Kraven Amberwood (Part 3)

(Part 3)

Kraven, Tabris, and Marren arrived at John’s house shortly after they departed their own. John was waiting outside reading a book. He had long brown hair tied up in a pony tail, and was of average height. He was very thin, and didn’t have a lot of muscle because of all the studying his father made him do. As Kraven approached him, John did not look up. Kraven stopped a few feet from where John was sitting. They stayed like that for a while until John adjusted his glasses and said, “You’re late.” John closed his book and then laughed. Kraven sighed with relief for he thought John was actually mad at him. Kraven and John ran down to the nearby river where Tabris and Marren had already snuck off to.

Sometime later, two girls from the village, Julia and Morgan, walked down the bank of the river. Kraven and John stopped playing when they saw the two girls. Morgan spoke first, “Hi Kraven, we were just wondering if you could call upon some animals so we can see them up close and pet them. Deer are my favorite animals.” Kraven looked at John who was pale. John knew that these two girls were the most beautiful in the whole town and they were standing right in front of him. Kraven on the other hand, didn’t think of them as beautiful, only as people. Although Kraven was very smart and strong, he was incredibly naïve. John nodded in approval of the girls’ request. Kraven made some strange sounds and a pack of deer came out from behind some bushes. The girls giggled with happiness. But then disaster struck.

The deer perked their ears and sprinted off shortly after the girls began petting them. Kraven and his companions soon found out why. Melvin, the governor’s son, and his gang of boys floated down the river on a large raft. As they approached Kraven and his friends, the gang paddled over to the bank and tied the raft to a branch. Melvin and his 5 friends stood directly in front of Kraven, and Melvin did not look pleased. He spoke loudly, “Now what is the poor, cursed boy, and the rich, scholar’s son doing, talking to my girlfriend, Julia.” Kraven was unsure why he was mad and responded, “We were just talking. What’s wrong with that?” Melvin, who was easily angered, and now furious, screamed, “Everything! No one is ever allowed to speak with her unless I say so!” and then he picked up a rock and threw it at Kraven. The other boys soon followed by example and also began throwing rocks. Tabris had already left, chasing Marren down the river; so they couldn’t help. And John, Julia, and Morgan were too weak to help. Kraven, however, just stood there, taking the blows.

Eventually even his strong body began to bruise and bleed. But Kraven just stood there smiling and the more he smiled, the madder Melvin got. John, weak as he was, still tried to help. He picked up a large tree branch and ran at Melvin. He tripped, however, when he was only a few steps away, landing right at Melvin's feet. Melvin and the other boys laughed. John struggled to get up but Melvin placed his foot on John's head and shoved it to the ground causing a small pool of blood to gather right under John's face. Melvin lifted up his foot to deliver another blow, but then a thunderous boom cracked through the air. Kraven’s green eyes shone brightly, the earth shook, and the wind started to flow around him. Trees sprouted from the ground, as if by magic, lifting Melvin and his friends into the air. A few moments later Kraven awoke from his trance and was shocked to see his attackers in the newly formed trees. Melvin and the boys were whimpering in fear and Kraven just stood there confused. Julia and Morgan had fled while the boys were throwing rocks so Kraven could only see John’s shocked and bloody face.

John told Kraven what happened soon after and Kraven too was surprised. Kraven knew that he came from within the Grand Forest, which held many mysteries, but he didn’t know how he did what he did. However, he was curious to find out. He knew that the matter with Melvin and his friends would not go unchallenged so he decided to do the town’s people and himself a favor; he would leave the town and venture into the forest to find out about his past and his strange powers. John would have to stay with his father, but Tabris and Marren could come. Feros was old but he knew that Kraven would eventually leave home and was prepared to manage on his own. Kraven set off on his journey the next day with Tabris and Marren on each side, and a pack filled with food and clothes. He was ready to find the truth.