Haylesdown - Original Writing

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Haylesdown

He smiled as the wind whistled through his hair, the fresh smell of manure; hay, grass and the aroma of the flower patch filled his nostrils. Ryan sighed as one of the chickens he was feeding began to peck at his boot, he couldn’t blame it though, the leather was ripped and worn whilst the soles had holes. ‘Oi, get off!’ He moaned, shaking his foot and scaring the chicken away. Ryan dipped his hand into the sack he had brought with him on his daily run; he threw some grain out into the pen making sure all the chickens were well fed before climbing back over the gate and taking a deep breath.

He had been a farm boy for all of his life, he knew nothing else. It wasn’t as bad as it sounded, he knew all there was about animals and years of working sunrise to sunset had given him the stamina of a messenger from the city. Their dark walls often loomed over the farm and Ryan sometimes found himself sitting in the field staring at their magnificence. A growl alerted him and his hand quickly snaked to his belt as he drew out a small bronze knife, wolves were common among farms, they often appeared here and there to prey on sheep, cattle and the odd chicken. He had seen his father killing stray wolves with his treasured crossbow while herding the cattle so he knew the dangers. Ryan heard a sound that resembled a bark before a force smashed into his side both winding him and throwing him down onto his back. Ryan could image razor sharp claws and jagged teeth tearing into his flesh as his crimson blood painted the floors.

A rough wet cloth was draped along his face time and time again as hot ragged breaths washed over him, he could faintly smell wet fur. Ryan realised his eyes were still squeezed tightly shut as he awaited an agonizingly painful death. Slowly, opening his eyes he found himself face to face with Scruff the dog.

Ryan groaned and muttered a string of curses as he pushed the shaggy dog off his chest, ‘Scruff, how many times have I told you not to sneak up on me like that, I thought you were a wolf and was ready to slit your throat.’ Ryan kneeled down and gently scratched the daft animal’s crown. Ryan recalled the events of finding Scruff as Scruff licked his face happily.

He had been in the city searching for a replacement spring for father’s treasured crossbow. He had looked all over the city but no one was willing to sell for the meagre amount of coins he possessed, it had been around that time when he had just left the royal guards armoury having been made a mockery of to find a short stubby man pacing towards him waving his hand in the air. ‘Boy!’ He roared as he closed the distance surprisingly quickly for a man his size. ‘Y-yes sir?’ Ryan stuttered an edge of fear in his voice, his heart began to beat faster and sweat began to form on his brow. ‘I hear you’ve been pestering the locals for a spring about yay long,’ he held his index fingers about two inches apart before continuing. ‘Well I have an offer to make,’ he paused as if expecting something to happen, Ryan waited for the short man to continue as an awkward silence passed over them. ‘Well?’ The man questioned,

‘Err; w-well I only have a meagre amount of coins to bargain with sir,’

‘I don’t believe I’ve asked for anything yet.’ He chuckled his stomach bouncing up and down hypnotising Ryan in its awe; Ryan shook his head snapping out of his trance before frowning slightly. ‘What’s the offer then sir?’

‘Right, basically I have a little animal problem. I have a dog that needs a new home that’s not mine, I heard there was a farm boy about the city and thought that every farm needs a dog.’  He smiled with a glint in his eye and Ryan realised he had planned this carefully beforehand, ‘I dunno sir, I don’t think father would approve of me bringing home a dog without asking first.’ The short man sighed,

‘Look, all I want to do is get rid of this rat my daughter calls a dog.’ He said aggressively casting a glance down. Ryan had failed to notice the small animal cowering behind the man with its tail in-between its legs, Ryan sighed. ‘I’m sorry but I don’t think father would be pleased if I came back with a dog and not a spring, it’s not like the dog can kill wolves and hunt in the winter is it?’

‘Look child, take the dog and I’ll get you a spring, actually take the dog I’ll get you two springs. Just take the blinding animal away from me.’ Ryan was surprised by the mans offer and knew he couldn’t take the dog but father would want the spring and he could imagine how happy he would be when he came home with two springs. ‘Ok, you have a deal, I’ll take the dog of you for the springs,’ the man sighed with relief a chuckled. ‘Ah you’re a good lad farm boy, come by the Forest Blacksmith in an hour and you can pick the springs up and take Scruff here off me.’ Ryan nodded enthusiastically but a question clouded his thoughts, ‘Sir can I ask you something, if you were so desperate to get rid of the dog why didn’t you just leave it in a dark alleyway?’ Ryan asked to find the man begin to chuckle again, ‘Why? Because even though I may seem it I’m not a monster, I love animals just as much as you do; I want to see Scruff grow up healthy and loved.’ Ryan smiled and nodded pleased by the kindness in the man’s words, The man smirked and turned walking away. ‘Don’t forget, one hour, The Forest Blacksmith!’ And then he was gone.

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Ryan walked along the outside of the city walls the faint silhouette of the farmhouse far into the distance. The two springs he had received today rested in his cloak pocket and a thin length of rope was tied around his wrist, Scruff followed beside him unsure whether or not to be happy or sad about his new owner. He had no coins left in his pocket; he had given them to the short man insisting that it would be easier for his father to believe that he hadn’t stolen them. Ryan looked down at the dog and smiled.

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