I listened to Alden's snores. We slept under the stars that night, a beautiful clear one. Had it been raining, I would have brought out the tent, but why trouble yourself when the ground is dry, the sky is beautiful and I finally wasn't alone... "of all the people I met in the forest, it just had to be the brother of the man I killed," I thought, "there is no doubt about it, I can see the family resemblance...". I pushed the guilt away, for now at least.
I happened across Alden quite by accident. I had been hunting and saw an odd color through the trees, it had turned out to be Alden's skin: dark, unlike all the green here. It was a miracle I even saw the kid, the forest is so dense, especially here in Viridi territory that you can pass someone who is five feet away and neither of you notice. It had happened a couple of times already. I would be walking along then glance behind and there would be a trader a couple feet behind me and to the left, having crossed paths ten seconds before and not even noticing.
It was these chance encounters with traders that probably saved me life. The crate I had been given contained a proper knife, a waterskin, string, and flint. Both were old and not suited for the humidity of the forest, hence they broke after a couple days. By then, however, I had scored some kills for both meat and fur. Traps proved very effective for catching smaller mammals, but I had several close encounters with the juks: ferocious cats whose meat and skin were both profitable. I traded what I could spare whenever I came across a caravan, and had gotten a couple of proper knives, a tent, and a pack that could both hold supplies as well as water.
Perhaps I could trade some more of my skins to get the kid some stuff. He looked like he'd been out here a week or so. If he really was banished, then it would have to have taken him a handful of weeks at least to cross the desert and reach this far into the forest. He's lucky to be alive. Besides his rusted sword, he didn't look like he had much else on him. He was deliriousness too, he thought his brother died a few days ago... if only he knew it had been a little over a month now... and that the murderer was right next to him. Guilt washed over me once again... Leaving this kid brotherless. I caused his banishment. Surely he wouldn't have done whatever it was if his brother was still alive. Maybe this was my chance for redemption... taking care of the brother of the man I murdered. It certainly can't be a coincidence that we met in the forest. I'll have to tell him in the morning, perhaps ask him to join me. I'd hate to be alone and he needs someone to take care of him... he can't be older than 16, untested by the harshness of life... but now... My eyes kept drooping... couldn't focus...
As I started to drift, I thought I saw something move up in the tree above... a flash of green, a different hue than that of the tree, in the moonlight... But I fell asleep, and when I woke, whatever it was was gone.
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