[ OT ] Sunday Free Write : Leave A Story , Leave A Comment - The Dark Gift Edition !

Hey guys! This is a story ( [ easier readability here ] ( https: //talesfromwindshop.wordpress.com ) ) I've been working on. As always, comments and criticisms are more than welcome! Thanks for reading! 
 
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 Grinning Bear did not want to be a hunter, like his father, and his father before him. He did n't want to kill anything. He hated watching the hunters bring back their catch, dragging what once had ran free and alive, uncerimoniously across the ground; it's weight too great to bear upon their shoulders. It was worse when they brought something back alive — and struggling. 
 
 His brothers teased him for his weakness, calling him Y'lla -- little girl; and his father, as well as the rest of the village, displayed their displeasure openly, clicking their tongues at his questions or responding to him as if he was still a baby. Grinning bear did n't think he was weak, and he thought his skill as a rider proved he was no longer a child. 
 But as of his 15th summer, Grinning Bear had yet to claim a prize on a hunt; not even so much as a rabbit. He had had multiple opportunities to claim his rite to manhood -- on his last hunt, he had tracked, ridden down, and all but subdued one of the giant, running birds that roamed the grassy plains that served as the tribes primary hunting grounds. But he could not kill it. 
 
 He watched as the bird lay out on the ground, it's massive, gold-feathered bulk heaving up and down with each rapid, labored breath. It stared at him with it's large, beady eyes, watching his every movement, too exhausted to run any further or defend itself. 
 
 In fact, the bird had not tried to defend itself at all; rather, as it had seen Grinning bear ride over the crest of a hill, it fled as fast as it's longs legs could muster before Grinning Bear could give chase. He had told his father and the other hunters he would track the beast down and achieve his manhood, and so he had tracked it down, while one of the other hunters followed for safety. 
 
 It had taken him nearly two days to find the beast, and when the bird fled again, Grinning Bear gave chase. He rode through most of the morning and well into the hot and humid hours of the day before the beast collapsed in the shadow of a particularily wide Uleki tree. 
 
 Grinning Bear had hitched his Yugoli out in the open nearby so that the other hunter could spot it as he caught up, and stalked towards the beast with the knife borrowed from his father. He did n't have any knives of his own; Only men could claim ownership of so useful a tool. 
 
 Grinning Bear had resigned himself to kill the beast and finally prove himself. He could n't go back to the village -- his father -- without his manhood. But, as he walked closer a thought had crossed his mind. As Grinning stood there, knife in hand, he felt a lot like his brothers. 
 
 He had watched the way his brothers took their kills on the hunt, laughing and smiling at the other hunters in pride as they ran their knifes across an animals throat and held the kicking body. He too had felt a similar rush in that moment, a visceral satisfaction of having conquered a beast so great. He wanted nothing more than to experience first hand the sensation and acceptance they felt when they took a kill. 
 
 But, Grinning Bear had felt something else in that moment too. As he stared into the wide round eyes of the laboring bird, he could n't help but see himself in it's place -- exhausted and terrified as his brothers loomed over him with wicked grins; snickering between themselves before laying into him with their fists and feet. He knew his brothers would not kill him, but the terror and pain was no less real. The bird did not know Grinning bear was not gon na kill it -- It expected it -- and 
 
 Grinning Bear could imagine the sheer terror running through the beasts mind as he loomed over it with his father's wicked knife. 
 And so he had let it go. He had shooed it away as the members of the village shooed him away, with a clicking tongue and wide, waving arms. The great bird had shakily pulled itself to its feet and looked at him warily and it wobbled off slowly. 
 
 Grinning Bear had told the trailing hunter that the beast had gotten away from him, and they both returned to the village empty handed. Grinning Bear had been beaten by all three of his brothers upon his arrival back to the village; and his life had continued on as it always had. 
 
 `` Grinning Bear,'' his father called, adding an exasperated tut at the end of his name, `` Come my son, perhaps this hunt will make you a man. ” 
 
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 The Alpha watched cautiously as a man approached the shade of the Uleki tree. He stretched his neck to it's full extent to get a better view of it's approach. It moved slowly and deliberately, staying in full view as it stalked closer. Then, as it reached the shade of the tree, it leaped quickly towards the Alpha. He rose up in surprise, spreading his red-tipped golden wings and rearing his head back. The man collided into the Alpha and both staggered momentarily in a flurry of arms and feathers. 
 
 Flustered, the Alpha hopped back and folded his wings. He scratched at the ground with his right legs before squatting back down on the floor once more. The man bared it's teeth and moved to sit next to the Alpha. Before it did, it gently stroked the back of the Alphas head and ran it's hand across his beak. In return, the Alpha grabbed a tuft of it's long hair in his mouth and tugged gently, in an attempt to preen the loose feathers that clung to it oddly. The man made a series of small noises and pulled it's hair from his beak. The Alpha looked away indifferently. 
 
 The pair sat in the shade of the Uleki tree for a long while, indifferent to each other's presence. When the sun had risen high in the sky, the man got up and climbed the tree. The Alpha watched as the man nimbly darted up the thick trunk of the tree and disappeared amongst the tangle of leaves and branches. Curious, the bird rose to it's feet and moved closer to the tree, making sure he looked disinterested. He stooped his head low to the ground and turned it side ways so that he could look up in the tree. 
 
 The Alpha saw and heard the vigorous rustling of the purple leaves, but little else. Then, without warning, something large and round fell from the tree, nearly hitting him in the head, quickly followed by another. He let out a short screech and leaned low to investigate the objects. They were brown and covered in short, brown hair like the man. He pecked gently at one with his peak and found it soft enough that his beak sunk in easily. Moisture coated the edge of his beak and a sweet flavor filled his mouth. He brought his beak back out and savored the flavor for a few moments before digging back in for more. 
 
 Moments later, the man climbed back down with more of the brown furry fruits and tossed another to the Alpha before sitting down and splitting its own open with the jagged piece of rock that dangled at its side. It picked out large red chunks with its hands and popped them into its mouth. When it show it's teeth to the Alpha again, 
 they were bright red. 
 
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 With a sigh, Grinning Bear slung his bow and quiver on his broad shoulder and put his father ’ s knife in it ’ s rightful place by his hip. He didn ’ t look at his brother ’ s wife or his brothers ’ children — nestled quietly near the warm glow of the fire pit— as he quietly stepped over them to get to the mouth of the cave. 
 
 As he neared the entrance, he heard a scuff against the stone, and the soft rustle of fur and the light clicking of stones. Grinning Bear stopped. He closed his eyes and heaved a large breath before turning. 
 
 “ Where are you going? ” Sweet Wind asked him, her voice soft, but demanding. Grinning Bear watched as pulled herself off of the painted floor. 
 
 “ I ’ m going to hunt. ” He replied flatly. 
 
 “ What is there left to hunt? The Rot has stolen the life from this land. It has already killed everything. It is too late to hunt. ” 
 
 “ We are still alive ” He said, raising his voice a bit. 
 Sweet Wind softened her voice “ It isn ’ t safe out there. ” 
 
 “ You, ” Grinning Bear said, “ and them, ” Grinning Bear pointed to the children, “ are safe here. ” 
 
 “ We won ’ t be for long without you. ” 
 
 “ None of us will live if I do not hunt. ” 
 
 “ We have food — We have the fruit and the water. ” 
 
 “ It is not enough. ” 
 
 “ Then we will make it enou—. ” 
 
 Grinning Bear shouted. “ It will not last! ” 
 
 They both looked back at the children. One of the small mounds of cloth and fur shifted restlessly for a moment before going still once more. 
 
 Grinning Bear walked out of the cave. Sweet Wind quickly followed him, stopping just outside the entrance. “ How long will you be gone? ” She asked. 
 
 Grinning Bear stopped and thought for a moment. He didn ’ t turn around to face her. 
 
 “ I do not know. ” 
 
 There was a moment of silence between them. The wind rustled through the decaying trees near mouth of the cave, showering both of them with the dried husks that were once leaves. 
 
 “ Will you come back? ” She asked. 
 
 Grinning Bear walked away from the entrance of the cave.
