Today was shaping up to be a good day, the weather had stayed warm and sunny all morning, and the sheep had been well-behaved so far. I was idling about while Charlie made sure that the herd stayed inside the lea.

Throughout the past week, Gray had been constantly reminding me to prepare myself for the blessing ceremony and to ‘improve myself,’ as if that would have some effect on what I got. But I knew that whatever blessing I got didn’t actually matter.

A weak blessing would see me with no future potential, a medium blessing would result in a life of stagnancy, and I strong one was probably actually the worst option. No elder would see any threat to their power hold over the village go unfettered and I would most likely be disposed of.

A mediocre life it is then!

“Whaddya think Charlie, should I live out the rest of my days as a herder with old man Gray?”

I received an affirmative bark back.

“Ok then!”

I let the sheep graze a little while longer before yelling to Charlie “Come on boy it’s time to head back, the sun’s started to get low and I don’t wanna be out here at night.”

We started herding the sheep out of the lea and making our way down the path that led back home. The evening sky shone with the golden and orange-tinted rays of the setting sun, a distinctly eerie shade of crimson.

The wind howled through the forest, knocking the bare branches of the trees together and sending a shiver down my spine. The dusken fog started to roll in, and I was becoming more anxious by still being out here with each passing second.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

And then I heard it, a low growl that started behind my back and turned into a howl that pierced through the fog and struck terror into my soul.

“Aw shit, not a pack of Ulvers!” I muttered aloud to myself before breaking into a run. “Hurry up Charlie we need to get out of here!” The herd was important, but the lives of me and Charlie were worth more, and with me having zero chance of winning a fight against Ulvers the only option was to run and try to get as many of the sheep as we could back home.

I knew that when I got home, correction; if I got home, Gray was going to freaking tear me limb from limb for losing track of time and losing part of the herd again. “Well, looks like there are some night shifts in my future.” I remarked to Charlie as we ran down the forest path.

I thought that all was going well with our escape until I heard the pounding of steps racing up behind us.

“Why are they chasing after us?!” I yelled in frustration

I knew it was only a matter of time before they caught up to us on the path. Drastic times call for drastic measures, so I turned sharply into the woods hoping to lose them among the brush.

Sprinting through the bushes as fast as I could, I felt I was finally losing the Ulvers but didn't want to risk anything so I kept moving, not even pausing when a branch cut deep into my arms. Out of breath, I paused for a second, quickly surveyed the area, and started running again.

“Aaaaah Shiiittt”

Yes, that was the sound of me running straight off a major ledge, into a pit, and breaking my leg.

So, this is my first time ever breaking a limb, and you know what?

IT REALLY FUCKING HURTS!

Guess I’m not going anywhere soon now, so I’ve just got to hope that someone else finds me before the Ulvers do. I’m also seriously regretting not actually looking at where I was going, but the adrenaline did end up getting to my head during the moment.

The pain was seriously starting to get to me at this point so I attempted to lie down and lay straight into a rock. Except it wasn’t a rock, and I noticed upon closer inspection that it was metallic, spherical, and emitted a low hum as soon as I picked it up.

Yeah, I have no idea what this thing is.

It had to be something though seeing how it brimmed with power after being found in a pit in the middle of the woods. I daydreamed for a bit, maybe this was my cheat, my ticket out of this predestined life of monotony. I would overpower the elders and explore the outside world!

The pain brought me back to reality; this sphere was most likely junk. If it actually was anything of value I wouldn’t have found it here. No one in this remote part of the empire would risk losing anything of even the slightest amount of worth.

And then despair set it.

Because I had just heard the howls again, and they were getting closer.

Today was not shaping up to be a good day.