—(••÷ Story prompt ÷••)—
—(••÷ part 3 ÷••)—
4 years later.
5 years from present day.
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The season came just as quickly as they went. Spring fell into summer, summer fell into fall and fall fell into winter.
Time was passing just as it was coming, and lives were ending just as they were beginning.
Friendships were blossoming as they were growing.
And it was through the passing time that I had grown and was known just beginning my early stages into adulthood.
As the older we got the more Siegfried began his early training into becoming king, though there wasn't any more time for us to play and goof off like when we were kids, we were we able to still hangout and talk.
And for me that was enough, it was the fact that we've been able to be friends for 13-hole years that made me happy.
There were so many memories that we had made that meant a lot to me. And not once did we ever fight
We were like the perfect pair. Nothing could tear us apart.
Laying down on an old bed I watched as Siegfried began to recite a royal speech that he was to give in the next couple of days. He had been practicing it for days but couldn't quite get it right. But he was determined to make a good impression on his people, so I was ready to help him in any way I could.
"ugh I'm never going to get this right!" turning towards me Siegfried slowly Walked over and dropped to the ground with his back against the bed. "Why do speeches have to be so hard! Why can't I just go out there and just say what ever! It's not like anyone going to remember this right?" letting out a chuckle a pushed myself up from the bed and jumped down to the floor. "Oh come on stop being so hard on yourself. You just need to take a break and relax have some fun... You do remember fun don't you?" Siegfried shot me a playful glare as he pushed himself up and walked Over to me giving a gentle punch to my shoulder. "Of course I remember fun you jerk..... But perhaps you're right, I guess I could use a break..... Oh and I have just the idea" rushing past me Siegfried opened a small drawer from a dresser and pulled out a small book and handed it to me. "Here I got this for you and I a while back but had totally forgotten about it. It's a book on how to make paper crafts if you're interested we could have some fun with this?" turning the book open, I flipped through many pages about different things like how to make different origami animals, or how to make pretty wall art, and paper hats.
Finally I stopped on a page that showed different ways to make paper airplanes. Looking up at Siegfried I happily turned the book towards him and gave a joyful point to the page as I placed it on the ground
"hey lets do this one! Let's each choose a paper airplane to make and see who's can fly the farthest!" giving a nod of his head Siegfried got to his feet, and walked over to his desk, where he grabbed a stack of papers and made himself comfortable beside me.
Instantly we both went to work on our planes, both trying not to see what the other was doing until we were both done. Minutes passed by and we both had finally finished are planes. Looked up at one another with our paper airplanes in hand.
I had to admit Siegfried was way better at making paper crafts then I was. His way more detailed with way more wing flaps then mine. But I was determined to win this competition even with my poorly made aircraft.
Walking towards the window we both stood side by side with our planes placed gently in our hands. As a good gust of wind began to blow we both thrusted are planes through the air and stood watching as they glided across the sky. Seeming almost instantly my plane nosedived straight for the ground as Siegfried's continued to soar over the forest.
"WHAT!!!" leaning forward I looked sadly at my crushed, bent plane before turning towards Siegfried who seemed almost in tears as he stood laughing. It was the first time I had seen him so happy the look on his face was priceless. Reaching up I locked my arm around his neck and pulled him down giving his hair a small ruffle as I began to laugh as well. Together we watched as his small plane disappeared in the distance.
And we stayed laughing and talking until the sun had gone down over the trees and it was soon night.
"I wonder how far your plane went?" "I don't know but at least mine didn't fall like yours did!" SiegSiegfried said, beginning to laugh again as he gave me a teasing shove. "Well I'm going to find that plane tomorrow and bring it back. You Mark my words" Siegfried looked at me with his eyes widening as he walked toward the door and sat down with his head turned towards me. ''You really think you can find it?" I nodded my head with a proud smile as I walked toward him and we both made our way down the stairs and into the garden. "Of course I can find it. After all, I'm a hunter, I was basically born and raised to track things down" "well I look forward to it then" Siegfried grew a sweet smile as we approached the stone wall He looked down at a few of the loose bricks before turning towards me his smile seeming almost sad. "Do``Do you remember the time when you used to crawl through those loose bricks that I would pull away to get into the palace .... I really miss those days, when we had more time together.... Sometimes I wish I wasn't born a prince. So that we could both escape this place and see the world like we always dreamed" I suddenly felt sad as I looked at Siegfried The sound of his voice was so depressed sounding, it was so unlike him to be this sad.
Giving a gentle smile I gave him a small nudge with my shoulder before jumping up in a tree and looking down at him. "Hey don't worry about it. We're still the best of friends and will continue to be that way. So don't sweat it. Now then I'll be back tomorrow with the airplane" Siegfried looked at me with a Bitter Sweet smile before giving a nod of his head. "Right.... Oh, and Noel. Thanks.... For today I mean.... It was probably the best day I've had minus the day I met you... So thank you'' exchanging a soft smile I leaped over the fence and landed softly on the ground and made my way back towards the forest where I would begin my quest for the airplane early the next morning.
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I had woken up before the sun had even begun to rise and the sky was still a deep blue. Leaving the comforts of my Tribe
I began searching high and low for Siegfried's airplane. It wasn't until the sun had begun to rise and the forest was filled with light did a spot the familiar paper figure dangling from a tree.
Immediately I filled with excitement as I rushed towards the low-hanging branches and reached up and pulled it down.
Turning around I rushed through the forest as fast as I could And made my way to the palace wall.
Not really caring about being heard, I began to call out for Siegfried as I leaped up to the wall and slide down the side of the tree. Rushing towards the door I flew it open and began to run up the stairs, my heart pounding in my chest as I clutched the plane in my paws.
"Siegfried! Siegfried! You'll never guess what! I actually found it! I actually found your plane and your never guess were I!..... Found......." immediately tears begin to run down my face as I stood in the doorway. My whole body felt numb as I didn't even feel the plane slip through my paws and fall to the ground. Scattered across the room were several of Siegfried's books. And several of the shelves were knocked over some even crushing one another. And there was broken pieces of glass scattered on the ground from the shattered mirror.
In the corner of the room I saw the familiar white figure of Siegfried laying on the ground. And laying beside his body sat a small dagger with the red color of blood, Staind on the blade. My body felt like a nervous wreck as I felt myself shaking. Instantly I Rushed forward not even paying attention that I crushed the paper plane that set blow me.
Falling to my knees I scooped Siegfried in my arms only to feel that his whole body was limp and cold. I felt like I was gasping for air as I held him in my arms. My eyes darting up and down his body for a sign that he was ok but soon my vision began to blur with tears as I held him tightly in my arms.
Finally, my eyes rested on a deep puncture wound on his chest. Were it was clear that he had suffered from severe blood loss. Slowly placing my paw on the back of his head, I pulled him close with his head against my chest as tears began to run down my face even more so. And suddenly what felt like it was out of my control I let out a throat aching scream that carried through the palace and out into the forest. Suddenly my mind went into a panic as I felt myself hyperventilating, as I looked around the room and back at Siegfried as if trying to take in what had happened.
In my sheer panic I didn't hear the sound of foot steps raging up the stairs and into the room. It wasn't long until I was surrounded by guards. And instantly I was kicked in the head and thrown to the ground where I was restrained by two guards, and was held with a sword to my throat.
At this time I was trapped in my head as it felt like I was still screaming inside. I wasn't even fazed by the guards as it felt like time had frozen for me. All I could do was stare at my best friend begging for him to move. Praying for to be ok.
Suddenly I felt my body jolt forward as I tried to reach out towards Siegfried once again letting out heart-wrenching yell, I didn't care that the sword was starting to cut into my throat. I just wanted my friend to be ok.
Why wasn't he moving..... Why won't he get up.... Siegfried why?!
It was at that moment I heard deep foot steps as I watched the king walk into the room.
He didn't even take a moment to look at me as he fell to the ground and picked Siegfried up in his arms and began to weep. "You.... You did this, you filthy Savage! YOU KILLED MY SON AND NOW YOU WILL PAY!!!" standing up the king turned towards me with a look of pure rage... But that didn't matter to me all I could think about was Siegfried that I wasn't even aware that I was being accused of his death at that moment.
It wasn't until I was being pulled away that my mind began to become clear. Jolting forward I reached my paw out as I was being pulled further and further away and my eyes began to blur as more tears began to run down my face and I lost complete sight of Siegfried.
In the course of the next few days I was in prison in the Palace dungeon where I was starved with no food or water. Let alone company as my execution was being planned out. And it was in that time I truly felt dead inside. It had felt like years worth of memories suddenly faded away. Like everything I knew was gone....
What made it even harder was that there was to be a public announcement about what had happened.
And my entire tribe was to come.... And they would be told of the lie that kingdom was meant to believe.
That I had killed Prince Siegfried..... There is no greater pain than to lose someone that you care for. But it was a whole nother leave of pain when you're the one to be accused of their death.... But it was hard to prove this wrong. After all no one knew of mine and Siegfried's friendships so to find me in his room left everyone suspicious. Especially, when there no evidence to prove otherwise. So now I sit alone in this cold damp cell waiting for this pain to be over... It pains me to think that I'll be killed for this crime. Well, the true killer is out there living happily with their mission being accomplished... But what kills me the most was the last time I saw him I didn't say much... He seemed so sad why couldn't I have said more to him.... Why didn't I stay a bit longer..... Why did this happen..... closing my eyes I tried to clear my mind as it was pointless to carry on, after all I'm a dead man anyway.
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The days passed rather quickly and my public announcement went properly as bad as it could have gone
Leaving the deep cut in my heart even more painful.
Not only was I pulled into a metal cage for the whole kingdom to see. But a wave of boos roar from the crowd as they saw my face.
But The most painful thing of all that day was when my mother looked at me with tear stained eyes and together with the rest of my tribe turned there backs on me. And no matter how hard I tried no one was willing to listen to me.
In fact I had been banished and named an outsider by my own father. Even though I was to be killed receiving such disownment was something big in My Tribe, it was their way of saying that I was dead to them. And that my life will never matter.
They said I betrayed them, they said that because of me the king has even more of a reason to have them all Killed.
They looked at me as if I were some kind of murder and not just a murderer of Prince Siegfried but a murder of the whole tribe.
The only kalon who was willing to listen to me was River Thorn. A fellow hunter that I knew.
He would often come to visit me to listen to what I had to say, and I'm not going to lie it was rather hard to tell a whole history that dates back years ago in just a few days. But after enough time I managed to tell him everything.
I told him about how I met Siegfried. And about the things we did, the things we learned. The bond we shared.
As I sat on the cold floor of the cell, I slowly looked up at the sorrowful face of River Thorn who was looking at me with softened eyes "wow.... I had no idea..... I'm so sorry NoelStarFeatherTree.... I'm so sorry about everything..." I let out a chuckle as I looked back down at my paws before letting out a low sigh. ``It's felt like forever since I was called that.... I guess I got used to just being called Noel....." Pulling himself to his feet River Thorn pressed his head against the bars of the cell before looking back up at me with a frustrated sigh l. ``This is so unfair.... or you to die for something you didn't do... There's got to be something we can do" "No..... There's nothing that can be done.. please Just forget about me and take care of the Tribe...
Suddenly River Thorn smashed his paws against the bars as he looked at me with a face of rage. "NO!! I WON'T ALLOW IT! You've been the best kalon I've ever known in the whole tribe.....if you're innocent You can't die! So even if you have to run for the rest of your life, you have to escape please! There got to be a way!"
"River Thorn! You don't get it! What's the point in living if I would have to keep running! The whole kingdom thinks I killed the Price! Running away will only make me look even more guilty! So what's the point!" "then find the real killer! I know you can do it!! If what you said is true then the real person who killed the prince is still out there and you're the only one who know that. If you escape, you can find them clear your name and bring justice to your friend!
Your the best hunter I know so I know without a doubt you can do it, when you want something you'll track it down until you find it! That's who you are... So I know you can do it.... Please you have to"
I found myself frozen in place, not being able to speak or move, the words River Thorn said struck me....
It was true... The real killer was still out there....
And the very thought of them getting away with Siegfried's death burden me up inside . More than anything, would I like to bring justice to Siegfried, he was my best friend and after everything we've been through I owed it to him.... Though I know it won't measure up to the true price I owe him.....
At that moment something in me woken and I found myself filling with energy, determination... I was going to make things right.
That night me and River Thorn talked and talked until we had made a plan.
And it wasn't until late the next night did he return with some materials that I had requested. Now stretching back to the past I had recalled this one book that I read it was about different ways to make a lock pick.
Using the memory I had and the help of River thorn we were able to craft a small bone pick.
Consciously I watched as River Thorn stuck the pick into the lock and began to wiggle it around. And suddenly we both heard the relieving sound of the lock clicking open and slowly the cell door was pulled open.
Rushing forward, I pressed my head against River Thorn's before we both took off running until we were both able to escape the Palace and make our way deep into the woods.
Stopping I took a deep breath as I stopped and looked back at the dark shadowy silhouette of the kingdom. Turning back towards River Thorn I saw that he was breathing as heavily as I was as we both fought to catch our breathes.
"thank you my friend..... If it wasn't for you I would still be sitting in that cell grieving and feeling sorry for myself. And now thanks to you I've realized that I have a mission to accomplish before I can die.... But before that there's something I must do...... So please keep yourself safe. Once they discover that I've escape there be sure to suspect you as you've come to visit me quite often''
River Thorn slowly walked over to me with his eyes beginning to fill with tears as he pressed his head against my own. "Please be safe.... AAnd once this is all over, please come home"
Giving my head a quick nod I took off running back towards the Palace and hid against the stone wall. Slowly I walked toward the back of the wall and stared at the familiar bricks. Taking a deep breath I sprung up onto the wall and slid down the side of the tree until I came towards the old wooden door in the garden. Walking up the stairs I enter into the room where all my memories seemed to fade and I couldn't only see the nightmare of a sight that ruined my life. Letting out a deep breath, I wiped a small tear from my eye before walking into the room and made my waybtowards the old desk. Opening the drawer, I pulled out a small book and began to flip through the pages. Suddenly I stopped once my eyes rested on a small feather that was pressed against two pages.
I remembered when Siegfried showed me this feather, and how happy he was when he told me of how he found it.
He said it fell from the sky on the very day we first met,
He also told me of how he kept it as a reminder to use it as
A symbol of our friendship. And though it was just a feather it had become something Important to Siegfried.
And I'll never forget about how he would always use it as a bookmark because it made him happy to see it when ever he would open his book to read a chapter. He said it always reminded him of the day his life changed for the best.
Leaving something like this seemed almost impossible as I new it would mean nothing to the king.
Carefully picking the feather up I placed the book back into the drawer before slowly heading back outside. Jumping back up onto the wall I glanced back up at the tower with a sad smile on my face as a gentle night breeze blew past my face.
"Good bye my friend... I promise I will avenge you" jumping down and landing in the tall grass and I took off running with my eyes locked on the Horizon.
Looking back once last time, I said good bye to the place I once knew as my home. I said goodbye to my people, my friends, and my family.
And in that moment I began my new journey.
ꪀꪖꪑꫀ: Noel 
