Leon, finally going last, was exhausted from today's trials with a bear that kept him tensed the whole time, adding to the pressure and making the exhaustion worse. Hurrying to finish cleaning himself, Leon hopped out of the tub, wrapped a towel around himself, and headed up the stairs to his room. Throwing his new knives onto the desk, flopping on the bed, and closing his eyes to unconsciousness.

Morning came early for Leon. Bright light rays came through his window, blasting him right in the eyes, making sleeping impossible. He was so tired last night that he forgot to shut his blinds and slept on top of the covers.

Stumbling out of bed, Leon walked over to his dresser with the mirror taking stock of his current situation. In his haste to fall asleep yesterday, he forgot to dry and brush his dark raven hair resulting in it sticking up in weird angles everywhere. Sighing, Leon looked down, his eyes scanning the top of the dresser and finding his birthday presents.

Suddenly excited, Leon hurried and threw on whatever clothes he could find in his wardrobe: a plain white tunic and brown pants—grabbing his new leather sash with the knives already sheathed within—he put it on across his chest and ran down the stairs. Entering the kitchen and seeing his mother making porridge, he decided his plans could wait, as food always takes priority.

Leon sat at the table in the middle of the room, waiting for breakfast.

“Where is Father at?”

“He is sleeping in today. Apparently, his back hurts from carrying that bear across town. Something about his helper wasn't very helpful?”

Leon smiled and rolled his eyes. He is 11.. Wait, he is 12. What did you expect him to carry a five-foot bear by himself? Huffing and lying his head in his crossed arms, thinking about improving his throwing knife skills.

“Mother, do you think I can stay here my whole life?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Well, I have always known that I could get conscripted to the military to fight, but we're so far away from any front line I just wanna have a quiet life and be with you guys.”

“Awwe baby, sure we would love to have you with us, and I'm sure no wars will start here. They never have and never will. We live in the boonies after all,” Wendy said while looking away from the pot she was stirring to send Leon a warm smile.

“Ok, breakfast is ready.”

She said as she scooped the porridge into a wooden bowl, likely carved by his mother when she was at home trying to stay busy.

“Thanks mother, I love your cooking. “

“What do you want? your too nice today?” Wendy asked inquisitively with narrowed eyes trained on Leon’s figure

“Can I stay home today and practice with the knives you got me?” Leon asked meekly, hoping he would be able to skip chores today.

“Sure, just remember the promise you made with me, no hurting people.”

“I remember, and I'll be good, I swear.”

With Leon renewing the promise with his mother, she waved him off, gesturing to go off and do what he wanted. Now Leon was hurrying to finish his food and rush out the door. Running out back, Leon headed to his secret spot. It wasn't some extravagant cave or hidden grove. His area was on the edge of the deep woods where many people won't venture, being too scared of the creatures that might come out of it.

Leon isn't a perfectionist, but he holds himself to high standards. Upon arrival, he picked out a tree that would be his designated target. Walking over to the tree, he started to scratch a bullseye onto its bark. Walking back at about ten paces, Leon aimed. He focused on the inner ring thinking through the motions before trying it for real. “Swing your arm down hard with a flick of the wrist at the end to have maximum power,” he thought as Leon was finally prepared and was throwing. A sharp voice cut through him, ruining his focus and his throw going wide onto a nearby tree.

Stolen novel; please report.

“There you are, bitch!”

Startled, Leon whipped his head around to find who was looking for him and put off that they would insult him. He had no enemies. Hell, he had no friends, either being too busy with his father or helping his mother.

“Ezra, why are you here? And why would you insult me? What did I do?” Leon asked worriedly. After all, no one likes it when someone doesn't want you unless you couldn't care less about them.

“Don't act like you don't know! If your lazy father weren't so useless, my father wouldn't be crippled for life!” Ezra angrily shouted as he walked towards Leon with angry stomps.

Sensing his hostility, Leon backed up to keep his distance between them. But Ezra kept on coming, and soon Leon couldn't keep walking back to keep from going deeper into the deep woods.

“Back off. What do you want from me anyway?! How is this my problem!” Finally irritated enough, Leon snapped back.

“Since my father got crippled because yours was too damn useless to do anything, I'm going to cripple you.”

This sent a ripple of panic through Leon. Ezra is a big guy for a 12-year-old, and his muscles from working in the forge were superior to Leon’s. Not thinking he would win in a fistfight, Leon had to fight the urge to grab his throwing knives and protect himself. If not for that seemingly innocent promise he made with his mother, the blades would have been waved out in Ezra’s face by now.

Searching for options, Leon looked around to find ways to get past Ezra and head back into the village. But he was taking too long to decide, and a pain sensation hit him in his side. Ezra’s big blocky fist hit him in the ribs pushing him back against the tree behind him.

Now all of Leon’s focus was on him. Looking for any more punches that might be thrown, Leon was rewarded as a right hook came at his head—ducking under it and throwing an uppercut of his own at Ezra’s stomach. Not flinching at all, Ezra just shook it off and jabbed at Leon’s head.

Leon’s head was pushed back onto the tree, making the pain worse, and darkness started creeping into his vision. Snapping out of his dizziness, Leon’s fight or flight response kicked into overdrive. His mind only focused on survival, whipped out his knife, then pointed it at Ezra.

“ I don't want to hurt you, Ezra! But if you don't leave, I'll make you stop.” Leon snarred out

Ezra slapped the knife out of Leon’s outstretched hand, seemingly more enraged at the idea of not completing his goal of crippling Leon. Now down to three knives, Leon rethought his strategy and tried to run away.

“The left or right is the only option to escape. Going into the deep woods is not an option.” Leon thought anxiously

With either left or right being the same, Leon dashed out to the right. A hand on his shoulder stopped his plans as he was pulled back, losing his footing and tumbling to the ground. Ezra took his opportunity to straddle Leon, and rain blows onto the much smaller kid. Leon was still trying to protect himself. Having one arm covering his head, his other grabbed his third knife and jabbed out at the closest thing he could find.

Ezra saw Leon attempt to stab him, but it was too late to stop the much smaller boy, with Ezra being too preoccupied with raining blows on Leon. Feeling the sensation of resistance and a warm liquid on his hand, Leon moved his arm away from his head to see what had happened.

Ezra was holding his hand to his stomach while blood was trickling out of his stomach. Stunned, Leon, still straddled, watched the red blood drip off Ezra’s hands and land on his chest, staining his white shirt. Breaking out of his trance, Leon bucked his hips, throwing Ezra off enough to scramble from beneath the much larger boy.

Leon first thought that he had to get his knives back. Looking around at the grass, his eye was attracted to a glimmer of light. Lunging to it, he found one of the knives he lost in the scuffle. Returning it to its sheath, he ran to the tree his first knife flew to. Leon grabbed it by the thin metal handle and tried to pry it free from the bark.

“A throwing knife to the stomach wasn't going to kill him,” Leon thought. Suddenly remembering he stabbed Ezra just a few seconds ago, he turned back and saw Ezra with a face of agony. Ezra was still holding his hands to his stomach, and the front of his white shirt was slowly turning red.

It must hit a much more dangerous spot like the head, heart, or lungs to kill. Turning back to his knife wedged into the tree, Leon placed his foot against it to help free it. Stumbling back suddenly with the knife now in his hand Leon also put his knife away, still holding the bloody one away from his body.

“Ezra, you're not going to die. But you must get that checked out and return to your father.”

With a grunt of effort, Ezra slowly stood back up to his feet, clutching his stomach. Still angry, he was glaring at Leon, but Leon wasn't going to take it anymore, feeling more confident against a wounded opponent. Sending a glare just as viscous back at Ezra while cocking his arm back in position to throw his knife. Leon saw Ezra’s eyes turn towards his arm, watching the blood drip off his knife and wondering if he would still have to use it. Still, Ezra’s better judgment apparently won his internal debate on whether he wanted to continue fighting. Ezra turned around and stumbled back to Wood’s Edge.

With an immense sigh, Leon sat down against a tree, leaning his aching head against its bark.

“Fuck, mom is going to kill me,” Leon stated out loud. Holding his clean hand to his forehead in an attempt to ease the pain coming from it. Figuring that focusing on his practice would be hard to do with an aching head, Leon decided it was time to leave.

The first thing he did before going home was to wash the blood from his knife and hand. Remembering a small stream his father showed him just on the edge of the deep woods, Leon began to follow the perimeter of its boundary.

While walking, thinking back to his unwanted altercation, Leon was proud he defended himself. But he also knew he had only won because he had a weapon. His build would never be focused on power, as his father was also slim. Deciding he needs to work towards improving his speed and being evasive.

Leon hoped Ezra would be alright, not taking joy in hurting others. Finally, he heard the sounds of running water. Realizing he was thirsty, he quickened his steps toward the noise. Coming around the bend of trees, Leon saw a small creek that flowed on the outskirts of the Deep woods.