Duck Lake and he hasn't been home in a few days

the days stretch on and yawn into nights — over and over. kaertok does not return. vex patrols and scours every inch of the borders and each hour that passes he is left more impatient than the last.

he doesn’t stop to consider how he might inspire worry in his mother or older siblings by taking off on his own …but someone had to go out and look for dad. selfish motivations wrapped in the guise of selflessness. vex passes thru the grove and heads into the vast yawning land of the flatlands; exposing a world much bigger than he could’ve envisioned.

he doesn’t stop. not until he’s drawn to the lake by the dry ache in his throat; tongue feeling like parched sandpaper in his mouth. he keeps a hungry eye on the flocks of ducks that seem rather unperturbed by his appearance. for now, vex keeps his distance from them, lapping at the cold water …wondering if he had the energy to try to hunt ( all the while forgetting that he was likely to end up empty jawed because of his utter lack of experience ).