Askari sat on a fallen log deep within the forest. Alone. That's all he wanted to be. Alone.
He had a pile of sticks he had collected resting on the log beside him. He took the straightest one and pulled out his dagger, beginning to fashion an arrow. He had plenty of arrows but that wasn't really the point. With every flick of his dagger just a tiny bit of the seemingly endless well of anger and frustration within him was expended. Who knew how many arrows he would have to make, but just maybe with enough cuts of his dagger that well would run dry... maybe.
He didn't know why he was always so frustrated. Perhaps it was the circumstances of his conception, or his birth, or the fact that he was a product of a forced bond between his parents. His real parents, not Gilean who wanted to be not only his dad but also his buddy, his pal. Gods, he wished Gilean would just leave him alone. His real dad was an esper, hike himself. His dad was red too, like him. Askari didn't know why every time he saw Gilean the frustration and anger seemed to swell a bit higher within him. He didn't know that he was a product of a bond that ran deeper and more complex than he could ever understand and he carried part of that bond within him, along with all of the turbulence that came with it.
All he knew was that Gilean and his mom were stupid. They didn't understand anything. They didn't understand that his mom and real dad should be the ones together. They didn't understand that he just wanted to be left alone. He just wanted to be alone and make his arrows. After all, that's the reason why we came way out here into these woods where nobody would find him.
Suddenly there was a rustling in the brush, and it was getting closer. It startled Askari at first and he frowned. It was probably some stupid animal that he would have to scare off. But then he heard the distinct swish of a blade and small grunts of effort with each swing. It was no animal. Damnit, he thought, why is it so hard to be left alone. With a disgruntled huff his frown turned into a scowl. He put down his stick and dagger and silently conjured a ball of fire into his hand. He would scare off whoever it was so he could finally be in peace. Alone.
