Alexander never wanted to be a farmer, but he did as he was told. He lived east of Mossflower on a farm, with his parents. No adventure, same routine, his life got old quick. Around him were rolling hills, and green grass as far as the eye could see. There was always peace where he lived, he never experienced violence, hunger, or anything obscene.
His mother, Rosemary, always wanted him to stay a humble farmer, and that one day when he dies he would be welcomed at the gates of heaven. He wanted something more out of life though-an adventure. It was a growing hunger he could not feed. He longed to run beyond the rolling hills he was bound in- to break free of the small world he knew, and to live his own life, maybe even start a family.
"Mother, what's it like out there, beyond our farm, and Mossflower?", young Alexander asked one day."Why do you ask that? Aren't you contempt with living here?", she replied. Alexander just shrugged. But down inside of him, that hunger for adventure grew.
He and his family did not connect with the outside world much, but they did occasionally leave the farm. He sometimes went fishing down by a lake not far from his home, but that was about it.
His Father, Adam, was a simple man, always happy. A small grin was perched on his face all the time. He was always happy, and always humble. He jumped with joy the day he found out that Rosemary was to give birth to a young mouse. They would name him Alexander, a strange name that one would not forget.
He was there. A strange place. Mice, hedgehogs, squirrels,otters, all laughing, playing having fun. A large fort type building; Made of red sandstone, peaceful, happy, calm, and serene. He wanted to be in that place but he found that he went straight through the people there.
Alexander woke up. It was only a dream. He had been drawn to that place in earlier dreams. He had more and more dreams each night about that place.
Getting up, he strectched his legs and went about his usual morning chores. He head out off into the field, tending to farm things.
When that was done, he then started back to the house toward the kitchen for breakfast. Lost in thoughts of what to do for the day, he heard cries.
Looking up at the house, he could hear his mother crying and his dad running, and some sinister voices. There was table being knocked over, and the sound of a sword being drawn. "AAHHHH!", was the last he heard of his fathers voice. He sprinted with speed he never knew he possessed, and slammed the door open. He was horrified he saw. His mom was decapacitated, and his dad badly injured. He rushed over and knelt on the floor with tears in his eyes. He grabbed his dad."Father,father, please don't die! Noo... don't die, please, no...", said Alexander.
"Alexander... I am about to die... Please don't fret on my death..", said Alexander's dying father. "You have a life to live... I love you Alex... So does Rosemary... You'll have to go on...". Whispered Adam. "No! You can't die father! I'm all alone.. I need you and mother... You just can't...", cried Alexander. Then, his father,his gaurdian, died. He sat there mourning.
He sat there, crying, for his lost life and family. He wished it wouldn't have happened.. Never have happened. He sat there and cried, and cried some more. He cried until he could not cry any more.
He stayed at the house for a few days, lurking around, eating food from the storage, mourning for another chance.
Then, he started thinking. He would have to go. He could not stay here. He would have to travel east and search mossflower for a place to stay. He would bring protection and food also. He brought food from storage and brought his father's old sword(Though his father never used it). He decided he would go get the sword.
Creeping into his fathers old room, memories of times they shared flooded through him. Shaking his head he walked to the chest, opened it and drew the sword. He was excited that he was actually holding a sword; and about to go on an adventure! This was amazing and exciting for Alexander, he could not contain himself. But of course, there was the side of him that wanted his family back, but he knew it could not happen. He could not stay at the house and mourn forever.
He then wondered what could have happened. His first thought, naturally, was vermin. Vermin were rats and weasels and ferrets and stoats and "bad guys", as he would reffer to them as. He had heard in bedtime stories and tales of vermin and heros and swords and quests and magic and revelations. But of course they would all be tied in with a happy ending. But this isn't a story, he thought. He didn't know if this would have a happy ending though.
He stocked up on food, tinder, flint and the sword before he left. He would head westward across the planes and into Mossflower. Imagine how Alexander must have felt, venturing into the unknown, not knowing where he would end up. He had protection and food, and that was all he needed. He thought of how long he would last, and became frightened. He decided to ration out his food as long as he could.
Alexander was always one to show bravery, one of his many positive qaulities. This was the ultimate test of bravery, and he readied himself. Early one morning he left, burning he house down. He buried his parents bodies, and built a cross for each in front of the burial place. He took a cross for his own.
He looked back at the now smouldering ashes of his house from up a hill, and tears rolled down his eyes. He was leaving, he had to. Now he was moving on.
The vermin must have escaped, and he was determined to catch them. And so he left, starting out on the great quest he was destined live.