God and boy { Mavrick the mutt

[KingCrowley]

Atreus looked at his Father and then back at the buck, had they not had the conversation that just transpired, Atreus would have been cocky and said he could hit it from there, even though he knew full well he couldn't. He sighed a little and then shook his head, he was going to do this properly. "We should get closer." he decided and started leading the way down the path, heading closer to the creature. Finally they came in decent proximity of the majestic animal and Atreus looked up when Kratos finally gave him his bow back, telling him to draw to his chest, and steady his aim, not to think of it as an animal.

The boy let out a breath and then released his arrow, hitting the animal in the shoulder, it yelped and fell to the snow. Atreus turned to his Father excitedly, "I got it!" he told him before then hurrying over to the creature. His heart broke when he saw the poor thing still alive---in pain and suffering.

"It's----it's still alive---" he said sadly.

[Mavrick the mutt]

Kratos asked the lad he thought he could hit his target from where they were then gave an approving look when the boy said they should get closer which was the smart decision and followed his son for a short distance until they were within a decent range of the animal which was when the man finally gave Atreus his bow back and told him to draw the arrow to his chest and to steady his aim before instructing him to not think of it as an animal, then on his fathers word released the string and sent the arrow flying before striking his target and brought it down as it fell to the snow.

“Good” Kratos said when Atreus excitedly turn to the man and told him he got it before running off to the creature, though the boy’s excitement soon turn to sadness when he saw the creature was till alive and suffering and sadly said it was alive. Kratos crouched beside the creature and asked for the boy’s knife but when he pulled it out his father didn’t take it, “No, finish what you started.” He said

[KingCrowley]

Atreus knelt down by the poor suffering animal and he looked up when his Father came over and told him to take out his knife, he assumed Kratos would kill off the animal so he took the knife out of his belt and handed it out to the God, though he seemed surprised with this. Atreus' eyes widened when Kratos told him no, and to finish what he started, "B-But." he looked back at the poor animal, and with a shaking hand he held the blade of the knife above the creature's neck. How could he do this? How could he drive this knife into this poor majestic creature? Killing from afar was much, much easier.

His hand shook and he lowered the knife after a moment, shaking his head, "I-I---I can't." he whimpered, looking up at his Father for help. Why couldn't Kratos just do it?

[Mavrick the mutt]

Kratos looked at his son quietly when he started to object but turned to the suffering creature with a shaking hand and raised the blade above its neck, the man knew how hard this would be for Atreus since anytime the kid had gone hunting with his mother the animal was usually been killed with one shot and if not then Faye would finish it off for him.

Kratos watched as he lowered his knife after making a couple of attempts to force himself to finish the animal but couldn’t seem to do it as the boy turned to look at him saying he couldn’t do it, with out saying a word the man gently clasped his hands around Atreus’s and guided the knife to where it hovered over the creatures neck then slowly pushed it in partly then let go letting the boy finish before looking out in the distance at the mountains where Faye wanted her ashes to be scattered.

[KingCrowley]

Atreus really couldn't plunge his weapon into this innocent, living breathing creature, even if he knew it would put it out of it's misery. He was just too young at heart, and he couldn't kill, he wasn't a killer---at least he didn't want to be, even if he had shot animals dead before when out hunting with his Mother. His Mother had always told him it was to survive, as they would need food. Atreus watched as his Father wrapped his hands around his, and guided the knife to the animal's neck. They both drove the knife into the creature's neck, and Atreus finished it off, feeling awful as the poor creature cried out in pain.

"I---" he started to say but then stopped himself, turning away to dwell on what had happened. Kratos then gave him the knife back and the two were about to head back home, when a huge hand snatched the buck away. Atreus did what he could, stabbing the creature's hand, but it grabbed him and flung him over the edge of where they were standing.

"Father!"

[Mavrick the mutt]

Kratos watched Atreus push the blade into the creatures neck the rest of the way after he’d let go, he could see the guilt in his son’s face but he couldn’t let the boy go through life not finishing what he started which was why he’d made Atreus finish the buck off himself instead of doing it for the kid. Once the creature released its last breath the boy looked at his father and began to say something but cut himself off and turned away thinking about the even that had just taken place, Kratos looked at his son and reached his hand out to rest it on the boy’s shoulder but at the last second grabbed the knife instead and handed it back to the lad before they both stood.

Before Kratos could even reach down and grab the animal and huge hand came out and grabbed the kill instead to which the man’s son reacted by stabbing the thieving hand only to get picked up and flung. “Atreus!” The man yelled before dodging the hand himself then ran up its arm and kicked the beast in the face knocking him back. But this was no ordinary beast, this was Daudi Kaupmada!

[KingCrowley]

Atreus could only register what had happened after he smashed against the snowy floor. His ears were ringing and his head was very sore, but he knew he couldn't stay there for long, so he did his best to scramble to his feet, just in time to see a huge monster towering over them. Atreus had never seen such a beast before, and he looked at his Father when he drew the Leviathan axe from his back. "W-We're going to fight that?!" he asked urgently before being given the go ahead from his Father. With a slightly shaking hand, Atreus retrieved an arrow from his quiver and drew it across the bow to his chest.

"Nista!" he yelled, firing it at the creature as Kratos hacked at him with the axe, his fury and strength were undeniably impressive! "Behind you Father!" he pointed as more Draugr began appearing around them. Atreus drew another arrow, thinking he might help more if he got rid of the draugr first. "Nista! Nista!" he shot arrow after arrow at the creatures until they were re-dead. The Daudi Kaupmada fell with a thud and Atreus shot towards it, knife brandished. "THAT'S WHAT YOU GET!" He screamed at the creature, hacking at it's face with his knife despite the creature being already dead.

"You think I'm afraid of you?! YOU'RE NOTHING!" He slashed and hacked until Kratos grabbed him firmly by the shoulders, and it was that point he noticed how much he was swaying, and how out of breath he was. "We ---did it." he said in exhaustion.

[Mavrick the mutt]

The battle was definitely a challenge with having to fight the massive beast while also having to deal with more Draugr that showed up, fortunately Atreus was a fairly good shot and helped with rekilling the creatures whilst the god fought the giant while avoiding the flaming pillar he swung around at the same time and after what felt like ages, the fight was over as Kratos snapped his neck. He then watched as he son raced over and began to slash at the monsters face viciously while yelling but it only lasted a few seconds before he firmly grabbed the boy’s shoulders. “Boy! Look at me!” He said firmly as his son swayed a bit, this was the result of the sickness he’d been born with.

His gaze firm as the lad said they’d did it. “You are not ready.” He said then picked up Atreus’s bow before looking at his son when he began to speak.

[KingCrowley]

Atreus was finding it hard to catch his breath as he coughed and slashed at the creature, everything was a haze until his Father grabbed him by the arms and steadied him, telling him to look at him. His vision took a while to gain accuracy and then he took another breath, saying they did it, as though this had been some big victory battle. How could he not look at this and think what they did was some act of heroism? Then, Kratos hardened his tone and simply told him that he was not ready. Atreus computed those words and his brows lowered into a confused and frustrated frown.

"What?" he asked breathlessly, swaying on his feet as his Father released him, "Are you serious?" he reached to grab the arrow from the Daudi Kaupmadr and then turned to face Kratos with a look of anger, "I found the deer! I prove myself!" again, Atreus struggled for breath, his movements were completely off balance, his sickness was developing again.

"H-How am I not ready?" he asked and then grunted when Kratos shoved the bow back into his hands, saying firmly that 'we' are going home. Atreus was annoyed beyond belief! How could his Father stand there and tell him he wasn't ready?! Then, it dawned on him, the reason why Kratos had decided he wasn't ready.

"I-I haven't been sick in a long time-----I-I can do this." he pleaded. Again, Kratos affirmed that his son was not ready and Atreus stared down at the snowy ground at his feet. This was so stupid!

"I AM ready!" he huffed, his voice filled with attitude.

[Mavrick the mutt]

Kratos held his son’s bow as the boy started to argue that he was in fact ready because he’d found the deer and proven himself, but the boy’s agitation merely began to stir his sickness, his movement holding little coordination. This merely got a disapproving look from Atreus’s father. “We are going home.” He said firmly as he pushed the bow into his hands and stood as he looked around for a moment but saw no sign of the kill, luck they still had a bit of meat back at home and could go out again tomorrow.....or at least that is what Kratos presumed to think having no clue what the future held for him once they did reach their house.

He took a couple of steps before pausing when the boy said he hadn’t been sick in a long time and that he could do it, both concern and slight irritation bubbled under the man’s skin but remained unseen as he slightly turned his head toward the boy. “You are NOT ready.” He said a little more firmer then usual, he cared for Atreus and at times just wished his son would accept his words instead of arguing, especially when Kratos knew what he was talking about. “Do not speak again.” He then commanded when Atreus declared once again that he was ready though it was dripping with attitude.

The two males then made their way back to the house, once they arrived Faye’s body had been burned and all that remained were her ashes. Kratos then pushed open the door and looked at Atreus “Inside boy.” He said then walked over to her ashes and scooped them into a bag once he was in the house.