A sound behind him sent Balsam sprinting for the nearest cedar. He hit the trunk at an all out run and was high into the boughs and bathed in shadows before the first flecks of bark hit the ground. All that could be seen of him was the shine of his eyes.

He'd picked a poor night to be begin his journey. The moon overhead was full and bright, and it was nearly impossible to cross the open spaces without being seen. There was cover under trees, but so far the vast majority of his travels had been done in the open. Needless to say, the boy was wound tight. He was unaccustomed to traveling so openly. It simply wasn't the way it was done; wasn't the way he'd been taught. Hopefully that was to his favor, though, as none would suspect him of taking the path he was on and he'd been careful to disguise his trail in the beginning.

Balsam squinted into the distance; eyes straining for familiar shapes or purposeful movements. He'd gone to great lengths to hide his plans from those who would stop him and while he could have picked a better night, the rest of his schemes were sound. None of the detractors would (hopefully) know he was gone until sunrise when the village began to wake. No doubt his mother would rise early and sound the alarm, but by then it would be too late.

After several minutes spent in tense silence Balsam decided the sound he'd heard hadn't come from a pursuer. He crept from his hiding place and, careful to move from shadow to shadow, began to make his way back down to the ground.

There came a day in every Songas life where they would harvest their first trophy. It was a momentous moment in one's life - it signified the change from child into adult. It differentiated them from barbarians, to the cultured way of Songa life.

Picking your first trophy was important. Where you a cautious wolf who picked an easy kill, the quick kill. More eager with becoming an adult then you where with becoming the adult you wanted others to see you as?

Ra had spent weeks scouting and planning, harassing and fleeing (strategically) from the creatures of this world. So far, he knew in his heart of hearts that he had not found the right beast to slay. He had not found the right adornment to wear upon his body so that he could hold his head up high with pride.

It was during his scouting, scampering carefully from trees to tree, that he would see the man. He knew Balsam, he often saw him in the same areas as his sister. Hanging around similar trees, so to speak. Honestly, he didn't think he had ever seen vel give him the time of day, and consequently had barely spoken with the man.

Yet it was with great curiosity that he would follow him now. What was he doing? He was yet to gain his first trophy, as unadorned as Ra himself. Ra was very careful to keep out of sight, clinging to high trees where his golden colors blended with the deep tones of the thick branches. He watched with a careful eye as the man scampered up high into the trees, staying on alert to see what unnerved him. When he came down, Ra crept closer, determined to keep him in his sights well staying hidden himself.

""

While not completely engrossed in his thoughts, it would be fair to say that once Balsam was sure he wasn't being followed he let himself slip into autopilot. It was hard not to when you had the most beautiful woman in the world on your mind.

Velvette. Just thinking her name made his heart sing and then ache as the weight of his predicament crashed over him once more. He was fairly certain she didn't think he was good enough. None of his attempts to gain her affection had been well received. Many, in fact, had been ignored completely. He hinted and hinted, gifted and gifted, and yet she wouldn't so much as look at him twice. It broke his heart.

That was going to change, though. He was going to get her the best trophy Boreas had to offer. No fox pelts or wolf ears would do, no. He'd get the tail of a giant. The tallest giant. And then she'd have to look at him. She'd want to look at him. More importantly, she'd want to ask him out.

Balsam sighed, his expression dreamy, and he picked up the pace as he slunk from shadow to shadow. He just needed to make it through the night without getting caught and he'd be golden.