How's it going do you think?
Milgas walked home deep in thought. How am I going to tell everyone?
He walked on the ground so he could think without falling out of a tree. He knew though exactly where he was. All the houses in the trees glowed with the faint light of candles. It’s getting late, Milgas thought. He could tell because one by one the houses extinguished into darkness.
Milgas finally came to his parent’s house in the branches of an old oak. The lights were still on. He climbed the low branches and finally reached the door. He could now see the features of the house. It was small with one floor, three rooms, and a cozy look to it.
He drew in a sharp breath and opened the door. His parents were sitting in chairs at the fireplace. Milgas had his father’s hair and his mother’s eyes. They both had smooth faces that had a concerned look.
His siblings were sitting at the feet of his parents’ chairs. His older sister, Neala was built like him with dark blonde hair, blue eyes, and a rigid face that showed no emotion. His younger brother and sister, Siam and Haras were stockier with green eyes. The only difference betweem them was their hair, Siam had Neala’s and Haras had Milgas’s.
Then there was Latane who was pacing. She had beautiful brown hair with hazel eyes. There was worry in her smooth face. When she saw him in the doorway she gave a relieved laugh, he loved her laugh.
“Milgas we were getting worried, why were you out so late?” asked his father.
“We thought something had happened to you, don’t scare us like that.” said Latane, and she came over and hugged him.
“I’m sorry but I…. got caught up in something.” said Milgas.
“What was it?” asked Siam.
“Please sit down.” said Milgas. He beckoned them to the chairs. They sat down. “I’m going to….to journey out and….make peace with the other races.”
Everyone stared in shock. Finally his mother spoke up. “What, why?”
“Men have come back.” said Milgas.
“What, you must be joking.” said Siam.
“No I’m not, and they brought terrible things with them. The council has given me a chance to call for aid. I will leave in a week.”
The tension was so thick in the room you could almost see it. Then his mother said. “No, you’re not going I won’t allow it.”
“It’s all set in stone already. I am going.” Milgas said.
“No your mothers right you’re not going.” said his father forcefully.
“I am going, I need to help this world.” said Milgas in as strong a voice as he could.
“No Milgas we have made our decision you are not going.” said his father in an even stronger voice.
The little voice in the back of Milgas’ head came back again. You must go, you need to help! It said. Finally Milgas burst out as he had at the meeting in the field.
“No! I am going, even if you don’t approve it! You cannot control me, I will save this world! I will not be a coward and hide behind these trees anymore! Goodbye,” his voice became softer, “I hope I will see you again.”
With that Milgas walked across the room and slammed the door at his back, leaving a few shocked faces.
*
The next few days were spent collecting supplies and making a plan. He got enough food for two weeks and enough water for three weeks.
He had avoided his parents during this time. Although he often saw his siblings or Latane walking through the trees or on the ground.
On the final night before he would venture out he met with Rama in a small hidden house.
“Are you sure you want to go?” asked Rama
Milgas had been having second thoughts, he was scared of what would lie beyond. But he swallowed his fear and said. “Yes.”
“Okay then.” He looked outside a window and nodded.
“I will give you time to say goodbye to your family in case…. Well, you won’t see them for a while so, just say goodbye for now.” Rama said, than left through the door. Just then Milgas’ father came in carrying a long wooden box.
“I’m sorry, about the other night.” said Milgas.
“Don’t be, I should be the one sorry. I was just worried about you.” said his father. “Anyway, since you’re going on this quest I thought I’d give you this.” He opened the box and pulled out a long curved bow.
This was not any ordinary bow though. It was his families bow, passed down from generations. His grandfather had always told him how the ancestor who created the bow had killed a bulkeido (a wildebeest two times in size with a horn sticking out of its head) from a mile away. Milgas never knew if this was just a legend or if it was true. And he never found out.
“Thank you.” It was all Milgas could say. To own this bow was a huge honor in his family.
“I think it will serve you more than it ever did me.”
His father stuck out his hand, and Milgas shook it. He pulled his father into a hug.
“Be careful.”
“I will.” replied Milgas. With that his father left to be replaced by his mother.
“I’m s-”
“I know, dad already told me.” Milgas interrupted.
His mother drew him into a hug faster than lightening.
“Promise me you’ll be careful.” she said teary eyed.
“I will.” he said.
“Take this.” she said holding out a cloak. “It belonged to your grandmother. Use it wisely.”
Milgas didn’t understand what she meant when she said use it wisely but he said “Thank you.”
When she left his siblings came in one by one wishing him good luck and telling him to be careful. Eventually Latane came in
Faster than his mother, Latane pulled him into a hug.
“I’ll miss you.”
“Me too.”
She let go. “You’ll be careful?”
Milgas could never lie to her so he said. “I’ll try.”
She quickly kissed him and said “Goodbye.” before fast-walking to and out the door. Leaving Milgas alone in the room.
He looked out the window and saw the sun disappearing over the distant mountains. He covered his eyes and thought. What am I doing? I can’t help, I’m just an elf.
“Milgas, you should get some rest before you go.” said Rama bringing Milgas out of his thoughts.
“I can’t do it, what was I thinking?” said Milgas sadly.
“Milgas look at me.” Rama put his hands on Milgas’ shoulders. “You will do it! You will succeed. You have what others here do not, a willing heart.”
Milgas could feel his courage stirring inside him again. He looked into Rama’s face and nodded slightly
“Now go, get some rest. You will leave early tomorrow.”
Milgas bowed and walked back to his house. He jumped up onto his small porch and opened the door into his cozy two room house.
I better get to sleep now. Milgas said to himself. He walked into his room, got softly into bed, and slept.
*
Hatred, fire, death, darkness, monstrosities. Milgas woke up gasping, he had been having a nightmare that he agreed to go on a quest to journey into all those things. Thank goodness it was just a dream, he thought relieved.
He started making eggs for himself when a knock came on the door. Milgas quickly opened it.
Rama was standing there. “Milgas you’re going to be late, get ready quickly!”
So it hadn’t been a dream. He got dressed. He felt inside him a mixture of fear, excitement, and sorrow.
He walked outside and jumped to the ground.
“Here is your supplies.” said Rama handing over a pack. “Are you ready?”
Milgas went through his supplies mentally and remembered. “Wait I will be right back.” he said. He jumped and ran back inside. He grabbed his cloak, put it on and jumped out.
Rama looked confused for a moment then said. “Okay let’s go.”
They walked silently to the northern border of Ralgoth. The silence gave Milgas time to see the features for what might be the last time. He saw the flowers on the edge of the hidden roads. The trees so thick they hid the houses from view.
Finally they got to the edge. The trees stopped suddenly, and there was mostly grassland beyond. In the distance Milgas could see the mountain range called Penkal.
“Ready?” asked Rama
“Yes.” replied Milgas with as much courage as he could muster.
“Then go now Milgas, and the best of luck to you.”
Milgas stepped outside the forest edge, and started to walk. He looked back one last time, but Rama was gone. He was now leaving his home behind. He turned back to the north and walked out into the world beyond.

Feedback please! "The Journey of Puleaveh" is the club for my book. Please check it out!