"I'm not the hero." Atom thought covered in blood, each step draining what little energy he had left. His slow pace was indicative of the long day he spent in the woods. Often returning late Atom felt defeated, he was orphaned by plague and sold off as a slave.
The Po family, uses slave labour to advance their property deeper into the red woods. A slaves life there is pretty simple, ten trees cut and dragged to the station gets a days meal. Less than 50 trees per week gets a lashing. In the last two years Atom has been lashed every week.
Sadly as he pulled himself into his shabby hut he knew tomorrow would be no different.