I walk past hundreds of trees, stepping on twigs and leaves, carrying a dead deer on my back. I was beginning to get very sweaty. It wasn't hot, in fact it was kind of cold, but that didn't stop me from profusely sweating. Carrying deer around isn't easy, but I'd make it home eventually.
I feared wolves would approach and try to take my game, but I wouldn't let that happen. Those wolves would just be coming with me if they dared. I think they've grown to fear me though. The only wolves now that come onto my land are the ones that are desperate for food (That's part of the reason why I leave bait out as well).
I reached a river. It was streaming downhill, and it was clear as day. You could see to the bottom of that river, and all the fish swimming through it too. I set down the dead deer and I grabbed my net and reached into the river with it. Almost instantly I caught a fish, but it unfortunately jumped out and back into the river and swam away. These fish are always hard to catch, they are slippery, they jump around until their final breath, and they are overall, a pain in the neck.
I know I said there were usually animals around these rivers, but most of them flock to the bigger ones. There are 3 main rivers. They are big, and all of them are about equal in size. I'm not at any of those three, however the 3 main rivers break of into branches. I'm on one of those branches, so if I follow the river up East, I could get to the main river. But that will have to be for when I get back. I still need to drop off my Buck.
I stood at the river for a while longer, trying to successfully catch some fish, but I was never able to. I pulled my net out of the river and shook some of the extra water off. My fish bag was empty, but at least I had my deer.
There was suddenly a strong gust of wind, and the smell of smoke became very prominent. I coughed instinctively, and tried to locate the source. I looked around, trying to see if I could smell where it's coming from. I then picked my stuff up and walked towards the source.
I reached a clearing in the trees. It wasn't a big clearing, not like the kilometers of plains in some places. It was nice though. I set my stuff down and looked up to see the sun. It was a different color than usual, and it seemed to be smaller. I looked to the ground to see my shadow, pointing towards the sun. I turned around to see another sun, the original. I turned back around to see the second sun dissolve into a powdery substance, like ashes. It was… that thing! The thing that I saw in the corner of my eye when I was leaving for the city. But the ashes flew away in the wind again.
I cursed under my breath, regretting the missed opportunity to finally see what it was. I kneeled to grab my stuff and leave.
"Hello!" Said a familiar voice. I looked up to see a flaming bird. I screamed fell backwards onto my butt. "Woah woah, there's no need to be afraid." It said reassuringly.
"How are you speaking to me?" I asked.
"Your questioning why I can speak instead of why I'm a bird that's on fire?" He questioned. "You ought to get your priorities straight mister!"
I said nothing, I only stared. I mean what could I say? A mythical creature was speaking to me. They call these Phoenixes right? It must've been what I was seeing in my dream.
"How did you get in my dreams?" I asked.
"I don't know what you're talking about." The Phoenix turned its head away, as if it was a pouting child.
"You're lying! You expect me to believe a flaming bird that can speak can't get in my dreams?"
"Sir, there is a lot I can do, but infiltrating your dreams are not among those things."
"Okay then what can you do?"
The Phoenix's eyes lit up, as if it was waiting for me to ask that.
"Well I can fly, turn to ashes, appear in dreams apparently…" the Phoenix said sarcastically.
"Do you have any useful abilities?" I asked. The Phoenix was not amused by my question, because he just went quiet for a second.
"I'll have you know," it continued. "Those are all very important to my survival!"
"Okay okay," I said. "Fine, but what are you stalking me for?"
"I've come to warn you Mr. Gannon." It said very seriously, contrary to his silly attitude just seconds earlier. "You are going to die."
"What?" I asked in shock. As if seeing a fictional creature in real life wasn't enough, it just told me I was going to die.
"And your brother is the one who will kill you." The Phoenix added. I looked at him, in more confusion than shock now.
"My brother will kill me?"
"Mhmm, indeed he will"
"Impossible! He would never!"
"I'm very sorry you feel that way, but that won't help you survive."
"You're lying!" I exclaimed, as I raised my arms. I don't know what I was going to do with them, but I feel that I was going to probably punch or grab the Phoenix.
"You ought to think twice before you get third-degree burns" the Phoenix reminded me.
"Well maybe there is some way I can get him to change his mind?!"
"Hah hah!" The bird laughed at the question. "What are you going to do? Talk to him? He'll just kill right then and there!"
I thought about it. He was right. What would I do? I don't think I could've done anything. This was a destiny, my fate, is there any escape? Wait… What if I stopped him in other ways. What if I made him unable to even kill me. It was perfect, a genius idea, but I had no plan.
"What can I-" I looked up to see a pile of ashes, and the Phoenix was gone.
I picked my stuff up and went back home. When I got there, I put everything down, and sat down at my table just trying to think. I intertwined my hands and pushed them against my forehead. I closed my eyes, but all I could see was my brother, watching me in fear.
The sun still had yet to go down, but it felt so late. My thoughts raced, as soon as one started, another thought began, and the last was forgotten. Ever since the Phoenix said I was going to die to the hands of my brother, this feeling in my heart hasn't left me. It was similar to the feeling I had when my dad died.
I desperately wanted to go back to a time when I didn't know about this. I wanted to go back to yesterday, and end this all. But… what if I still could? What if I just invited him for dinner again, and killed him before he had the chance? There's no way he would know! He will be like the birds in the forest. By the time he realizes, it'll already be too late.
"But he's my brother!" I told myself. "I'm supposed to care for him…" This moral dilemma stumped me, but does it matter if my brother already wants to kill me?
I got back up and gathered my stuff once again. Bow, arrows, fishing net and bag. "I can think about it while I'm out." I told myself, as I walked out the door.
I closed the door behind me and turn around and I noticed something on the fence. Ashes.
"I think my life just got a lot harder."