SMACK!

The boy felt his fathers hand hit his cheek with such a force he was thrown back-wards against the wall. He felt the pain start to burn and at the same time he felt a tear ran down the burning cheek.

SMACK!

Another blow.

"BIG BOYS DON'T CRY!" his father yelled, right into his face. "YOU'RE THIRTEEN. START ACTING LIKE A MAN. NOT SOME BIG CRY-BABY."

The boy ran. Away from the hut. Away from the village. Away from everything. He ran to the big wood surrounding the hill; legend said spirits lived there. Bah. Spirits or not he would show them all. One day he would rule the forest. One day, he wowed, he would rule the world.