sacrifice what you are for what you can become
Seventeen. He looked much younger, Henry was surprised to find that out, raising his brows in response. He took notice of the way Belril's voice seemed to flatten, the emotion having left his tones. A depression seemed to unsettle him, rousing him onto his feet. Henry looked up at him from where he sat, brows furrowing as he listened.
Henry opened his mouth to speak when suddenly Belril was turning away, walking, leaving. His steps were no longer hindered by the bruising of his feet. For a moment, Henry thought about letting Belril go on his own. And for a moment, he did, watching as the boy made his way across the front of the property, back in the direction of his garden.
Henry was soon catching up to Belril, and someone was in tow with him. He led Dot along on a rope fastened into a collar around her neck. Yes, loose enough that it was secure without choking her. She munched into a bag that was tied around her head, filled with oats. With this, she was much happier to comply. A harness was also attached to her and she pulled along a small cart, properly fitted to be pulled by a goat.
"Belril, wait up!" Henry called, waving him down. He picked up the pace slightly and caught up. Once he reached the boy's side, he took a moment to catch his breath.
"I wanted to have Dot help us with the plants. It'll be so much quicker this way, and she's trained to do this. It's only when she gets free that she gets... out of hand," he smiled, nudging Belril's arm with his elbow in a good-humored manner.
Henry walked along the road in relative silence for a while, paying more attention to Dot and guiding her along smoother parts of the ground. Eventually, though, he felt that he needed to say something.
"So... you've had a hard life, huh?" he rubbed the side of his throat, glancing over at the boy, "That's alright. We don't have to talk about it. We all have ghosts in our pasts. But you've got your whole future ahead of you. And I'll be here for ya, if you need a helping hand. Or just a friend to rely on." He offered a cheery smile.
Henry opened his mouth to speak when suddenly Belril was turning away, walking, leaving. His steps were no longer hindered by the bruising of his feet. For a moment, Henry thought about letting Belril go on his own. And for a moment, he did, watching as the boy made his way across the front of the property, back in the direction of his garden.
Henry was soon catching up to Belril, and someone was in tow with him. He led Dot along on a rope fastened into a collar around her neck. Yes, loose enough that it was secure without choking her. She munched into a bag that was tied around her head, filled with oats. With this, she was much happier to comply. A harness was also attached to her and she pulled along a small cart, properly fitted to be pulled by a goat.
"Belril, wait up!" Henry called, waving him down. He picked up the pace slightly and caught up. Once he reached the boy's side, he took a moment to catch his breath.
"I wanted to have Dot help us with the plants. It'll be so much quicker this way, and she's trained to do this. It's only when she gets free that she gets... out of hand," he smiled, nudging Belril's arm with his elbow in a good-humored manner.
Henry walked along the road in relative silence for a while, paying more attention to Dot and guiding her along smoother parts of the ground. Eventually, though, he felt that he needed to say something.
"So... you've had a hard life, huh?" he rubbed the side of his throat, glancing over at the boy, "That's alright. We don't have to talk about it. We all have ghosts in our pasts. But you've got your whole future ahead of you. And I'll be here for ya, if you need a helping hand. Or just a friend to rely on." He offered a cheery smile.
HENRY
