Leaving it For The Future
#40 of Writing Practice
This is another writing prompt from the furry writing group in which I take part on Telegram.
(Interested in joining us? Let me know and I can send an invite!)
The focus of this prompt is to do a short story of "about 1000 words" with the prompt : "Boundaries were made, but they were made to be broken."
Readers really seemed to like my previous writing prompt regarding Ken, a werewolf shop keep. This prompt continues that, over ten years down the line. :)
Leaving it For The Future
copyright 2020 comidacomida
Evan waited until his father's hired thugs had left the shop before he really started getting serious about his anger. "You actually HIRED a group of ADVENTURERS to take me out of town and-- do what? Kidnap me? They TIED ME UP WITH ROPE, Dad!"
His father, a well-meaning but dulled older werewolf simply adjusted his glasses, peering over the rims at him in his gods-forsaken 'father-knows-best' way. "I was doing it to protect you, Evan... and make certain that you didn't do anything tonight that might keep you from getting into the city watch. I know how much joining the guards means to--"
If the teen hadn't been angry before, the statement was enough to push him over the threshold and he exploded, shouting at the top of his lungs "I don't need your help, dad! I'm FINE! COMPLETELY fine! I didn't go crazy before tonight and I didn't go crazy tonight either! What'll it take to prove to you that--"
Evan's father was a master of not only logic, but of twisting it. His voice came out as almost a whisper, forcing the teen to quiet down in order to hear what he said. "Your teeth are bared and your hackles are up... you may not have gone crazy but you hardly look like you are in control, Evan."
The young werewolf picked up the closest non-breakable item; it was a small, bean-filled silk ball-- he threw it at the wall across the shop. "I'm NEVER in control, dad, and you know it! You're the one who tells me what to do and how to do it and--"
Ken Moonstone was never one to raise his voice and hardly if ever showed any anger; when he put his foot down, however, his granite-like, emotionless visage could easily have scared even a stalwart warrior. Carefully but powerfully striking the butt of his paw on the counter, the older werewolf got his son's attention with the resounding thud. "I do not want what happened to me to happen to you!"
The teen challenged the statement right back. "I was BORN this way, Dad... you didn't learn control until after you got that necklace!"
The shop keep paused mid-argument, raising a paw to grip the bluish white opal amulet which hung from his neck by an electrum chain. "It's best to be careful, son... you can't take back what happens when you lose control."
Scowling, Evan stepped past his father, walking around him to the customer-side of the shop's counter. "I AM careful, and I haven't lost control--"
His father quickly added "YET."
Evan grit his teeth, carefully biting back his response to the age-old answer his father had for every time the youth's life was so carefully controlled. "Valerian himself couldn't change your mind when it comes to what you think you know is best."
His father pointed a finger accusatorially at him. "Don't you dare speak His name for the sake of giving your misguided thoughts credence, boy."
The teen scowled, his hackles starting to raise again. "So... what? You go to all the trouble hiring the best swordsmen to teach me how to fight, gather up countless sages to teach me how to learn, put together the best philosophers to teach me how to reason, and then hire a band of adventurers to teach me what-- humility? How to weather being embarrassed by total strangers? Or is this just a less about how my dad will never trust me? That's what this is all about, isn't it? You screwed up before you got that magical necklace to keep yourself under control, and now you're convinced I'm going to ruin things just like you did? Is that it?"
Evan had crossed a critical boundary, and he knew it right away. There was a palpable tenseness in the air-- one that Evan seldom felt except for when he knew he'd crossed the line. That inclination was only reinforced when he saw small little flecks of ash and glowing cinders rise up from his dad's paws, which clenched the lip of the counter tightly. "Go to your room."
Despite knowing that he'd touched a sensitive subject in his father's past, Evan had already committed. "No."
Ken rounded the counter, eyes gleaming as he announced "I am your father, and it is my gods given responsibility to keep you safe... even from yourself!"
The teen shot a dirty look at the lupine shop keep. "And so you hire a band of adventurers to 'subdue the wild beast' that is your son... fantastic. Who then, pray tell is going to keep me safe from YOU?!"
Grabbing his cloak, Evan threw it over his shoulders. The cloth was almost sky blue and when he'd bought it the thought going through his head was how well it matched his pure white fur. As he stormed toward the exit to the shop, however, all he could think about was how it accentuated his departure to his surprised father.
Ken growled "You're stepping over the line, boy."
Not interested in letting his father control him any further, Evan grabbed the handle of the door and opened it, glancing over his shoulder just long enough to say "I'm tired of you pinning all your failures on me. Maybe it's time I got out of range."
The older werewolf barked after him in a demanding tone. "Where are you going?"
Evan answered only "Somewhere more sane then here... at least Uncle Villis isn't going to try and tell me he knows what's best." and then slammed the shop door on the way out.