SURVIVAL AND DISCOVERY

He hid in the shadows. He eyed the merchant with every bit of focus hunger could muster. He feared the growling of his stomach would give him away.

"Focus... need food, just focus"

He started his approach, skulking as best as he could through the shadows. He approached the vendor's cart. He reached ever so slowly to pluck the bread from its place. Just a quick grab and he would bolt away. He had planned it out several times in his mind, he knew the routine.

It hadn't always been like this. There used to be food on the table every night. Then his family took the trip to this town. There were "opportunities here" is what his father had told him. Yet this small town held nothing of value in his eyes. Boasting only a handful of families and one inn, this place was not promising.

It had gone well in the village of Mount Haven Foots. It offered freedom for a young boy. Mountains and caves to explore, meadows to run and nap in, it was a small piece of freedom, after you got past the obvious discomforts that come from being so far from civilization.

It was that distance that had taken his parents from him. He had been out exploring the mountains to the east. Everywhere, as far as he could see, there was nothing but uncharted forests, unexplored terrain, and it would be him that would conquer these places. He began to wander away from the village of Mount Haven Foots.