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It wasn't his fault, mostly at least. Atreus wasn't above admitting he had started relying on his father to watch his back. To be fair, he'd never had a draugr kidnap him before. It wasn't to hard to kill but he'd been taken off guard, you couldn't blame him for getting scratched. It wasn't that bad anyway, he could handle it. He just had to get back now, only Atreus wasn't sure if Father had noticed he was gone. It was already getting dark. He stood up from where he was sitting, hissing from his wound. Honestly, He was lucky the draugr's tracks were still there to follow back. With that, he starts his long, painful journey back.
It wasn't long until it was to dark to follow the tracks anymore. Atreus stopped. 'Pathetic' his mind provided, 'can't even handle getting back to Father on your own.' He felt his eyes water, he didn't deserve to have such a good father. A twig snapped to his left.
"Father?!" He yelled, ignoring the desperation in his voice. It certenly wasn't his father, only another damn draugr. It charged at him, intent on killing him. Atreus notched an arrow and let it loose straight through it's skull, only it didn't stop charging. He reached for another arrow but his quiver was empty. Panic coursed through his veins as he scrambled to get away, no longer concerned with where he was going. The draugr had already gotten to close for comfort before, being injured certainly didn't help in the ways of speed. It clawed at his ankles, luckily he was just fast enough to avoid it regardless.
Atreus heard his father's call in the distance. It spurred him on dispite the pain in his side.
"Father!!" He yelled.
"Boy!!" The voice of his father echoed through the trees, Atreus couldn't tell where it was coming from.
"Father!!" The draugr landed a swipe at his leg and pulled him to the ground. Atreus kicked at it to no avail. "Dad!!" He was in tears now, couldn't stop it anymore. You can't blame him for being scared.
"Atreus!!" His own name was followed quickly with the familar sound of his mother's axe sinking into the draugr's chest. The creature fell at his side. "Atreus!" The boy's father ran to him, helping him sit up. The father tried asking his son if he was alright but he was cut by the boy's bone crushing hug. The younger sobbed, mumbling incoherently.
"It is alright, boy..." He started. "I am here n-"
"YOU LEFT ME!!" Atreus cut him off, pushing his father away. "WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME!?"
"I didn't..."
The response seemed to stump the boy for a while, forgetting what exactly had happen. His cries were silenced as he stared for a while, seemingly processing what his father said.
"Oh..." He finally said.
"Yes."
"I'm... I'm sorry." Atreus started to sniffle as he spoke.
"You have nothing to be sorry for." The boy didn't reply, opting instead to look away. "Are you hurt?"
He nodded.
"Let us get you home then," he said, reaching to pick the boy. "I shall treat you there."
Atreus nodded again and allowed his father to pick him up as well as buried his face in the olders shoulder. Atreus continued to cry as his father began the long walk home. He called the axe back but didn't place it on his back, instead keeping it at the ready and carrying Atreus with one hand.
By the time they got home it had gone completely dark. It was only when his father kicked open the door and closed it behind them did Atreus look up from his hiding spot. His father set him down on his bed. Weather the boy whimpered out of complaint or pain even he didn't know.
"Your side was injured, yes?" He asked, kneeling down in front of his son. The kind tone in his father's voice was one Atheus rarely heard, it almost made the whole experiance worth it. Almost. The boy nodded.
Atreus whinced as his father set his bow and quiver aside and helped him out of his vest and tunic. The older looked over the wound and hummed as he got up to collect the supplies he would need to clean and dress it. He took a clothe (soaked with melted snow) and started to gingerly swab over the stratch. Atreus winced causing his farther to pause and glance back at his sons only continuing after the boy sniffed and nodded slightly. It didn't take long after the wound was cleaned for it to bandaged.
"Are you alright?" Atreus hesitantly nodded not expecting the question. "Good," his father replied. "Get some rest now, we will talk later."
"Okay..." Atreus didn't fight when his father helped lay down and pulled a fur blanket over him. The boy fell asleep to a gental hand on his forehead.