Pondering the Lost

by **Alex Cromwell** on April 15th, 2013, 5:59 pm

Season of Spring, Day 20, 513AV

Alex moved through the Wildlands, tired, cold and hungry. It had been several days since he had left the city of Syliras, and the woman that he had saved from the foul Zith. Shiress, why? He pondered what she had said to him that made him leave her behind. She had forgotten what had happened to her, and he brought back those painful memories. All he wanted to do was make her remember him. He messed up, big time. He was in the midst of his daydreaming when his foot caught in a root and he fell face first into the cold, hard dirt of the forest. "Great, all over my new shirt." Alex cursed as he stood up and attempted to brush off the caked on dirt. He gave up after a few moments and continued on his journey, back to his old house on the plains of the Wildlands. He had thought about it before, but he figured that he might as well bring it up one more time. The last time he was here, he burnt the house down after he left to go kill Ra'Thun in Sunberth. In hindsight, that probably was not a good idea, seeing as Alex no longer wanted to be a nomad. He would rather live out his days in his old house, well, he was going to rebuild it first, and then die of old age. Adventuring was taking a toll on him, and his quest for vengeance had been completed some time ago.

As the forest became less thick, Alex decided that he would make camp and go hunting. He needed to eat something, otherwise he would pass out from hunger. He could already feel the strength sapping from his limbs. He made camp, started a fire, and went out in search of prey. Before long, he came across a rabbit hole. Alex decided to make a snare and see if he could entice a rabbit to come out. He tied a piece of string to a stick and placed it securely in the ground. He then grabbed a few nuts and placed them in the snare. Now all he had to do was wait. About an hour later, a rabbit's ears were seen at the entrance to the hole. Alex tensed, not wanting to scare it. It took a few steps towards the snare, and then jumped onto the nuts. Alex pulled the string to the snare, trapping the rabbit. "Hello delicious." Alex remarked. He then released the rabbit from the snare, and began to eat.

Throughout the day, Alex moved out of the forest and onto the great plain of the Wildlands. The sun beat down upon his back as it moved across the clear blue sky. Alex made note about how much lumber he would need to rebuild the house, and where he could get it. It would require alex getting a job and saving his money. Or he could try and rebuild the house by himself, but that could take years. Years which he did not have. He didn't want to turn to crime, it went against everything that his father taught him when he was but a pup. A few hours later, as the sun was just reaching the horizon, Alex spied the burnt out husk that used to be his childhood home. He smiled, and then silently began to cry. "I'm sorry Dad."

by **Alex Cromwell** on April 16th, 2013, 10:57 pm

As day turned to twilight, Alex made camp beside the burnt ruin of the house. He unpacked his bedroll, made a fire, and began cooking what he had left of the rabbit he had caught earlier. As he ate, he knew that he was going to need more than just a rabbit if he was going to survive out here for more than a few days. He was going to have to hunt for some more serious game. As night fell over the Wildlands, Alex prepped to go hunt. He made sure that he had his camouflage on his face and any exposed skin, which consisted of mud and leaves. He also doubled checked that he had his throwing knives with him. He would never part with these, not after he fought with the two hunters that had come after him last fall in Zeltiva. Alex secured his camp, and set out to find something that would sustain him for the next few days. He moved quickly and quietly through the brush towards the forest. He knew he would find something worth tracking in there. Rabbits and other small game were not worth his time. As he moved through the forest, fighting fatigue and the roots that threatened to give his position away, he picked up the sounds of snorting coming from over a ridge. He figured it was some sort of wild hog, and Alex began salivating at the thought of roasted pork. He slowly climbed over the ridge and his mouth dropped open. There were three large hogs quietly resting in a circle, barely making a sound. Alex grinned. "Easiest meal ever." Alex began to climb down the ridge, to an easy dinner.

Suddenly, one of the rocks gave way under his feet and he slipped and fell hard onto the forest floor. Alex groaned and picked himself up, just in time to see the largest hog of the group charging at him. Alex rolled to the side and drew his swords. He knew that his father would want him to honor his memory with blood on his sword. The hog turned and charged again. Alex rolled and came up with two quick thrusts, lodging his own sword in the side of the beast, while his father's sword rent a long gash on the underside of the creature. The hog squealed, took a few steps, and then crashed to the ground. Alex went over and yanked his sword free. The other two hogs had scattered by this time, but it was of little loss. This beast that Alex had killed was at least 50 lbs if not more. Alex cleaned his swords and sheathed them. He then picked up the beast, albiet not without some serious difficulty, and began the walk back to his camp. "I needed food, I said. I should kill something large, I said." Alex cursed himself for being greedy with his hunting goals.

It was just becoming light as he reached camp. Alex was exhausted by this time, so he dropped the hog by his bedroll, and secured it to himself, so that some brigand or thief wouldn't come along and steal it. Tomorrow, he thought. I will make this beast into food, and then I will build myself a house. Alex drifted off into sleep, his father in his dreams.

by **Alex Cromwell** on April 19th, 2013, 1:18 am

As day dawned over the vast expanse of the Wildlands, Alex roused himself from slumber, washed and shaved, and began cutting up the hog he killed the night before. The sun crawled across the sky as Alex hacked at the beast, cutting long strips of meat off of it, and placing them on the rocks that he had designated for drying the meat. It was almost midday when Alex finished gathering what he could from the gigantic pig, judging by the position of the sun. Alex then sat down on his bedroll and looked over at the charred remains of the house he grew up in. He knew that he would never be able to rebuild it by himself, and he did not want to get a job so he could hire a crew to build it for him. No, Alex knew what he had to do. He burned the house down, thinking that it would relieve him of his demons, but they were still there, haunting him. His father was always there over his shoulder, in his head, guiding him through the tough times. He knew that he had to let it go. It wasn't his fault. He never made it to the funeral, but he was busy with other business. Then, it came to him. Alex knew why his father's spirit still stayed with him. It was because Alex never got to say goodbye. That had to be it. Alex quickly doused the fire, gathered the fresh meat, broke camp, and set out for his father's grave site.

The sun moved across the sky in a descending arc as Alex walked across the plains and back into the forest. It was nightfall by the time that Alex reached his families shrine. All of his ancestors had been buried there. He saw the names of his grandmother, his grandfather, his mother and......his father, Kal'Man Cromwell. The marker read, "Beloved husband, father, and warrior. May his soul fight till it finds peace." Alex fell to his knees and began to cry. He never cried, ever. "I'm so sorry Dad. I knew I should have been there, but I wasn't. I never said goodbye, I never hugged you. I just want you to forgive me." Suddenly, Alex looked up and saw his father, standing over him. His father smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I forgive you Alex. I love you." Alex smiled, and watched as his father faded away into the forest. Alex picked himself up off of the ground, made sure all of his gear was secure, and began to walk. To where, he did not know. He just knew that he felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, and he wanted to enjoy his freedom.

by **Accolade** on May 11th, 2013, 5:56 am

Alex

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Wilderness Survival	+ 1 XP
Hunting	+ 1 XP
Rhetoric	+ 1 XP

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Pondering Many Points
•	Forgive Me Father

Notes :

The Sylir has spoken

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out.

Solo Pondering the Lost