[Flashback] Be Very, Very Quiet. I'm Hunting.... (self-mod)

[Owen Westley]

3rd of Fall, 509 AV

Owen was pleased to finally have a day or two to rest. He had enjoyed his time sailing and now knew why shoreleave was so important. Being home gave him time to reflect on his journey and what the future would hold. Sixty days he spent at sea. Sixty days of not being able to shoot a bow. At least his father had taken care of it while he was gone. Picking it up, Owen began to examine the curve and grain of the wood. A rush of memories flooded his mind.

"Son," his father bellowed, "grab your pack we are heading out." It was Owen's ninth birthday and his father was taking him hunting. It was becoming an annual event with the two. Since the age of five, this day for the past four years have been one of the best days in the young boy's life.

"Father," Owen began to ask in a young voice, "where are we heading this year?"

"The wilderness," he replied.

Owen shook his head. He knew where they were heading. It was always the wilderness. He just wanted to know where. As he looked to his father to justify his question, Owen the smile that graced his father's face. They bothed laughed. He loved this time.

[Owen Westley]

The hike, as Owen remembered, was uneventful. The long path the pair took never appeared to grow back. Even as Owen got older, he realized that the path was no secret. Just one that everyone took. However at the age of nine, Owen just followed his father happy for the time they were to spend together.

Finding a clearing, Owen's father left the path and went deeper into the woods. Owen did not recognize the location. But then again everything to him looked the same. They walked for roughly two hours stopping to let the boy rest his weary feet. Although Owen was an active young boy, this was more than he remembered. He was relieved when his father finally halted and set down his pack. "We will set up camp here."

Owen began the tasks that were already second nature. He cleared an area in the center of what would be camp and began to hunt for rocks. These rock would outline the fire pit where food and warmth would be prepared. With the pit ringed, Owen next task was to find wood for the fire. Both tasks took longer than he expected.

His father had already gone hunting and two plump rabbits were now being gutted and skinned. Supper would be tasty tonight. Well once Owen got the fire started.

[Owen Westley]

Why won't you light? Owen began cursing under his breath. He had followed his father's directions. Directions that were told to him years prior, yet seemed like yesterday. Light damn you.

He drew the blade of his knife over his small piece of flint. Nothing. Owen had at least hoped a small spark would fly. In the back of his mind, he knew his father was watching him. He struck the steel to the flint. A tiny flash fizzled.

Owen decided to move the flint closer to the small pile of bark shavings before him. Striking the flint in three rapid successions the sparks caught the shavings and a small wisp of smoke rose from the center. Success! Carefully blowing on the embers, the flames rose. Owen quickly began to add the small kindling. The fire grew in it's intensity. Within the course of a few minutes, Owen had produced a blaze fit for their dinner.

Owen stomach growled.

[Owen Westley]

Licking the juices from his fingers, Owen settled down by the fire. His father had always known how to make things taste good. The rabbits had just enough meat to satisfy the young one. Once the fired had been started, his father set about placing the newly caught food on a skewer. It was basically a long stick he sharpened at one end. The other end he stuck in the ground. Owen laughed at the site of the floating carcasses.

Before bedding down for the night, Owen's father told him what the next day events would be. They were going hunting. It would be Owen's job to find, track, and bring down their next meal. "What am I to find?" Owen asked his father. "Whatever you can find that will feed the both of us," he replied, "Now get some sleep son, you are going to need it."

As Owen closed his eyes, he began to think about what his father told him. What should I go after? That thought hung in his head, as the sounds of the forest lulled him to sleep. Night drifted by, as the young boy slept. His dreams were filled with wondrous sights. Scores of rabbits hopped by. Deer bounded through tall grass. Ducks quacked in a nearby waterhole. A smile crossed the lips of the sleeping child. The morning would hopefully bring the satisfaction his dreams left him.