Courage and Destiny - Short Story (A2-B1)
- Professor Octo
- Nov 3
- 9 min read
Chapter One
The Fugitive
I see the grass moving with the wind. I feel my ancestors looking down at me from the eternal blue sky. My name is Arigun. I am sixteen years old. I live with my family in a ger near the Onon River in Mongolia.
Every morning, I help my Father with the animals. My mother makes hot milk tea. My little sister Anu likes to sing. She has a beautiful voice. Our family moves with the seasons. We ride horses. We fix ropes and saddles. We drink airag, which is made from mare’s milk.
People speak a name: Temüjin. Some say he is the son of Yesükhei. Some say the Taichud are hunting him. I heard he is brave and clever.
My father tells me, “Courage is to take a step forward when you want to step back.”
One hot day, I went to the river for water. I heard a sound in the tall reeds. I looked in that direction.
A young man was there. His hair was a mess. There was a wooden collar around his neck. It looked big and heavy. People used it to stop a captive from running.
The man said, “Water, please.”
I gave him water. He drank for a long time. Then he said, “Thank you. My name is Temüjin.”
My heart jumped. I knew this name. The Taichud may have been near. If I helped him, we both may be in danger. If I left him, I’d be safe.
Father’s words came to mind. I decided to help.
“Stay here,” I said. “Keep hiding in the reeds. I will bring help after dark.”
I rode fast to our ger. I told my father, “I found Temujin by the river. He has a wooden collar around his neck. He needs help.”
