The Easygoing Titan: Chapter 1

The morning was nice. Not too hot, not too cold. An ideal way for Nick to start his day. He heads out early every morning to check his snares. Today was no different. Walking through the woods he saw a couple of the snares had caught some rabbits. This was better than most days hauls. He was very pleased grabbing the rabbits and resetting the snares. He continued onward slowly making his way through his usual route.

All in all today was a good haul. Nick started to make his way back to his house so that he could give the haul to his mother and he could start the rest of his work for the day. He would need to go into town to talk to the butcher and after he would need to run some basic errands. Luckily after that he would be free for the day.

Heading into town was not a long trip but Nick did not want to make it more times than he really had to. When he got to town it was like any day he walked in people were smiling doing their daily routines. This trip was always a nice one. But suddenly Nick heard a shout from over his shoulder.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE YOU BRAINDEAD IDIOT"

Nick knew exactly who it was and responded in turn.

"I COULD ASK YOU THE SAME DAMN THING YOU MORON"

Turning around he saw his friend Nathaniel. They grew up together always making fun of each other and Nathaniel always wanted to prove he was physically stronger than Nick (it never happened). Even now that they had essentially completely grown up they still saw each other frequently and acted just as they did when they were kids.

"Well I see that you are in town today, I shouldn't have come if it meant I had to see you" Nathaniel said has he walked up

"Not my fault you aren't smart enough to know my schedule after all these years"

"Oh I'M the not smart one, alright then mister couldn't even get the right order from the butcher for your dad's birthday"

"Hey that is not my fault"

"You literally just had to give him the list you dimwit"

They both laughed. This is how it always was. Just making fun of each other.

"So how are the chores treating you today?" Asked Nathaniel

"Well pretty good overall, my parents told me that I get the second half of the day off cause I have been doing so much recently, so I am probably gonna go out into the woods for the afternoon. How about you?"

"Like always, the work on the farm never stops. But I am looking forward to seeing Sir Silas today. My parents seemed excited for me to go there as well."

"Well don't get your ass kicked by him like usual."

"Hey that hasn't happened in over 2 years you know that jackass"

"You might not lose to the old man but I still kick your ass"

"Yeah in a fight fight, we get weapons and you know I win"

"Hasn't happened yet so we will never know" Nick responded. He knew he wouldn't beat Nathaniel in a fight with weapons but he also knew that Nathaniel couldn't beat him in a fist fight if his life depended on it.

"Well I have to get going to the butchers, I'll see you round dimwit" Nick said starting to walk away.

"Watch your back lead for brains I might kick your ass one of these days" Responded Nathaniel.

Then Nick walked off to the butcher's place.

It had been a good day so far. He had got all his responsibilities done and now could relax and do what he wanted. What he usually did was find a nice clearing in the woods and lie down for a nap. And today would be no exception. Nick wanted to go out and relax. But the woods still wasn't the safest place for that.

He grabbed his bow and quiver and slung then over his shoulder. Then he headed off into the woods. Walking past all of his snares and other traps that he takes on his normal route he headed for the glen he frequented on his days off.

This walk was always a nice one. The woods were so serene at this time of year. He had never once encountered anything to make his trip scary and today was no exception. But when he reached the glen he immediately noticed the big change in it. Some of the trees surrounding it had been chopped down leaving only stumps.

Nick had chosen this spot because no one from the town came out here. Whether it be to cut wood or hunt. So seeing these stumps means someone else had been around. Nick immediately started looking for tracks. He wanted to know what had happened and if he could track them to the source he would find out who was coming near his town.

To haul this much lumber they would most assuredly leave tracks and Nick found them easily. Following them he passed by more and more stumps, he found all the tracks leading to another clearing almost an hour away from the first.

Looking into the clearing Nick saw a camp of some kind. Gruff men sitting around campfires cooking, sharpening weapons, and some doing basic combat training. Trying to keep his distance, Nick slowly snuck his way around the edge of the camp. Moving quietly and ducking behind trees he ended up on the other side of the camp where he saw something truly shocking.

He saw a cart with prisoners in it. A cart made out of cut lumber that seemed to be the temporary holding cell for those trapped in it. guards posted around the cart let Nick know for certain that they were prisoners.

This was shocking to Nick. There had never been any conflict in this area of the country. It was so far off the normal trading routes that no bandits or brigands ever caused any problems. Unfortunately, there is always a first for everything.

Nick decided to try to learn why these men were hauling prisoners. Staying around for a while out of sight would let Nick have the chance to hear any talking from the guards or prisoners.

After many hours of sitting quietly Nick had gleaned a couple facts 1) the brigands were going out tonight to fight a town to the west (thus not his hometown) 2) the prisoners were the first of many 3) there was another group of brigands nearby

After finding all this out Nick decided it was time to head back to town and let the towns aldermen know immediately. As Nick started to sneak back around to where he came from, the men in the camp started preparing for that upcoming raid. All this movement was the perfect time for Nick to slip out. But this was also the time they would be the most distracted. If Nick could get the prisoners cell open without the guards noticing they would be able to escape.

This was the perfect time. Drawing his hatchet Nick made his move. He snuck over to the side of the cell while the guards went to go get prepared then rolled under the cart. He signaled to the prisoners and started trying to cut through the bottom of the cart. He wanted to make a hole so that the prisoners could sneak out without anyone noticing.

This job was slow and really hard due to not having a quiet tool. He slowly made progress cutting out more and more wood. As time passed and he worked he noticed that the camp had mostly emptied. All that was left were some guards around the cart he was under. The other carts in the camp had left and all the men had gone with them to the raid.

Nick realized he was not going to be able to cut the prisoners out without a sound. He would need to either leave or fight.

It was time to fight. Scooting over towards a guard Nick prepared himself for the first real fight he would ever be in. Grabbing a guards leg Nick pulled with all his might, easily toppling the man over. As fast as the man fell Nick got himself out from under the cart. With a swift kick to the head the man was out cold on the ground. The other guards drew their swords and Nick drew his knife.

With a yell one of the two guards swung his sword overhead. With a swift dodge Nick pushed closer to him swinging his knife at the man's chest. The second man then went to grapple Nick. That idea could not have been any worse. Nick easily threw the man off balance with sheer force. Another kick to head and he was easily knocked out. Leaving the man with the sword. Another swing and Nick dove towards him. Knocking him on the ground Nick pinned his arms.

"WHY ARE YOU TAKING THESE PRISONERS"- Yelled Nick

"we... we have a buyer over the mountains"-Panted the man

"WHAT TOWNS ARE YOU ATTACKING"

"All the surrounding towns within a days ride from here... we are taking as many people as we can. Please just let me live."-He said scared out of his mind.

Nick hit the man on the head and knocked him unconscious.

To the prisoners, then to home. Nick needed to move fast.