"Sigh… Why are you so bothersome?" A woman rubbed the area between her brows, barely being able to spare a glace towards the teenagers kneeling before her. Who else could it be if not Crow's mother? She was punishing these kids. Just a little.
"Haha! I told you not to go, but no you said you were big and strong. Mother wouldn't do anything .Now look at you." An adorable little girl with cute dimples was caught giggling as she sat peeking through the holes on one of the chair in their dining.
She couldn't have been older than ten years old. She was a brunette like her mother, but she had blue eyes instead of amber, thereby the name, Mryleen Frost Walker.
Crow glared at her only to find her sticking out her tongue. His expression turned dark immediately. He had specifically told this sister of his to keep this mother of his out of the kitchen where she could see him.
How the hell did she see him if this brat was doing her job? She had clearly sold him out for the food on her side of the table.
Now he was all blacks and blues. He would make sure to get her back. He had been wronged, who could possibly bare to harm this handsome face of his? When thinking about this, his expression only darkened further.
"Mrs. Walker, we had no part in this! We tried warning Crow directly but he ignored us, we could only sigh in defeat of he leapt into death's embrace."
Nathanael spoke with an unknown passion, having the aggrieved expression of one who had been wronged. How could the world possibly understand his troubles? Though he did break out in cold sweat, He only hoped Crow wouldn't be the cause of his death after this.
Ben seeking not to be outdone, held unto his chest is sorrow but before he could say a word he found out that hands had enclosed on his throat.
He felt wronged. He hadn't even said anything yet. Why leave Nathanael and go after him? The heavens were unfair! They were unfair!
Nathanael gulped down in fear. It seems his worries were not unfounded.
"I believe what they were trying to say is that, they supported me boosting my moral. I would have never succeeded without them mother." Crow said through a warm smile.
Most would be deceived by his words, unfortunately his mother had long become used to it. She knew how mischievous this son of hers was.
"Drop the act. Mryleen already informed me of your machinations. Also let Ben." Mrs. Walker let out a light chuckle, mesmerizing the boys… This was a mother.
Crow unwillingly let go of Ben next, the person in question being as melodramatic as he was, let out a tears of joy.
"Crow don't always look for danger. The life you seek is not one of peace. Why can't you stay in one place?" Anna sighed to herself. This boy will never learn.
"Yeah…sorry. I will not do it again." He sat crossed leg and looked away from her. Whether his apology was to Ben or his mother, maybe only he knew.
Anna let out a smile.
Just then someone walked into the house with a dead deer on his shoulder. He noticed the atmosphere was a bit off when he saw his 16 year old son sitting on the floor while his friends were kneeling.
It was even stranger, that the person at the center of it all, being his wife, was smiling. Something was off here.
"Did I miss something…" Theodore Walker muttered to himself. He really didn't want the answer, he could feel a headache coming.
After much effort on Theodore's part his wife finally agreed to leave the kids alone. Theodore could only shake his head when he saw the way Anna was acting. Women were really hard to understand. He's been at it for twenty years and even he was still confused.
Crow sat outside as he watched his old man chop wood out back. Their town was nothing special, most of the buildings, besides the town hall, were wooden cabins.
The life here was really simple, separated from the outside world and its own problems. They did patrol constantly due to the forest that covered the eastern area of the town, but relatively speaking? He felt safe.
There were said to be strange creatures that lurked around the area recently, causing security to go up. Maybe that way the major reason his mom was so worried.
Crow though believed it to be superstition. Monsters? They didn't exist. Why was everyone so scared of mythical creatures?
"Crow!" Theodore called out, wiping the sweat that had built up on his forehead. He had been going at it now for a while now, maybe a little over two hours, making him rather tired.
"Dad?" Crow turned his head, making eye contact with his father.
He usually continued until dinner without saying a word. They had this silent moment once a week when the wood started to run out, so he answered immediately when his father broke this silence.
He father signaled towards a tree stump nearby. Crow figured that Theodore wanted to tell him something, so pulling down his light gray hoodie, he walked over.
"Sit."
Crow was skeptical as to what his father wanted to say, but still did as he was told. He isn't going to hold what happened earlier to heart is he? No. He knew Theodore didn't mind him moving around too much.
"Crow. I know you've always been an explorer, a dreamer. This small town of ours probably bores you right?" Theodore chuckled slightly as he let out a punching motion, Crow following his steps.
Seeing this he laughed out and stretched his hand forward to play with Crow's hair, causing the sixteen year old boy to pout, looking rather adorable. Theodore stopped after a while and sighed. This boy had his mother's genes.
Crow felt his father's mood was rather off. His father, Theodore was a rather hard man. Very muscular, full beard, low cut, blue eyes. Always wearing that damn tank top on the inside of his shirt that he never bothered to button.
But everyone who knew him liked him because his heart was soft and caring. He looked especially heroic due to the glasses he wore, he looked up to Theodore. The man in question though, looked a little sad.
"Remember the story I would tell you every night before you went to bed. The one with the aliens, the magic, you know, the one you always loved? Its time I told you the full story…"
"Crow." His father's expression turned serious immediately, forcing Crow to listen attentively. His father rarely got serious, so he didn't want to miss a single word he said.
"This world is not as it seems. It is not one of peace and order and love like I had taught you to embrace. This world is embroiled in hatred, envy and futility before a higher power.
"The real name of this world is Urath, meaning, sadness and sorrow…"
Crow was marveled and fascinated by these words. The world is not as I know it… Why is he telling me this now though? I don't remember there being a special occasion today. Crow had a bad feeling bubbling inside him.
"There are many different creatures in charge of this world and beyond. Dragon Seed, Serpents, Demons…
"Humans are simply a small part of it all. This puzzle that hasn't been solved.
"This world is dangerous, even something as small as speaking out of line can cause your head to roll." Theodore become more forceful with his words, scaring Crow a bit.
He calmed down, but it seemed the clouds would not. Turning dark as the feathers of a raven, thunder clapping it's all so mighty hands, as if afraid no one would hear it. The winds were starting to build, causing Crow hair to raise on ends.
"I took too long, It is already here…" Theodore muttered to himself.
Anna stood in the kitchen, tears pouring out her eyes when she realized what would soon befall them.
"Mommy? What wrong? Are you scared of the rain?" Mryleen saw her tears and asked out of concern.
"Nothing Mryleen, Come with me." Cleaning her tears, Anna dragged Mryleen along with her, moving quickly.
"Remember Crow… Trust no one. I have done my part but I can keep you here no longer." Theodore looked up to the sky above. He seemed to be searching for something in particular.
"Wait what are you talking abo-", Crow was confused but before he could say his piece, Theodore violently took hold of him, which scared Crow a bit but got him listening again.
"Listen to me! Taken your sister and-"
"D…Dad?!"
Crow looked at the brain matter than covered his body from head to toe… He couldn't understand what was happening. Why was dad's head missing?
Far away, above the clouds, someone clenched their fist wallowing in sorrow… They already knew how it ended. But they could not interfere.
[Author's Note: Hey what did you think of that melodramatic scene?]