Before I start the real story, let me take you back to the very beginning. About how we fought for the people of this country and … won. Me and my best friend Journey Fin, we had been living in the woods together, in Sydney, Montana. Because our parents had been T-Boned at 75 miles an hour by Issac Crow (the president). They didn't make it. 

Three years after our parent’s accident, a war started coming across the country, There were two sides to this war, the Royals and the Runts. The Runts are the outcasts of the country, they are trying to bring justice for the rest of the country that's getting controlled like puppets. And the Royals are the government servants essentially. The president named Isaac Crow is the leader and everybody agrees and does whatever he wants them to do. 

Where do I want to start… I know. It all started on a bright sunny day. We had gone out hunting when we got into some trouble...

J-“Come on, before they catch us!”

C-“ I’m coming!”

J-“ Were coming up on the bridge… what do you want to do plan A or B?”

C-“Plan B.

J-“Are you sure Conrad?”

C-“Positive… On three jump,  One”

J-“Two”

C-“Three… jump!”

J-“I think we lost them”

C-“I hope so… mountain lions are relentless.”

C- “let’s go home.”

J- ”Okay”

After we nearly got mauled by a pack of mountain lions, we headed for what we called the snake pit. It was where we lived for three and a half years.  

As we walked back I looked at the back of Conrad’s head, at his curly dirty blonde hair, and watch the curls bounce with every step he took. 

He turns around and asks... “Hey, do we have any greens at home?”

“I think we have enough for tonight,” I say.

Conrad is just one of those people that just look like they are supposed to be in a movie. He had to be at least 6’2", with these beautiful piercing greenish-blue eyes, they reminded me of the Factory lake. We both had dark olive skin-tone from being in the sun all day. 

Soon we are back at the snake pit and we start getting food ready for dinner. I clean the greens and get wood for a fire. Conrad starts to skin the little meat we had caught that day. 

SNAP!... We both hear it and go into fighting/protection mode (you never know what is out here). And they 12-17 guys start walking up to us. They are covered in what looks like homemade clothes, they carry spears and slingshots. We are still in protective stances. Not knowing what they’re wanting, but aren’t going to attack. 

“Hi,” says a big guy with dark skin and chocolate eyes… he seems to be the leader.

“Hi… who are you?”

“My name is Kent, what’s yours?”

“Conrad and that’s Journey, hi," I say, still not sure about him.

“We are part of the Runts we are trying to find some really tough and brave people to help us take down Issac Crow and the Royals. And were wondering if you were interested?”

I glance over at Conrad he knows what I am thinking and he knows what I am thinking. I turn and look at Kent.

“Issac Crow killed our parents,” I say.

“I’m sorry for your loss, are you guys siblings?”

“No, Journey’s and my parents were best friends and were in the same place.”

“Do you want to stay for dinner? I mean there's not much, but we can make it work.”

“We would be great, we have caught some game earlier today. We can use that, too.” 

“Great!”

We meet the rest of the guys and then start getting dinner ready, since there are so many of us, it goes fast. And before you know it we are all gathered under and dark blue sky with a big white moon shining down on us. We all sit around the campfire and eat and talk about how the war is going and who they think is going to and all the bad things Crow has done to his country.  After a while, it’s settled that tomorrow we are packing up and going to fight against Crow and his puppets.

I toss and turn all night, I think that the thought of how different it is going to be, that we won’t be in the woods anymore. I couldn’t sleep so I went out to the dying fire, threw some pine needles, and a log on it. The log broke into flames instantly, I just sit and stare into the flames and let myself relax. “Can’t sleep?” I turn around and it’s Conrad. “No, just thinking about how we are going to help them. Like what are they going to have us do?”

“I don’t know, but it is our chance to make a difference in our country, plus he killed our parents.” 

We just sit there in silence, thinking about our parents, about how they looked and how they talked. But some parts of them I can’t remember, like what color their eyes were or how they smelled, stuff like that. I know he feels the same way, I can see it in his eyes.

We talk for a long time until the fire starts dying, and I feel myself drifting off to sleep.