9 Los (1/2)

Near the Philli Farm (One Week and Six Days Until the Present)

Zed finally woke up from his deep sleep as the wagon continued to sway in a comfortable rhythm. The old dog drowsily blinked, his hazel eyes gazing lazily into a field of gently dancing wheat that reached the horizon. He rested his head onto his paws and continued to stare, focusing on nothing in particular.

This was the first time that Zed had stepped out his home village after ten years. Everything looked different from the last time he saw it. Although, nothing really changed in the end.

For Zed, the night sky that was dotted with sparkling stars was no longer glaring at him. The two large moons that overlapped each other seemed like gorgeous gems compared to the daunting giants of the past.

Zed basked in the gentle wind that swept through the field of wheat. His eyes which had once been tainted with hatred and sorrow and fear was finally gentle, filled with hope and courage.

For Zed, life was like a wheat field. Each stalk of wheat resembled every single person on this planet. They stand together, tall and straight. They dance with the grace of the wind that resembles life. And when the wind pushes them down, they conform for a time before they stand back up, tall and proud.

Zed smiled. And he gets to share this beautiful world with another. Although he may be noisy, stubborn, and sometimes dangerously curious, he is filled with a confidence for life that Zed admires.

Speaking of that little rascal, is he finally asleep?

***

At the Philli Farm

The wagon finally stopped once they reached their destination, ending the swaying that Zed had found to be really comfortable. After everyone was done setting up camp and resting did Zed start to move.

Zed stood up, stretching his sore muscles before he turned to dig into the pile of hay.

Now that he thought about it, this was also Miceter's first time to leave the village. But unlike Zed, Miceter had never once stepped out of his village before.

For Miceter, his tiny world had been filled with mud houses and large fields of crops. Familiar faces were the only people he saw. And when it came to events, it was the normal boring routine of eat, sleep, play, and explore the forest that filled the small village's perimeter. If he was lucky, a wandering bard or caravan would pass through and provide him songs, stories, and pretty goods which he rarely got to see.

Until recently, Miceter's life was boring and peaceful--a paradise that Zed had seldom experienced throughout his forty years of life.

As Zed continued to search the pile of hay, a VERY familiar and horrifying emotion began to creep into his heart. Unconsciously, the pace to which he dug sped up. The careful force to which he had used to dig was pushed aside as he began to fling large chunks of hay off the wagon, until he was left with...

...nothing...

Miceter wasn't here.

His heart wrenched and his pulse began to quicken as his breaths ran faster and faster.

Where is he?

What happened to his baby?

His Sun?

His Moon?

His Everything?

He quickly jumped off the wagon, his head whipping around frantically as he searched for the other carriages. Maybe he was on another carriage?

Had they stopped again after Prosperous Kingdom?

He didn't think so, but it wasn't the first time he had slept while Miceter explored.