The Shepherd Boy
The noon day sun beat down on David, warming his face and tanning his skin. He was perched on a rock above his clock holding his harp in his hands. He strummed absentmindedly, gazing over the curly waves of wool in front of him. The flock took small steps, nibbling on the crispy grass.
David hummed along to his nonexistent tune, smiling to himself. "Oh, Lord our Lord. " He sang. "When I consider your heavens, the works of your fingers, the moon and stars which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him?" The words came out of nowhere and ran through his head. He repeated it to himself, saving it to write later.
The sheep didn't respond to his voice, they continued filling themselves. David paused from his playing and looked around. He was the youngest of his brothers and they often left him alone with the flock so they could go off to do other things. He didn't mind all that much, It gave him time to be alone with the Lord and his nature.
A rustling of grass and the small patter of stirred stones brought David from his peace. Looking to the left he saw a lioness crouched over, stalking a lamb to far from its mother. The lioness was skinny, her ribs and spine protruded from underneath her golden hide. David's heart pained for the sickly female, but the flock was under his protection. He loved them, and couldn't bear to part with any of them.
David leaned over and grabbed a handful of stones. He stood and threw one at the lioness. "Hey! Get out of here!" He yelled.
She snarled as one stone bounced off her head. She bared her fangs and let out an angry hiss, leaping towards David.
"Lord give me strength." He whispered, while reaching down for his staff. She jumped at David, eyes filled with anger and hunger. David swung out, clubbing her in the head. David heard a deafening crack, expecting it to be his staff but instead it was the lioness. She yowled in pain and swatted David, grasping one of his legs.
David fell to the ground and the angry lioness towered over top of him swatting. David punched out blindly, hitting her square in the nose. This gave him time to slide out from under her and grab his club again. He took another swing, putting all his strength behind it. He heard another crack but again his staff wasn't broken. The lioness fell to the side, her head indented from his staff. She lay still, moaning, her chest rose and fell with shaky breaths.
David looked at her sorrowfully. She was too weak and injured to get back up. David pulled a knife from his belt and plunged it into her chest, putting her out of her misery.
"David!" The voice startled David, he jumped quickly to his feet, holding his knife.
"It was one of his father's servants, Hilakiah. "Easy!" he laughed but then stared down at his leg. "My lord you're bleeding!" He gasped.
David looked down and sure enough the wound on his leg was seeping with the red liquid. "It's nothing. Why are you here Hilakiah?"
Hilakiah forced himself to look back up at David's face. The horror was soon replaced with excitement. "The prophet Samuel wants to see you!"
"The prophet? Well what does he want from me?" David looked at the joyful little man, deeply confused.
"He's looking for the new king of Israel! Hurry, come!" Hilakia smiled, waving his hands back towards the house.
The new king of Israel? But they had King Saul, and surely one of his sons would take his place if he were really dead. Besides, David was the youngest and smallest of his brothers, surely he would pick one of them. But David didn't question anymore, he stepped forward and walked briskly after Hilakiah.