Rhadd returned to his homestead, the small village of Pontygemmet, for a family meal. The second since his ‘accident’. Just a short trip out of Caleah, it was farm country; and befitting that, his family were farmers. His father, and his father’s father, had worked the land since emigrating to the isles. His grandfather found out the hard way that city life was not for him following the move, and soon found himself gravitating towards the city outskirts.
Rhadd’s partner, Owain, was meeting them for the first time. The pair were sat opposite one another, being transported to the village by carriage. Owain had baked a cake for the occasion, and he held it carefully, trying to keep it safe from the jostling of the carriage.
Rhadd looked out the carriage’s window, gazing up at the clear blue sky. He felt his skin moisten, and his throat dry out. Staring back at the horizon to calm himself, he caught a glimpse of a red fox and its kits emerging from a nearby hedgerow, dashing into the fields in the distance.
As long as the meal doesn’t go on for too long everything will be ok, Rhadd assured himself once more. Last month, during his first ‘test’, he’d awoken with bloodstained skin and little to no clothes in an old, abandoned shipping warehouse. If he could get home before nightfall, he could chain himself in the basement of his house and wait out the full moon. But, knowing his sister, she’d try and get him to stay the night, especially as he’d brought Owain.
Rhadd scratched the back of his hands, his nails digging into his skin.
“Hey. Hey, Rhadd. Stop that. You’re gonna hurt yourself you idiot,” said Owain, kicking at Rhadd’s shins.
“Sorry, sorry. Just a little nervous,” replied Rhadd.
Today's prompt: red fox
This week's worldbuilding prompt: family
If you'd like to participate too, the contest/prompts can be found here:
@mariannewest/day-1607-5-minute-freewrite-wednesday-prompt-red-fox
