Childhood Matters (Flashback)

by **Akarn** on October 8th, 2012, 7:48 pm

Childhood Matters (FlashBack)
Fall 502 AV
Part 1

The golden rays of the sun peaked over the horizon of the Sea of Grass to make for a nice start to the morning. A slight breeze wound itself through the stalks of grass enough to sway it back and forth. Anise, wife of Jayden, sat with her first child, Akarn. She gazed at him thoughtfully watching him bound through the grass that was a bit taller than him. Sometimes the only indication of where her son whereabouts was the grass shaking violently in his wake. She knew he was keeping himself busy until his father came back from the morning hunt and avoiding her. For the mornings were hers to teach her son, this was the agreement between mother and father.

The young Drykas woman sat cross-legged in small patch of pushed down grass that for this morning she claimed as her own. She had a knife in one hand and a small tubular shaped piece of wood in her other. She was busying herself notching out holes along its length. The tube already had beautiful etched carvings of runic symbols and small horses adorning the outer layer of the item. One end of the item flattened out to taper. The small pieces of chipped, curled wood from her work lay about her legs and on the ground. It was a slow process since half of her attention was trying to keep track of her energetic son.

Picking up the wooden flute she was working on she gave each hole a tiny blow to clear out any loose particles that may of fallen back in to the piece. Then she turned it over and shook it a little reassuring herself that it was indeed clear. Then she brought the tapered end up to her soft lips and blew. The decorative flute emitted a slight whistle sound and she ran her fingers over each hole while blowing.

Even the melody of tuning the flute caught the attention of Akarn. He stopped in the tall grass and turned back towards his pavilion. The sound was majestic to his young ears and he smiled in joy hearing it. He did not hesitate in making his way back to where his mother was sitting. He sprang through the grass and in to the opening. Once there he stood mesmerized by the music.

His mother had begun to play a melody and even though he did not recognize the song it had stopped him in wondrous awe. The music threads entwined the air and seemed to draw his very being in to it. The sound made him feel safe and peaceful while he listened to the euphony. The song came to an end and her emerald eyes gazed up at her son and she smiled. She lifted the flute from her mouth and held it with her palm open for her son to look at it.

Akarn stepped forward slowly raising his small hands almost afraid to touch the flute. He did not want to destroy the magnificent thing or the memory of the moment. His fingers gingerly stroked the music instrument. He looked over at his mother and she nodded, knowing his desire. He softly picked it up and turned it about to wonder at how elegant it looked and yet the simplicity of its inward design. He placed it upon his lips as he had seen his mother do, and blew. Not a sound was heard except for the light hearted chuckle of his mother. So the young child blew harder, but to no avail.

Then with a disappointed filled face and scrunched lips he handed the flute back to his mother. She smiled to her Akarn, "Do not despair my son." He emerald eyes sparkled. "Zulrav has not yet gifted you with the whispering sound." She stood and then looked back down at her son. "Do you remember Zulrav?" she said laying her hand about his windswept hair.

Akarn nodded and he remembered the tales. "Zulrav, he is the one who rattles the night during the rainy season."

Anisa laughed, "Yes, Akarn, he is the thunder but he is much more." She took her sons hand and led him in to the grass. "Do you see the wind?"

Akarn looked out through the grass, "The wind is unseen, momma, you cannot see it."

"But you can," She said with a softness. "Do you not see how Zulrav sways the grass or causes the wind to feel cool upon your cheek?" Then paused for a moment to let him take in what she had said. " These are the signs of Zulrav, along with the rain, the thunder and the lightning." She guided him back to her patch of land and sat down again and waited for him to do the same.

Akarn could now see the wind and maybe not the cause of it but definitely the effect. There was wind signs all around him. The movement of the grass, the air as it lifted his hair, scent of a camp fire coming from the pavilion. His mother always looked at the world through different eyes then he did. He followed her back to the small flattened area of grass and sat beside her. he knew play time was over for the moment.

Seeing him settled, she continued. "Without Zulrav we would surely perish. He gives of gift of rain and that is where all water comes from. Without water nothing would survive. So you should give thanks to Zulrav, if even just for that." She saw Akarn fidget a little and knew he wanted to hear more about the flute so she looked over at him. "The Drykas are not just mighty warriors like your father, Akarn. We are much more." She held up the flute to her young listener. "Zulrav has gifted us the whispering sound and through it we get melody. A sound that can only be made by your own wind. Not everyone can learn it, but those that can will be able to weave a tale of sound for all to enjoy."

Akarn looked at the flute for a second then up to his mother. "Can I learn?"

"Yes you can, but only Zulrav can grant you the mastery of it." She lowered the flute. "But before you can learn to play such a thing you must first understand it." With that she pulled out a small tubular piece of stalk and a small knife. "I will teach you both of these, if you like."

The young Drykas child nodded eagerly and he took the items. He had already learned to carve small horses from her and he enjoyed the task. He smiled and waited patiently while his mother produced another hollow grass stalk. She smiled at her son and knew she had his attention and she began to teach and he began to learn.

by **Akarn** on October 9th, 2012, 1:16 pm

Childhood Matters (FlashBack)
Spring 503 AV
Part 2

The young Drykas boy sat in front of his little sister. The snapping of the morning cooking fire to his back. The heat from the flame helped to remove the small chill he had been feeling in the dawn air. Which Akarn did not seem to mind as he stared at his sister, playing the flute his mother had help him make six months ago. His fingers gingerly moved up and down , creating a fast little melody. It had become a morning ritual between the two, which his two year old sister seemed to love.

Jaden motioned for his son to come with him and he walked outside. Akarn nodded to indicate he had heard his father and he stood, sliding the flute away in to his pocket. "Sorry, Rora, but I must go." The Drykas warrior maintained his serious composure while he led his eldest to a table. The younger Drykas went to his father without question, his full attention upon the man not just because he was his father but because his demeanor demanded it.

Jaden gave his son a moment to glance across the table before them. His son stood very still only admiring the items from where he was since he did not have permission to move. A top the flat surface lay several weapons. Amongst them could be seen a finely curved bow, a dagger, several different style of swords, an axe, a spear, and a wooden staff. The young Drykas's eyes widen with an intensity that Jaden had never seen before.

"Show me the weapon that will make you unbeatable, Akarn." The son glanced again across the table. The decision did not take long and Akarn reached out over the table and removed the axe. The Axe had a edged blade on each side and felt heavy in his hands. Still the lad managed to swing the axe in several arcs above his head. Akarn glanced at his father, when he was done testing the weapon.

The Riverwalker Ankal knew that his son was destined to be a warrior and this made him proud. The Battle Axe was not the answer he had wanted though. So the father put his pride aside and looked intently down at his son. Then Jaden knelt beside Akarn, placing his strong hand upon his shoulder. "Well in time, my son, you will learn to use the weapon that you have chosen it is not the strongest out here." Akarn's father said as his father had said before him. The boy glanced back trying to figure out what weapon he should have taken. "It is your ability to think. This is what will win you the day. This is what other men will fear and Zulrav will take note of." He then stood, "it is your ability to win combat without ever fighting that will truly be remembered."

Akarn leaned his head a little to the left trying to understand what his father had said because that made no sense to him. How could you win a battle if you never fought in it? Jaden could see the perplexed look upon his sons face and wondered if that is how he had looked to his father at that moment long ago. "Father?" Was all the young boy could say still trying to comprehend.

"Well, who truly wins a battle?" Jaden said. "What would happen if I fall?" The Drykas warrior carefully took the axe from his son and placed it back on the table. "Our Pavilion would not be as strong. We would be down a hunter and a protector. You, Rora and Litha would be without a father. With the death of another you have taken all that they will have become." He turned back to his son locking his gaze with his. "For this is what means to take a life and you have to live with that decision. You have to decide is the life worth what you fight for and if it is not then you do not fight." Jayden knelt back down in the grass by his son, "Because a warrior is not only strong here." he said touching his sons arm. "But also here and here." Jayden continued, touching the head and the chest of his son. "In time you will know of what I speak."

With that his father stood up again and reached over on to the table. "Some men like to fight, Akarn. They will not care about the life they take and no amount of reasoning will change that, so" His father said as he spun back toward his son tossing a wooden practice weapon at him. The young boy managed to catch the wooden weapon with a slight bobble. "You must also be ready for that. For now we start with this."

With that Jayden moved beside his son and adjusted the wooden weapon in Akarn's hands. "First, this is a one-handed weapon and you grip it like this. Here, "His father said moving the boys hips. "Bend here and bend slightly at the knees. Turn slightly to the side with the weapon in front of you. Your chest is the biggest area so it is in the most danger." Akarn's first lesson only lasted until breakfast, but with each continuing day the lessons became more intense.

by **Akarn** on October 10th, 2012, 7:10 pm

Childhood Matters (FlashBack)
Fall 503 AV
Part 3

With the bow string pulled back taut against his cheek, Akarn sighted down the shaft of the arrow. He steadied his breath and he raised the bow up a hair above his target. He made a quick mental note of his body position and was sure that he followed all of his father's instructions. Reassuring himself that he was good, he let the arrow fly. The young Drykas heard the twang of the bow string with its release and the silent whisper of the arrow flying through the air. All of that was followed by the thud of the arrow hitting the side of the target. Akarn smiled and even though the arrow was not on its mark, he had indeed hit the wagon this time.

The target was an old rotted out over turned wagon, for some reason was out here in the Sea of Grass. Perhaps it was the remnants of a failed caravan or a traveler just caught unaware by glassbeaks. Whatever the reason for it being here did not change the fact that it was here and now it was being utilized by the young Drykas. Akarn was just glad that it was here at this moment .

Litha giggled and started a sprint towards the old wagon. "No Litha wait until I shoot all the arrows," but it was too late. Akarn shook his head and started after his sister. She was a year younger then he was and sometimes could be, well could only be like a little sister could be. By the time he had reached the wagon Litha was already trying to wiggle the arrow out from the wood and she was giggling the whole time. Akarn wanted to be angry but he could not help but laugh and he kneeled beside his sister patting her long messy heap of blond hair. This also made him smile, for no matter how much work his mother put in to his sisters hair it was undone in no time at all.

Preoccupied with the archery and his sister, the Drykas boy had not noticed someone else come upon them. It was his uncle Shyll. Akarn let out a silent groan, while he loved most of his family his uncle went out of his way to make the boys life difficult. Akarn's smile faded and he protectively put himself between his uncle and his sister.

"Do not stop on my account," Shyll said with an edge to his tone. Shyll was a tall slender Drykas that was only seven years older than Akarn, but it was enough for the time being. Seven years older meant that he was taller, stronger and able to just bully his nephew any way he saw fit. He did just that and did it often.

Shyll lent a hand and pulled the arrow out of the rotten wood and examined it. Akarn grabbed for the object but it was moved up and out of his reach. "That is mine!" the younger boy exclaimed. The older boy smiled with a hint of mischief.

The uncle looked down and continued his little grin. "Do not worry you can have it back." He said lowering the arrow and then with a quick motion snapped it over his knee. Instead of handing the two halves back to Akarn the older boy threw them to the ground.

Without warning the uncle let out a surprised umph. He looked down at his niece that had just finished kicking him in the shin and was in the process of turning around to try and make her way under the shelter of the wagon. Shyll gave his nephew a quick shove back and started after the little girl. The older boy grabbed the girl by her feet before she could make it through the hole she was crawling towards.

For one of the first times in his life, Akarn doubled his fists and hit his uncle by the right side of his ear as hard as he was able. Shylls head went sideways and almost hit the side of the wagon, but he was able to avoid the second impact. The punch though had had its desired effect and the older boy released the girls ankle and now was focused on getting to his feet.

To Shylls surprise he did not have to go chasing after his nephew. For the first time that he could remember Akarn was standing his ground and not fleeing. "How touching," Shyll said moving around to the right a little trapping the younger Drykas between himself and the old wagon. He shoved Akarn back against the wagon and swung to hit him, but the younger boy managed to deflect his first blow. Shyll grew angry at this little game and channeled his rage through his fists. The older boy began to pummel his younger nephew. All Akarn could do was cover up and sink to the ground.

"SHYLL!!" came a familiar voice that both of the boys recognized and knew that its owner was not to be ignored. The older boy stopped his attack and stood up. He did not need to turn around to know who was speaking to him. Shyll knew the voice belonged to his older brother, Jaden. Now that the violence had been interrupted Jaden calmed his voice. "Litha, go help your mother and Akarn come with me."

Jaden watched Shyll begin to walk away, not even turning to acknowledge his brother. The Ankel knew he was not Shylls father nor could he be. Their father died not long after Shyll had been born and Jaden was forced to take up the role. His brother had not had the guiding hand of their father like Jaden had and because of his new found obligations of Ankel, Jaden had not been there for him either. Jaden blamed himself for the way Shyll acted. Where he failed with Shyll he was not going to fail with his son.

The younger Drykas boy stood and could feel the sting in his face and wetness under his nose. Akarn felt like crying out but his pride would not let him. He wiped away the blood from his nose with the back of his hand and then walked over to where his father stood. He could hear Shyll waking away and for that he was relieved.

Jaden knelt beside his son taking a quick look at his injuries and decided the boy was alright. "Akarn all our life we will be tested." The boy sighed and did not understand why he was the one that was going to receive the lecture, but he knew better than to say anything. Jaden could tell this about his son, but continued any ways. "Your uncles resolve was tested today and he has failed. It can be frustrating when you want something so much that not receiving it can make us do things we would not normally do."

Akarn wanted to tell him that this was not abnormal for Shyll to do, but instead he stayed silent and did not interrupt his father. The young boy did mull over what his father had said and came to a conclusion. Today was the day the foals were old enough for the bonding and this was the year that they had hoped Shyll would be linked with a strider. His father was pointing out his uncles frustration, but it still not help Akarn see the reasoning behind Shylls behavior.

Jaden stood and began to walk and once he was sure Akarn was following him, he continued. "Even Zulrav tests us every day. Do you think that the storms are random or have no meaning. Zulrav sends the storms to make us stronger. Everything has a lesson in it my son if you pay attention. It is only the wise Drykas that sees them and learns from them." Jaden ran his thick fingers over the stalks of grass, bending the stalks a little. "Take the Sea of Grass for an example and how the stalks give way to the wind. Why does the grass bend?"

The young boys brow scrunched while he thought and then he looked up at his father. "If it did not it would break," He said with confidence.

"Yes, it would break," Jaden confirmed his sons statement. "But does it bend because it has no choice or does it bend until the winds anger subsides and then can again stand tall?" The older Drykas looked down upon his son to see if he understood before he continued. "What of the water and rock, which one do you think is stronger?"

Akarn glanced at his father and knew the rock to be the hardest, but the boy knew there had to be more to the question than just that. He had to approach the question or riddle as if he were like a wise man. After a few minutes of deliberation Akarn looked to his father and nodded. "The water, because through time it will cut through the rock." The younger Drykas was pleased with himself for thinking through his father's question.

"You are right and wrong, my son." He said placing a gentle hand upon his shoulder. The rock is strong and mighty and hard to break, but the water through patience and persistence will eventually be able to move the rock. Then again rocks can change the course of any water." He titled his sons chin up until Akarn's green eyes met his. " The essence of each has its own power .That is what you need to know, my son. You need to know when to be the rock, or to be the water or when to be the grass. " With his lesson ending Jaden sighed and looked back towards the way Shyll had disappeared to. "Now go help your mother." He commanded and with that he set off to find his brother that was lost.

by **Akarn** on October 11th, 2012, 12:39 pm

Childhood Matters (FlashBack)
Summer 506 AV
Part 4

The iron flashed in the summer day and rang out when battle axe met sword. A boy of eleven, his black hair pasted to his face and a girl of ten, her long blond braid wisped around her figure as the two combatants danced around each another. One trying to get the upper hand over the other. The two looked serious locked in combat, but then again training was no laughing matter. For the Drykas being untrained meant death in the Sea of Grass.

The girl feinted to the left and moved to the right, a trick that the boy had taught her himself. So the opening appeared that he had been waiting for. With an inner block to her sword, the young Drykas boy stepped in and placed his foot between her legs. In her haste to make a side step she tripped over his foot and fell backwards to the ground. Akarn brought his shoulders up and gritted his teeth when the girl hit. "Are you ok, Litha?" he said with genuine concern.

The girl nodded and now was attempting to catch her breath. She laid on the ground and gazed up at the blue sky. There was hardly a cloud in it. Litha allowed her sword to fall away from her grip and on to the ground. She reached over and pulled her long blond braid from across her chest with little thought and came up to her elbows. Her blues eyes looked up to her older brother. "Nothing hurt but my pride," she said. The young girl did not expect to win but she had hoped she had been passed the stage of her brother tripping her in their training sessions.

Akarn offered his hand, "You really are getting better." He nodded while he pulled her to her feet. "Do not look to the right when you are feinting to the left. One, it unsteadies you." He released her hand and then bent over and picked up her sword. "Two, you take your eyes off of me."

The girl giggled, "What nothing wise to say like father?"

The boy looked to his sister and smiled, "I will leave that for him to say."

"Here comes mother," Litha indicated having noticed another person approaching. Akarn looked to where his sister was looking.

Anisa waved to her children as she climbed the little hill that they were practicing on. "Akarn your father wants you to be ready to go soon." She looked to her raven haired son and she nodded. "No matter what happens today you are still Akarn Riverwalker, remember that."

The boy nodded, sometimes Drykas were selected by striders at a younger age or it was not unheard for Drykas to be selected at fifteen or seventeen. His father had been bonded at eight. Sometimes the bonding happened naturally and unexpectedly to a Drykas. Really it was the horses choice and could not be forced. Akarn was already eleven and began to wonder if he was going to suffer the same fate like his uncle had. Shyll was eighteen and still no strider had bonded with him. Akarn had thought it because of his ill temperament, but then why had Akarn Riverwalker not been bonded with yet. He closed his eyes at the thought and pushed it from his mind. He looked up to his mother. "I will go get ready."

She turned her attention back to her daughter. "Litha, your hair!" Their mother shook her head. "How do you expect the boys to like you when you are a mess?"

"Oh mother, I am only ten seasons old. I will have time for boys later I want to be a warrior right now!" she said as a matter of fact.

Akarn left his mother and sister alone to sort out if Litha was to be a lady or a warrior. He had a feeling that conversation would also spill over to a mother and father talk later this evening. Even though he did think his sister was coming along rather well on her path of being a warrior but he would never dare tell his mother that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Drykas boy had found enough time to sharpen and oil his axe, before his father and uncle were ready to depart. He decided though to leave his axe behind at the pavilion today and instead he carried his bow in his left hand and a quiver on his back. That way he could pratice his archery on their way back. He walked along side his father, Jaden, who in turn followed behind his younger brother. A dark cloud accompanied Shyll while he led the others toward the herd of clan horses. They all walked in silence on their way there.

Last year was more exciting to the young Drykas when they actually ventured to Endrykas to hopefully find a horse that would bond with Shyll on his seventeenth. Akarn shrugged, maybe his uncle was trying to force it to much, maybe it was because he was evil. Whatever the reason Akarn was glad no animal had chosen his uncle.

The trio had just made it to the outer edge of where the herd was residing when a colt, that had to be no more than a week or so old, started to wander in their direction. The gray colt with the mottled gray markings bobbed its head up and down neighing continuously on its way over to them. Akarn let out a little sigh that only he could hear, his uncle was finally going to get his wish. Perhaps his uncle would leave him alone for a while now.

Akarn could she Shyll straighten and stand taller than he ever had seen. The colt stopped in front of Shyll and lowered its head and then lifted it again, then continued past him and did the same thing to Jaden. Akarn's heart began to race. The next thing that the young Drykas warrior knew was that the strider was standing in front of him. The dapple-gray colt shook his head and with a gentle nudge nuzzled his nose in to the astounded boy.

The young Drykas boy smiled and could not help but laugh. Akarn hugged the horse about the neck and he knew the colts name in an instance. "Maverous!" Jaden smiled and rubbed his sons head and pride puffed out his chest.

Caught in the moment neither of them had noticed that Shyll had stalked off and neither had noticed that anger seethed from him. Akarn had stolen his moment and had stolen his strider. His nephew would pay for his insolence and arrogance, somehow, Shyll would make sure Akarn regretted this moment.

by **Akarn** on October 12th, 2012, 12:46 pm

Childhood Matters (FlashBack)
Spring 510 AV
Part 5

The leader of the Riverwalker pavilion took in a deep breath and let out a large regretful sigh. The morning fog floated above the ground like a white blanket and a moisture hung in the air. Jaden's massive arms dripped with the morning dew. His brows were pointed inwards and his eyes narrowed as he surveyed the crimson carnage. There was one dead glassbeak, also pieces of several horses lay scattered about so did the arm of a man. The man was one of the Ankal's cousins, he had been on guard last night and was probably the first to fall.

It was a hard fought battle in the early hours, but the clan had managed to kill one of the predators that attacked the herd and drove the others off. The encounter had taken a heavy toll upon the Riverwalkers. A skilled hunter and protector lost, two striders torn to shreds and a third had to be put down due to its injuries. Not to mention two of the Drykas warriors being tended to for their cuts and gashes. Akarn and his father had arrived towards the end of the battle and the glassbeaks was already in retreat.

Now everyone in camp was up from their nights slumber trying to help with the situation anyway they could. Akarn stood not too far away from his father and felt sorrow towards the death of man, strider and glassbeak. The Drykus teen understood that the glassbeak had to be killed, but even though something has to die does not mean you could not mourn its passing. Akarn had learned his father's lesson well; respect all life and only take a life out of necessity. Behind the boy was a large frame of a horse, Maverous, a magnificent dapple-gray strider that stood 16.5 hands high. The horse snorted almost as if in disgust at the scene before them.

The ground was uprooted and dug in to where the battle took place. The grass was painted with both human and horse flesh. The blood seeped between the stalks of grass and pooled in several of the new scars in the earth from hoof and talon. It was indeed a bloody mess and Akarn at first had felt a little queasy but the Drykas warrior in him would not let him show any sign of weakness.

The dead glassbeak lay sprawled out in the field. They reminded Akarn of a large flightless bird, but on their face, neck, chest and leg areas had tiny scales rather than the feather markings that adorned the rest of the body. This glassbeaks feather plumage was a mixture of vibrant blues and reds. They had translucent beaks and talons, hence their name. If the boy had to guess at the beasts size he would say this one was about 18 1/2 hands. A little taller than Maverous but much more deadly.

The elder Drykas took a few steps and stopped, he peered straight down at the ground. He turned to face his son and with two fingers motioned his son to his side. Akarn caught the gesture and moved to where his father stood with Maverous in tow. Jaden watched the two approach and was thankful that the two seemed inseparable. It could have been his son's horse that laid in pieces out here.

When the boy finally reached his destination, his father gestured his head downward. The boy stopped and tried to follow his father's line of sight. There several indentation in the wet earth below the trampled grass, there was one that was larger than the rest. Akarn knelt down and studied the depression. The young Drykas looked back up, "Is that two toes?" He asked not wanting to believe his eyes.
He had heard the stores and thought they were just that, stories. He had heard other warriors and hunters talk about Two Toes. A vicious glassbeak that actually roamed the Sea of Grass and was a true monster to behold. Whereas most glassbeaks stood around 18 hands tall it was rumoured that Two Toes was twice their size but it also depending on who was telling the tale. It was also said that he was missing half a talon off of one of its feet. Looking at this track this one was huge but could not stand past 24 hands.

Jaden nodded, "It appears so." Then Akarn saw something in his father he had never seen before and it was hard to describe. To the boy it almost looked like sorrow, but he had never seen his father sad before. The Ankal knew if it truly was two toes then he would return again and again until they were out of the beast's territory or killed. More Drykas were going to die and that was not a pleasant notion.

"Akarn, follow the tracks. Warn any other Drykas that you come across." Jaden did not like sending his own son in to harms way, but he was of age now. If Akarn was going to lead some day he could not be sheltered away from the horrors of being a warrior. "They are probably headed back to their nest, track them only. I will gather the men and the supplies we need. We should catch up to you by mid day."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The dapple-gray stallions powerful muscles rippled along the horses frame as it trotted along. Akarn gave his companions mane a light tug and the large strider came to a halt. The young Drykas teen slipped from the horses and paced the ground looking for the tracks again. Frustration began to set in, Akarn had to back track several times already because he kept losing the glassbeak's trail. Most of the trail had been easy to follow with the trampled grass but other parts of the trail where the grass seemed to thin made the task more difficult.

Maverous let out a snort to let his Drykas friend know how annoyed he was at having to keep stopping. Then the stallion turned and trotted several paces away and his gray ears turned this way and that. Once the Strider was sure that they were alone he bent down and tugged at a piece of grass. The horse raised its head and chomped the grass while it waited on his partner.

"There it is," Akarn whispered more to himself then to his strider. He stepped over by the tracks that he had found. He bent down to study them. The teen pulled back a tuff of his black hair and tucked it behind his ear while he tried to decipher the indentations. Judging by the length of stride and that the impacts were not as heavy the young tracker could tell the beasts had slowed down and were no longer running in haste. The young Drykas warrior pulled an arrow from his quiver and laid it on the ground to indicate his intended direction. The boy walked over to the huge strider and pulled himself back up on to the horses back.

The two set off again, wading back in to the sea the of golden grass. Akarn kept his gaze cast downward following the tracks with an occasion peak around to stay aware of his surroundings. Maverous let the boy guide him while he stayed alert, he knew what they were following and he knew the danger they could be in. Still the two forged forward following the predators hoping that they would not run out of track and face the beasts before Akarn's father found them.

by **Jackalope** on October 17th, 2012, 11:21 pm

An Intervention From A Jackalope!?!

Hey there, Akarn! I need a few things from you before I can grade! One, as a result of these flashbacks being so far apart, it would really be best if they were different threads. It's a book keeping thing, and it'll make it easier for you to track when you've threaded.

Along the same lines, when doing threads, a full date is required, even in flashbacks. If you could add a day to the season and year, that'll take care of things!

Once you have these taken care of, please let me know via PM and I'll be happy to get you graded.

Thanks!

by **Jackalope** on October 26th, 2012, 2:51 am

Akarn :

Good little thread. Not too much to award, but let me know if you have any questions.

Flashback Childhood Matters (Flashback)