I really don't understand how I had this idea. It just popped into my head as I dreaded getting up at THREE AM tomorrow morning. Stupid Ag trip...
ANYWAYS. Enough of my ranting. I hope you enjoy this! :D
Lukas really didn't mean to get lost. He hadn't expected to lose his way as he walked down the worn path, armed with a simple stick. The small, light blond-headed boy had begun to walk, and just didn't stop. Within an hour—though he didn't know how much time had passed; he had no watch—he found himself at the beginnings of a large, dark forest.
"Should I go in?" The dull blue-eyed boy asked no in in particular in that quiet, emotionless voice of his. If anyone who hadn't known him had heard, they would have assumed he was bored. However, it was quite the opposite; the small boy—if you could call sixteen years old small—was excited for the adventure, even if it got him lost. He could easily find his way back home, thanks to his exceptional navigation skills.
Seeming to get an answer out of something in the dark forest, Lukas stepped forward, allowing the darkness to swallow him up, and carry him on swift feet deeper and deeper into the trees. Snow had begun to fall some time before, burying the normally black landscape in white brightness that the moon caused to sparkle. Captured by the breathtaking landscape, Lukas didn't even notice the body until he tripped over it, landing on his face. With a worried squeak—that he would never admit to—his hand flew to his hair to make sure the Nordic cross was still clipped snuggly against his head.
"Nggghhh…" With this new sound, Lukas spun around to face what he had tripped over, holding his stick up as though to protect him. The sight before him made him realize there was no way he was in danger; a boy, roughly his age, was laying in the snow, red button-up dress shirt bunched up and wet, a black tie hanging loosely around his neck, and his blond hair sticking up madly in a thousand different directions. This caused Lukas to reach out and poke the boy's pale cheek with his stick curiously. "Momma?"
"I'm not your momma." Lukas murmured, scooting forward when he realized that the boy was obviously not a danger, and very sick. "Hold on…"
He picked the boy up, and carried him—no easy task, seeing as how he was at least a hundred pounds—out of the forest and up the trail back towards his house. Surely, his mother would ask questions, but he pushed that thought aside, instead worrying about this boy. Was he going to be okay? No outsider could tell from the boy's emotionless face, but inside, he was scared. He continued to worry until he got to his house and placed the boy on the couch, placing a warm blanket, Lukas' own wool blanket, over him.
"Lukas, is that you?" Mrs. Bondevik came into the living room and gasped, running a hand through her long blond hair unconsciously. "What happened?"
"I found him in the forest." Lukas replied, before worry finally showed on his face. "Is he going to be okay?"
"I don't know." She bit her lip, looking him over. "Go to your room and change, and bring some for him, and then I want you to stay in your room while I take care of him, okay?"
Lukas nodded, and obeyed, changing quickly into a white night-shirt and a pair of black trousers, before bringing out the same clothing for the boy. Then, he was back in his room, pacing worriedly. He could hear his mother working in the living room, but he didn't know what was going on exactly. It drove him insane, not knowing if the other boy was okay.
This thought stopped Lukas in his tracks; he had never cared like this for anyone other than his own family. For pity's sake, he didn't even have any friends! Pushing these thoughts aside, Lukas continued to worry for the boy.
"Dear lord, boy, stop it, or you'll pace a hole in your floor!" Mrs. Bondevik laughed as she came into her son's room to see him pacing after what seemed like an eternity. "You can go see him now. He's awake, but be careful not to strain him."
Lukas nodded eagerly, and ran out to see the blond. Sure enough, he was sitting on the couch with a bowl of hot soup, sipping away. His blue eyes widened considerably when he saw Lukas, but he just continued to eat. Lukas sat there for a moment, not sure of how to start a conversation. Somehow, 'hey, I found you in the forest. How'd you get there anyway?' didn't seem like an appropriate beginning.
Luckily, the other boy started. "Your momma says you saved me." He stated, though Lukas heard the hidden question; why?
Lukas shrugged, instead of answering, and sat down on the floor, leaning against the wall. The other boy regarded him curiously, before a giant smile that looked as though it could rival a thousand suns lit up his face.
"I'm Mathias!" He practically shouted, and Lukas winced, before shaking the boy's outstretched hand.
He had a feeling this was about to come back and bite him in the behind.
Sure enough, after finding out the boy didn't remember anything other than his name, his birthday, and the fact that Lukas was now his best friend—though that was no decision of Lukas' as Mathias had pretty much declared it himself—Mathias was living with them, until the police could find his family. Mathias quickly became a thorn in Lukas' side, tagging along with him anywhere he went. Mrs. Bondevik didn't seem to find it annoying, but then again, she wasn't the one being followed around by an 'idiot' as Lukas referred to Mathias.
"Lukas?" Mathias asked one day when they were sitting out in the backyard on a rare day of warmth. Lukas simply grunted in acknowledgment and rolled over onto his stomach, burying his face in the crook of his elbow, which ended with grass tickling his nose. "Lukas, look at me!"
Lukas obeyed, his nose crinkled from the tickling it had just received. This only resulted in Mathias squealing. "That's so cute!"
"What is?" Lukas asked, tilting his head to the side, confusion temporarily masking his features.
"Your nose!" Mathias was grinning, blushing, and falling over as a hand covered his mouth. This only made Lukas scowl, before setting his face into his usual emotionless state. "Oh come on Norge!"
"I told you to stop calling me that!" Lukas said quietly, as he narrowed his dull blue eyes at Mathias. The latter only reached over and grabbed Lukas' hand, dragging him after him down the path towards the part of town Lukas was no longer allowed near; the part that could potentially lead to the forest. "Mathias…"
"Sing to me Lukie." Mathias said, dropping the other's hand. Lukas couldn't help but note the cold that spread through his whole body at the loss of contact.
"What do you want to hear?" Lukas asked, though the answer was the same every time.
"Whatever. I just love to hear you sing." Mathias replied, keeping his eyes locked on the path ahead of them.
Lukas thought over what to sing, and settled for the song his father had taught him before he died in some war—Lukas always forgot the name of the war—The Sovngarde song.
"From the mists of the mountains a deafening call
Bellows down over the plains
On a host of battle-worn ears it does fall
Pushing out through the thunder and rain"
Mathias reached over without really realizing it, linking his fingers with Lukas. Lukas pretended not to notice how his whole body warmed at the contact.
"These men of the north they have suffered too long
The anger it swells in their veins
Of the spirited roars of lost warriors' songs
Distant echoes are all that remain"
At this point, Mathias joined in, knowing the words by heart, as he asked Lukas to sing to him often, and he usually chose that song.
"And my voice is my violence
Clear the sky's frozen tears
And no more we'll be silent
With this Sovngarde song in our ears"
Lukas realized right then just where they were. No longer did the familiarity of the city welcome them. Instead, they were in the forest.
"Mathias?" Lukas whispered, causing the other to come back to reality when he heard the fear in his friend's voice.
"W-where are we?" Mathias asked, for once afraid.
Instead of answering, Lukas simply pointed a shaky finger towards shadows in the quickly darkening forest. The one word Lukas whimpered sent chills down both the boys' backs.
"Wolves."
Just a quick note: yes, the song is in fact, from Skyrim. My brother plays it, and when I listened to it, I thought maybe it would kind of fit with the atmosphere that I had created in my head. :D I really hope you enjoy. Chapter two is in the making.
Review? ;3
