V) First Scar

Gareth woke up early with a sense of anticipation. Today was the day of his first hunt with his father and the other men of the village. He had been looking forward to this day for years, eager to prove himself as a skilled hunter and gatherer. As he got dressed and gathered his supplies, his mother entered the room.

"Gareth, I need to talk to you before you leave," she said, looking at him with a worried expression.

"What is it, Mother?" Gareth asked, feeling a twinge of concern.

"I don't want you to be too reckless out there," she said, her voice tinged with concern. "You know how dangerous it can be, especially for someone your age."

"I know, Mother," Gareth said, trying to sound confident. "But I've been practicing with my bow and arrow for months now. I'm ready for this."

"I just want you to be careful," his mother said, giving him a hug. "Promise me you'll come back in one piece."

"I promise," Gareth said, returning her embrace. "I'll be back before you know it."

With those words, he left the house and set off towards the edge of the village, where the other hunters were gathering. As he arrived, he saw his father and several other men standing around a large fire, sharpening their weapons and discussing their plan for the day.

"Gareth, you're just in time," his father said, looking up and smiling at him. "We're about to head out."

"Great," Gareth said, feeling a surge of excitement. "What's our target today?"

"We're going after a herd of wild boars that have been causing trouble for some of the nearby farms," his father explained. "It won't be an easy hunt, but I have faith in you."

Gareth nodded, feeling a mixture of pride and nervousness. He had never hunted a wild boar before, but he was eager to prove himself. With a deep breath, he joined the other hunters and set off into the woods, his heart pounding with anticipation

Gareth looked at his friends with concern. "I don't know what's out there," he said, "but I don't want to face it alone. Do you want to come with me?"

Bjorn and Leif looked at each other nervously. They had never ventured too far from their village, but they trusted Gareth. "We'll come with you," Bjorn said.

Gareth smiled, grateful for the support. "Thank you," he said. "Let's go."

Gareth's father agreed to take the three boys on the hunting trip.

Gareth was excited to show his friends the techniques he had learned from his father. They set out with their weapons and supplies and went.

As they hiked through the forest, Gareth pointed out different types of plants and animals, teaching them about what was safe to eat and what was poisonous. Bjorn and Leif were fascinated by Gareth's knowledge and enthusiasm.

As they reached a clearing, Gareth's father instructed them on how to set up traps and snares. They spent the next few hours hunting, successfully catching a few small animals. However, as they were packing up to leave, they heard rustling in the bushes.

Gareth's father motioned for the boys to be quiet and still. The boar suddenly appeared from the bushes, charging towards them with great speed. Gareth and his father quickly raised their bows and aimed, but the boar was too fast. It slammed into Gareth, knocking him down to the ground and goring his left leg with its tusks.

Gareth cried out in pain as the boar turned to face him once again, ready to strike. His father quickly stepped in front of him, raising his bow and taking aim. He let out an arrow, striking the boar right in the eye and killing it instantly.

Gareth's father quickly went to his son's side, examining the wound. It was deep, and blood was gushing out quickly. He tore off a piece of his own shirt and used it to stem the bleeding.

"Stay with me, Gareth," he said, his voice filled with concern. "We need to get you back to the village and have your wound treated."

Gareth gritted his teeth, trying to bear the pain. He had never felt anything like it before. "I'll be okay, father," he said, his voice strained. "Let's just get out of here."

They made a makeshift bandage from cloth and medicinal herbs that Gareth had brought along, and they slowly made their way back to the village.

Gareth had a long hash on his leg that later became a scar from the boar's attack, and Gareth couldn't help but feel guilty for bringing his friends along on the trip. He vowed to do his best to never let his guard down during a hunting trip again.

After the incident with the boar, Gareth's father treated his wound and they returned home.

Gareth's mother was waiting for them at the door when they returned. "Gareth, are you alright?" she asked with a worried look on her face.

Gareth assured her that he was fine, but his mother's worry only seemed to intensify. "I don't want to lose you," she said, her voice shaking, a slight worry etched into her face as she looked at her son's wound. "I can't bear the thought of losing either of you."

Gareth winced as his mother applied a salve to his wound. "I know, Mother. I'll be more careful in the future."

His father nodded in agreement. "We should have been more cautious. We let our guard down."

Gareth's mother sighed. "It's not just about being cautious, it's about being smart. You can't let your guard down even for a moment out there."

Gareth nodded solemnly. "I understand, Mother. I'll make sure to always be on alert."

His mother looked at him with a mix of concern and pride. "You're growing up so fast, Gareth. It's hard to believe you're already out hunting with your father."

Gareth smiled at his mother. "I'm just trying to follow in his footsteps."

His father placed a hand on Gareth's shoulder. "And you're doing a fine job of it, son. But you need to remember that mistakes can happen, and we need to be prepared for them."

Gareth nodded, taking his father's words to heart. "I won't forget that, Father."

Gareth hobbled over to his mother, wincing with each step. "Mother, Father caught a boar on our hunt today. I wanted to help prepare it for dinner, despite my injury."

His mother looked up from her spot, concern etched on her face. "Gareth, let me take a look at your wound first. You can't just ignore it like this."

Gareth sat down on a stool and lifted his pant leg to reveal the gash on his calf. His mother clicked her tongue and began cleaning and rebandaging the wound.

"Now, let's see that boar," she said, once she had finished. Gareth hobbled over to the kitchen and began to help his mother prepare the meat. Despite the pain, he was determined to do his part.

Gareth was determined to become even stronger so that he would never be caught off guard like that again. He began to practice his archery skills with even more intensity, and started to incorporate more physical training into his routine.

Despite the pain and discomfort from his wound, Gareth refused to take a break from his training. He pushed himself harder than ever before, determined to become the best hunter and warrior he could be. He also spent more time studying the wildlife on the island, trying to understand their behavior and patterns.

Gareth's physical training became more intense as he incorporated a variety of exercises into his routine, including hard labor, running, and practicing martial arts with his father. His friends, Leif and Bjorn, were impressed with Gareth's dedication and started to join him in his training sessions. They would run around the village and lift rocks to build up their strength.

"Man, you're getting really strong, Gareth," Leif commented as they took a break from their training.

"Yeah, I'm feeling better than ever," Gareth replied, wiping the sweat from his brow.

Bjorn nodded in agreement. "I think I might have to start training like this too. Maybe then I could finally beat you at archery."

Gareth laughed. "I don't know about that, Bjorn. Archery is a whole different kind of skill."

Leif chuckled. "Speaking of archery, I heard there's going to be a big competition in the neighboring village next month. You should definitely sign up for it, Gareth."

Gareth's eyes lit up at the idea. "That sounds amazing! I've been practicing every day, so I think I might actually have a chance."

His friends cheered him on and the three of them continued their training with renewed energy. Gareth felt more confident than ever, knowing that his dedication and hard work were paying off.

Over time, Gareth's dedication and hard work was rewarded. He became an excellent archer and a skilled hunter, earning the respect of his father and the other members of their village. But the memory of his first scar remained with him, serving as a constant reminder to always be vigilant and never let his guard down.