Childsplay

Helam and Gwen reminisce their childhood. Playing turns into training. Gwen has paranoia?

It was silent. It's always been silent. Life in our little reservation seemed like a prison. But a safe prison. I haven't left since that night. I had no reason to leave. My father and Helam handled business on the outside while I was needed here.

Sometimes I have time to spare in which I would climb the trees to have a nice sit down. The trees grew very tall, but I only climbed high enough to feel a breeze. I saw the continuous forest that went on for miles. As always there was that strange dark area that radiated a dreary, evil energy. No matter how many times I've seen it, its presence never changes. It feels as if it lives. Strangely enough I've had dreams of wandering through it. Some were horrible nightmares and some were of a happy childhood.

I heard footsteps approaching from behind. From above I recognized my brothers blonde hair (inherited from my mother) drawing closer. He had something draped over his shoulder. A raccoon?

“Is that dinner?” I called out.

He wasn't surprised to find me in a tree. “You know one of these days you're going to fall and no one will be around to catch you.”

“You were there once before.”

“And what are the chances of that happening again?”

I rolled my eyes and made my way down. He stood at the bottom until I made it safe and sound.

“Two?” I was impressed to find two raccoons on his shoulder. “They let you walk away with two?”

“No, I only took one,” he held up the tail of one raccoon, “and I was lucky to find this one on my way here. He was fast but I shot him down pretty quickly.” He was really proud of himself. That was nice for a change. “I was thinking maybe that's what I should do. Not only hunt for the butcher, but for us as well.”

“Are you sure they'd be alright with that? Wouldn't you be lessening the number of catches for the butcher shop?” it seemed like a good idea, but also a bit selfish. Didn't it?

“Well we only hunt in the woods to the East and North. I could try hunting in the West.” He pointed into the opposite side of where he entered. “Or even further North.”

“North? But any further North and you'll be entering that dark forest. Don't you think it'll be dangerous?” I thought about what could be lurking inside it. We were sitting outside the house with nothing to look at but the wall of trees.

“I don't believe those stories about that place. It's ridiculous. The woods are all connected, so why would the 'evil' everyone talks about only stay in one place. The bloody plague sure as hell never stayed in one area.” His voice turned bitter. He was thinking about mum again. Any talk of the plague was always about her.

Guilt paid another visit to my conscience again. It was quiet for a while. Nothing but the wind in the trees above us made a sound. He was right though. It seemed to make sense. Maybe the stories were just fabricated in order to frighten people. In fact I had no idea it was famous among the town. I wonder what these stories were. Helam finally felt responsible for our silence,

“Remember when we used to play sword fight?” he stared at the area where we'd play. I smiled and did the same. I could tell we were both seeing the same thing. Little Helam and Gwen sparring with long pieces of wood. Shouting clever remarks at each other. My brown pigtails would whip my face with every slice and every jab. Mum always said I had chocolate brown hair, just like my father. “Well?” he said, pulling me out of my reverie.

“What?” I asked. He went to grab two brooms and disconnected the bottom with the bristles.

“Shall we?” He held one out to me.

I scoffed, “You're serious?”

“S'alright. I'll hold back if you're worried.”

My eyes narrowed. With that said I snatched the wooden stick from his hand. “You are mending them back when this is done.”

I removed my apron while Helam shrugged the suspenders off his shoulder. We took our places in the clearing and readied our weapons. Without a delay I lunged forward and jabbed toward his stomach. As I thought he jumped out of the way just in time.

“A little eager are we sister?” He swung at my right.

I forced my body backwards, barely dodging his attack. I lost my balance. That's when he advanced with quick swings, which I was able to block. My abilities to dodge and block were far greater than my offensive abilities. I saw an opening at his right shoulder and swung at him, he ducked. I immediately took another swing at him from the other side only to have him parry my attack with his elbow to my head. I backed away. A sigh of frustration exploded from my lips along with deep breaths.

My brother grinned, “Your blows are quick, but they lack strength. Rather than just swinging your arms, try to use your entire upper body to inflict a firm impact on your opponent- like how you do when blocking,” he used the leafless tree in the middle of our clearing to show how a blow should and shouldn't be dealt. I had an absolute intention to take his advice, but part of me felt somewhat stubborn and irritant at his criticism.

He came back and we repositioned ourselves. This time he started. We sparred for a while. I followed Helam's advice which, by his approving comments, I could tell he noticed. I watched his movements for a while. I observed his swings, particularly when he swung from his right. When he does, his shoulder turns with him but only until impact from my block. If I blocked that hit so often to convince him that I'll always block, maybe I can spontaneously dodge so his swing will throw his balance off.

I followed the plan I had conscientiously mapped out. I made sure to construct a combination of blocks and dodges. I backed away at times to give my arms a rest. Finally when his right swing was making its way, I ducked under his arm and slid the broomstick against the pit of his arm indicating it's decapitation. Pleased with my success I took the liberty to turn and trap his neck from behind with my left arm. Lastly I stabbed the crevice between his body and his arm.

“I just decapitated your arm and stuck you in your heart.” I announced proudly.

We parted and I saw that he was proud too, “Good! Next time we play I won't hold back.” He arrogantly swung the broomstick around as if to look impressive.

“Ha! Playing was it? It seemed to me more like training.”

“Well a little training ought to be useful, for protection.”

“Against what, do you suppose? I doubt I'll ever meet danger inside our private dome, since my life is bound to it.” Resentment washed over me. Helam placed his hand sympathetically on my shoulder.

“I can't imagine living the same day over for ten years. But if it is any consolation, you're not missing out on much. The world isn't all that extraordinary,” he collected my broomstick. “I guess I should get to mending then.” He gave a last reassuring smile and started walking back to the house but unexpectedly said something else, “Who knows? Maybe one day we'll go out and finally have our own little adventures. Fight the forces of evil and destroy the evil witch!” I gasped but he didn't notice as he grinned jokingly, turning away.

I wasn't sure why the thought frightened me. His sudden outburst surely left my mind puzzled. I thought it was strange. It was the speech of a child. But my response was far from that of a child's imagination. A normal response to a child when speaking that way is to sweetly smile and play along. But it felt as though there was an unintended truth to what Helam said. Like there was something vital missing in my memory and Helam had just told me the answer. I concentrated hard but it was like searching for something that didn't exist. But it did. I almost felt certain. Just then my heart began pacing faster. Wind never reached this low into the trees but I felt a menacing chill crawl it's way up my back onto my neck. I tensed and whipped my head to look behind me. It was that feeling again. Like I was being watched. Enough, I thought to myself. I tried to dispose these ridiculous feelings.

I hadn't told anyone about these paranoid emotions. They've been happening since Helam and I were young. It started before my mother fell ill. I remember crying to her about something lurking in the woods right outside our home. She simply smiled and told me that it was just my imagination running away with me. She didn't even have to comfort me with words. Her smile was comfort enough.

“Gwen?” My father had just arrived from town. “What are you doing outside? It'll be dark soon,” he looked in the direction I had been gazing at, “What are you looking at?”

I smiled, “Nothing Papa I was just thinking.”

He smiled back, “That's my girl. Smart and always thinking,” he stroked my chin with his knuckle and went in the house. I took a last look around and followed him inside.

Author's Note

What do you think of the story so far? And how do you think I did on the characters? Does something seem off?