Dom Eyerly

On the outskirts of a large forest lyed a town. Nobody in the town knew the Forest's real name, as a matter of fact, no one knew the towns name either, everyone just called it "the Forest" and "town". The Forest had provided the town with food, clothing and shelter for many years. Everyone in the town appreciated everything they received from it. The Forest and the people were interdependant. The townspeople kept outsiders out, and the Forest gave the people food, shelter, and clothing. This was the town Dom was born into. He was born on the first day of January so everyone thought him as being the year's blessing. Growing up was a pleasant experience. He was nice to everyone and everyone was nice to him. He loved his parents. They were strict, harsh, and sometimes even unjust but he knew they just wanted the best for him. When he was about thirteen his parents started fighting (verbally) more and more often. At first he would always try to step in and make it stop but after a while he just couldnt take it anymore. He became more and more passive. After several months of constant fighting his parents decided to split up. Dom's father took him in and decided that this town was "vile" so they moved to a nearby city. Dom had loved their little place in the woods but he loved his father more so he had no choice but to comply. The first days in the city were tough. His father couldnt find work at first. The day consisted of searching the rough dirt roads for crumbles of food. It wasnt an easy life. After about two weeks his father finally got a job. Of all jobs his father got a job at a timber company. And the Forest was their next target.

When Dom heard about this he became terrified for the people he had grown up with for so many years. His father didnt like the idea much either and had told his assosciates about the town. He said that the people in the town would not allow the trees to be cut down. This only made things worse. At first the men laughed but after about one week when people that were sent to get the daily trees done and they didnt return people became suspicious. They started calling the people in the town "evil-doers" and "witches" that needed to be "cleansed of their vile ways". The timber-men's attitude was not a happy one.

Dom and his father went back to the town for a couple of days to alert their people of the threat. They were outraged at what Dom's father had done. They told him to leave and never come back.But Dom's father knew that they stood no chance against the strong timber-men. And he knew that tose men would come to this town eventually. He started teaching Dom how to fight without any weapons or armor. He said that those things would only hinder his speed. Dom learned eagerly and wanted to please his father. He also wanted to be able to protect his hometown. But he wasnt very strong. So he started to develop ways to twist and bend while getting hit to minimize damage. The only problem was that he couldnt hit very hard while in those positions. Him and his father trained every evening after work so that Dom could defend himself. Dom even started meditating to find that safe place in his mind where he was beyond doubt and logic. He started to believe more than think. When he saw an obstacle he didnt think "i dont know if can do this" He just said "I can do this". And when he tried, he succeeded. Many weeks went by before the day had come. The day where the timber-men would exterminate the town. By now, Dom was near perfection on his "minimal damage" technique. He was ready. The timber men set out one cold, foggy morning to find the town. Dom and his father decided to fight for their hometown. They ran all the way to the town after the men had left. They started raising everyone's alarm. This was the day where this town's fate was to be decided.

It took the timber-men most of the day to find the town. They all had their axes ready. The townfolk had no weapons. They had been taught by their ancestors that weapons and armor only slow you down. Just as Dom's father had taught him, everyone except the young children were skilled in unarmed comabt. But there were just too many timber-men. As the timber-men finally spotted the town they charged. The town had only 350 to 400 inhabitants and there were roughly 2000 men with axes charging them. They stood no chance but they would fight to the death. Dom stood by his father as he watched the horde of men come closer and closer. He was strechting his legs, arms, and finding that safe spot in his mind again. He was ready.

As the men came within striking distance he suddenly lots sight of his father and saw three men drop to their knees with bloody faces infront of him. He charged the men and finsihed each of them off. His father was taking them to their knees while Dom finished each of them off. A broken windpipe here a shattered sternum there, it didnt matter as long as they were dead. The other townspeople werent holding up so good though. I had been to long since they had fought and more than half were already dead.

All of a sudden an arrow whizzed at Dom's face. Almost instantly Dom's father dove and caught the arrow four inches from Dom's face. His father was at a disadvantage now and he was getting jumped on. Dom started fighting more defensively taking his and twisting to minimize damage trying to get to his father. Striking back took too long. By the time he reached his father he was already bloody. He was near death and the timber-men started attacking the rest of the towns-folk. Dom was able to drag his father's body out fo sight. A few men attacked him but Dom disposed of them quickly. As his father was on the ground caughing up blood, two arrows in his back all he could manage was a weak "run". It was over. The town was dead and it looked as if Dom was the only one alive. He told his father that he would make him proud and pass the traditions on to his kid and then he ran. With tears in his eyes he ran into the Forest. The Forest in which he had spent countless hours playing while he was young.