I left the village. My home. The place I was always forbidden to leave. My leg doesn't hurt, but I still can't walk very well. My eye doesn't hurt. But I still can't see. I have injuries that you can physically see. But no pain. The only pain I feel is from losing everyone I've ever known. But you can't see those injuries.
I walk for miles. I'm starving. I'm walking for what seems like days, but the sun never goes down. I'm in a place I've never seen before. I haven't seen a single sign of anyone, or anywhere I could go. I hear some rustling in the bushes next to me. Startled, I hide for protection against whatever it may be. I find a tree that fell, and underneath it, there's a cubby that I fit myself into.
Out of nowhere, a pitch-black crow is staring at me in the face with his crimson-red eyes, about six inches from my nose. I'm trapped.
I hold my breath, not even blinking. But he flies to a nearby branch, just before pausing, as if he wants me to follow him. So, I stand up, and I start on his trail, keeping my distance. He guided me south, about three miles. Suddenly the trees get thinner, and I see a deer carcass. Appearing to be freshly dead. As we reach the dead carcass, the raven flies away, almost perfectly vertical. Finally- I have something to eat.
I started a fire. I make a knife out of some obsidian. Gut the deer as best as I could, remembering what my grandfather used to do after his hunting trips. After what seems like days, I finally have something to eat. As I take my first bite, I'm startled by my new friend, who lands on my shoulder. I feed him some of the food he guided me to, and he seems happy. I decided to name him. Vita. Which means Life.
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The next day, Vita and I decided to climb a nearby hill, which should overlook a mass of land, hoping to find which way to go next. It's a dangerous journey. I don't know if I'll make it for sure since the pain in my leg is starting to return. But I made my way up the hill anyway. The sun draws near the horizon, and I still have a long way to go. I have a backpack, the obsidian blade I fashioned, and some meat I dried out from the last meal we ate. As we near the top of the hill, Vita flies toward me, landing on my shoulder, cawing. I take my time progressing forward, as it seems like some sort of warning. Suddenly, I noticed a bear running toward me. He must have smelled the food I had in my bag. I tried running away, but the pain has fully returned to my leg, and I can't move very fast at all. That's when the bear catches up to me, and swipes across my face, with his massive claws.
There was that pause again, where I couldn't move, time seemed to slow down to a stop. And as the bear is attacking me, I think back on my journey. The hill was steep. I didn't think I was going to make it to the top to begin with. Honestly, it was a miracle I made it as far as I did. I made a friend. He fed me like he was my family. It's almost as if my family reincarnated into this raven, and they were protecting me. I wish I could move. But this is probably the end. I'm going to tumble down this hill, and there's nothing I can do about it. --- *Sssshhhtttpppp*
I fell. All the way to the bottom. At the same place I spent hours convincing myself that if I wanted to survive, I had to climb this hill. Now my leg is broken. I can't see. And now I'm bleeding profusely. There's no way I'll survive now. I guess this is the end, I thought as my vision went in and out. But right before I lose consciousness again, I see about four or five people standing around me as if they were there the whole time. Are they- helping me?
They're speaking but I can hardly make out what they're saying. I hear words like "Chosen one". Words like "The boy with the raven.", and "Village". What does all of this mean? Do I have a choice? Does it matter? I'm dying. They're either going to kill me or help me. It doesn't matter if I ponder over my fate. So, I lay there. I didn't ask for help. And if my life is going to be full of emptiness, and loneliness like it has been for the past five suns, then I don't want any help. I don't have a family anymore. I don't have friends anymore. Besides Vita. In my nine years of life, I've only attended one funeral. My grandmothers. And I didn't get a real chance to mourn my fellow villagers. All good things come to an end. All I could have wished for was a peaceful ending. But so be it. Hopefully, I'll be with my family soon in the next life. I think I'll let myself rest now.
I close my eyes, ignoring the people around me. And I drift off to sleep. Making my exit, as peaceful as I can.