Three boys gathered at the edge of the woodland, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. The moon bathed the village in dim hues as they eagerly awaited the return of their friend, the one who had risked capture to secure a bottle of wine for their celebration.
Soon enough, the sound of hurried footsteps cut through the air, and the prodigal boy emerged from the path, his breath still heavy from the encounter with Master Ta. He held up the coveted bottle with an exhilarated grin, symbolizing their youthful spirit. The others cheered, celebrating their friend's bold feat.
Walking back to the huts, the boys shared the spoils, passing food and drink from hand to hand, laughter mingling with stories of narrow escapes. Each boy went on their own mission, risking crossing fates with a lashing. One boy, his eyes bright red with mischief, leaned closer and whispered, "Guess what? Our master caught me sneaking around the cellar, but he let me go!"
"No Way!" A boy with green eyes shocked, mouth full of cheese.
"I told you he is loved and favored." Said a brown-eyed boy leaning close to smack the back of the wine thief. "If it were me, I would have had two lashes in the back before a word was even said." Leaning away from him, he continued, "But you are special. You know the right words to say every time." He pauses for a moment. But his curiosity breaks his closed mouth to an open smile. "What did you and Master Ta talk about?"
The boy looked at his friends, his red eyes burning with energetic passion. "We talked about how we must stay friends and share in nights like this. Also, we should all be Hunter." He gave a bright grind at the end of his words, along with a head jest. "Loyalty above all."
"Loyalty above all," the other boys said together, laughing along the dirt path.
A spark of excitement illuminated their hearts. Tomorrow was their chance—a momentous day to see them join the village army. The boys exchanged solemn glances, their voices filled with determination. They discussed their aspirations, sharing dreams of titles and the respect they would bring.
"I just can't wait to get out of these huts." Blue eyes stare at the lantern in the middle of the hut, made out of straw and mud, while lying on a bed of straw. He continues, "This is where we stayed ever since we were 8. We only saw the Masters and the Officers. I miss the nursery. I miss our caretaker."
"And soon, we will be able to see them again!" After finishing the last cheese, the green-eyed boy tells his friend. "We will be able to see whatever we want. We will have our names-"
"And titles!" Standing on top of his bed, brown eyes hid in the dark. We will all be soldiers! Protectors of this village! The Masters will never be able to make us Hunters!"
"Naming is tomorrow. We need to sleep. Goodnight, everyone." Scarlet turned to crimson as the lantern was turned off.
The boys lay in their beds, seeing themselves as defenders of the weak, rising above their current stature to become beacons of hope. The prospect of newfound authority and camaraderie ignited a fierce determination within them, propelling them forward on this shared path.
The boys made a pact to face the challenges that lay ahead together. They swore to support one another and lend strength and courage in times of doubt. Their imaginations intertwine with the rhythm of the night. In the midst of their dreams, they caught glimpses of a future where they were more than just the boys with no names—a future where they would leave an indelible mark on their village, forever altering its destiny.