A wooden sword cut through the air with a whoosh, as Perseus - a boy of about 13 years old, moved the object around rapidly, shouting with every turn he made.
"Yah! Ay-yah!"
Sweat dripped from his forehead and his arms ached with fatigue.
Suddenly, someone jumped out from the bushes behind him and attacked him. He turned a second later than he should have. His breath ghosted over a sword that was leveled against his throat and he froze.
Suddenly, his attacker laughed. "And you are dead!"
"That is not funny, Brother."
Ajax, his brother, moved the sword away, still laughing as he tossed some of the berries he had gone to fetch earlier to Perseus. "You are afraid of everything. How will you ever make a good warrior?"
Ajax was only two years older than him, but he enjoyed teasing him like he was ten years or more older. Although he did have more height and more muscles, even his black curly hair was fuller than Perseus's own. His eyes were vibrant and his hands were quick. He was everything Perseus wasn't, everything Perseus desired to be.
"I have two more years before the recruitment. I will make it."
"And I'll help you in whatever way I can." He ruffled Perseus's hair and staggered back, using his sword to toss the wooden sword to Perseus. And this was why Perseus couldn't hate his brother, despite Ajax' teasing attitude, he always cared for Perseus and fed him, looked out for him and—
Perseus's eyes widened instantly.
"That is Father's sword. He will kill you if he catches you with it!"
Ajax shrugged. "He won't catch me." He took notice of the setting sun and ran to where two horses had been tied to a tree. "As long as we get home before him. He would never know we left."
"What?!" Perseus struggled to get on his horses and Ajax gave him a push. "I thought you said Father permitted us to visit the fields."
Ajax mounted his horse with ease and he held the reins as he flashed his brother a smile. "I lied." Before Perseus would start panicking that their father would rain hell on them because they would certainly get home later, Ajax reassured him with itfour words.
"I know a shortcut." Ajax ' horse galloped in a direction as he yelled to his brother to keep up.
Their horses galloped deeper into the woods, neighing. Ajax laughed, enjoying the ride and soon enough, Perseus was laughing too, shouting along with his brother as they tried to outran each other… but suddenly something happened.
Perseus' horse tumbled, throwing Perseus' off his back. He hit the ground with a thud and blood slipped down his head.
"Brother!" Ajax jumped off his horse, rushing off to his brother that laid on the floor unconsciously as his horse neigh in pain some distance next to him.
He was too blinded by worry to notice the strings and traps that had been laid on the ground.
An arrow flew through the air and dug straight into Ajax's leg.
Swoosh!
Ajax hit the floor too, an agonizing cry ringing from his throat as he realized one thing.
This was a trap.
Their peaceful village was under attack.
Men in black robes poured out of the forest, from his slowly becoming unconscious state, he could see one of the men throw his brother over his shoulder while another carried him.
While he slipped into unconsciousness, he thought to himself.
'Father. Run.'
It burbled as the stream travels along its bed, bubbling over rocks and branches,duck cackles along the stream at the Erethia farmers land.
It was a sunny day,Farmers were busy with their cultivating and marketing as traders were all over .
Thoric the plantation farmer was busy sharpening his farming tools as he cut a glance at a cute white rabbit squeaking around the trap which he had set.
"Come on pick the carrot , Perseus and Ajax must be really hungry right now I have promised a rabbit meal " thoric said.
An arrow flew through the air and dug straight at the rabbit.
"Swoosh" As Thoric was very nervous and couldn't wait any longer,he decided to aim at the rabbit which was being cautious of the carrots to pick.
"Yes !!yes!! yes !! I did it !!
Finally, after so many unsuccessful hunts a day at least I can go home now.My son must be hungry also." As Thoric rejoice his stomach started growling.
All he could do on his way home was to imagine how he was going to surprise his kids and how delicious the meal was going to be .He smiles and he then said to himself -
"Oh Janice , I wish you were here to see grown our kids are…I can't help but always cry whenever I remember how beautiful the family was with you.. me seeing the two strong kids growing rapidly makes me stronger .
"sigh"
if only we could meet again in the next life I would give my life to protect you "
Ohhh yess finally home, he tired his horse close to the entrance because he was eager to surprise his kid and the ranch felt a little bit stressful to get to at the moment..
Perseus!!! Ajax!!!
"Guess what I have here. Perseus won't you get your father a water to drink " he said. But everywhere remain silent, he then ran to the room and the room was empty.. he then smile then rode his horse to his ranch and noticed to of his horses were missing…
Thoric start to lament "Ohhhh noooo…. Not again ..Ajax!!!!
He is just so stubborn, I wish Janice was here to discipline him.He better bring Perseus and my horses back at one piece "
He sat outside on a chair waiting patiently while he drank his Best wine but it was getting dark and he could no longer be patient so decided to search for them..
Riding his horse with rage thinking he would meet them on the way and he could scold them..but getting to the field which they do play, they were nowhere to be found .. He then started being nervous..
"Screaming"
Ajax!!! Perseus !! But all he could hear in return was an echo of his own voice .. he started searching every possible road they could have passed and suddenly saw a trace of blood on the floor, He run toward it's and he saw a tore part of Ajax clothes covered in blood ..
"Ohhhh nooo !!!! Ajax!!!! " he screamed and tears rushes from his eye..