The hood was full of bones from all ends of the earth. Though the bones themselves held more of a story then one could ever guess. That is the story I am going to tell now, so lend an ear and listen to my words. I was at the age of adolescents, and it was between the years of me being teen lion to becoming an adult. The day was dark and the fog could be seen for miles. I figured it was sometime in winter though I couldn’t be completely certain. I was wild and I never realized how my actions affected everything. How they could change my life from one course to another in seconds. The sad thing is even if I had found out any earlier, I probably wouldn’t have listened. I would have just ignored the great advice and made even worse mistakes. Though I am getting off track let me get back on the page of my hood.
It was foggy everywhere I turned though I continued to trudge forward anyways. I could not see a thing in this deep fog; it was as if I wore a grey blindfold. It took everything and made it an empty space of just grey. As I walked I suddenly hit a rock or what I thought was rock. So I attempted to push forward anyways. To my surprise the second I did, I felt a paw grab onto my leg. It was skinny and fragile appearing. I jumped slightly upward at the feel of it grabbing onto me, though I still asked, “hello?”
To my surprise I was answered back, back by a voice that was old in sound and weary. They said help. Just hearing those words I couldn’t run, someone needed my help and it would be cowardly to leave. So instead I looked down and noticed the lion just lying there on their stomach, all helpless looking. I quickly picked them up and head to the place I was staying for the night. The place he was staying wasn’t amazing but it was somewhere. It was a cave hidden in a mountain, he had found it while exploring the night prior. Though as he walked in he gently laid the guest on his bed made of leaves and twigs. It wasn’t great he knew that but it was the best he could do. He then quickly started a fire near his guest, in hopes that made the warmth of the heat would help whatever was wrong with him.
After the fire had been started, he walked beside them and said, “Is there anything more I can do?” The visitor was quiet, but then he spoke, “No you have done enough, I just need rest…. Though can I tell you a story?”
Surprised by his question I agreed with a nod of my head he definitely could. So I sat myself beside him, and got ready to listen.
“This bag on my back, it contains a hood made of skin and bones. While I know this may sound silly it is the truth. I have made this hood throughout my lifetime and it is my pride and joy. It is a hood I have made for only the right soul to wear. The hood will take you to places that your eyes have never seen before. It will take your dreams too far off places, ones you’ve never even visited before. Though that is only the beginning,” he spoke, “would you like to hear more?”
I nodded my head quickly and waited for him to continue. It was already so amazing just in words alone.
“The fur that the hood was made of is the skin of the beast that took my family. I was at the age of a teen lion, when this beast ran rampage in my home. I hid behind some bushes, as were my mother’s wishes. From there I could see it all. I watched the beast attack the place I slept, while at the same time attack all that I loved. First my father, then mother, and then it went on and on for hours. They fought they did and it took me years before I realized they all were fighting for me. Me, the one who hid like a coward - while they lost their lives. Though nonetheless I tracked down that beast and made sure it knew just how much it hurt. There was only one problem, the beast had a family. Part of me just wanted to destroy their family and make them watch like they had me. Though the other part knew it was wrong. So instead I waited and watched. It wasn’t long before I saw this beast was even a beast to their own family. They would yell and hit the ones they supposedly loved. I couldn’t stand by and watch it so I lured away one day why it was out hunting food and I got rid of it. I now had blood on my hands, though still I returned to their family and told them what I did. I didn’t want them to wait for someone who may never return, it would be wrong. It surprised me, but how relieved they seemed. It turned out they were going to run away from this home, but now they could stay. It made me happy but I was all the same weird-ed out. As I was just about to leave, they offered me to stay. I had nowhere else to go so I stayed. I stayed and helped raise the cubs they had. This hood they actually helped me make, from their first hunt to random explorations. They never knew what it was, but they loved it all the same. This beast took away my family and gave me a new one. I never forgave myself for the blood I shed, that is why I am out here. To hid this and return home so I can forget of it. Will you help me do that I beg?” with that he got quiet.
I just nodded my head and said, “Yes I will.” With that I took the bag off of him and went to bed. When I awoke in the morning he was gone. It was like he had never been there at all. I opened the bag and took the hood out and placed it on my head. Since that day it has been there, until now when I will dispose of it in this dirt. It will have its resting place, as I head off to find my family or my home where ever that may be.
word count: 1116
