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i felt my face pale and my sight became unfocused as screams i had thought i had blocked from my memory filled my ears again. everything went into slow motion as fosters worried face became blurred and then every thing went black.

i was back at the begging of that fateful day. my father had come home the day before so we got up early and went for are normal hunt. the sky was slightly over cast. father looked up and said it looks like it'll rain later today so we might have to cut todays walk a little short. my mother gave him a knowing look behind his back but said nothing. i had thought that she had know for quite some thine of him teaching me to fight, but had not pulled enough courage together to ask her if she new and if she did then why didn't she stop him or just bring it out into the open.

i was dyeing to show her some of the moves i had learned. after we had are morning meal we set off into the forest to catch some game. hopefully we would catch a deer but if not their was always plenty of rabbit around. the forest was very quiet today and farther looked worried and said that something must have disturbed the forest. he eaid we should be vigilant. as we walked through the forest on are way to are normal hunting spot farther kept stopping and listing for something but he wouldn't say what it was.

at every snap of a broken twig or crunch of the autumn leaves he would jump in to a 'fighting stance. he would not move on until he was really sure that their was nothing out of the ordinary. it was starting to worry me. maybe he was expecting something bad to happen. just as i was thinking that a single magpie flew down and perched on the tree opposite us. that was a very bad omen. one for sorrow my mother would always say and my mother was always right about these sorts of things.

but all thought's of that bad omen flew out my mind as a boar crashed through the forest only inches from are hunting spot. father through himself out of the way just in time. he rolled on his shoulder and back up and started running after it with me following close behind. we followed it for half a mile before it started to slow to a walk and then to a stop. it started to forage the undergrowth for food. farther silently signaled me to go to the left while he moved around to its right.

it was the normal plan, i was to spoke it so it ran toward farther and he would kill it. but just as i was turning to go father passed me the hefty iron shod spear and winked at me as he walked off. my insides dropped. i couldn't shout for him to stop, that this was a bad idea, that mother would be angry with him as the boar might be scared off. i was just going to have to suck it in and take this boar on like a man. but as i stood waiting for the signal to let me know to be ready. i felt less like a strong, fearless man and more like a weak, naive boy that i was. ill be ok, ill be ok i started to chant to my self.

oh my gods was that the signal. i panicked and stepped back woulds and tripped over a root that was sticking out of the ground. just as the boar crashed out of the undergrowth and right on to the spear that was still clutched in my hands. the whole force of the beast fell right on top of me so that as i hit the ground the whole wait of the boar fell right on top of me.

fathers head popped in to view a minute later. i see you got it then or is it more that its got you. he laughed and pulled the boar off me. he took out some rope and picked up the spear i used to kill it, and he started to tie the boars legs to it. were going to have a feast tonight all thanks to you. he seemed to be happier, less worried about unseen enemy's, less edgy.

he shoved a hand down at me. do you need a hand or are you just going to take a nap while i do all the work. i realized i had been lying their watching him and so i grabbed his hand and he pulled me up. good i was just wondering how i was going to carry this beast home by my self he laughed. i helped him finish off tying the final knot's. then we sat down for a quick break before we set off for home. farther handed me some bread and cheese from the small snack mother had prepared for us. then he said today son you have made up some of the way to becoming a man.

i felt my mouth fall open. what did he mean some of the way. i had just killed a damn boar. i had stood against my instinct to run and faced my fear instead and i had won. doesn't that make me a man. doesn't that mean i have passed a right of passage. don't i deserve the right to be called a man now. i thought to my self as i chewed my bread. after my farther had finished he turned and said i know what you must be thinking. why after killing a boar am i not a man. i looked down at my feet and felt my cheeks blush. well ill tell you what my farther told me. being a man is not only about killing things. anyone can do that. no to be a man you have to be bale to do lots of thing like be able to fight. bit i can so that i blurted out. i know you can my said farther said but have you ever used it in a real fight to the death. anyway that not the only thing you have to be a good person help people in need. you have to be a good husband and farther. you have to fight for what you believe. you have to be able to show people you are worthy of being called a man.

do you see why now boy you are not a man yet. yes i suppose so i said. good he said while he was turning to go pick up his side of the spear holding the boar. but i still don't see what they have to do with being a man i mumbled quitly behind his back. but i t was not quite enough. my farther walked over to me rested his hand one my shoulder and said you won't understand now but one day it will all make sense and on that day you will be a man. now help me carry this boar back to your mother. the i think well have a rest before we go to do are combat training. as i was bending down to pick up the boar i heard him whisper. you will be a man one day and hopefully i will be alive to see it.

my eyes snapped open. i was in a dark room in my bed in the academy and it all hit me as to why i was here and what foster had said to me. i flung my self out of bed. i felt a my head spin and a flash of pain run though my head so sat back down quickly again. i wouldn't get up that quickly said the familiar voice of foster from the deep shadows of the door way. you banged your head quite bad when you fainted. you should get some rest. you wont get far running away in that stait. i got back into bed. that a good boy. you are safe for now any way so don't worry to much. ill check on you latter.

but i was not thinking about what was happening in the present. my thought where of that past. of those words my farther whispered. those words i had filed away and forgotten. those words i thought where just sentimental. as i fell in to a fitful sleep my last thought was of how he must have know what was coming for him.