Ugh! Can't you do this! cried the little brother, "I've been at this for hours".
The boy looked about twelve years old and had long black braided hair and a bulky muscular body that stood out for his age.
"Muskrat, stop being dramatic! You started five minutes ago" said Whiskey-Jack
Things have been hard on the two for the last few months, their father has been away hunting, forcing the brothers take on all the household chores.
"Besides I've already done most of the work we just need to chop a few more logs".
Whiskey-Jack was a tall lanky sixteen year old boy with long unkempt hair, what stood out about his appearance was his unnatural silver colored eyes.
He was always complimented about them from his mother, but whenever he looked into his mother and father's eyes, he couldn't see any resemblance. Always leaving him confused as to how he inherited his eye colour.
What confused him even further, was the completely different body structure between him and his little brother. Muskrat often teasing him that their mother and father found him in the woods.
He usually shrugged off the comment and laughed with Muskrat, but often he found himself thinking that this was a possibility.
"What if I am adopted? Where do I really come from?" The thoughts filled his mind.
The next second, Whiskey-Jack, not paying attention, lost in his thoughts, had almost witnessed his little brother chop his foot off.
He pushed the thoughts from his head, he needed to focus on Muskrat not killing himself, "Here I'll show you one last time." Whiskey-Jack taking the axe and demonstrated how to swing it properly.
As winter was fast approaching the brothers needed to get their home ready for the next few months. Living in the forest, it required the family to be self-reliant and do lots of preparation for the changing seasons.
Their father would generally be the one to complete winter preparation, but due to the animals disappearing around the forest, their hunting grounds had grown bare, causing their father to hunt further and further.
Whiskey-Jack would often hear his parents arguing over this, with the topic of moving to a village having come up a few times, but his father would put down that suggestion immediately. Stating it was safer here, than any village, even if the dangers seemed to be closing in around them.
Listening in Whiskey-Jack had come to learn that creatures had started to appear around the forest, and not just near them, but everywhere.
"Don't worry, the boy's are almost old enough to learn to hunt, I'll make sure they become stronger enough to protect us from anything" his father would say, trying to ease his mothers anxiety.
Just as Muskrat was finishing the final log the brothers could see their mother approaching the camp. A large rump sack hung over her shoulder that appeared to be filled.
"Hi boys, looks like you two have been busy" said their Mother.
While their father has been away hunting, they have no clues as to where their mother ventures off to during the day. She was very distant about the topic, and whenever they brought up how the creatures could be anywhere near them, she would just wave them off and continue down the path.
Muskrat tried to follow her once, only to be caught and told it's too dangerous for him to leave the camp so young, and would be promptly sent back. His head sulking from the distance their mother seemed to be putting between them.
"Hi Mom, how was your day, did you bring back any food?" Muskrat asked immediately, noticing the bag over her shoulder.
Their mother put down her rump sack and opened it. It was filled to the brim, and could be seen almost spilling over it was so full. Various different fruits and vegetables filling the sack.
The boy's eyes almost popped out from his head. "That's enough food to last us all winter!" Muskrat exclaimed as he picked up the bag and ran inside with it.
"Mom... are you okay? asked Whiskey-Jack, he couldn't keep his eyes off her, she seemed to be changing alot these days.
His mother's usually brown skin was looking rather pale, and her eyes seemed to be completely bloodshot, as if she had been crying on her journey or not having slept in days.
"I'm okay, just the long hike has me exhausted" said his mother with a warm smile, waving him over and putting her arm around his shoulder as they followed Muskrat.
As they walked towards the house, Whiskey-Jack couldn't help but stare at his mothers changing appearence.
Since their father left, she looks to have lost 30lbs, her skin colour has slowly been shading grey, and overall her strange behaviour had Whiskey-Jack worried.
"Please come home soon Dad, Mom needs you" he thought, taking one last glance at her.