table © Noelle
SoSuWriMo: 247
The older male seemed perplexed by his respectfulness. This confused Caillen, but he supposed that the older male brushing off his niceties was far preferable to him getting angry and chasing the tall youth away. The slate wolfdog craved company, even if he had to pay for it with some tough physical work. Learning a new skill made him feel useful and calm again.
He nodded obligingly as Saluce spoke, intently taken mental notes of the wood-chopping strategy. It looked simple enough; Caillen was relatively sure he'd be able to manage it, no trouble at all. However, when the older male handed him the axe, the boy was temporarily startled. The object was very heavy, and really quite difficult to wield. A slight frown crossed the youth's face, but he didn't dare complain. Light blue eyes lifted again to the older male as he spoke some more. Nodding to show he understood, Caillen watched as Saluce turned away and resigned himself to the task ahead.
His first swing was centered, but quite simply, did nothing at all. His frown increased. Saluce had made it look so easy! Again he tried, and again and again, each time swinging a little harder, getting a little angrier, until he almost snarled with frustration. Surprisingly, his mind instantly darted back to his mother, and Sylvie. The anger balled a hot fist in his chest. "Why won't... It... Work?!" He shouted, frustrated, and let the axe bite deep into the rotting wood.
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