The sun was just passing the halfway mark of the day, as the wind was picking intensity, while the yet-to-be-fallen and the already fallen yellow and dead leaves of the trees were being blown and ruffled in waves like movements, creating rustling sounds through the forest.

However, in the valley of the Down River village, the only sound that could be heard was the closing of a door, the biggest door of the most prominent house in the village of fewer than thirty homes.

In the middle of the village was the larger building compared to the other houses, the village hall that the villagers usually used to host celebrations and guests, but now full of gray-white-haired old people with only two black-haired middle-aged men.

The hall was populated by no more than thirteen people, eleven old ones, with a foot in their graves, and two middle-aged men, all with different emotions on their faces, sadness, anger, and happiness mixed with heavy and pressurizing tension.

“So, it is done?”

Asked the seated old man with a long gray beard in the back of the hall. While looking at the middle-aged man standing in front of his companion, a vague resemblance could be seen between the two of them.

“Yes, the chief hunter is leading the men, women, and children alongside the forest county guards.”

“Good, it will take you two days of march to reach the encampment set by the county.”

“However, we have yet to find the Ato bo---.”

“Bam”

“Damn brat, I can’t find him anywhere.”

However, before the man could finish his sentence, the loud sound of the door opening and crashing against the wall, was followed by an old man's raspy and angry voice making his way inside the building.

"You damn old coot, stop creating problems and look where you are before shouting for the whole world to hear. The boy is crafty and strong, not dumb like you, so stop worrying so much."

"You damn old hag, the time for foolery is over, the day is halfway done, and this place is no longer secure."

As he said that, he turned to the center of the hall to see the current village chief facing the former chief, his father.

"Old brother Ato, no need to shout so loud,"

"If I don't shout, how would the brat know that I'm searching for him, much less that he needs to come immediately home? We don't even know how much time we have, don't we."

"Hmmm,"

But at the words of old Ato, the old chief let out a long exhale, as he himself was worried by the same thing.

"The havens have been harsh on our Down River village. Son, it is time for you to go and reunite with the rest of the village, the time for you to prove your worth as the village chief has arrived, protect them, and lead our village to safety. As for little Levis, if you or the others meet him, take the boy and don't let him come back. If he returns, we'll make him catch up to you.

"Yes, village chief---. Father, I ---."

"Harsh! Do you want to say crazy!! Bone-chilling cold snow and wind in the middle of the hot season, with most of the crops ruined, most of the game in the forests retreated, and insane floods, I'd say your haven wants us to die, now, even fucking band---!!!"

"Slap"

But before old Ato could finish his rant, the old woman next to him hit his bald back head.

"Damn brick of a head, you don't have the least of patience or timing of things."

"Hahaha, brother Ato and sister Hel, you even at times like these, you are the same, as you have been since our youth."

But the old chief burst into sudden laughs, seeing his two old friends bickering and still interrupting him, even after knowing each other for dozens of years, even now, being in danger of imminent death.

"Words are useless now. My son, old folks can not drag the young down, go and fulfill your duties as the village chief."

Yet, while wearing a stern look, facing the young village chief, the old and frail chief spoke with all his caring.

"Yes, Village Chief."

As the two middle-aged men bowed to the village chief and all the other gray-haired old folk, after which they immediately jumped on their own respective horses while taking the road out of the Down River Village, following the stream of the river in between two hills like mountains.

"Thank you, brother Ato"

"Hmph, you bastards were getting all emotional for no good reason."

"Ahah, old Ato never changes. "

"Well, if he changes that would be the end of this world."

But the other villagers were happy to interject, with their old neighbor, never changing rude personality, as the new chief and his companion were gone.

"Ahamm, leaving all that, have you not found little Levis."

"No, the brat woke even earlier than me, he probably is in the hills like always. Anyway, I have prepared his road packing. He’ll probably return soon, seeing that the fool didn't take food with him.”

As he said that, he dragged a backpack made of sticks and what appeared to be animal skin.

“Then, we will wait, let's carry what of our food and fresh water and something to sleep on here, it is not like we can move that much any longer.”

As he said that, the village chief could see the heaviness in the eyes of the others, from having to separate from their children and grandchildren.

“We all know going with them will only put them in danger. Thirteen old people who can barely move can only be a burden, especially now that we are forced to eat the winter reserves. This year has been a bad year not just for us but for the surrounding villages too. The bandits attacking the other villages were to be expected, however, we who have known no other home but this, it is not possible to leave.”

As he spoke, the old village chief's words became more and more coarse.

He knew that his decision would probably be the death of all the twelve old friends that he knew since his oldest memories.

However, his duty as village chief did not allow him to gamble with the future of the village, as such when in the earliest of this morning, two guards carrying the seal of the county announced that they needed to move immediately, as a consequence of the bandit's imminent attacks of villages, for food and women. He immediately overstepped his son's authority, to exclude himself and the other twelve who could not walk on their own, to the biggest nearby village for a makeshift encampment, formed by the captain of the county guards to protect the nearby villages from bandit's attacks.

As the road would normally be for four long days, having thirteen others to carry and take care of, would've made the journey six days long, risking being caught by bandits while not having support from the guards.

As the old chief ended his sentence, the other old people began to bring the last of their food, fresh water, and a thick, coarse blanket filled with straws to sleep on.

As the last of the things were being brought into the village hall, footsteps could be heard from outside.

“Grandpa, I've found a good softwood on the west hill to make little statues.”

The voice was that of a young boy that was clearly running towards the village hall after having spotted old Ato.

“You damn brat, where have you been all time? Don't you know that I have searched for you all day long?”

“But, I've found the soft woo---”

“What softwood. How many times have I told you that you can not go alone in the forest? Now come fast. We have to speak to the chief.”

“E-ee w-wh-what. Why the mean chief!”

“It's the old bastard, not the young one. Stop trembling. How can a son of Ato be afraid of that old bastard.”

“This old bastard can still hear you fine.”

“A-aa when y-you---, stop walking on people like a ghost. You're gone scare the heart out of me.”

“Good to see you, young Levis.”

As the little boy's feet were trembling while he was trying to put on the most innocent and most ingratiating face while staying in front of the old chief, a resounding smack and a small screen of pain could be heard from the back of the boy, as old Ato's palm was still hanging in mid-air, as the boy had taken a few steps forward from the force of his slap.

“You truly make this old man worried. How can a man of Ato, try to ingratiate with his enemy?”

“Stop joking, brother. There are no enemies here, only friends. That being said, little Levis is quite late, and the sun is almost gone. He’ll have to stay the night. We’ll put him on the road at the first of the light in the morning. Come inside to---.”

As the chief was trying to invite the little boy, his somewhat mellow old face became sharp and stern like that of a warrior of many battles, scaring the old and young Ato.

“Quickly, hide the boy. Give him the provisions and hide at the outskirts of the village.”

Without losing time, the old chief ordered the old man. Prompted, old Ato took the boy by his hand while carrying the skin-made backpack to the southern outskirts of the village, the part most close to the road to follow the other villagers.

“Here, hide. I'll go and see what has spooked the chief. Stay put and don't come out.”

As he spoke, old Ato took a good look at him, while patting his shoulder and small head before turning around and leaving to find the chief.

As little Levis was crouching behind some wild berries bushes and some ordinary pine trees, confusion about all the strange things that were happening were starting to hit him.

“Where are the other villagers? Is grandpa and old chief playing hide and seek?”

As question after question came out of his little mouth, the muffled sound of horses galloping could be heard in the distance.