Forest Child Chapter 18

Hephaistion was never the same after what he did to Demeas. He retreated back into his natural environment for long periods of time. He seemed the happiest back with his animals and nature.

One day Alexander followed him. It reminded him of that time when they were children and Hephaistion used to slip away. Hephaistion was troubled.

He caught Hephaistion sitting on a fallen tree with his back to him. He was surrounded by animals; at his feet was his wild pet wolf. Now an old beast his fur streaked with white.

"I know you are there." He called out

Alexander made himself know, he didn't need to ask how Hephaistion knew.

"They told me." Hephaistion answered his unsaid question waving his left hand whilst in his other he held a very dark brown and black polecat.

"May I?" It just felt polite to ask and only sit down when Hephaistion said it was ok to do so.

After a time Hephaistion asked

"You seem troubled."

"I want to ask about what happened, you know with Demeas."

Hephaistion put the polecat back down with its family and with a wave of his hand the animals left.

"And you old friend." He addressed the wolf

Very slowly the wolf pulled himself up and laboured walked off. Hephaistion waited until he was sure that everyone had gone before he told his stories.

"This gift it needs to be used for good but there are those who can use it for harm. I needed to go and found someone to teach me how to..."

"Teach you what? How to kill?"

"Something like that, yes."

"Who was it?"

Hephaistion shock his head "I won't say. I have done the act that is all you need to know."

But Alexander did want to know "You don't get to worm you way out of this, not this time Hephaistion."

Hephaistion held up his hand in surrender "I learnt it from your mother."

Alexander laughed, of course who else but Olympias could have taught Hephaistion to use his gift in such a manner.

"But she told me she didn't know where you had gone."

"We meet in secret. It wasn't easy for me but... I..."

He began to weep covering his face with his hands. Alexander reached out to comfort but he paused for a second unsure how Hephaistion would react at beginning touched. He soon recovered and pulled into a hug. Hephaistion welcomed the embraced even pulling him closer digging his fingers into the meat of Alexander's upper arm as he sobbed.

"What will you do now?" Hephaistion asked

He was calmer now and they were walking with no fixed destination in mind. They were just enjoying the sights, sounds and privacy of nature. The wolf had rejoined them, Hephaistion allowed the animal to set the walking pace.

"I've sent Demeaus back to his masters, though I doubt he will survive the journey. All the conspistors have been rounded up and executed."

Hephaistion said nothing but nodded his head in understandment.

"Also I'm going to war!"

Hephaistion stopped as did the wolf, its ears up at the sudden build up of tension.

"You are already at war."

"Yes that is true but the Persians have been invading our lands for too long. I want to go face King Darius in battle. Cut the head off the beast killing it once and for all.

Hephaistion bit his bottom lip again simply nodding in understand.

"When do you leave?"

"In the summer, plans are already being made."

"You know I can't follow, my place is here."

It was Alexander's turn to feel sad. He'd already ask too much from Hephaistion. "I know. I wouldn't ask you too."

They stood there in silence before Hephaistion returned the hug they had shared earlier.

"Then this is farewell my Alexander."