were fleeing to the White Mountains. He was lost in a forsaken, enchanted, and cursed forest, probably never to come back out alive. What he would give right now to hear a comforting song from his mother, to feel his brother’s strong embrace, to hear his sister giggle, or to hear his father say, “It’s all right.”
Keegan leaned back on the boulder and continued to sob, putting his hands down to his side to grip the gravel beneath him. The hot tears streamed freely down his face, blurring the dark world around him. The sobs seemed to come like an overwhelming army into his throat, and it was all he could do to let them escape. The warm tears streamed down his face, fell from his nose and cheeks, and mixed with the cold water that was still soaked in his pants, making his skin prickle. He noticed that the boulder he leaned against was strangely warm, but he paid little mind to that fact. His mind was too full of pain, grief, anger, questions, and memories.
Everything was lost. His family was broken, and the Wovlens would never live in peace. Why were they hunted? What was wrong with their wanting to live in peace? His friends and family had been good people with kind hearts. What did they do to deserve such a terrible punishment? Why was he allowed to live but not his father? Everyone dies sooner or later. Why couldn’t he have been killed with his father? Maybe it would have been better that way.
The image flashed by in his mind of the terrible creature knocking his father from his horse, then the evil, scarred man killing him. All the pain, all the death, all the grief--it was that man’s fault. He would pay for the pain he caused and that creature would, also. Keegan wished that someday he would be able to drive his own knife into their hearts. They would die long, torturous deaths by his hand. It was their fault he was in so much pain! Their fault that all of this happened. It was them! Was it not them? No, it was not their fault. It was his fault.
The sobs in Keegan’s throat subsided as he came to this realization. If he would have told his father about the strange man that had been spying on the village, his father might have been able to prevent the attack. None of this would have happened. It was his fault! His entire fault! He was the true reason that everyone had suffered. He was the reason for the grief, the pain, the death. He should be the one that should die, to have a dagger driven into his heart. His crying and sobs became heavier and more bitter as these thoughts burned his mind.
“Oh, Father! I am so sorry! It is my fault that you are gone now, that the village is destroyed, and that our people have suffered! I am accountable for the loss!” Keegan choked silently in between sobs. “I am accountable. It is my fault.”
He curled his knees up to his body and silently rocked back and forth, holding himself, sobbing bitterly at his loss, while feeling the odd sting of hot tears landing on his cold wet pants. He tried to call out for his mother, brother, and sister, but all that came from his mouth were silent, empty words. Sobs silenced any sound in his throat, and tears flooded any plea for comfort.
A gentle, soft humming sound began, and a deep calm came over Keegan, quieting his troubled soul for a moment. He laid his face down on his knees as he continued to sob, listening to the comforting hum that reverberated through the cave. He felt the strange warmth and soothing vibration of the boulder against him until he fell into a sound and silent sleep.
Chapter 4: Meeting a Dragon
It was cold, dark, silent, and Keegan was all alone. He rubbed his arms to warm himself as he walked through the quiet darkness. He felt very sad about something, but he didn't know what or why.
“Must get home soon. It’s getting too cold to stay out,” he said to himself through chattering teeth.
A long, deep, menacing growl put Keegan on the alert and stopped
Keegan leaned back on the boulder and continued to sob, putting his hands down to his side to grip the gravel beneath him. The hot tears streamed freely down his face, blurring the dark world around him. The sobs seemed to come like an overwhelming army into his throat, and it was all he could do to let them escape. The warm tears streamed down his face, fell from his nose and cheeks, and mixed with the cold water that was still soaked in his pants, making his skin prickle. He noticed that the boulder he leaned against was strangely warm, but he paid little mind to that fact. His mind was too full of pain, grief, anger, questions, and memories.
Everything was lost. His family was broken, and the Wovlens would never live in peace. Why were they hunted? What was wrong with their wanting to live in peace? His friends and family had been good people with kind hearts. What did they do to deserve such a terrible punishment? Why was he allowed to live but not his father? Everyone dies sooner or later. Why couldn’t he have been killed with his father? Maybe it would have been better that way.
The image flashed by in his mind of the terrible creature knocking his father from his horse, then the evil, scarred man killing him. All the pain, all the death, all the grief--it was that man’s fault. He would pay for the pain he caused and that creature would, also. Keegan wished that someday he would be able to drive his own knife into their hearts. They would die long, torturous deaths by his hand. It was their fault he was in so much pain! Their fault that all of this happened. It was them! Was it not them? No, it was not their fault. It was his fault.
The sobs in Keegan’s throat subsided as he came to this realization. If he would have told his father about the strange man that had been spying on the village, his father might have been able to prevent the attack. None of this would have happened. It was his fault! His entire fault! He was the true reason that everyone had suffered. He was the reason for the grief, the pain, the death. He should be the one that should die, to have a dagger driven into his heart. His crying and sobs became heavier and more bitter as these thoughts burned his mind.
“Oh, Father! I am so sorry! It is my fault that you are gone now, that the village is destroyed, and that our people have suffered! I am accountable for the loss!” Keegan choked silently in between sobs. “I am accountable. It is my fault.”
He curled his knees up to his body and silently rocked back and forth, holding himself, sobbing bitterly at his loss, while feeling the odd sting of hot tears landing on his cold wet pants. He tried to call out for his mother, brother, and sister, but all that came from his mouth were silent, empty words. Sobs silenced any sound in his throat, and tears flooded any plea for comfort.
A gentle, soft humming sound began, and a deep calm came over Keegan, quieting his troubled soul for a moment. He laid his face down on his knees as he continued to sob, listening to the comforting hum that reverberated through the cave. He felt the strange warmth and soothing vibration of the boulder against him until he fell into a sound and silent sleep.
Chapter 4: Meeting a Dragon
It was cold, dark, silent, and Keegan was all alone. He rubbed his arms to warm himself as he walked through the quiet darkness. He felt very sad about something, but he didn't know what or why.
“Must get home soon. It’s getting too cold to stay out,” he said to himself through chattering teeth.
A long, deep, menacing growl put Keegan on the alert and stopped
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