Where are we now?||Sole||

Sam King
Wanderer

I sit on the stump and try to make myself busy, but the truth is, I'm not in the best of forms, where usually I'd be active, making wisecracks every time I went to the districts, now I just glared and tried to get out before I had to speak to anyone for more than what I needed.

Keeping myself busy helps, not much, but some. Like now. I'm sitting on the stump, one of my knives in my hand, a small stone in the other. Knifes need to stay sharp, otherwise they're useless. I continue with my work, the scape of stone on metal breaking the silence.

Scrape. Scrape. Scrape. Slip.

The knife slides of the stone at an angle and goes into the palm of my right-hand, being left-handed, it could be worse, but then again, it could be better, "Owch", I shout loudly, more in surprise than pain. I sigh and pull out a medical kit, it's times like these I wish Brit were here...actually, it's any time I wish Brit were here.

I can hear noises nt too far away. Growls, snuffles and the sound of paws on the ground. A stray dog maybe, or a wolf. Usually I left them alone, wolves in an area kept things like bears and mountain lions away, a pack being able to bring down oretty much anything. But if it was hungry it might go after me instead. I sigh and flex my now bandaged hand, seems fine, so I lift my bow and sheath my knife, throw my quiver on my back and walk quietly off towards the source of the noise.

I can see the wolf. It's after something, it's sniffing around and looking at something out of my line of sight. It's pre-occupied so I should get it easily. I notch and arrow and stretch back the bowstring. Aim and...

The arrow flies from my bow and hits the wolf right between it's left eye and the ear of the same side, right into the brain, it didn't know what hit it. There didn't seem to be any more, this one appeared to be...well...a lone wolf. I suddenly remember it was after something...maybe someone? I give it a try.

"Hello, is anyone over there? The wolf's gone, I killed it".

I hear no reply. Maybe it was a deer or something then. I get another arrow and prepare to advance, if it was, I'd have some good eating tonight...but just in case, "Hello, definately noone there?"

It comes as a shock, naturally. Expecting an injured wanderer or a startled deer for dinner...and finding the person you love. I think I'm hallucinating, I probably am, hell I'm probably crazy. My voice comes out in a rasp, "Brit, is that you?"

I think I'm dreaming, I must be...but she just touched me, I'm not dreaming, I can't be, it's...

"Brit, It's really you!" I exclaim, I wrap my arms around her, "It's really you", I repeat half to myself...

"Brit, do me a favour", I say into her ear, "If I ever even mention leavingyou again, for any length of time, please hit me as hard as you can. Repeatedly".