Consequence of Overconfidence

“I should have shot with a hunting bow so you’d have nothing there.” Said the chief as he walked down to the clearing.

Alexander tried to hide his laugh as he felt his still present left arm.

“Did you think it would be that easy?”

He swore he could hear relief from the chief, beyond his disapproval.

“I honestly did not think about it.”

“Or the consequences.” The chief said venomously.

Alexander laid on the ground, the smell of sweet grass assaulted his nostrils, “I have not asked but I know your artifact is a bow.”

“Really” the chief answered mockingly.

“I did not tell you to impress you.”

“I know you want to know how it works, where my arrows go, or how I can shoot you without killing or hurting you.”

“I would not say they do not hurt,” Alexander said snidely touching his ribs.

“They do as I tell them”

“So you can make it not hurt then” asked Alexander with a glare

“Maybe they are not listening this time,” said the chief with a smile.

“I’m sure it's doing exactly what you want,” Alexander said feeling the throbbing of the welts beginning to form.

“Pain is an important teacher; it is an imprint on your mind and body.”

“I would argue but it is quite a motivator”

Alexander felt the commander slap his back like he was a child.

“That is exactly what I said”

Each day Alexander found himself more enamored by the chief. He found it off that someone with clear power acted in a way so free-spirited.

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“Why do you stay here” Alexander asked

The forest was quiet, only the sound of soft steps on the forest leaves was heard.

“This is my home, there are not many places someone can go without others wanting something from you” answered the chief.

“Do the villagers not want your protection? You are there chief how could you say they want nothing from you?”

“They chose me and I chose them, I can leave if I please. Could your father leave if he wanted? Maybe it is better to say you cannot go many places without someone needing something from you or using you.”

“I do not understand, all that sounds the same.”

The chief just laughed as Alexander waited for an answer.

“You will have to figure that out on your own. Perhaps I am just rambling about some dream meaning of a home.”

Alexander thought of this the whole way back to the village, he found himself without an appetite that night.

Do people not always want something from you? Is that not the foundation of society, everyone needs others no matter the station. We even need animals and plants.

He thought of the symbiotic relationship of the world as he fell into a dreamless slumber.

For the next three days Alexander studied the village without a single glance, he learned the different sounds of wind, water, and the feelings of an oak tree compared to a tree that grew fruit.

On the third day, he was able to run through the forest without stopping until the clearing, how the softness of a step can keep you from falling or making a wrong step.

He could even tell from the touch of his foot, the size of a branch he stepped on. He was still hit by the arrows shot from the chief but only a couple of times.

When the training was complete, they returned to the village where his nose was assaulted by smoke. A rush went through him as he grabbed the canine tooth like a blade.

“Relax, smell deeper”

Alexander followed these instructions as he guided his nose past the burning wood until he could smell the roast.

“Your senses have gotten better, you smelt the smoking wood before the smell of the roast.”

As they entered the village the party seemed to have already started as drinks were flying and the settling of instruments began playing.

Cyrus was sitting among the storytelling women as he saw them entering.

The party was much like the first, except the roast was boar. The chief did not always start the fire unless the animal slayed was an apex in the mountain such as a bear or the wolves.

At the end of the night, the chief stood atop a stool as he announced the company's departure tomorrow. As he finished speaking he brought out three items.

The first item was a large flask that he gave to the knight. The flask was almost like a pouch which they learned was made from the bladder of one of the wolves.

He handed Cyrus a fur coat, made from the Auburn wolf matching his hair.

Lastly, he walked up to Alexander and handed him the black wolf's paw and did not say a word.

It was like he communicated through his mind to him a goodbye and a gift. Alexander watched as the chief seemed sorrowful walking back into his long house.

Alexander watched him as he put the wolf's paw with the canine in his left pocket.

The company left that morning as the sun rose, waking in the wagon and leaving without a word.