A/N: a slight flashback to right after Caleb left, enjoy :)
Morning was slowly creeping over the hills of Hyrule like it did everyday in the early hours. Avi lay sleeping in the comfort of his own animal skin bed sheets, surrounded by the relief of a contented dream. When sunlight started to peek its way through one of the small holes in the man's old tent, he subconsciously decided to rise and begin the day. Stretching out his aged body, Avi heaved a deep sigh and then continued to prepare himself for the day's chores. The light within the large tent was still fairly dark, which made it hard for the older man to perfectly make out his son sleeping on his own bed in a far corner.
Looking at the silhouette of the slumbering teenage boy for a moment longer, Avi decided to let him sleep for a while, remembering how hard he had worked the day before with a hunting party.
He's been working so hard to prove himself since his birthday, the bearded man thought, a smile crossing his aged lips. I will let him rest for a while longer this morning. After tugging on his heavy, withered winter boots, Avi pulled aside the thick curtain door of his home and headed out into the chilly atmosphere outside. Winter was settling into the country quickly; the snows would soon come and cover the land in a blanket of white. In the spring time, when everything thaws, the tribe would move to a new location within Hyrule, just as they did every few times a year.
Several men and women were out in the early morning light, all preparing for another day filled with chores and preparation for winter. Meat and other foods needed to be sorted and salted, clothing needed to be stitched, animals needed to be fed, and many other tasks were waiting to be completed as well. Avi ambled about in the early morning light, nodding and smiling at each working person he passed. He continued to walk around the campsite until he reached the edge of where the cattle, horses, and other animals were kept. Livestock was held within a fenced area, which kept the animals from wandering off aimlessly. Horses remained tied to wooden posts at night until they were needed for work during the day.
An older man stood beside one of the ponies, stroking the creature's golden mane soothingly. The man was probably somewhere in his early fifties in age, a graying beard running across his wrinkled face. He wore simple clothing, mostly consisting of shades of browns and other dark colors. A content smile was painted across his lips, which showed the passion he felt for the beast he was continuing to pet.
"Tomas," Avi called out to the older man, who then turned around at the summoning of his name. The elder man's brown eyes sparkled as he locked gazes with the tribe leader.
"My Lord," Tomas greeted with a genuine smile and a slight bow. "How are you this morning?"
"Well, thank you," Avi said when he was beside the old horseman. "I wanted to come and make sure all of the animals were accounted for. The winter season is always an easy time for thieves to come and steel from us." Retying the mare to its post, Tomas patted the animal on the neck one more time before fully turning toward Avi.
"I have counted all of the cattle and sheep already." The older man explained, gesturing with his hand toward the animals in the small, fenced pasture. "I have yet to do so for all of the horses, though."
"I shall accompany you then," Avi smiled, placing a friendly hand on Tomas's slumped shoulder. Both then proceeded to stroll around the remaining parts of the area and check the status of each horse that was tied to a stake. All seemed to be accounted for until the pair reached the final place. Where a horse normally would be, now stood a lone wooden pole. No rope or any part of the pony's collar was left behind.
"It appears that September is missing…" Tomas whispered, running his hand across the wood of the stake. Avi's eyebrows wove together in frustration.
"That young horse was one of Caleb's favorites," the younger man remembered, placing a cold hand on the back of his own neck. He kneaded the rough skin mindlessly, trying to think of how he would break the news to his son.
"This is strange," the old horseman observed quietly. "All of the other times a horse has been taken, there have always been pieces of the reigns left behind, as if the horse put up some sort of struggle." He patted the wooden post once. "But there is nothing here now."
Avi looked to the ground, noticing the mud tracks left behind by the now missing horse. Again, there was no sign that resistance had come from the pony, like the animal had been led away by a familiar person. This seemed very strange to Avi, for that had not been a horse that trusted easily. In fact, September had clung to Caleb since she had been a foal. Ever since Caleb had chosen to ride her a few years ago, the young horse had decided to fight every other rider who had wanted to mount into her saddle. She was headstrong and stubborn, which meant not just anyone could take her that easily.
Suddenly having a very bad feeling strike him, Avi hastily made his way over to where all of the hunters kept their saddle gear. Tomas didn't question the younger man as he hurriedly pushed through the countless saddles, searching for one familiar piece.
"Caleb's isn't here…" He whispered in hushed confusion, continuing to search anxiously.
"Is something wrong, my Lord?" Tomas inquired quietly, his eyebrows now furrowed together. Avi shot a concerned look back towards the tent where Caleb was supposedly still sleeping. Suddenly rising to his feet in one swift motion, the younger man started heading away from the livestock area. Tomas watched him leave in a rapid walk, which soon turned into an uneasy run.
He wouldn't, Avi thought fearfully as he grew closer and closer to the tent he had left not long ago. He wouldn't do this to me. Feeling the stingingly cold air against his face, Avi pushed his legs harder, his anxiety growing. Finally reaching his destination, Avi flung open the thick fabric door of the tent, making light flood the entire space. In the corner, he could see the sleeping figure of Caleb, which appeared to be completely covered by animal skin blankets.
Throwing back the tent's entrance, Avi sprinted over to his son and seized the blankets on top of him. He threw the covers up in hopes of revealing the teenager still sleeping soundly beneath them. However, as the animal skins fell out of Avi's hands, terror began to pulse through the bearded man.
Caleb wasn't there.
Avi fell to his knees with a painful thud, and placed his hands on the bare, handmade mattress. His face began to turn a pale shade of crimson as his frustration started to grow within him. Avi knew exactly where Caleb had gone and what his intentions were, but he had never expected such a rebellious action to come from the boy. Ever since the older man had taken him, Caleb had been obedient and loyal. Nothing had ever indicated that this would happen.
How could he do this to me? Avi thought, his breathing starting to become uneven. I can't go after him! The whole tribe will fall apart if I try to leave…
The aged man hoisted himself off of the ground and restlessly paced about the small space. His hands remained on his temple, as if he was trying to console a massive headache.
I should've known something like this would happen…I should've killed him long ago, before there was any chance of me getting attached to him. Seeing Caleb's chest of clothes sitting by a nearby wall, Avi ventured over and eagerly opened it.
Empty. All of the belts, shirts, blankets, boots, and pants were missing.
He doesn't intend on coming back anytime soon...
Standing up, Avi lifted the empty, medium sized chest and angrily threw it across the room. It slammed against the hard ground and broke on one of the corners. Breathing heavily, Avi let out a loud, almost pained yell, which echoed throughout the entire room and could be heard by most of those working in the campsite.
Avi's auburn eyes began to burn with rage, this representing a side of him he had never let any of his followers see. His shoulders shook in crazed anger as he tried to control himself. Everything he had ever worked for, all of the things he had built, they were all going to come crashing down when Caleb found out the truth.
"He can't find out," the bearded man whispered. "I won't let him find out!" With that final promise to himself, Avi straightened his clothing a bit and then proceeded to march back out into the morning light.
A/N: reviews?
