"Wait up!" I yell.

He turns to be.

"Keep up Hector, keep up." He calls.

"But Dad! you didn't tell me where we're going." I call.

He grabs my shoulder and lifts me up.

"Will you please tell me where we're going?" I ask.

"Where you're going son." He says.

I look at him in surprise.

"Wait... what?" I ask as he puts me down.

"Keep up. Keep up." He says.

"I... I don't want to leave the forest." I stop.

He turns to me. He walks over to me. I sit down on a stump. This forest has always been my home. This forest has always been our castle. He never would just drop me off somewhere. I don't know what's beyond the forest. I was warned never to go out the scared borders. 

"Please son. I have little choice." He lifts my head up.

"What's happening?' I ask.

"Please, don't worry about it. It is my fight." He picks me up.

"I can fight to." I say.

"I know you can but you're more powerful than you realize. I didn't have enough time to teach you." He says.

"Again, why?" I ask.

"It's complicated and far bigger than you could ever imagine." He grips me.

"But... but I want to stay with you!" I yelp looking at him.

Tears grip my eyes. He wipes them.

"And that is what I want more than anything on this earth, but... time is short." He says.

I turn and I see the edge of the forest. My eyes widen. Fear starts shaking me. I look at him.

"I don't want this." I say.

"Neither do I, but... it is for your own safety." He says.

He leads me out of the forest for the first time in my life. I know I'm only ten, but this is still bigger than I ever imagined. He leads me quite a way. I grip his hand. I turn to the forest my home. I wipe my face. I'm not crying. I'm too strong to cry. He places me near the old willow tree he spoke of often. He takes out one of his garments and places it in my hand. I look up at him.

"Please... please... don't leave me." I say.

He kneels down over me.

"I'm not. I will return soon." He says.

"Promise." I take his hand.

"Promise." He stands up.