Chapter 180 TEIGEN IV
Teigen pushed himself to stand, taking note of the pattern on the ground. He thought about going back to Mortisia but the words of the second man rang in his head
'I cannot take you back to your mother, she will be punished' and Teigen did not want his mother to be whipped or hurt because of him. So he knew he could not go back and he could not stay put either. Like the fist man said, wild creatures would begin to come out soon.
Teigen wiped his tears and with a heavy heart began to take the directions the second man bad given him. He walked for hours, stopping from time to time due to exhaustion and hunger. Finally Teigen had walked till his feet were sore and he was yet to find the running stream
The night skies had blackened, the other illumination provided by the moon. Teigen's eyes dropped with tiredness and he wanted nothing more than to curl up with his mother and go to sleep but he couldn't. The thought alone brought fresh tears to his eyes. Teigen crumbles again the trunk of a tree, shivering with cold. He shuffles closer to the tree, trying to wrap around himself to prevent the cold from getting to him. Teigen had begun to nod off when the sound of splashes reached him.
He blinked awake, trying to listen more closely. He could hardly see anything but the sound led his steps. He flowed the sound passed a few trees before the reflection of the moon, against the soft ripples of the stream filled his gaze.
A little relief washes over Teigen as he knows he is close to the town now. But too tired to carry on Teigen settled near the stream, scooping up a portion into his folded bloodied palms and trying to drink but the water had been contaminated with his blood. Teigen pours it away, deciding to drink directly from the stream with his lips. He slurps a bit, choking from something he mistakenly swallows. Finally fatigue catches up to him as he lays carefully on a tree, his toes curled to his form. He watched the water flow downwars as he drifts of into an uncomfortable, dreamless sleep.
~
The distant singing of the birds above the thick trees, the rustling of the leaves from the afternoon wind. The sound of twigs breaking as the animal approached a strange lump of flesh cuddled up close to the stream. Cautiously the deer inches closer, leaning down to drink some water, keeping an eye on the creature.
The deer stands there, tilting it's head to the side, trying to identify this creature that seemed so still. Inching forward the deer takes calculated, careful steps towards the boy, watching to see if he would react or move.
Assuming it was safe, the deer walks forward, taking a sniff of Teigen's hair. It rubs its wet nose against his cheek, licking across the skin, following upwards to his eye. Teigen begins to twitch from the moist intrusion, swatting away at the deer but it continues to lick his cheek. Teigen tries to adjust, turning on his side only to grunt at the discomfort of the trees roots. His eyes lazily open before widening in shock and he jerks backwards, fear making his heart thunder. He grips his shirt, trying to calm himself as he eyeballs the deer and begins to slowly creep backwards, noticing it does not seem to be coming after him.
Once Teigen had created a reasonable distance between himself and the animal he takes off, running as best as he can. He turns back, watching to see if the deer was following after him but it just stood there, watching on. Teigen continued to run, ignoring the little sharp stones that pricked his bare feet. He sprints till his legs get tired, his knees giving way as he trips on a stone. Due to the speed at which he was running he is sent flying, crashing and falling roughly to the ground. He hisses, tears gathering in his eyes.
"Who dares to step foot on me land!?" A loud voice bellows, causing Teigen to flinch, curling into a ball while his whole form shook violently.
The crunching of stones under heavy feet is all Teigen can hear as he tries his best to shield himself. Rae watches Teigen, puzzled as to why a little child would be all alone and in such a condition.
Maybe I have finally lost my marbles. "Boy. What are you doing in these parts? " Rae uses the blunt wood end of his cutlass to nudge Teigen's head.
Slowly, still terrified Teigen raises his head, blinking up at Rae and cowering at the sight of the weapon in his hand. Rae notices Teigen's nervous eyes glued to his weapon and lowers it, watching the little boy with curiousity. Rae was fascinated by little Teigen's exotic eye color, such an electric violet, as if burning like an ethereal fire.
"Hey, boy. Are you dead?" Rae asks, squinting his eyes at Teigen.
Teigen shakes his head, swiping at the tears on his cheek. The dirt that coats his chubby cheeks, the cuts on his fingers, bruises on his knees and the tattered state of his clothing. He looked hungry and tired, his hair matted with dirt and sand.
"Stand up, boy. Why are you here?" Rae questions, trying to guess how old Teigen was and where his parents could possibly be. Such irresponsible people they were, to allow their child in such a state.
Teigen doesn't speak, instead he tries to get up, swaying back and forth. Seeing his struggle, Rae offers a hand which Teigen takes. "Come along boy, you look horrid"
Rae takes Teigen's hand and leads him to his house. There, beside the stream lies a wooden tavern, seemingly in the middle of nowhere but looking into the distance, houses of different sizes and stalls could be seen. Rae stops at the entrance of his house, sitting Teigen on the steps.