Leaving Home

The leaves rustled in the light wind that follows the Ralhoma River across the Ikalex Expanse, which detoured just slightly to your side of the water, playing through your fur, and continued east. Across the churning waters you could see the faint outline of Wexa, small wisps of smoke escaping through the breaks in the trees. For a moment, you felt a slight pang of homesickness, thinking of your own village further west -- Noct, home to the Tribe of the Moonlit Grass. Everyone knew there was nothing but danger east of Wexa, and the jungles hadn't seen an expedition in over a decade.

That was going to change today.

You had left your mother her letter, and scribbled an apology for taking your father's sword. It pulled heavily at your side, its weight still somewhat unusual to you. You'd had to write a similar note to the smithy, for the bow and arrows you'd stolen from the hunting shack. Everything else was your own -- enough food and supplies to last for weeks, if you were careful. But you had one last item of business before you could disappear into the shaded boughs, and explore the infinity of the unknown, and it could only be completed in Wexa.

As if on cue, the purposeful shaking of grass announced the Ysoki boy's approach. The tip of his furry white ears barely came up to your chest, his legs waddling awkwardly in the soft earth of the riverbed. A set of grey-brown eyes opened wide in welcome, but then scanned you from paw to paw, then scrunching up with accusation.

???: "You're leaving."
Balio: "Yes. I came to say goodbye."
???: "Okay. Wait... Five minutes. I'll come with you!"
Balio: "No, Clouds. I came to say goodbye to you."

The boy paused halfway through a turn, and then sulked back to his original position, ears drooping low. Warmth in the Clouds kicked at a river stone, which skipped once on the water, but distraction stole what would otherwise be a wondrous moment.

Clouds: "But you promised to be my sensei... Like the samurai on the tapestry!"
Balio: "When you were older--"
Clouds: "I'm older now! I am seven next moonglow. And you promised."

The boy all but whined the last word, shaking with the childish naivete that the world could never change, and that a promise could be kept forever. A pain surfaced from the bottom of your heart, but you ignored it, and pressed on.

Balio: "Seven is a grand age, Clouds. But you should be learning to hunt, and to fish. Your father will see no diferent."
Clouds: "I caught a fish just yesterday! And I almost hit a--"
Balio: "Clouds. I came to say goodbye."

The boy's feline features drifted even further into a full-on pout, tears building around his eyes. In the distance, the sun began to light up the jungle -- you would have to leave soon. Clouds looked back at the light, coming to the same conclusion, and shook the tears from his eyes.

Clouds: "Fine. But you will keep your promise to me! When I'm older, deal?"
Balio: "I might not be back for many years, Clouds."

Warmth in the Clouds smirked, and you groaned internally.

Clouds: "Fine. Then if I am too old, you will teach my son. Or his son."
Balio: "I will have to pick up bone sagery if I am to teach your grandson, Clouds."

Clouds shrugged, with the "so what?" confidence that seemed to manifest in every boy across the stars.

Clouds: "The price to pay for breaking your promise to me."
Balio: "Ha! You have me, little one. A deal is struck."

The boy spat in his paw, and you spat in yours, and shook on it. But then Clouds' paw went limp in your fist, and his head hit your stomach. You swallowed something in the back of your throat as you returned the embrace, and the first ray of light finally broke the treeline.

Clouds: "Prayers upon prayers, Beast in the Night."
Balio: "Farewel, Warmth in the Clouds."

Then you turned, and ran into the jungle without looking back.