After a few hours of traveling, I was tired. I decided to set up my tent like 50 meters away from the road. I did it so that my tent was hard to spot for someone who was just passing by. It was rather quick. My father taught me how to set up a tent as fast as possible. It was a one-person tent which my grandfather already used but it was sturdy and completely waterproof because it had a completely closable entrance which made it very expensive.
One time a merchant offered me five silver coins for it but I refused because I wanted to keep a memorial of my grandfather. I washed myself in a nearby lake and then closed the tent. The fact that it was 100% waterproof and was closable had another advantage. It reduces the chance of a wild beast smelling you which is really good considering this is a tent for a person travelling alone.
I had a dream about my sister. In my dream I saw her dying she breathed faster and faster until she stopped and never did again.
In the afternoon on the same day, I snuck out of the house I packed my things and started to walk again. I took out my map and followed the landmarks. I still wasn't a pro at reading maps but it was enough. I oriented myself with certain landmarks or other things.
At noon I arrived at a small village. I saw kids my age playing with each other. I wished that that day I wouldn't have played with my sister. "Hey young boy where are you going?" a man said to me as went trough the small market. "I'm going to another kingdom" I said a little bit proud of myself. "If you need something for your way I have a few things you could need for only a few copper coins" he said. "Thank you but I have everything I need."
I said with a smile and continued walking. He called out to me: "Don't get yourself killed out there boy!"
After I left the village I finally realized what I was doing. "Mom and dad must be worried sick. And dad must be angry I put any trust in these gods. But I need to do this for my sister" I said to myself.
I continued walking. "The path ends here I said to myself" Now I didn't follow the path anymore. I walked across the grassland. In the distance I heard cows. Probably a farmer's. I thought that because I could also hear the bells which hung on the cow's necks.
I was walking for hours in a straight line hoping to see the lake I planned to use as a landmark for navigating. It was already getting dark, and I couldn't see anymore. I drank some water I collected at the last river I found on my way and put up my tent again.
I laid down with my small training bow next to me. I listened to the sounds outside. I couldn't hear anything. Not even a bird. Then I fell asleep. I had the same dream as the last time I slept. I saw my sister dying.
I opened my eyes. A sound from outside the tent woke me up. On my left side I could see a shadow trough the wall of my tent. Whatever the reason of this shadow was it was pretty close to my tent. I slowed down my breath and tried not to make a sound.
Then right next to my head the shadow changed. A sound came from the outside. I looked directly at the sharp teeth of wolf. I had no Idea but in this moment, I prayed for it not to be a black wolf but rather for it to be a red one.
The wolf walked around my tent for a few times. It stopped at my feet and started sniffing. Then it continued walking around my tent. It stopped again but this time at my head. I could see the snout of the wolf pressing into the fabric of my tent. I hold my breath.
The wolf started sniffing again. It sniffed a few times and then turned away. Its shadow vanished. I continued lying there for a few minutes still trying to be as quiet as possible because I don't want to let the wolf know I'm here.
I took out my small bow and left the tent. I climbed a rock near it and looked around the area. I didn't see anything but grass. And a few trees. I closed my eyes and exhaled. "I was lucky this time"
With my eyes still closed I was able to hear the sound of a small stream flowing I jumped down the rock and followed the sound. Not far away from my tent there was wooden tank with a small water stream constantly filling It up.
I took out my water bottle which was wrapped in a few materials so that the water would stay cold as long as possible. I filled it up and then drank a bit and then filled it up again. I took a hand full of water and washed my face with it.
I then started to walk back to my tent. This time I didn't climb the rock but walked around it. I stopped moving as I saw a black wolf right besides my tent. It was chewing on a dead animal. I wasn't able to determine which animal it was because it was torn into many pieces which were laying all over the place.
Slowly I raised my bow and pointed it at the neck of the wolf. "If I hit its neck directly even, I should be able to kill it." I pulled the arrow back and aimed. I slowed down my breath and…
The tip of the bow broke up and shot directly at my face. "Shit"