Walking across the old dusty path, Alexander pondered if he could actually kill anything. If he were to survive or get revenge on the murderers who killed his family,he would have to kill someone sooner or later. There was a vengeance that burned inside his heart, but sealed with his gentle kindness. He was scared for a while. Walking alone on the hills, he was constantly looking over his back. He was quite nervous.
He couldn't believe how much space he could cover just by walking! He looked up at the noon sun, cloudless skies, and slight breezes. He walked down another hill. He was quite enjoying the day, and never wanted it to end. A few hours later, he decided he would have to eat. Not much though, he thought, he would have to conserve his food. He opened his haversack which was tied across his tunic. He ad about five apples, a few pears, biscuits, some turnovers, wild plums, and some pie he had also brought. There were also drinks too. Two flagons of cool apple fizz cordial and a beaker of barley beer( which he was eager to drink because he had never tried an alcoholic beverage before). He took a sip of the beer. Tasted kind of stingy, but very refreshing. He decide to drink more. It was very good, very fresh. He sat under the shade of a large tree on a lone prarie, cool and hungry. He was feeling quite peckish, so he pulled and apple from his pouch.
The sun was setting, and he decided he would need a fire. He took the flint and tinder from his puch, and a knife. He created a spark above the tender and creat a small coal. He added twigs and small pieces of wood to the fire from his woodstock which he kept in a pouch at his side. He then had a nice small fire going.
Taking the apple, put a long stick through it and roasted it ofver the fire, slowly turning, cooking it. It tasted delicious, so he had a few more. He drank a little bit of his apple fizzy cordial, but not too much because he need to conserve it. Feeding the fire, as he had seen his dad show him how, he rolled over and went to sleep. Eager for the next day.
Alexanders dreams then were strange. He saw the giant sandstone fort again in his dreams. It was the same dream he had been having. He wanted to go there. He felt he was destined.
Waking up, he stretched his legs and took the cloth he had off of him and put it in his haversack. He ate a biscuit and some lefter apple and barley beer for breakfeast, so he could travel early.
He continued walking down the path until he could see Mossflower Forest come into view. Excited, he ra up to the edge of the forest. He entered. He looked around him, at the trees, and how alot of the sunlight was filtered by the treetops. He look at birds flying as he walked. It was a very serene moment.
Suddenly, he heard a yell. "AAHHHH! Help", yelled a voice nearby. He made a mad dash toward the voice. He ran through a thicket of brush and spotted a young mouse, about his age,brandishing a spear, being backed down by about a halfscore of vermin. Alexander wanted to help, but he was not stupid. He couldn't just run in there now, he had to wait until the time was right. He kept quiet and watched. A slender looking rat came up to him and grinned evilly. "Now, whats a small mouse like you doing all alone in Mossflower?", he said. "Wouldn't you like to know, scumnose!", barked back the young mouse. "Skin him alive boss! Hehehe!" yelled a stoat. "Shutup you bufoon.", saud the rat. He turned around and dealt the stoat a hefty blow between the eyes. Alexander crouched quietly behind the foilage, unseen.
"Well, you've got a smart-elek tongue, don't you, you little brat?", said the rat." In a few moments, it won't be my tongue whos doing the action, now stay away, because I won't go down easily.", said the young mouse. "Weelll, aren't you the 'I'm such the brave one' kid. Listen, you surrender now, and your death will be quick.", said the rat, drawing his sword. All of the others drew thier weapons too. The mouse showed no sign of fear."Bring it on..." he said under his breath. Alexander could clearly hear the need for revenge in his voice.
"Yaah! Kill him!" screamed the rat. Now was the time. Quick as a flash, alexander left his sacks on the ground and bounded out of the foilage, drawing his sword. He now knew he would have to decide. Could he kill? Or did he not have the heart? The vermin did not need more than a second to react. One turned around and raised his sword. Thinking fast, Alexander used the butt of his hilt and laid him flat.
It was now a scene of battle. The young unknown mouse fought like mad, slashing and stabbing, cracking and parrying. It was then when Alexander knew the first rule of combat. You had to have the strength to kill. It was to kill, or be killed. He knew that the vermin would have no problem with killing him, so why spare them? They were cold, heartless and they would laugh while slaying him. The anger that welled inside of him for his lost life, and need for revenge, now exploded into a burst of fury and strength. Taking his sword, he ran a rat straight through, but was then hit with the hilt of a cutlass on his back on accident. This caused him to spin around and cleave ranother rat in two.
The two young warriors backed up side by side, then charged in opposite directions, slashing and stabbing. Alexander then ran and did a mighty jump, and came down with his sword straight through a stoats skull. The other mouse parried a cutlass with the tip of his spear, and spun around slashing a vermin, slaying him, with the sharp edge of the end of his spear horizontally. The battle raged on for a few more seconds, then the two battle hardened mice collasped in the dirt. Sitting up, the other mouse looked at Alexander. He stared for a while, a peculiar look on his face.
"Not used to seeing many more warriors like you nowadays. The crimes gettng real heavy.", said the young mouse. "Huh?", said Alexander. Then he realized that the other mouse thought he was a natural born warrior. It was true too, but Alexander didn't know that.
"Well, aren't you a warrior? I mean I saw how you fought back there- you look like a true fighter!",said the young mouse. Alexander hung his head. "That was the first time I've ever killed, or done battle.", said Alexander. "Hey it's all right, you'll get used to it.", said the mouse.
"Hey, my name's Alexander.", said Alexander. "I'm Erik, thanks for asking.", said Erik. "I've been traveling around these woods for a while...", said Erik. " How did you meet those vermin?" said Alexander.
"I was coming from the far west of Mossflower and ran into them, then I ran to the edge of the forest, hoping to get away from them. I was then backed down by them. Then you came"
Alexander looked down. "Those were the vermin who slew my parents." said Alexander. "Oh.. I'm sorry to hear that.". "I swore I would get my revenge." "Hmmm... Lets take some of the vermins weapons". Walking over, Erik took a dagger and a nice looking belt. "The scum probably slew somebeast for this fine belt.",said Erik. "Well, we showed them. Come on lets go.", said Alexander.
"Wait. I have an idea. We should both take an oath. We solemnly swear to only use the power of the weapons we hold for good, the righteous, and the truth. We will be the light in the dark. We will be men of justcie, we will be heros!" , said Alexander. "Your right. I solomnly swear only to use weapons and do battle for the righteous and the good!",said Erik.
"Yes! We will be called... Errmm... The warriors of Alexander!". "Why can't we be the warriors of Erik or something?". Alexander chuckled. "Hey, I started this! Hmm.. Ok you can be my right hand!", said Alexander. Erik grinned. "Sounds convincing.", he said sarcastically.
Like old friends they walked down the old trail together in the noon sun. They traveled through Mossflower a bit, until Erik stopped. "Wait... Hold on... Those vermin, I just thought of something. Those vermin didn't come from just anywhere. Most come from the crew of a ship... Maybe we should try to find the ship they came from! I know we can't take on a whole crew ourselves, but if we play our cards right, we can take it by freeing the oar slaves and taking over the ship.
"Brilliant idea! Lets go! What are we waiting for? We are the Warriors of Alexander, and we will never give up! NEVER!"