#tomouji

On his tenth summer they tied him to the sacred tree as they did for everyone in the Tumet tribe. Thirteen other children were tied alongside him. Though some of them had already gotten loose immediately after being tied and were running to catch up with the rest of the tribe. 

The boy struggled with all his might. Just you wait, I can break free. I can catch up. But his small frame had failed him. He watched as the other children broke free one by one. Desperate to follow, he used all the power he could muster, only to be let down once again. Frustrated, tears filled his eyes and he let out a loud grunt. The ropes were uncomfortable, and the bark from the tree dug into his skin. I want to go home. 

He tried everything he could think of. He tried to squirm out, he tried to use pure strength, he even tried to use his horns to cut the rope, but it was tied in such a way that he couldn’t reach it. 

Soon it was night. Exhausted, the boy’s eyes flickered closed. As he drifted to sleep, he heard the steps of another one who broke free.

He woke up hungry and thirsty, not having a bite to eat or drop to drink since the morning of the day before. He looked to the left and right of him, checking to see if anyone was still here with him. If anyone was, he could see them, and couldn’t very much go around to check the perimeter of the tree. He closed his eyes and concentrated. Maybe if he were to concentrate all of his power right where he needed it, the ropes would snap and he would be free.

“Hhrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr,” he concentrated really, really hard. “Yahhhh!!!!!” He put every ounce of energy into breaking the ropes. But his efforts were to no avail. He let out a yell. To the right of him, he heard some footsteps. 

“There’s no one left you know.”

“Huh?” The au ra looked up at the boy who appeared in front of him. He knew him. He was one of the other boys in his tribe. He didn’t like him.

“You’re the last one, I checked,” he sneered. “I knew you wouldn’t make it. A tiny flower, you. Smallest of us all. I heard your father tell mine that he didn’t think you would make it out.”

The boy was too tired to say anything back, so he tried to give the meanest eyes he could. The other boy laughed at him and started walking away. As he saw his silhouette get smaller and smaller, he started to sob. No tears came out. 

On the third day, he woke up barely conscious. The glaring sun hit his skin. I can’t do this anymore. This was the end. The boy who mocked him was right. He wasn’t going to break free, he wasn’t going to go home, he would be left tied on this tree. He prayed to the gods that in his next life, he would be bigger and stronger. He closed his eyes and he welcomed the gentle embrace of defeat. 

Before he completely faded into darkness, he felt a cool liquid hit his lips. 

“Are you alright?” The boy weakly opened his eyes as a girl with no horns nor scales tipping her flask of water to his lips. Beside her was an Auri boy with the lightest scales he’d ever seen. The au ra tapped the girl’s arm and started making gestures with his hands. “Yeah, I think that would be a good idea– Oh! You’re awake. I’m Solar and this is Tomouji. We saw you tied to this tree.” 

Tomouji took out a knife out of Solar’s satchel and started cutting through the rope that bound the boy to the tree. The small au ra instantly collapsed. 

“What’s your name?” Solar asked.

“... I don’t have one. “ He sat up slowly. “I was supposed to be named if I broke free from the sacred tree... But I couldn’t. I don’t think I can go home anymore.” 

“Guess you can just come with us!” Solar grinned at him. “It’s just me and Tomouji. And you if you want.” Tomouji smiled warmly at him. The boy sat there not sure what to do. He couldn’t stay on the tree anymore. He couldn’t go home because he was ashamed for not breaking free on his own. Solar offered her hand to him.