On the frontier barony of the Kingdom of Jayres. A frontier baron had fief and family. He had 7 children and he himself was a 7th son that left his family to make something of himself on the frontier of the kingdom. That was years ago.
During the current year, 391 A.C.(Age of Curiosity). The Baron's barony of Longhill, suffered low yield crops and scarce hunts. The financials were never better than scraping by the previous years. Even Baron Longhill himself was eating black bread with barely tasteful watery soup. During the Winter, he could barely feed his wife and children. No, he could not feed that many mouths.
He had to get rid of one he resolved. Then everyone else could eat well enough to not risk death. So he chose to get rid of the youngest. Therefore, the weakest. The four year old 7th son.
He declared to the family resolutely that the 7th son, whom was named Bronze, after the color of his eyes; would be thrown out of the home with nothing but his clothes, a piece of black bread, and a waterskin.
Bronze was young and protested for himself to no avail. Not even his Mother did more than ask, "Has it really come to this?"
So the next morning, Bronze was out as the Sun arose.
He was escorted out of the barony. Not escorted into the Kingdom of Jayres, but to the frontier outskirts of the barony. Where even the dirt roads ended. He was then told to start waling by himself. The guard that brought him said to him, "Boy, start waling and don't look back. Don't even attempt turning back. I have orders to kill you myself if you do anything but walk away. Now get going."
Bronze was shaken by the order to kill him, but dipped his head and started walking away regardless. After enough time had passed for the sun to have risen nearly to the peak of the sky, Bronze began to silently weep. The tears ran dry well after noon.
After all the walking into the snowy wilds, it was honestly a miracle Bronze wasn't attacked by a wild beast, or even a monster. Luck that was about to run out. Although a sliver of remaining luck has allowed Bronze to spot his predator in advance.
A Dagger Cat...
A feline 3 feet in length, springy legs, and single long tooth in the middle of its mouth that hangs over the lower lip a few inches past its chin. The single tooth is strong and heavily rooted into the upper jaw. The reason for its name.
It typically doesn't attack humans because of size difference, and humans are dangerous. However, a 4-year old boy alone? An easy meal.
Bronze locked eyes with the yellow eyes of the Dagger Cat for a second before breaking out in a struggling run. In the snow, with short legs, he was practically stumbling and crawling away. While the Dagger Cat with wide paws and springy legs, was jumping around in the snow after him.
The Dagger Cat made a leap at him, and Bronze barely moved out the way with a struggling roll to the side. The cat fell into a roll in the snow after the failed leap. Recovered after a few seconds and gave chase again after Bronze. Who used those few seconds to run.
The cat leapt after him, but fell into the snow after a leap. As the snow in that spot was softer and ground was lower in that spot, making the cat sink.
Bronze made the seconds count and stumbled over to a tree. It had some freshly fallen broken branches around it. As Bronze stumbled on the branches. The Dagger Cat regained footing and gave chase again.
However, luck was on his side. As the frontier wilds are truly a wild place. In the cold sky among the icy clouds watched another predator. A common one, but a dangerous one. A Great Eagle. A strong bird of prey 6ft long with a 17ft long wingspan, and a strong chest. Talons that were 6 inched long and a bone-breaking beak. It had spotted the Dagger Cat leaping about after Bronze. It saw the Dagger Cat as larger prey and better prey than Bronze.
It started a dive as the Dagger Cat was focused fiercely on Bronze. When the Dagger Cat was almost upon Bronze, it took a giant leap to close the distance. At the same moment, the feline was caught in the Great Eagle's talons and took into the sky. Leaving behind a few drops of blood on the snow.
Bronze began to calm down and laid on top of the snow with tired breaths from the frantic running. After a few minutes, he got up. The near life ending chase had smashed reality into him at last, and his thought began to change.
He continued to walk through the unfamiliar snowy woods. His thoughts filled with survival. He knew he required some tools. He needed a weapon, he needed shelter, and he needed fire. Even though he was only four years old. He had already received preliminary education on basic frontier skills. Making fire, was apart of that.
However, that was all he was taught. Reading the stars, making tools, shelters, clothes, finding water, and other skills were at most barely mentioned.
He did have something extremely important that will help through all challenges. His human will. While small at the moment, it is freshly ignited and growing. As long as it is nurtured, triumph will be his future.
Bronze scrounged for dry wood until it was nearly nightfall. He found a small fallen tree that has been dried out in the cold. He will beginning burning it at one end, so it can last all night. Starting the fire by rubbing stick together was difficult with his meager strength. With great effort, and calm focus he was able to ignite the first flame. It spread among the twigs, dry leaves and sticks he gathered from the snowy ground.
Then came the Winter night, chilling and filled with strange sounds. Bronze huddle close to fire in an attempt to keep warm and rest. He hoped, no beast or monster would come upon him. His sleep was light, interrupted many times by his own fear, and restless. He had to push more of the small fallen tree into the fire every couple hours too.
When the sun rose, he rose with it as the light went through his eyelids. The fire still burned, some snow had melted where he laid. Which made him wet. He spent a part of the morning by the fire to dry the damp and wet parts of his clothes. Good that the fire was hot enough to stave off lethally cold sleep.
Bronze's beginnings of survival were humble. During this first day and the days that followed. He raided nut storages of squirrels and other such small creatures that stored nuts. He roasted the nuts over his fire. Eventually, he acted on a thought to kill a squirrel to eat. He was unsuccessful at first. After a few tries, he finally caught a sleeping squirrel he managed to not awaken. He grabbed it from its low tree hole and smashed it's head with a stone.
He took it back to his fire he has continually been feeding. He crudely ripped apart the meat and used crooked sticks to roast the bits over the fire. He loved his small meal. As any sort of roasted meat can taste good when you're truly hungry.
This repeated for days as he remained in his immediate area by his fire. However, such peace does not last long.
For the smaller predators are more bold now that the Dagger Cat is gone.