Far out of town, away from any city or village, surrounded by forest, existed a small plain. This plain had a small homestead, a small lake just bigger than a pong, a little field for growing crops, and a little barn. There was nothing extraordinary about this location. In fact, it was so far off the beaten path it wasn’t found on any map. But there lived a loving father and his little boy, Alex. The father, whose name was Darcy, stood just shy of six feet tall. Had short dark blonde hair, wore glasses, and was, in every definition of the word, average.

His son, Alex, was 10 years old. He had brown hair that always looked like he had just rolled out of bed, and most days, that’s what he did do. Alex wasn’t like most boys his age, well, not that he knew that of course. There were never any kids around this part of the world. In fact, there were never any people at all. No one ventured that far through the forest. For the most part it had always been enough for Alex.

Until it wasn’t.

The house sat on a small cliff side. It was more like a large hill really, but to the mind of Alex, it was a mountain. He’d often come running down the hill to take a sharp right to head further down to the lake. While his father would dive from the edge near the house. Alex had not mustered the courage himself to do so, but he hoped to someday. Today though, he laid in the cool water, floating on his back. The warm summer sun shining on him while he floated peacefully. The sound of water gently lapping against the shore and the chirping of insects was about all you would hear a day like this.

Alex didn’t have a thought in his head. He simply laid enjoying the coolness of the water on this hot summer day.

On the border of the plains was a vast and dense forest which Darcy begun to emerge from. Wearing quite the hearty backpack he trekked through the grass up to their house. Walking past the small plots of soil that were home to a variety of vegetables that he and his son had grown. He dropped his pack in the living room and let out a big sigh as he stretched out. Scratching his head, he grabbed his cup that was left over from this morning and finished the water that remained.

Disappointed, he looked into his, now empty, cup. “That’s it huh?”

He let out another sigh and went over to the sick. A deep bucket sat on in the basin, empty.

“Ba~h!” Darcy let out in frustration. “I guess I’ll have to head down to the lake.” He looked around for a moment. “I should ask Alex to do it. He’s always looking for something to do. Alex!” Darcy called. He waited for a moment but there was no reply. Usually, Alex is rushing out of the house to greet him, but today was quiet. Not hearing any feet pounding from upstairs Darcy decided Alex must’ve fallen asleep. He dropped his wooden cup into the bucket and made for the stairs.

With each step the stairs let out a dry creek as a bit of dust puffed out from beneath each step. The bedroom at the top of the stairs was small and quaint. It had nothing more than two beds and a wooden frame with a picture of Darcy holding a baby, it was Alex shortly after being born.

Darcy scanned the room quickly, but his bed laid made and vacant. While Alex’s bed lay unkempt and quickly thrown together, which is what you’d expect to see from a kid. Puzzled he let out another call for Alex. It wasn’t like him to not be around the house.

He walked over to the window that overlooked the hillside and the lake. Down in the middle of the lake he saw his son just lying on the water quiet and peaceful. He let out a small smile and decided he would join his son.

Alex had drifted into the state of not being awake, but not being totally asleep either. His eyed opened wide when he heard someone exclaim “I got you now!”

The voice was faint but grew louder and louder until finally a large wave rushed over Alex and the water forced him to flip over onto his stomach. Alex swam back to the top of the water quickly. He wasn’t expecting to suddenly be under water. As he reached the surface two arms came around him and scooped him up.

“Hey let me go!” Alex shouted as he began thrashing. “I’m the son of a super important world classed adventure I’ll have you know! If you don’t put me down, you’ll be in big trouble!” his eyes were shut as he continued to swing his arms about.

“Is that so?” The voice responded in jest. “I guess I better give up.” The man said as he dropped Alex back into the lake.

Sinking below the surface again he scowled and swam a little away from where he had sunk before returning to the surface. Alex wasn’t sure what was happening, but his father had mentioned its possible brigands could find their way out here at some point. His imagination assumed this was what was happening. With a big push he emerged from the water in a loud roar of water and splashes. His frustration quickly faded, and his eyes grew large as a giant smile took over his face.

“Daddy!” he called out.

“Hello my little fish!” His father called back. “What’s this about your dad being some kind of “Super All Powerful Adventurer”? Should I be worried?” He teased.

“Ahh, I only said that because I thought it would scare them off!” Alex laughed back at his dad.

“Scare who off?” He asked.

Alex slammed his hand into the water causing a loud splash. “Brigands of course!” He said almost as if boasting.

“I see.” His father laughed. “But brigands don’t come out this far. Besides they’d likely get lost in the woods.” Darcy assured him.

“Maybe!” Alex called back. “So, what did you bring me!?” He asked eagerly.

“Bring you?” Darcy looked to the cloudless sky. “Did I bring you something?”

Alex jumped on his dad’s shoulders causing him to almost submerge in the water. “Okay okay!” Darcy exclaimed. “I do have something for you!”

“Yay!” Alex cried out as he pushed off his father swimming towards the shore. “Come on Daddy!” He called back to his father.

He watched as his son tear himself out of the water onto shore, shake his body, much like a dog, and go barreling up the hill towards the house.

Alex was a kindhearted, carefree little boy. While he spent much of his time daydreaming of knights, brigands, and adventure. He was a devoted and loving son. Nothing brightened his day more, than spending time with his father.

But, as these things tend to go, all good things come to an end.