The Slow Fade

[KeeperOfTheCode]

Chapter Name: The Glade

All things must things must come to an end, whether for good or evil. One must move on, doing what he can in the face of adversity, but some lose the will to fight the unrelenting tide, and are swept away. It's never sudden. Like time, burning away at those below it, corruption is a slow fade...

"Remember son; always remember that this world is cruel. Watch yer back, and ye'll do fine. We carved this" gesturing to indicate the small island on which their small settlement lay, "from the wilderness. By our strength, and by the fact that we didn't allow any king who lives half-way across the world to tell us what to do." Young Roger always took those words for granted, those his father continually reminded him that only by one's own sweat and hard work could one find a place in a vile world. As a child, it was something far away. Never once had he imagined that one day, these words would apply to him.


Crack. Someone was following him through the dense vines that concealed the glade. Suddenly, a small, stringy boy slid out of the underbrush, barreling straight into the much larger form of Roger.

"Ow... Oh! I'm so sorry!" Roger had something of a reputation in the village for being quick to anger, if kindly. "I didn't mean to-" Trying to help the much larger boy up, the little tramp tripped, colliding with a tree. The resulting tangle took several minutes to sort out, and when they did, neither of them got up for several minutes, just enjoying freedom from the sweaty, knotted mass in which they had been trapped.

"I really am sorry."

"Don't mention it." Roger wasn't overly upset. That impossible after seeing the other's large brown eyes widening from fear and from awe of the small clearing. It was understandable of course, thought Roger. Rumors had spread that he had a hide-out in the forest, though no one had followed him until today. It was extremely amusing, watching the boy look about like he had found El Dorado itself. Though it did not shine with gold, the glade was, in its own way, even more mystifying. Roots criss-crossed the ground, forming intricate nets in the cool earth. The trunks of the trees were in most cases larger around than his own home, and the curtains of sleek vines reflected the little light that reached the forest floor, casting an eerie green glow.

Eventually, the young boy came out of his awed daze, and got up the courage to ask, "So, how did you find this?"

Grinning with a look of great satisfaction, Roger replied, "Remember those explorers who came through here? They must have thought I was a native. They chased me, and I ducked in here, and here I am. Great isn't it? There're supposed to be monsters in these woods, you know." He grinned almost dreamily. Then, as if it were just a secondary thought, "Who are you anyway?"

The young boy, who by now was thinking he didn't like this boy who seemed to be enraptured by the thought of powerful beasts in the forest. "I'm Dale Ericsson, but most just call me Hex."

"Well Hex, I-" Just then, another boy crashed through the brush. Turning on Hex, Roger hissed, dripping with sarcasm and suppressed anger, "Tell me, just how many more did you bring?"

"I didn't- He must have followed-" But by this time, Roger was already drawing his blade.

"We don't have time for this!" Both turned towards the new-comer. "The village is under attack! It's pirates!"





This is just the first chapter. I couldn't do more tonight, but I'll get back to it every once in a while. Hope you like it.