The air was still, the birds were singing their songs of life. The sun rose as it did and a small garrison of troops stood around the dark forest and watched as their king and an impromptu ambassador talked and wished each other good fortune. "Baron, this is the most important event in our history since I came to power. I trust that you can do this and lead the newly founded Messenger's Guild to great heights. And I wish you God Spede in returning home." The large man swung his arm around the boy's neck and guided him to the forest, "Remember the plan, deliver the scrolls and before you reach the Pony-Settlement dismantle the crossbow. We can't let them know all of our secrets, now can we?" The King exhaled from his humor and patted Baron on his back. The many chains clacked and rustled as he was moved forward. The many troops clapped and whistled as Baron walked into the unknown, to change the course of the world be it for good or for some other purpose he did not know.
Birds became silent as he trampled through bushes and saplings, he used to spear's shaft to attempt to clear a path that became unsuccessful. He then decided, rather annoyed, to simply walk through and risk getting ticks and chiggers. Small branches whipped at his exposed legs and made him suck air through his teeth. The green tunic he wore started to itch, the sun was right in his eyes and he was starting to get hungry. In short, he hated his mission already. He quickly glanced over his shoulder and saw the garrison make their leave. When he watched them crest a small hill he realized that he only went maybe four yards. With a small swear he turned back around and walked faster than his previous pace. The crossbow clanked to his right side and he rested the long staff on his left shoulder and marched onward.
The sun was now in its zenith and the heat was starting to slow Baron down and made his walking became slower than a crawl. The tunic's armpits were now soaked in sweat and the salty liquid dripped down his forehead and into his eyes. Using the scratchy wool Baron wiped his eyes and managed to cause more suffering with a grumble from his mouth and a roar from his stomach he decided to take a rest and eat something. He threw down his leather pack and nearly instantly any pain started to ease away at a steady pace. He smiled in bliss as he flomped down and jammed his hand into the guts of the bag and pulled out a small cloth bag containing beef jerky. His smile widened greatly, nearly dividing his entire head, and tore into the dry, salted meat. He groaned as the meaty strips entered his stomach it felt as if a party was happening and nearly everything was invited.
He started to grope inside once again as another hand continued to eat, he found a squishy leather sack that contained water. Baron yanked off the top and started to drink it in many gulps until he realized what he was doing. "Why am I doing this?! I could be out here for days or weeks and would and...and I may not find anything edible again!" He looked at what was left and sadly only found one strip of jerky and less than a quarter of his water supply left. With a sigh he picked up his dropped equipment and slowly went on.
Within the next day he was out of his food and water supply. The sun was once again sweltering, his arms and legs were covered in bumps that itched incredibly and his mouth was dry and his stomach was roaring for food harder than it was the day before. He was more miserable than he was the day before, but his day was starting to look up. Baron's body was bent down breathing heavily but he stopped when he heard the magical sounds of hope, running water. His ears perked up and his body jumped up straight. His heavy frown instantly turned into a madman like grin as he sprinted to the source of the sound, he ran through bushes and was whipped by many tree branches as he sprinted for his last hope in the world. He fell to his knees in joy as he found the small creek of bubbling water. He used his hands as a cup and took many small sips before diving his head into the cold water.
He took many drinks before resurfacing for air, when once again he dove his head in and drank like it was his last. It was a long while before he drank his fill as he, for the last time, resurfaced he shivered from his now lower body heat and gazed around at the banks. And saw another hope filled miracle: a berry bush. Baron stood and took a step backward and leaped across to the other side, he did not entirely make the jump as his boot covered feet landed in the cold water. Now as they squeaked when he walked he started to pick the bright blue berries and many of them were overripe and leaked their purple juices onto his hands. With many of them in his hands he nearly threw them down into his gullet and he was happy for once since he started his journey.
He could not sleep, for the monster was following him. He had no clue what the monster was but it followed him. The berries, for some reason, caused him to vomit repeatedly and he had to stop crawling every five minutes to relieve himself. Tears streamed down his face as Baron used his arms to crawl over sharp rocks and weird roots, the birds laughed as they puffed on a pipe. He screamed and yelled out but the monster did not waver. It persisted and kept on waiting for him to keel over, but he couldn't die here. He had a mission to accomplish but he wanted to die but he could not, he had to do this. He cried harder as his stomach cried in pain and damned him to an eternity of pain. He wanted to let loose a torrent of tears but he could not find them but from his mouth came the sounds of some dying animal, he rolled on his back and his face contorted into fear as he saw more eyes and heard clicks of some unseen monster.
His arms slowly reached for his crossbow and he throw it at the many eyes with all his might, the wooden body made a hearty whack as it hit something hard as if it was oak. He kicked his legs backward and he threw the quiver containing his bolts, now came for his spear to do what it was intended for. He used the staff to help him stand and he as he stood. The unseen beast roared at him and the eyes flew at Baron and the beast roared in pain as the pointy stick was now jammed into its body. The eyes reeled backward in pain and a sticky tree smelling liquid hit his tunic and stained his skin. With the last of his strength spent on slaying a monster he fell on his back stared at the Pony on the Moon and his last thought was, 'This ground feels like a dirt road.' Before he slowly passed off into a heavy slumber.