- Invitation Status
- Not accepting invites at this time
- Posting Speed
- One post per week
- Writing Levels
- Adept
- Advanced
- Adaptable
- Preferred Character Gender
- Primarily Prefer Male
- Genres
- Historical fiction/Period (primarily ancient or Victorian era), supernatural, paranormal/lite-horror, mythological, Western/early settlement, lite fantasy.
'… across the river and through the woods…'
'Don't venture there.'
'… they say our kingdoms used to be one long ago…'
'I've seen them, they hide in the forest and scare little wimps like you!'
'They're an enemy nation.'
'No one cares to defend the border—everyone knows how close it is.'
'… it's best you don't venture there.'
…
"Danya, how many times must I repeat myself? Don't venture out there! If I hear from Alexei one more time that you have crossed the Tuzkaya border, I will have your hide!"
Danya had played the innocent when his mother issued her warning earlier that morning. Instead, he reassured her that his dear cousin Alexei was just a liar and that Danya was merely going into the wood to practice shooting squirrels. His mother had let him go eventually but he couldn't forget the strange look she had given him. It was the same look she gave Papa every time he left for war.
Danya had heard many things about the border between Tuzkaya and their neighboring country--mostly that he shouldn't go there—but the low security and proximity to his home tempted him every time he went out to play. He was sure the poor squirrels appreciated his distraction, at least.
The young, pale-skinned boy was now hiding under the shade of a newly blossomed tree. He tore heartily into the bread and cheese his mother had packed for him. Danya had worked up an appetite paddling across the river himself. Usually Alexei would be here to help him cross, but his cousin had apparently overheard Danya calling him a liar. Danya would be adventuring on his own for a while.
Bloated and satisfied, Danya stretched to the tips of his toes. He emerged from the shade and grinned into the sunlight that burned his face. He had missed the sunshine and warmth. Winter had ended only a month prior and Danya welcomed the encroaching spring. With the changing seasons, too, came the lengthening of the days. He would have a long time to explore today—he was sure to reach the other country by mid noon!
Danya triple-checked that he had tied his raft to shore correctly and headed east towards the thick trees that bordered the lake shore. His father's friends had said that the neighboring country was close but now that he'd crossed the river and approached the surrounding forest, he could see the other country wasn't close at all. Even so, the thrill of the unknown was enough to keep him going. He amused himself with fantasies about what he'd see: he was sure Alexei was just teasing when he'd said that people hid in the trees.
Danya's pace slowed. Alexei was teasing… right?
The young boy put a hand to his throat. He suddenly found it hard to swallow for some reason. He was probably just thirsty. He had walked two miles so far and paddled across a restless river all by himself. He decided to stop and rest again.
As Danya drank from his water skin, his eyes travelled up into the foliage before him. The forest was dense and rose in levels. Danya had always assumed he had to cross level ground—now he wasn't so sure.
And forest creatures. How could he possibly forget about that? He had brought his slingshot to fool his mother but he knew he'd stand no chance against a creature larger than a squirrel. He hadn't even marked his path thus far—what if he had to escape quickly and couldn't find his way?
Danya flopped down where he stood, overwhelmed by his stupidity. He hadn't even made it into the forest opposite the river. Things had seemed much easier and a lot less scary with Alexei beside him. He shouldn't have come here, Mama was right.
And yet… he had come so far already.
Perhaps if he moved in a straight line and didn't venture from the path, he'd be able to just turn around and run straight back if he needed to. Yes… that made sense.
Danya gathered his nerve and stood. Swallowing down mouthfuls of air, Danya pierced the forest opposite the river. The border couldn't be far. He had heard too much to the contrary.
The young boy kept quiet and alert as he picked his way through the trees.
'Don't venture there.'
'… they say our kingdoms used to be one long ago…'
'I've seen them, they hide in the forest and scare little wimps like you!'
'They're an enemy nation.'
'No one cares to defend the border—everyone knows how close it is.'
'… it's best you don't venture there.'
…
"Danya, how many times must I repeat myself? Don't venture out there! If I hear from Alexei one more time that you have crossed the Tuzkaya border, I will have your hide!"
Danya had played the innocent when his mother issued her warning earlier that morning. Instead, he reassured her that his dear cousin Alexei was just a liar and that Danya was merely going into the wood to practice shooting squirrels. His mother had let him go eventually but he couldn't forget the strange look she had given him. It was the same look she gave Papa every time he left for war.
Danya had heard many things about the border between Tuzkaya and their neighboring country--mostly that he shouldn't go there—but the low security and proximity to his home tempted him every time he went out to play. He was sure the poor squirrels appreciated his distraction, at least.
The young, pale-skinned boy was now hiding under the shade of a newly blossomed tree. He tore heartily into the bread and cheese his mother had packed for him. Danya had worked up an appetite paddling across the river himself. Usually Alexei would be here to help him cross, but his cousin had apparently overheard Danya calling him a liar. Danya would be adventuring on his own for a while.
Bloated and satisfied, Danya stretched to the tips of his toes. He emerged from the shade and grinned into the sunlight that burned his face. He had missed the sunshine and warmth. Winter had ended only a month prior and Danya welcomed the encroaching spring. With the changing seasons, too, came the lengthening of the days. He would have a long time to explore today—he was sure to reach the other country by mid noon!
Danya triple-checked that he had tied his raft to shore correctly and headed east towards the thick trees that bordered the lake shore. His father's friends had said that the neighboring country was close but now that he'd crossed the river and approached the surrounding forest, he could see the other country wasn't close at all. Even so, the thrill of the unknown was enough to keep him going. He amused himself with fantasies about what he'd see: he was sure Alexei was just teasing when he'd said that people hid in the trees.
Danya's pace slowed. Alexei was teasing… right?
The young boy put a hand to his throat. He suddenly found it hard to swallow for some reason. He was probably just thirsty. He had walked two miles so far and paddled across a restless river all by himself. He decided to stop and rest again.
As Danya drank from his water skin, his eyes travelled up into the foliage before him. The forest was dense and rose in levels. Danya had always assumed he had to cross level ground—now he wasn't so sure.
And forest creatures. How could he possibly forget about that? He had brought his slingshot to fool his mother but he knew he'd stand no chance against a creature larger than a squirrel. He hadn't even marked his path thus far—what if he had to escape quickly and couldn't find his way?
Danya flopped down where he stood, overwhelmed by his stupidity. He hadn't even made it into the forest opposite the river. Things had seemed much easier and a lot less scary with Alexei beside him. He shouldn't have come here, Mama was right.
And yet… he had come so far already.
Perhaps if he moved in a straight line and didn't venture from the path, he'd be able to just turn around and run straight back if he needed to. Yes… that made sense.
Danya gathered his nerve and stood. Swallowing down mouthfuls of air, Danya pierced the forest opposite the river. The border couldn't be far. He had heard too much to the contrary.
The young boy kept quiet and alert as he picked his way through the trees.
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