Tennessee. The 16th state is mostly known for his music industry and country roots. Among the Southern States, he's well-known for being the country playboy with terrible puns. Other than his obnoxious flirting and guitar playing, he's also a great hunter thanks to his training under David "Davy" Crockett.

"The King of the Wild Frontier" is not only a famous hunter, but also a folk hero, a frontiersman, a soldier, and a politician in 19th century America. Born in Tennessee's home when it was still a part of North Carolina, Crockett lived to serve his state both in the militia and in government. In midst of Crockett's lifetime was when Tennessee, then a youth, met and grew up under the man. For Tennessee, Crockett was both a mentor and a father figure.

After being the only one in the Tennessee delegation to vote against President Jackson's 1830 Indian Removal Act, his vote grew unpopular among the people of his district, causing him to lose his seat in the 1831 election. Frustrated with Jackson's successor winning the 1834 election along with losing his Congressional election in 1835, Crockett said to his former constituents as quote, "You may all go to hell and I will go to Texas." And so Crockett left Tennessee to support Texas's independence. For sure, Tennessee would never forget the day he saw his mentor for the last time.

☆☆☆☆☆

The sun was setting when I found her. Her large, russet brown eyes didn't seem to notice me at first. Alone, she was busying herself behind the elms and oaks, admiring the quiet, orange atmosphere of the autumn woods. Her head peered upward, observing for a moment a blazing sky of gold with streaks of rose pink swirling around a row of white, puffy clouds. At that moment, I thought on leaving her alone, letting her roam around peacefully to herself.

The rifle grew warm in my cold hands. For this pretty doe, this would be the last time she would see the forest this beautiful ever again.

Carefully taking a step forward, I crept closer behind a thick, dark red shrub. The dark crimson and rotting brown leaves softly crunched underneath my leather boots. I became aware of the noise as I did my best to stay quiet and hidden from the unaware creature. Fortunately she continued to stare at the sky and treetops, paying no attention to the youth in the background.

I drew my rifle and stood up in a stance. My left hand held the barrel as I steadily aligned the stock to my right shoulder. My right hand gripped the stock as my right index finger floated above the trigger. I took a deep breath, closing my eyes in a calm manner before locking them onto the oblivious creature.

Her head suddenly lowered itself to the ground. With her long, graceful legs she began to amble along the forest floor. Without taking my dark blue eyes off her, I guided my rifle, keeping the weapon locked onto her. As she stopped in her tracks, her left ear twitched toward me. Just as she lowered her head to the ground, I pulled the trigger.

BANG!

The gunshot echoed against my ear, spreading throughout the entire forest. A flock of black birds squawked in shock, scattering out of the trees in a flock away from the loud boom. An eerie silence followed as I was left to take in the moment. Staring straight ahead, the doe I hunted was long gone. However, she wasn't lying on the ground. She was dashing off beyond the trees before disappearing behind a large hill, still alive to see another day.

"You missed again," a voice grumbled behind me.

I turned around to see my mentor standing behind me. He had on his usual tan hunting suit and coonskin hat. His brown eyes looked upon my tired figure as his frown persisted once again for the third time today. This past week I've been off my game. This deer should've been an easy one. I was only about twenty feet away without being noticed in the slightest. And after all that training, I haven't been able to get most of my shots in.

Lowering my gun, I approached the 49 year old man. "Sorry, Davy," I uttered disappointed. "I'll do better next time."

Davy didn't anything at first. He simply stared at me while I waited to confirm his response. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

I blinked my eyes before shaking my head. "N-No, sir. It's just my luck hasn't been good lately."

"Are you sure?"

I nodded. "I'm positive, sir."

Davy thought about my response for a while before responding, "Alright. Let's walk around the forest to see if we can find anything for Elizabeth to cook up for dinner."

I forced a smile on my face. "Okay."

Following behind Davy, we took another stroll around the forest, hoping to find something while the sun was still up.

~

"You did well getting that squirrel off that tree," Davy complimented me before ruffling my shaggy, brown locks.

I blushed and chuckled, "Thanks, Davy. You did well, too, with that buck you shot."

Davy patted the side of the dead buck that hanged off his left shoulder, huffing his chest proudly with confidence. "This deer is nothing compared to the bears I shot back in the day," he chortled.

With a sliver of sun left above the horizon, we made our way back to the house with our kills from a successful hunt. As satisfied as I was with today, I couldn't shake this bad feeling I had on my mind. A kind of gloom that persisted for a while now. The same kind that affected my recent hunts.

"Hey. Are you listening to me?" Davy interrupted my thoughts.

I looked up to see Davy looking down on me in a worried matter. I stammered an apology, "S-Sorry! What did you say again?"

He frowned. "I was wondering if there's a girl on your mind lately."

My face grew warm. "N-Not at all! Why do you think that?"

Davy grew a huge smile on his face, much to my confusion. "Well, you look like you're about that age when boys become men. Your voice has been cracking and you've grown quickly recently. And with that red-head next door, I was wondering if you two had...you know..." he nudged my arm with a sly grin on his face.

My small blush became a giant flame across my face. "N-No way! It's not like that!" I flustered.

"Easy now! I was only kidding. With you acting up all weird lately, I had to ask," he laughed. "Especially knowing I'll be leaving tomorrow, I wanted to at least know if you're going to be okay while I'm gone."

As much as I tried to laugh along with him, I could only smile in silence. He was quick to notice my lack of response, his laughter eventually dying down into silence.

"Are you sure you can't leave?" he asked again.

I made a short nod, barely able to look at him. "I can't interfere in a foreign war. Nor was I given permission to head somewhere outside the borders of our country."

Davy grew silent like he was trying to comprehend my excuse. "That's too bad," he made a disappointed sigh, "I plan to move the family over there once the war is over. I heard the Texas plains are full of giant herds of buffalo. I was planning on taking you and my sons to hunt some of those wild beasts. Maybe next time perhaps."

I softly smiled. "That sounds thrilling. I'm sure you'll have a great time without me."

He placed a hand on my left shoulder. "Don't get too down now. I'm sure you'll do fine on your own without me."

I had to bite my lip not to tear up in front of the grown man. Ever since the day we met among a group of men who volunteered in the War of 1812, he had always guided me under his wing. He even offered me to stay at his home, allowing me to live under his care while he trained me to better wield a rifle and hunt all sorts of game. For twenty long years, I grew happily under his mentorship.

After hearing his intentions on volunteering in a foreign war, he made me realize our differences. The others warned not to get too attached to such people, telling me it was better to move on with life rather than hold onto one. I didn't bother listening to them at first. But after hearing the news of Davy's journey to Texas, all I could remember were the memories of our time together, growing depressed while doing so.

I was glad my immortality allowed me to live at such a young age without the worry of my life being cut short out of nowhere. But after seeing Davy the last few days, I could only count the fleeting days, feeling the shortness of life with every minute that passed between us. With our last hunt together until his departure tomorrow, I wanted to beg for him to stay.

I wanted to tell him he didn't have to go to Texas. That he can live his life here in the woods without having to see another war. And yet, would it matter? Would he take a young boy's advice and forgo the trip? Davy was always an independent man with his own mind and two feet. I can't control him. No one could. This war he's heading into, I could only dread the possibilities. Knowing him quite well, it's best I don't waste our last day together in a bitter argument.

Thus, I shut my mouth and continued walking with him back to the house.

~

Trent,

I have always thought of you as one of my own. Even if it's strange to know you won't be dying any time soon, I'm just glad you'll still be around after I'm gone.

If by chance I don't come back from Texas, I want you to know full well you'll always be welcomed as a Crockett. In my best wishes, I hope you understand my reasons for participating in the Texas Revolution besides the election. I know you think my decision is selfish, and I won't deny the heartbreak I have caused for my family and friends. However, this letter is never intended to be a sappy farewell of regrets as this letter is mainly my last advice to you as your mentor.

I've taught you more than enough to where I can see you well off on your own. The lessons I gave you will be useful in the future. Don't forget it. It's important for me when I head to Heaven I know you'll do fine without my help. You're at the point where you're becoming a man. Soon you'll be making a living for yourself.

You've lived with the family for about twenty years now. Someday I'll move on, whether it be by a shot through the chest or old age. Because of your special situation, I understand your confusion on this kind of subject. However, it's important for me, as your mentor, to let you know full well our time together is something to be cherished.

~ Davy

Alongside a wooden case that held one of his hunting rifles and one of his coon caps he made himself, the letter I held in my trembling hands was Davy's final goodbye to me. I gritted my teeth, blinking away the tears in my eyes. Upset was an understatement to how I truly felt when I read this letter.

He purposely didn't tell me he was leaving before daybreak. Nor did he bother to wake me to tell me he was leaving. Without a word, Davy left without letting me see him one last time. He left. Just like that.

I read the letter again, still comprehending his words into memory. I didn't take his last words to heart until news of the Alamo swept up the papers did I finally grasp the meaning of his letter. By then, I left his family and settled out on my own.

~

It had been about ten years since I hunted in this forest. The morning spring air was still chilly from the February frost. Bright green stalks of grass were beginning to pop out of the melting snow-covered ground, bringing in life from the cold winter. Half the sun appeared over the horizon, shining a yellow light underneath a baby blue, cloudless sky.

'What a beautiful day,' I thought to myself.

The song birds are chirping. The buttercups are blooming. It was a perfect day for some early hunting.

Creeping behind a mossy, dead log, I pointed out a lone doe in the middle of a clearing. She was busying herself to the first sight of grass since the start of winter. The tip of her black nose was buried in the ground, feasting on the new stalks for breakfast. Unaware, she still hadn't noticed my rifle being aimed toward her left flank.

Readying my stance, I held the barrel and stock appropriately. My right index over the trigger, I fired.

BANG!

A loud boom silenced the song birds. A heavy thump fell onto the forest floor. The doe laid on its side, squirming for a moment before giving out one excruciating belch. Lowering my gun, I observed the animal take its final breath before becoming still. All was silent.

"You shot it!" a loud voice called out behind me, interrupting the quiet forest.

I turned around to see Tex standing behind me. The young cowgirl had on her cowboy gear and cowboy hat. Her mixed colored eyes looked upon my relieved stance as her bright smile greeted me to a successful morning hunt.

"Took you long enough to get here," I chuckled.

She ran over to meet me, softly punching my arm in a giggle. "I didn't think you mean to hunt this early!"

I shrugged. "Anyway, let's get that carcass back home. We can still hunt before your trip back home," I suggested.

"Okay!" she beamed.

While carrying the carcass over my left shoulder, Tex and I followed the trail out of the forest. As she was skipping as I walked, I couldn't help but recall a familiar situation I had in the past.

Tex turned her head toward me, cocking her head in a curious manner. "Are you crying?" she questioned.

I stopped in my tracks. "What?"

"There's water in your eyes."

With my right hand, I wiped away my eyes. There was a slight dampness, but it was easy to clean off.

I softly smiled, assuring Tex, "It's nothing. I yawned when you weren't looking."

Tex gave me a strange look before shrugging her shoulders. "Alright! Let's hurry up and head back, so we can eat a proper breakfast. I'm starving!" She led the way as I followed behind her with a small smile still prominent on my face.

Indeed, I truly cherish the times we had together.

☆☆☆☆☆

+ Davy Crockett was born on August 17, 1786, during a time when Tennessee was a part of North Carolina. At the age of 12, he was expected to work at various farms and ranches to help pay off his father's debt. After that was done, he was free to do as he pleased. He continued to work to earn himself some money, got married, and had children. He would then volunteer for military service in the War of 1812 as well as the Creek War. He eventually rose to prominence and became elected into several government positions.

- As a member of the House of Representatives representing Tennessee, he was known to oppose President Andrew Jackson's policies. One of the most notable in my opinion was his opposition to Jackson's 1830 Indian Removal Act, becoming the only member of the Tennessee delegation to vote against it. He felt such an act was wicked and unjust, however, his vote made many people of his district quite angry. Eventually, his frustration with Jacksonian politics made him American politics. He told everyone "they might go to hell, and I would go to Texas." Unfortunately, his life came to an end at the Battle of the Alamo. However, even after death, his name continues to be honored in many monuments and places as well as pop culture.

~

Feel free to vote or comment any thoughts on Tennessee or the chapter here.