Chapter 5: The Plains.
2,028 words.
Celestyn sighed as he walked out of the forest, leaning back to take the hot sun on his furred face. After a few moments, he looks back forward, but pauses at what he sees. "Is that... A giant fence..?" he mutters under his breath, staring at the sight before him.
A large fence, about 9 feet tall, was at the border of Hundestatd, guarded by tall muscular Canikin, wearing full steel plate armor. Celestyn approached them, and looked up at them, to the shorter one, which even then was still 7'3, 2 whole feet taller than Celestyn. "Uhhmm.. sir? why is there a fence here?" the Canikin looked down at Celestyn, and replied in a Hundestadt accent, "Oh, well, we've had so many tryin' to escape the plague, so... We've closed our borders. I assume that's why you're 'ere..?", Celestyn just stared up at him for a moment, before saying "u-uhm... n-no sir, uh, my.... family! lives in Hundestadt, i need to visit them, yeah!.. c-can i come through, sir..?", to which the Canikin just stood there for a moment, seemingly debating in his head, before replying ".... and you're... certain you're not just escaping the plague..?", Celestyn immediately answering with "one hundred percent sir..!", the Canikin reached up and rubbed his chin for a moment, before replying, "I dunno... You do seem awfully certain... hmm.. Barclay, what do you think?" the shorter Canikin turned to the taller one, who was paying no attention. The taller one looked over, and said ".. what?", to which the shorter said "Barclay, this here Vistakin wants through the fence 'ere", "Booker, you fuckin' dumbass, our job's not to let anyone through. No." the taller one, apparently 'Barclay' replied. 'Booker' turned back to Celestyn, and said "sorry li'l buddy, i'd let ya in but, i might lose me 'ead" and chuckles softly, before continuing "why dont you run off now? i'm sure your family's fine..!", Celestyn replied "o-oh uh... y.. yeah you're probably right...." and turned away, walking away back into the forest, before crouching down in a bush, muttering under his breath "well... that didn't work.. what now....??", after a few moments Celestyn decided to try and sneak past at night. Surveying the fence, he found the perfect spot, a tree, hanging over the fence, that Celestyn could climb up and over.
A few hours later, Celestyn looked to the sky, dark. He looked to where the crimson moon was, it was about 1:40 in the morning, Perfect. Celestyn looked over at the guards, both were distracted, half-asleep, Perfect. Celestyn slowly snuck over to the tree, glancing back at the guards every few seconds. Celestyn looked around, making sure nobody was around to see, before quickly climbing up the tree— making sure it wasn't slick first.—, and onto the main branch hanging over the fence. Celestyn crouches on the branch and looks down, and sees a bush. He looks back at the guards, still oblivious, good. Celestyn looked back to the bush, and slowly climbed down, but accidentally made a loud rustling. Celestyn quickly crouches in the bush, hiding. He hears the guards, Booker in specific, say "What was that..?", after a few moments, his friend, Barclay replied, "It's probably just a Rabbit.". Celestyn was relieved at this, and waited a few moments, before peeking out of the bush at the guards, who had turned back around. Celestyn quietly snuck out of the bush, and seeing nobody around, sprinted away from the fence at full-speed, NOT wanting to be seen by those guards.
After a few minutes of running, Celestyn stopped to take a breath, looking around. Around him, the grass was green, a few green trees around. Seeing so few trees and so far apart was slightly odd to Celestyn, considering he lived in a Forest his entire life. He gathered a few sticks and rocks, making another fire, then sat down next to it, unable to find any large sticks to make a shelter with. He looks around one more time, before laying down, and drifting off to sleep.
The next morning, Celestyn woke up, sitting up and yawning, looking to the sky, shielding his eyes from the sun, the heat on his face was an unfamiliar sensation, he was used to the cover of trees at all times. He looks to the fire pit, which had burnt out and gone cold. He got up and stretched for a moment, before making sure he still had all his belongings. Mirror, amulet, 12 gold, 19 silver, Hundestadt coin. Great, he thinks, before looking around, spotting a dirt trail. He pulls his bag onto his back again, and starts walking down the trail.
About another 40 minutes had past of walking, Celestyn was sweating from the heat of the sun beating down on him, panting slightly, not used to the heat of direct sunlight. He stopped for a moment, wiping his face and sitting still for a few minutes. Suddenly, he was frightened by the feeling of something in his pocket, he looked down to his pocket, and saw a hand reaching into his pocket, which quickly withdrew the coin in their hand. Celestyn pulled out his sword and turned to whoever just blatantly stole his coin, but they were sprinting away. He put his sword back and tried to sprint after them, but quickly found himself far too exhausted from the sun. He stopped, leaning down, hands on his knees, panting, wondering "Who the hell.. Just walks up to somebody and takes stuff from their pockets?? In the middle of nowhere???"
After about a minute, Celestyn looked at the ground, and found the person had left footprints in the grass, and decided to follow them. A few minutes later, Celestyn came to a small woods area, A little longer and Celestyn found a clearing in the mini-Forest, where the thief was sat by a fire, eating food— probably stolen food—, Celestyn looks around, seeing nobody else. Celestyn draws his sword and slowly sneaks up behind the thief, then slices their food clean in half as they go to take a bite, frightening the thief, causing them to scream, "WHO ARE YOU!? WHY'D YOU TAKE MY COIN?!" Celestyn shouted at them. The thief looks up at Celestyn, crawling backward away from him, fear and tears welling up in their eyes, their hood fell, and Celestyn paused as he saw their face... huh. They were a Canikin, but even shorter than Celestyn, they looked pretty young.. The thief had yellow fur, with white patches around their face— Celestyn thinks of the tribe Oro—, Celestyn asked "... I reiterate, who are you?", but the thief just stuttered out a noncomprehensible response. Celestyn sighed, and lowered his sword "I'm not really gonna hurt you.. Who are you...?", the Thief looked slightly relieved, but still frightened, and stuttered, their voice high pitched, "M-my name is uh.. is Alastair.. A-alistar Everwyn", the 'Alastair' said, "... And why exactly are you robbing random strangers in the middle of nowhere..?" Celestyn asked, and Alastair responded "W-well uhm... I-I wouldn't exactly call this the middle of nowhere, there's a town a few miles from here...", Celestyn replied "cool, answer the other half of the question.", "O-oh, uh... I-I dont exactly have a... home.. or job...." Alastair responded. Celestyn just paused for a few moments, before sighing, then saying "... so you're a homeless thief robbing travellers..?", "... y-yeah, that's uh.. that's about right...." Alastair replied. Celestyn just stared for a few moments, then sighed and said "... Can i have my coin back?", to which Alistar quickly pulled a coin out of a small bag and tossed it to Celestyn. Celestyn thought for a moment, then asked "If i stay here at your camp, you're not gonna rob me right..?" "O-of course not!" Alistar replied, "... Okay, try anything and i'll slice your fingers off... My name is Celestyn by the way, Celestyn Thornis." Celestyn said, then sheathed his sword, sitting down on the log next to the frightened Alistar.
A while later, to break the silence, Celestyn asked "So...", Alistar flinched, and looked at Celestyn, Celestyn continued, "How old are you?", Alistar stared at him blankly for a moment, before saying "M-my age? o-oh uh.. E-eighteen..", "Hm. A year younger than me, uh.. Okay." Celestyn replied, then looked back at the fire. After a few more moments of silence, Alistar spoke up "What happened to your antler?" while gesturing at Celestyn's broken left antler, Celestyn looked back over to Alistar, and said "Oh, uh... Fell out of a tree..", and Alistar just stared for a moment, before muttering "Was expecting something cooler.." under his breath. Alistar changed the topic, and asked "So uh... Y-you're from up north, right..? You're not gonna give me the plague are you..?", "Oh, uh, no, I dont have the plague, i ran away before it could get to me. If I had the plague, trust me, you'd know." Celestyn replied, which was met by Alistar's tense demeanor softening, with a soft relieved sigh, "Oh, phew, I was kind of afraid it was already too late for me" Alistar said, before chuckling softly. A few moments after, Alistar yawned loudly, stretching his arms upward, before leaning back sleepily, "You can rest if you want, 'Alistar'.. I wont slice your fingers off, you have my word.. so long as you keep yours." Celestyn said to the slightly younger boy, "O-oh uh... y-yeah, I think I will actually..", Alistar replied, looking around, then walking over to the other side of the fire, laying down, and curling up, drifting off to sleep. Celestyn watched him for a moment, making sure he really was asleep, before laying down, hugging his bag tight, and drifting off to sleep aswell.
The next morning, Celestyn woke up and slowly sat up, yawning, the morning sun beating down on him. He looks up toward the sky, still not used to the sensation of constant sun, before getting up stretching. He looks over to Alistar, who was still asleep. Celestyn pulled out his sword and decided to practice his slashing on a tree.
A while later, roughly 40 minutes, Alistar sat up, yawning, stretching his arms upward. Celestyn looks over and says "Oh," Alistar flinches, looking over at Celestyn, who continues "Good morning", and Alistar replies "O-oh uh... G-good morning..!... I-I kind of figured you'd have left by now..", "Nah, not yet.." Celestyn replied, then continued practicing on the tree. Alistar decided to grab his bag and look through it, ensuring Celestyn hadn't stolen anything... Nope, all his stuff was there.. Alistar looked back over to Celestyn and asked "S-so uh... Why are you attacking that tree..?", "Huh?.. Oh, no, i'm not attacking the tree, i'm practicing my swinging and slashing.", Celestyn replied, "O-oh uhm.. I-i've never swung a sword before.." said Alistar, as Celestyn continued slashing at the tree.
Another while later, Celestyn stops, sheaths his sword, and wipes the sweat from his face. He turns and walks back over to the camp, and sat down, then said "... So, which way is this town you talked about..?", Alistar looked up from what he was doing, before he said "O-oh uh, J-just a few miles west..", Celestyn said "Thank you." then got up grabbed his bag, and started walking west. Alistar asked "O-oh you're.. leaving now?", Celestyn looked back at him, then said ".. Yeah..?", Alistar stared at him for a few moments, "O-okay uh... bye.." he said. Celestyn turned back around and continued walking, but he was cut off a few moments later, "W-wait...", Alistar said, and Celestyn looked back at him, "... C-could uh.. C-could i come with you....?", Celestyn paused, and thought for a moment, before saying "Uhm... Are you gonna steal any of my stuff again?", Alistar replied with "O-of course not..! I dont rob friends.. C-considering you're my only friend so far..", and Celestyn said "Sure, you can come with, I dont care." Alistar's face brightened slightly as Celestyn said this, eagerly rising to his feet, and picking up his bag, "Th-thank you.." Alistar said, before rushing over next to Celestyn, and they both started walking together.