Beginning

     The sun rose up over the mountains, catching the fresh fallen snow, casting a glare over everything in its perfect serenity. Not a single animal moved or made a sound, the wind at a standstill and silent. It was as if the world itself was asleep on this dawn of a new day as Ren sat there. Breathing out, his breath would fog up in a cold cloud in front of his face, surrounding him and his features for a moment before disappearing. He tilts his head back, leaning against a tree just on the edge of the forest and looks out at the valley that was in front of him, seemingly untouched by man or anything of the like. He shakes his head and turns away, closing his eyes.
     The memories of when he was a boy filled his head as he started to walk away, remembering his home, how it was before that fateful day that it all began some fourteen years ago.  Ren was just a boy of seven at the time and was always going around the village causing a bit of mischief not really having anything that called out to him. Many people his age were already starting to train to become the apprentice of whatever profession that they were wanting to become but still he waited.  Often times he would feel lost and this is why he would act out, trying to find somewhere to belong, and someone that would accept him for who he was.
     It was one such day that Ren was causing trouble in the village again, throwing snowballs at people, scaring them, running and hiding afterward to not get in trouble but they all knew it was him, he had formed a reputation as a troublemaker for himself. Ren had just thrown another snowball at a passing person. Maybe it was fate or a pure coincidence but the snowball that Ren had thrown was full of more than just snow. He had managed to grab a stone in the center and when he threw it, it struck the person on the temple, causing them to bleed.
     Frightened Ren ran, hiding behind the nearest building, his breath coming out heavily and in large gasps as his adrenaline rushed through his body. It felt like every hair was standing on end and he could hear every crunch of the snow under foot of everyone moving by. He thought that he had gotten away but then it started, the slow rhythmic crunch of snow approaching him little by little. Ren froze listening, holding his breath.
     It was then that he heard another noise, the sound of the sharp metallic schlick that marked a sword being drawn from a scabbard along with the gentle hum of a freshly drawn blade. He closes his eyes, willing his body to move but he was frozen in fear. He appeared to be calm on the surface but his mind was battling as hard as it could to try and get him to move. "Move damn you, why won't you move?" He thought to himself as he presses against the wall.
     Even as he stayed there, unmoving, the sound of the steps drew closer and closer, the rhythmic breathing of the one holding the sword showing much practice and experience. Ren gulps thinking he was about to die just when the person steps around the corner, glaring down at him, sword held high above his head. "You dare to strike me with a stone you little mutt? You aren't even good enough to lick my boot." The man sneers as Ren cowers in fear.
     Luck was on the boy's side, at least this time, as just then the owner of the building came out through the back door and saw what was going on and shook his head and let out a deep throaty cough. "Look here sir, this boy means no harm to you or anyone, he's just a trouble maker." He glares at Ren but his eyes looked at the boy differently than those of the new comer.
     The man sneers again and keeps his sword held high for a moment longer before lowering the point to Ren's throat, causing the boy's eyes to widen at the cold touch of the steel. The burly man that had come out shakes his head, his long black hair and full thick beard moving as he brushes aside his overcoat revealing a leather apron and large bronzed arms. "Lower your sword boy." He calls out to the man. He turns his head looking at the man and laughs. "You tell me to lower my sword? Do you know who I am? I'm Zacharia of the Wolven keep, a soldier, do you really think you could take me old man?" He turns his body to face the man and wears a cocky smile on his face.
     Shaking his head, the man would sigh, looking at Zacharia and speaks in a low tone. "Do not challenge someone that you do not know to a fight. Just so you know, I am Dakota of the forge, I make many blades and know how to use them." He places his hand on a hilt that was barley hidden by his apron and waits to see what Zacharia was going to do.
     Unabated, Zacharia charges Dakota, causing Ren to cower in fear, his arms wrapping around his knees pulling them close to his body, his eyes close tight. The sharp pang of metal on metal fills the air. Sparks light up the darkened alley as snow falls around the men. They dance expertly with one another. Zacharia lunges towards Dakota thinking he sees an opening but instead, Dakota brings his sword down, smacking his opponents blade into the snow-covered ground and brings the hilt up, hitting him in the jaw before grabbing him by the neck squeezing. "I told you to lower your sword, now listen." His eyes were ablaze with flames as intense as the forge he worked.
     Zacharia gasps for air refusing to lower his blade but eventually it slips from his fingertips, falling to the ground with a soft padded thud. Dakota nods his head and lets him go, the male dropping to the ground and grasping at his throat for air. "You have no idea what you've just done." He looks up angered at Dakota. Dakota shakes his head and smiles softly. "I'd say you have no idea how to handle a sword, now get lost and don't cause trouble in our town again." He sheathes his blade almost silently from how well it was kept before walking over placing a large rough hand on Ren's head.
     Ren had been afraid the entire time but as he felt the hand on his head, he opens his eyes, the warmth running through his body as he sniffles looking up at him, tears on the verge of spilling out. "Now now Ren, men don't cry unless they have a reason to. You are a man, aren't you?" He ruffles up Ren’s hair as Zacharia scrambles to his feet, taking the chance to run away before the smithy could change his mind.
     After a moment of silence, Ren would nod his head before reaching up and rubbing his eyes. "That's better little one, now then, come inside and warm yourself up. That must have been quite the shock." He holds his hand out to Ren, waiting for him to take it before finally he does, standing to his feet, wiping his eyes one last time before entering the warm home that was attached to Dakota’s business.