Thread: The Diverted Path (DareToDream & Hahvy)

As Caleb walked through the woods, his feet following a barely seen game trail, he thought about his situation. The very notion that dragons lived had been nothing more than a wives tale for most people in the realm of Alaria and for someone like him, who lived in the remote wilderness with little interaction with others, their existence had remained a secret. Stumbling across the passing soldier, and learning what he had, brought hope for the first time in months and he would be damned if he would let it slip from his hands, not with his mothers life at stake. She had been the one constant in his life from childhood to adulthood, the one person that stuck by him through thick and thin. Hed never known his father, having been without him his entire life, and only knew that he was someone his mother had loved and respected. All she had told him growing up was that he had died when they were first together, before shed learned she was pregnant, and that the agony of his loss had driven her into the remote wilderness to live out her life caring for him. It was the only life hed ever known so when her illness came, along with the news, he knew what he had to do. Hed been walking for hours at that point, looking for signs along the way, and was closing in on the flat farmlands that lay miles outside his realm. Hitting the edge of the forest, he paused and let his eyes adjust to the light and lay of the land, then headed off towards a nearby farmstead. Bow hung over his shoulder with a quiver of arrows and his pack on his back he slowed as he neared a fence and heard human voices. The sounds were jumbled and frantic, anger clearly lacing them, so he approached with caution. Sighting them finally, he raised a hand and called out a greeting. Hello he hollered, shading his eyes from the sun. Can I be of any help? The man and woman both spun to face him, looks of wariness on their face. Caleb stood his ground, keeping his hands at his side. I mean you no harm he said as he watched them. I come from up on the mountain, seeking winged prey. You seemed upset and thought I could be of assistance. The womans eyes went wide as she sighted his bow and she turned, slapping the man on the arm, saying something to him in a low voice. The man nodded and stepped forward. I see you carry a bow, traveler the farmer said, pointing. Are you a hunter by chance? Caleb stepped forward them, nodding his head. Today I am. I hunt the dragon that Ive seen flying in the skies lately. The two farmers got excited by this news and approached him, explaining that theyd seen the very dragon he mentioned. More details were filled in over the next half hour and when he crouched down to examine the furrows in the ground he knew he was on the right track. The dragon had struck swiftly and flown off with one of their horses, no doubt to find someplace to eat. Looking in the general direction they pointed, he let a grim smile cross his face. He knew the mountainous terrain like the back of his hand and was aware of a number of caves in that direction. If he was right about his guess, the dragon might be near them and, with a full belly, might be easier prey. Nodding to the farmers, he bid them farewell and promised to do his best to bring down the dragon, then headed off.