave of pain shot through his body quickly and his knees buckled. He kept them up though. He wasn't fast like the wolf, but he was strong and hefty. The snow beneath them had little streaks of red melted into it, melting away the snow. The warmth soaking his clothes so quickly told him there was no way to get back to Avanthal in time to save him.

Atyvn had reacted without thought when he saw his father fall. He had pulled his bow and sent an arrow flying towards the struggle in a desperate attempt to save his father. It was the first time he had an arrow hit its target, but the result wasn't what he had hoped for.

[Atyvn]

The arrow had hit the wolf squarely in the chest and through its heart, but it had to go through Bretn's right shoulder blade to get there.

Atyvn stood there blankly staring at the motionless combatants, unable to even think. He had killed the wolf in a single shot, but mortally wounded his father through his lung.

Bretn was frozen in body and mind; unable to think knowing an arrow pierced his lung. The wolf's weight turned to dead weight and he collapsed under the weight and his muscles no longer able to take orders at the moment. The arrow pushed through him and farther into the wolf when he landed on his back, the pain shocking his thoughts back to life. He knew there was no time to run this over in his mind. He had to talk to his son one last time.

"Atyvn." his father's weakened voice called to him. The boy snapped back into focus and rushed as quickly as he could to his father. He was horrified at his father's condition. He was scared to move the wolf thinking that by doing so, he would make his father's wound worse. "I-I-I...." he stuttered, not being able to formulate coherent words and he fell to his knees.

"Atyvn! Listen!" Bretn managed to yell, but his expression fell back to near helplessness as he coughed up blood onto his chin. He cleared his thought the best he could of blood. "Reach... into my shirt and take..." he coughed another small spout of blood before being able to continue.”...take my necklace."

Atyvn reached into his father's shirt and pulled out a small ivory pendant that he had seen many times. The pendant was a wolf's head, its eyes closed and head held back in a howl. He gently pulled it off his father's neck and over his head. He knew what his father was implying by giving him this and he knew that he was right, but he didn't want to accept it. "N-no...! You're not going to die! You can't die! I'll get us back to Avanthal and we'll get you fixed up!" he cried desperately, hot tears already streaking down his cheeks.

Bretn smiled weakly at his son, his pride and joy, still determined as ever. "Atyvn... There is so much I want to say... but no time to say any of it." he coughed again, blood now covering the snow around his head. "Remember me as I was yesterday, not now." he added, his voice ever weaker. He understood what the instincts in his son did in that moment and he didn't hold ill feelings for it. Even he knew he was not going to win the struggle between him and the wolf. He wished it could have ended differently, but nothing ever goes how it’s wanted to. "Tell your mother I love her..." he barely finished without a gasp for air.

"You'll tell her yourself! Come on, dad! Get up! Please get up!" Atyvn cried loudly and tried to figure a way to get the wolf off of his fading father. "You can't die! You can't die...! Please don't die! Please..."
"I... love you, son..." Bretn said quietly, his last breath of air escaping his lung. His eyes faded to grey with the last view of his life being his son's tear filled blue eyes.

Atyvn clutched the necklace hard as the fact hit him like a train wreck. His heart lurched and jerked in his chest and he slowly laid his head on his father's left shoulder, not caring about the blood. His father was gone forever from his life and it was all because of his stupidity. He caused this! His father was the best person in his life and he took him away! He killed his father with an arrow for his own survival! This had to be some sick and twisted dream he couldn't wake from. Why couldn't he wake from this nightmare? His mind finally shook its denial, knowing well that this all was not a figment of his mind to play tricks on him while he slept.

Long silent moments passed, his father now starting to grow cold to the touch, he gently closed his father's expressionless eyes. Atyvn spoke his quiet farewell to his beloved father. "I love you too, dad..."

[Growl]

Appreciation Time! Name: Atvyn Experience: +2 Bow, +1 Scimitar Lore: Sneaking Out, Fighting a Wolf, Watching Your Father Fight, Watching Your Father Fall Additional Notes: Thanks for editing this so quickly, it is far better now! I must say a very sad little thread though. I am sorry I could not award more for it, since Atvyn's father did most of the work. Um... also, I am assuming the necklace is your heirloom, in which case you may keep it. In the future however, you can't acquire items (for free), without DS permission. Other than that, it was a good first thread. Keep up the good work!