How Killian Lost His Foot

As the game’s credits rolled by, Keon put his controller down and held back tears.

“Wow,” he whispered.

He couldn’t believe the adventure was over. Already, the bittersweet emptiness of finishing a good game crept into him. He wasn’t ready for the adventure to end. He glanced out the window to the forest at the edge of the yard.

Maybe it doesn’t have to, he thought.

Keon ran to his room and grabbed a backpack. He filled it with some snacks, flashlights, and a blanket, just like the adventuring boys from his game had. He glanced around at the few trophies he’d won and thought briefly about how many more he would win. He smiled to himself and left the room.

“Now I’m only missing one thing,” he murmured.

He crept into the kitchen where his sister was preparing dinner, an apron tied neatly around her, the bow sitting perfectly against her back above her wing-like markings.

“Hey, Scarab?” he asked.

“Yes, Keon?”

“Can Killian and I go outside and play?”

His sister put down the knife and vegetable she’d been chopping and turned to look at her younger brother. She stared at him with one eyebrow raised and she wiped her hands on a towel, then folded her arms.

“You want to play,” she said, “outside?” She masked it well, but she was genuinely surprised. “You don’t usually go outside. You like to play inside with your video games.” She tilted her head, waiting for his response.

“Well, yeah,” he stammered. “I know I do. I just,” he said, carefully collecting his thoughts before continuing. He knew that if he wasn’t careful, she could say no, and then he wouldn’t get the adventure he was hoping for. “I just thought some fresh air might do us some good.” He gave her a big smile. He hoped it looked genuine enough.

“Alright,” she said with a shrug as she turned back to the cutting board. “Just don’t get too far away. Dinner will be ready soon.” When she heard him dash from the room, she sighed to herself with just the slightest hint of suspicion, then called out “And stay out of the forest!” There had been rumors of wild Dimori sightings nearby, and it wasn’t safe for two Kats, especially when one of them was hardly bigger than a toddler.

Keon found Killian in his room playing with a little toy Dimori. He had a few of them, and they were the little Kat’s favorite animal. His walls were plastered with various Dimori pictures, including a calendar of famous Kats with their Dimori. Keon personally didn’t see the appeal, since they weren’t as smart as Sikeri, and wild ones were a threat to livestock and even Kats, but that didn’t stop Killian from adoring them, and even wanting one for himself.

“Hey, buddy. Want to go play outside with me?” Keon asked the smaller Kat.

Killian’s eyes lit up. “Absolutely!” he shouted as he leapt to his feet.

The two Kats trotted int o the backyard. Keon peeked at the kitchen window. He didn’t see Scarab there, and their parents were both working, their mother wrapping up some important work she had left to do at the office, and their father busy helping Eve Hallows with the arcade because Saturday is the busiest day of the week there.

“This way,” Keon said in a low voice as he started making his way across the yard, ducking behind any available cover and keeping an eyes on the window. When they reached the edge of the yard, trees towered above them.

“Um, Keon?” Killian asked as he reached up to tug on his brother’s backpack strap. “Didn’t Scarab say not to go in the forest?” The tiny Kat sat on his hind legs and twisted his hands together in apprehension.

“Don’t worry about it, buddy. We aren’t going to go too far. You can hardly even call it ‘going in.’ That’s how close we’ll stay to the yard.” He tried to reassure Killian with a smile.

“Oh,” the small one replied. He looked at the forest, still a bit frightened, and leaned into his brother. “Okay.”

The two started picking their way through the trees and brush. Keon didn’t realize how quickly it would get dark in the forest. They kept wandering deeper and deeper until Killian pointed ahead.

“Do you see that patch of light?”

“Yeah,” Keon replied. They worked their way over to it. When they stepped into the clearing, both boys gasped. “It’s perfect,” Keon whispered in awe. He turned to Killian. “Okay, so here’s how the story goes…” He continued on to describe the adventure two brothers shared as they made their way across the land in order to bring home their long-lost-father after realizing that he’d been captured and imprisoned for years. Keon pointed out landmarks in the clearing to serve as various important settings in the story. The stump on the far end was the shipwreck where their father had originally been discovered and taken prisoner, the big bolder right in the middle was the long-dormant volcano that recently showed signs of waking, the small pond was the ocean the boys had to cross. Their imaginations soared.

The two boys played in the clearing for a time, reenacting the whole game, enjoying their snacks, and even taking a short nap. When they woke up, Keon realized that he had no clue what time it was. He hoped that Scarab hadn’t been looking for them, or he’d be in big trouble. “Hey, Killian, I think we should head back now.”

“Okay,” he replied with a yawn. “Which way is it?” he asked as he sat up and looked around. “I don’t remember which way we came in. Do you?”

“Of course I do,” Keon replied. “It was, um,” he said as he looked around. His pulse started to speed up. Which way had they come in? He looked up at the sky and saw the sun just beginning to fall behind the trees. The sun always set on the same side as his bedroom, so they had to head 90° from there to reach the edge of the forest. “This way.”

Keon started off in the direction he thought home would be, and Killian trotted along behind him. In the distance, thunder rumbled. Keon swallowed and started to walk a little faster, but had to slow down when he realized that Killian was having trouble keeping up. He glanced up at the sky again to make sure they were going the right way. As he squinted up, he realized with horror that huge, angry, black storm clouds had appeared and engulfed the sky. He couldn’t tell where the sun was, so he had no way of knowing if they were heading in the right direction.

“Keon, I’m too tired to keep walking,” Killian whined.

“Don’t worry, buddy. It shouldn’t be too much farther,” Keon comforted him. He turned to look at the miserable little Kat. He did look worn out. Keon sighed and turned his attention in front of them again. He saw an edge to the trees and sped up with delight. He burst through the tree line. His relief quickly turned to panic as he took in his surroundings. They had walked right back to the clearing they had spent the afternoon playing in. Keon didn’t want Killian to know that they’d gone in a circle, so he quickly dove back into the forest growth before the small Kat had a chance to reach the clearing.

“What’s the matter, Keon?” Killian asked.

“Nothing’s the matter. Would you like me to carry you?”

“Yes, please.”

Keon knelt down and helped Killian climb onto his back. He tucked himself partially inside the now nearly-empty backpack so that he wouldn’t slip off as easily. He also pulled the blanket up over his head and shivered. With the sun covered, the cool air of the forest had become much colder. Keon waited for him to get settled before heading off in the opposite direction they had come from. He hoped that being on his back meant that Killian wouldn’t notice that they were going the way they just were. The farther the wandered, the harder Keon’s heart hammered. They’d eaten all of their snacks while they were playing, since they had matched the story from the game almost exactly and eaten when the characters did. By this time, the wind had picked up and the tops of the trees swayed. The trees creaked, and their leaves whistled and rustled like they were whispering secrets. The harder the wind blew, the louder the whispers became.

Ahead, Keon spotted a huge boulder that jutted almost to the tops of the trees. He didn’t remember passing it, but he thought that maybe if he could climb to the very top, he could see where their house was. Killian’s breathing had slowed, and he figured the smaller Kat had fallen asleep. He gently shrugged the backpack off, trying not to wake his brother up in doing so.

“Keon?” the child called out sleepily.

“It’s okay, bud. I’m just going to climb this rock quickly to make sure that we’re going the right way, okay?”

Killian climbed out of the backpack and looked around with terror. The clouds and trees blocked the sun so effectively that the forest around them was almost pitch black. He pulled the blanket around himself and began to softly weep. Keon’s heart broke in his chest.

“Oh, no! No, no, oh, Killian! Don’t cry! We’re going to be okay, I promise!” he said as he clutched the tiny Kat close to him. “I will go up the rock and see our house, just you wait and see. I bet it’s just on the other side of those trees. It’ll be okay, I swear.” Keon crossed his fingers in the shape of an X over his heart. Killian sniffled and nodded, crossing an X over his own heart.

Keon scrambled up the side of the rock as quickly as he could. As he got closer to the top, he had to slow down and really search for safe footholds, as it got steeper and steeper towards the top. He reached the peak after what felt like an eternity. He glanced down at Killian and then immediately regretted it. His little brother seemed like just a black speck in a black forest, and the ground seemed so far away that it made Keon dizzy. He shook his head and pulled himself to a standing position at the top of the rock. He could just barely see over the tree line. He turned very carefully in a circle, squinting in every direction. In the distance, he saw a mound with lights coming from it. Home!

“Killian!” he shouted down with excitement. “I can see it!”

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck down into the trees, causing Keon to lose his balance. He screamed and clutched the rock, clinging for dear life. The tree creaked and moaned. Keon saw a small spark of fire flickering to life when the rain started and put it out almost immediately. He let out a breath of relief that he hadn’t realized he was holding. He was about to start climbing back down again when another sound made him lose his grip for a second. A branch from the struck tree began to fall with a deafening crack. Keon felt like an icy fist had grabbed ahold of his heart and he watch the branch crumble away from the tree and fall to the ground. He glanced at the ground where it would land and felt sick. Killian was staring up at the branch with wide eyes, paralyzed by fear.

“Killian, move!” Keon screamed, but it was too late. The branch landed on the ground with a loud thud. Keon couldn’t see Killian. “Killian!” he screeched. He let go of the rock and skid down it without thinking, cutting his hands up in the process. He landed on the ground and fell flat on his face, but within seconds was back on his feet and sprinting towards the fallen branch. He felt like he was running through pudding, but he couldn’t get his legs to go any faster. When he reached the branch, he found Killian laying there unconscious. His leg was pinned beneath, so Keon put his back on the branch and shoved with all of his might. He looked down at Killian’s leg and choked back tears.

“Oh, Killian,” he cried. “Oh, bud. It’s okay, bud. We’ll get you home. Scarab will know what to do. She’ll know.” Keon gingerly lifted the limp boy onto his back and began making his way towards the house. He wanted to run. He wanted to sprint as fast as he could, but he was terrified to make Killian’s foot, already too much to look at, any worse. He didn’t know what to do, so he crept through the brush painfully slowly.

After what felt like an eternity, Keon reached the end of the forest. He could see the house up the yard. He stopped for a just a moment to rest.

Okay, Keon, he thought with desperation, it’s only a little farther. Rain dripped down his face, and he was about to start walking again when he heard another crack overhead. He didn’t get a chance to look up before everything went dark…

Scarab heard something outside. She was about to call the boys in for dinner when she got a terrible creeping feeling that trickled up and down her spine. She looked out the window to the yard and saw a huge wild Dimori heading into the forest. She didn’t see the boys out there.

“Keon! Killian!” she shouted and ran for the back door. When she threw it open, she found the boys laying at her feet, soaking wet and unconscious. “Oh, no!” she exclaimed as she gathered them into her arms.

Keon groaned. “Scarab,” he managed to say. “Killian…”

Scarab pulled the boys back and looked Keon in the eyes. They stared back, openly flowing tears. She turned her gaze to Killian. His horns seemed fine, and though his eyes were shut, they didn’t look injured. Her examination continued down his body until it reached his feet. She gasped in horror and stared wide-eyed at Keon. She scooped both boys into her arms and ran out the door. “We need to get him to a hospital,” she said as she buckled them into her vehicle. “Keon, tell me everything that happened,” she said as they pulled out of the driveway.

Keon told her the entire story between sobs. He explained that he just wanted to have an adventure like in the game, but then the clouds covered the sun and how that had gotten them lost. He described the rock and how he’d climbed it, but then the lightning struck and he couldn’t get to Killian before the branch fell. He apologized over and over, until he wasn’t sure what he was even saying anymore. His hand never let go of Killian’s.

When they arrived at the hospital, Keon was taken to an office to have his head examined. Scarab called their parents. When they arrived, they were so relieved that he was okay that they weren’t even mad that it was all his fault. Keon felt just awful. He didn’t speak the entire time they waited. He felt sick and just wanted to know that Killian was okay. It felt like an eternity of staring at the floor before the doctor came out. Their parents rushed over to speak with him, and even though she looked like she wanted to go, too, Scarab stayed seated next to Keon.

“Hey,” she said softly. “Are you okay?”

Keon didn’t answer. He only shrugged.

“Listen,” she started. “I know you probably feel like this is your fault, but I want you to know that it isn’t. Should you have stayed out of the forest like I told you? Yes. Should you have been more thoughtful about taking a Kat who’s hardly big enough not to be a baby into the forest with you? Yes. But you couldn’t have known that it was going to storm like this, and you couldn’t have known that lightning would happen to strike a tree right next to you, and you certainly couldn’t have known that the branch would hurt Killian. You’re both alive and safe, and that’s what really matters.” She gave him a sad, tired smile, but he couldn’t find the energy or will to smile back.

“Okay, kids, good news and bad news. And then some more good news,” their dad said as he and their mother walked back over to the bench they shared. “The good news is that your brother is going to be fine. The bad news,” he sighed, “is that he is going to lose his foot. The doctor’s said that the branch broke it enough that there is really no way that it will ever heal properly.” He sighed again and looked at the floor.

“What’s the other good news?” Scarab asked.

“Well, the other good news is that this hospital is willing and able to supply our little guy with a mechanical foot. It’ll fit on almost like a shoe. He can take it on and off whenever he needs to, and it’ll be specially fitted just for him. They can also help us with returning and replacing it as he grows up and needs a bigger size. They don’t cost too much, so even though it’s an expense that your mother and I didn’t anticipate, it’s nothing that will break us.”

“When are they going to have it ready?” Scarab wondered.

“They actually just got a shipment in, and there were a few in his size that weren’t spoken for. He’ll even get to pick which colors he wants. He’ll like that.” After another long sigh, their father turned to Scarab. “So you said a Dimori brought them home?”

“Yeah.” Scarab glanced down at Keon, whose expression was now one of utter confusion. “I saw one leaving the yard right before I found the boys at the door. Keon told me the whole story, and he doesn’t remember crossing the yard. I think that another fallen branch must’ve hit him and knocked him out, a Dimori found them, and carried them home.”

“Wait until Killian hears about this!” their dad exclaimed with a smile.

“Dad,” Keon said suddenly. The other three Kats around him jumped and stared at him. “Dad,” he said again. “We should get Killian a Dimori.”

“Well, son, I know he loves Dimori, but they’re an awful lot of work and-“

“He’ll need a support animal. He’s going to be missing a whole foot. It’ll be hard for him to adjust, even with his mechanical foot. It could carrying him or pull a cart for him in case he gets too tired or something. It’ll make him feel brave. It’ll protect him.” Keon puffed up his chest and looked his dad in the eyes. “I’ll even buy it for him myself.”

“Son, I,” his dad trailed off.

“I’ll help pay for it,” Scarab added.

Their dad looked between the two of them and shook his head. “His little heart is going to explode when he hears about this.”

Keon looked at Scarab and jumped up to hug her. “Ouch,” he said with a wince. He put a hand on his head. “Guess that stick hit me harder than I thought.” Everyone chuckled at him. Keon knew that he could never give his brother his foot back, but he was determined to make it up to him, no matter what it took.