Sid's Hero

School's out. For now at least. It was the start of fall and that meant a short week for all the kids and college students currently taking classes. This was usually a time of great glee for the kids but one child was anything but happy. An Australian Shepard boy, about ten years old, was walking down a paved road with his bike in tow. The chain had broken just as he started out of the school parking lot so that meant having to walk home for him.
The boy was named Barton Kelly. He was dressed appropriately for the cool fall weather; a pair new jeans his mother had gotten him and a long sleeve brown shirt that was decorated with five figures all in brightly colored armor, samurai of some kind, no doubt from his favorite TV show.

He was a handsome young man as both his parents were quick to point out. He had a bright youthful face, a cute smile, and great fur that he inherited from his mother. The only thing that looked out of place on him were his eyes. They had an intensity to them that was beyond his years. One look at his face and most could tell; this kid had seen some shit.
Barton decided to cut through the woods. The walk through the densely packed trees wouldn't save him time, anything but, and that was just what he wanted. Anything that could kill his time and keep him out of the house was okay by him. He hopped on his bike and used the steep incline at the start of the forest to propel himself forward. He coasted peacefully on the bike, legs sticking out wistfully as rode down the smooth-ish path in the woods. He let out a holler as his bike hit a bump and sent him up into the air for a second.
"Yahoo!!!" He shouted, fist in the air, followed by a laugh.
His gliding only lasted about a minute or two before he had to hop off and resume walking. He had significantly more spring in his step now. Barton loved these woods, the solitude. You could get so deep in these woods that you couldn't see any roads or buildings from the surrounding town. That idea excited Barton but also scared him. There was a blinking cell tower to the east that he always kept in view so he could find his way out.
Suddenly, an unpleasant noise cut through the serene silence of the forest. It sounded like crying accompanied by laughter. Barton's ear twitched in the direction of the noise. He parked his bike next to an oak tree and cautiously ran to where the sound. He walked up a steep hill, bracing his arm against nearby trees to keep his balance. He got to the top and that when he saw it.
Three older boys, easily twelve or thirteen, were crowded around another boy that looked to be Barton's age. The boy on the ground was an Indian child, a lemur. He was well dressed in a nice blue collared shirt and a pair of jeans shorts that ended slightly below his knees. Well, his clothes used to be nice, now they were caked with dirt and a noticeable shoe mark on his back. He was crying. One of the older boys, a gecko, sat on his back and tugged on the collar of the lemur's shirt, causing the small boy to choke slightly and cough.
"Gimme a ride, curry boy!!" The gecko shouted at him, bouncing on his back.
The gecko slapped the back of his head and all three of the older kids laughed as the lemur bawled loudly.
Barton looked on as a scowl formed on his face. He looked at the lemur child who had tears streaming down his face. They hadn't seen him yet. The Shepherd boy leaned down and plunged his hand into the earth, picking up a fairly big rock. He shook the dirt from his stone as he kept his eye on the scene.
"Hey!!" Barton called out, his voice breaking a little out of fear.
All eyes were on him now. He tucked the rock behind his back. All was silent except for the occasional sniffling of the lemur.
"What the fuck do you want?!" A stout wolf teenager said.
"Let him go!" Barton shouted, attempting to match the energy of the wolf, his voice didn't break this time.
"Let him go!" a lanky panther whined, mocking Barton.
"This doesn't have anything to do with you!" The gecko yelled at him, pushing the lemur's face into the dirt. "So just fuck off back to your-"
The gecko stopped mid-sentence and narrowed his view at Barton. He tightened his grip on the rock behind his back, not sure what was going to happen. The gecko stood up, getting off the lemur's back. He took a few steps at Barton.
"I know you..." He said, followed by a small laugh. "Your dad's that crazy guy!"
The remaining two boys and the lemur looked on in confusion that soon faded once they all realized what he was talking about. Barton's father was a man named Fred Charles Kelly. He was a detective who was always off working on some case, something that got the neighbors talking. The fact Fred was always coming back badly injured didn't help. Rumors of his mental instability were common, as were rumors of infidelity. Barton carried that with him everywhere. The minute he told anyone his name he saw the shift in people faces. "Oh. You're THAT guy's kid" their faces said.
The gecko stuff his hands in his pockets cockily.
"Listen kid. Why don't you head on home so we don't beat the shit out of you? Huh? That way I don't have to leave you bloody on the floor like your dad."

THWACK!!!

The gecko let out a shrill scream of pain as he toppled over onto the ground, clutching his forehead. Barton stood on top of the hill with his arm out. He had thrown the rock and in a feat of skill that surprised everyone, he managed to bean the older kid right in the middle of his forehead.
"Mother fucker!!!" The gecko screeched out.
The other two teens ran up to their friend, leaving the lemur unattended. Barton jumped from the top of the hill and hit the ground running.
"Run!!" Barton yelled at the Lemur.
The lemur picked himself up and ran along side Barton as best he could. His knees were sore from being on them so much, not to mention his body in general was sore from all the abuse he had suffered at the hands of the teenagers. The two ten year olds booked it through the uneven forest terrain, bobbing and weaving through the trees. It wasn't long before both of them heard three sets of footfalls coming from behind them. The teenagers had gotten up and began to chase them.
"I'm gonna kill you, you piece of shit!!!" he gecko shouted at Barton.
Barton's mind began racing desperately for a solution. Judging by the sounds of their footsteps, they were getting closer. That meant keeping straight would only work for so long. His eyes scanned their surroundings, trying to pick out any familiar landmarks. In the corner of his eye, he caught something hanging in the trees, a raggedy piece of old rope, no doubt from some old tire swing. Barton recognized it.
"Follow me!" He called to the lemur before making a sharp left turn.
They ran for their lives toward the tree with the rope. The two of them came to a small rock cave that sat beneath the tree.
"Get in here." Barton said with a hushed tone. "Duck down and don't come out for ten minutes."
"Okay." The lemur said, running into the cave and hiding himself in a pile of wet leaves.
Just as Barton was about to run off the lemur spoke up.
"Why are you helping me?" He asked.
Barton looked down at him, panting, not sure what to say.
"What? I need a reason?" He asked before booking it.
It wasn't long before the three boys caught up with Barton. They didn't even ask for the Indian child when they got there, no, they were focused on him now. Barton stood just past the cave, knees bent like he was about to start sprinting. The gecko ran at him, a small trickle of blood running down his face from where the rock hit. Just then, Barton turns the other way and bolted. He ran up a small incline that went up to the tree. He jumped and grabbed the aging rope with his hands. Barton could feel the old strings strain and snap under his weight. He slammed his eyes shut, hoping the rope wouldn't break as he swung around. The rope carried him over the boys who were staring up at him in surprise. He let go and hit the ground running again, his feet throbbing with pain from the drop.
All the running was starting to take a toll on Barton. Not necessarily the distance but more maneuvering through the uneven forest. He had strolled through these woods almost every day but he had never run them. He hopped over bulging roots and slid down steep dirt hills, trying to keep his momentum up. Just then a sharp pain shot through the back of his head. One of them had thrown a rock. Barton went tumbling to the ground. He was tossed around by the root and rocks of the hill. He fell into a clearing, on his back, dizzy from the spinning fall he just took. He tried to push himself up but was greeted by a swift kick to his side.
"How's that fucking feel bitch??!! You like fucking rocks you little fucker?!" The gecko screamed as he kicked the ten year old over and over.
Barton curled up in the fetal position and covered his head as the older boy rained down blows. More than once he stomped of Barton's hand. He climbed on top of him and wrenched his hand from his face before backhanding him hard. Barton yelled out and tears started to form in his eyes as the gecko slapped him again and again. The gecko stuffed his thumb into Barton's mouth and pulled on his cheek, fish hooking him. Barton screamed in pain. Barton's eye's snapped open into a tear filled glare, his head vibrated with rage. He swung his  head quickly and chomped down, catching the older boy's thumb between his teeth.
"Fuck!!! He's biting me!!!" HE shouted, punching Barton in the face.
These eyes were not those of child but of a fighter. He growled at him and tightened his jaw around the scaly thumb. No matter how many times he got punched, he wasn't letting go. A sickening wet crunch came from inside Barton's head and for a second he wasn't sure if it was his teeth cracking of the thumb breaking. The gecko shrieked and yanked his thumb away. IT was bleeding and had a large indentation from Barton's teeth on it. He got up and cradled his sore hand as he walked away. The wolf charged at the small dog boy and Barton acted fast. He picked his legs up an threw them out when the wolf approached, sending one into his nose and other into his chin. The wolf was throw back and bumped into his injured friend, the two of them toppled over clumsily.
Barton got up and grabbed the closest object, a thick branch that had a few small branches on the sides. The panther cautiously approached and Barton swung the branch at him. A smaller branch whipped the feline's face like and old fashioned switch, leaving a cut on his cheek. Barton swung the branch around like a madman, keeping his attackers at bay.
"Back up!!" Barton finally shouted. "Back the fuck up!!!!"
The panther charged, tackling Barton and causing them to roll. The panther rolled off of him giving Barton enough time to get up. He held the branch over his head and slapped it down on the panther's back as he tried to get up. "THWACK!!! THWACK!!! THWACK!!!" again and again on the teenagers back.
"Stop!!" The teen begged, covering the back of his head.
"Fuck you!!" Barton shouted down at his attacker.
With one last swing the branch snapped in half. There was silence. at least, there WAS. The panther teen on the ground was sniveling and crying. Barton looked down at what he had done. The branch had torn into the back of the kid's jacket and even his shirt a little. He saw blood. The panther, fueled by his angry sobbing, started to reach for a rock.  Barton grabbed him and sat on his sore back, just like the gecko had done to the lemur. The panther cried out in pain,  begging Barton to get off his aching back. Barton held the remnants of the branch toward the teen's neck, a jagged edge poking into the soft fur covered flesh.
"Whoa!! Whoa man!!" The wolf said, holding up his arms. "Stop! Please!!"
"Kid come on! It's not that serious!" The gecko said.
"Don't tell me it's not fucking serious!!!" Barton shouted, his voice echoing in the forest. "You don't get to fucking say that!! You dragged a kid into the wood to beat him up. You called him curry boy. Don't you fucking pretend this isn't serious!"
Barton pressed the pointed edge of the branch into the panther's neck a little, causing everyone to tense up.
"If I ever see any of you again....I'll murder you." Barton threatened. "I will kill you and they will NEVER be able to find your bodies. Do you fucking understand me?!"
The wolf and gecko both nodded slowly. Barton got off, letting the panther scramble back to his friends, crying. The three of them ran off, taking Barton's threats seriously after what they just saw him do. He sank to the ground, his head dangling between his knees. He let his branch fall to the ground as he had a moment of respite. Barton ran his finger through the fur atop his head and grasped his ears, giving a groan.
"Are they gone?" A voice asked.
Barton looked up to see the Lemur looking down at him from the hill. His clothes were covered in dirt and leaves.
"Uh...yeah. They're gone." Barton confirmed.
They stood there, looking at each other as the lemur walked down the hill.
"Siddhant." The lemur said.
"Excuse me?" Barton asked, cocking his head to the side.
"My name. I'm Siddhant Khurana." Siddhant said, introducing himself officially.
"Oh. Okay." Barton said getting up and dusting himself off. "I'm Barton. Barton Kelly."
"Thank you." Siddhant said sheepishly. "They've been giving me trouble for weeks."
"No problem." He said standing up. "Do you...want me to walk you out of the forest?"
"Please. I don't know this place..." He said, his ears flattening against his head.
The pair walked out of the forest in silence. Theirs wasn't a conventional meeting. Barton had been chased and beaten up for this kid that he barely knew. Siddhant had been saved by this random kid who just happened to be passing through. It was awkward and they couldn't shake it. They stood on the side of the road together, Barton holding his bike.
"Did they do that?" Siddhant asked, pointing to the broken chain.
"No. IT was like that when I left school. Are you going to be okay?" He asked.
"I'm okay. I live down the road on Clement Street."
"Cool..." Barton nodded. "Uhm....hey, if they ever give you trouble again come find me. I walk this route every day coming home."
"Oh! Okay. Thank you." Siddhant thanked Barton.
Barton gave one last nod before turning and walking away. He extended him arm out and gave a thumbs up as his back was turned to Siddhant. A smile formed on the lemur's face. In that moment, as Barton walked toward the setting son, wearing the scraps of his fight, arm extended out, Siddhant couldn't help but think: "He looks so cool". He swelled with admiration for this kid, someone who stuck their neck out for him when he needed it most. This is what started it all. Siddhant would have other people he liked or respected but none of them would hold the place Barton Kelly, his friend, did. Not even close.