Submission (#777) Approved

Fefnir was bored, and that was dangerous. The kittom was always restless when things grew quiet around the house. X had taken Axl into town for an errand. The girls were busy at the pond, and Zero was lounging on the couch anticipating X to return home. Fefnir had little engagement, and he hated it.

Sneaking around Zero, the kittom slunk out of the door and out into the warm Faerindell air. The sweet scent of nectar wafted through the gentle breeze, and he felt so much better already. Indoors were stifling. There was a slight inkling that Fefnir would get in trouble for this. X had told him not to stray too far. The boy knew who was around, but that didn't matter to him now. Right now, he wanted something to do. Anything!

The kittom raced toward the gate, shoving it open before running into the woods. The cool grass beneath his feet felt great; he felt free and happy. Fefnir wasn't too sure where he should go. He wanted to keep within the boundaries his father gave him, yet that sense of curiosity and confidence far outweighed the danger he could put himself in. So he trudged on, deeper and deeper into the thicket. He climbed rocks covered in moss, leaping into the air and laughing as he tumbled to the ground. If only Axl were here to wrestle with him. Now that would have been fun! Fefnir was alone, however, and he grew bolder.

Fefnir lept across a small creek, hopping on top of rocks to keep himself dry. He was now far from the boundaries set by his father, but he didn't care. There was much to explore. Copy had never let him go far; the freedom X gave him was much too tempting for Fefnir.

His journey further into the woods led him to many interesting sites. A gnarled moss-covered tree tipped over from a storm, hollowed out to make a home for many small creatures. Fefnir could even fit inside if he had popped into his feral form.

A huge berry bush that curled around trees and vines hovered feet above the ground. Fefnir marveled at the wall of fat fruit that hung from the hedge, grabbing a few to taste. They were tart and sweet. He wondered if he should bring his father here to pick some for pies. Axl would certainly enjoy them! Perhaps he should lead his big brother instead. Humming in delight, he plucked a few more before moving on.

Finding an old pathway, however, was fascinating to stumble upon. It was old, overgrown, and nearly missed. Yet the ground was still very much worn and pact. Fefnir stepped onto this path, curious as to where it went. The trail wasn't long at all and led to a small wooden cabin not seen in decades. Wood has worn from years of harsh weather. Vines crept up line veins across the boards and windows, feathering leaves to blanket half the structure. Fefnir approached it cautiously, not knowing if anyone lived inside. The overgrowth of vines told the boy that the building lay abandoned. Holes in the structure would hardly keep the rain out.

"Hello?" he warned, listening for any signs of life. Only the sounds of birds up in the canopy answered him. "I'm coming in!" he bellowed, approaching the door and tried to pry it open.

The door was stuck, the bottom wedged against the floor. Fefnir pulled hard, placing one of his feet against the wall to give more leverage. "Come on! Open!" he demanded. As if on cue, the door gave way, sending Fefnir to the ground. Popping back up, he glanced inside the dim room, dust floating in the stale sunlight.

"Hellooooo" he echoed, still wondering if he was alone as he stepped inside. The cabin was just one room. The skeleton of a bed rested against one of the back walls under the now blanketed window. Wood and rusted utensils littered the floor around a lonely stool. Fefnir peered inside, a little nervous as to what would be inside. The smell of dust was overwhelming, making the kittom swat around his face to clear the air, coughing a few times. "Ugh, what a dump."

The kittom walked inside, black eyes scanning the flaking walls and rusted metal. Fefnir was careful to step around anything that may cut his feet. The cabin was completely vacant. Nothing interesting to be found around the bed skeleton and stool. Just rust, dust, and wood chips. He would even squat to look closer to see if anything interested him.

Nothing.

The boy turned around to stare at the skeleton of a bed. A few pieces of cloth hung from the springs, sticky from the rot and rust. The mattress had long since rotted away, leaving just a few traces. Fefnir wondered who lived here and why they had just abandoned the place. Nothing indicated death within, but Fefnir was curious about the history.

Fefnir turned toward the entrance to go back outside. A table stood just across from him. It almost looked new compared to everything else in there; papers, scrolls, and a candle laying lifeless. Some of the parchment stuck against the wood, possibly from the humidity. What caught Fefnir's attention, however, wasn't the writing.

A glint of metal shined back at him. Fefnir dug between the dusty scrolls and found a strange coin. It wasn't anything like the coins they had to buy goods and food. It was a slight tint of gold with odd carvings. Perhaps another language? Fefnir wasn't sure, but he glanced around a moment before pocketing the strange coin and immediately fleeing the house. He was nervous for some reason.

Hearing his name called, Fefnir turned and ran back toward home. He knew he would receive a scolding, but that was alright. He had fun exploring the woods for once and even found a treasure! The day was a success, even if everyone else was busy.