I pondered over what he said for quite a while I'd be not the only one that dies... What does he mean with that? Is he saying that he'd die too...? Or someone else? But why would someone else die because of my death? And how would he know that? No... that doesn't make sense, he must be talking about himself. But... why?
Night was falling over the forest. The fire had extinguished some time ago, not leaving a single ember. Which meant two things, I was beginning to get used to the cooler air, and I didn't have to worry any more about extinguishing the fire myself.
I found a suitable branch for sleeping on quickly. I guess my latest experience has loosened my demands to such branches a bit, but it did seem stable and fairly comfortable. And the climb up to it didn't seem like much of a hassle either.
As I had reached my chosen sleeping place I sat there just watching the moon for a while. How it curiously looked as if it had a face and was watching me... or rather all of the forest... or even more.
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
Whø ëls$ê shøµld håvæ döné ìt?
Errh... I don't know
Æxåctlý
But still, why?
Årë yøû såýìng yôu'd råthër bê dæd nøw? Håd räthêr gôt chøppéd òf yøµr hëâd bý thîs såd ëxcú$sé ôf å swørds$smân?
Nono... Just wonder why you do help me
Ëâsy, yøû'ré nøt thè önlý ønë thât dïê$s
...Wait... what?
Yøû hærd mê, nów léàvê mê bë
No! If I die, you die too? But you're just some... thing, you'd just go back to where you came from.
He didn't answer anymore. What he said really left me wondering. If I'd die, he'd do too. But that shouldn't cause any problems for him. He's just some... I don't know what he is, but I can't imagine dying being of any concern to him and his like.
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
I found a flint and iron, neatly bound together with a piece of thin rope, a small whetstone and some dried flesh in the pockets of that guy. His bow looked fine too, and it also was stronger than mine, so I took it. Arrows included naturally. I hadn't looked what Lord half'n'half had with him yet, but that guy definitely seemed to be the better prepared, and probably more skilled, hunter of the two.
Naturally there was blood on all of his stuff. Have to wash that off later, at least as good as possible.
But more importantly... I turned my attention towards the horse again.
I cut out a few chunks of meat and inspected them closely. Doesn't look foul... doesn't smell foul... nothing moving inside... Guess it's all good then
I went a bit away from the site. Altho I was eating chunks from that horse, and I guess it wasn't hard to see that someone had cut chunks out of that horse, I didn't really want to be seen there.
I made a fire and roasted the meat on it.
Ok, lesson learned, no more drowsy excuses for not sleeping up in a tree. That there could have ended seriously badly... or it would have if...
Hey! You awake? Why'd you get me out of that mess?
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
As I looked around I suddenly noticed the severed head from the headless horseman. The more I looked at it, the more it seemed to be watching me.
Creepy... better put it back to it's... owner?
I got up and walked towards it. As I bent down to pick it up, I for the first time noticed that my leg wasn't hurting anymore. I inspected it immediately.
No injury left, only the scars from the hounds teeth that cut into my leg
I dropped the leg of my pants again and picked up the riders head instead. I went to his body and put it roundabout there where it would be lying if it still was attached.
Then I noticed that the man was carrying a knife on his belt.
I shouldn't...
Büt hê's dæd.
But... that's stealing...
rïght nøw nö ôné døès pôss$ë$ss thåt knîfë, yøú'd stëâl thæt ås müch âs yøü'd stêäl thé førès$t æ hår€ whên yøµ ëæt ît
hmm...
cøme øn, tåkë ît, whö's göññæ pµnïsh yøû för ít?
That was about the first time I agreed with IT. I took his knife, and I did search him for other usable stuff.
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
It didn't take long till I found the other guy and his horse. I pushed the headless and blood soaked rider out of the saddle and removed the saddle too.
I inspected the wounds on the horse. IT had sliced right through muscles, bones and several organs. And altho it already was beginning to rotten in the stomach area, the meat was still fresh at the chest.
My stomach growled again.
As I reached for my knife I noticed it was missing Must have lost it while being in ITs form... maybe I can find it around
I got up and searched for my knife. Already after a short while I noticed the sword of my attacker, but I wanted to rather find my knife than use his sword. Altho thinking back... it didn't really make much sense. Don't know why I didn't pick up his sword in that moment instead.
I searched for a while. I don't know when I started but by the time I gave up it was getting close to dusk.
I sat down besides the dead horse.
“How am I going to eat you if I can't find my knife to cut you to pieces?”
It didn't answer, I didn't expect an answer either.
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
My stomach growled as if it wanted to say “Yes!”
“Well and what would the sir desire to eat? We've got dirt, bark or leaves.”
Nøt s$ôlëlý ha ha haa
Wait... you don't mean I should...
I looked down at the rests of Lord whatever...
...Ï dø ... ëxåctlý thæt
“No. NO!...”
I took a step backwards
“People are not for eating! Even if it's an enemy!”
Whý?
“Because... because...”
Séè, yøü'væ göt nô gòód ræ-
“NO! Simply NO! If you've got nothing else to contribute go fuck off!”
Yøµ évên hævê twø... wôn't gö húñ-
“Right! That other guy, he had a horse. That I could eat”
Whý?
“Leave me be”
... Whý?
“Ah Fuck you, I'll just ignore you for now.”
...hrg hrg hrg … Whý?
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
I followed the trail of blood coming from this half of him. Although the blood had already dried, the scent of it still occupied the air. This heavy, sweet and metallic scent... it made me sick. The still air and the burning sun didn't help it.
As I found his other half I nearly threw up.
It was exactly like one would imagine. He was lying in a dried pool of his own blood, the scent was so thick you could taste it. His entrails were nearly filling up the hole where his other half should be lying.
I've gutted a quite a few animals with Ingrid, but this was nowhere close to it. The blood didn't smell the same. The entrails were nothing like those of an animal. Even the dead stare was horrifyingly different.
I turned around to get a bit away from him, but there was already the next dead guy in my view. That must be the other guy I saw in my memories. He's got a horse... or he had... so it's probably the same guy.
I went closer to inspect him.
Completely contradicting the feeling I had just now, I suddenly got hungry. As if a hole just opened where once my stomach was.
“Seriously? Now!? I'm surrounded by all this death and you think I should eat something now?!?!” Right, I did talk to myself. Loud. Why should I have cared, I was probably the only one around right now.
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
I just ignored him in that moment, even considering that for a moment could have been a severe risk.
Another high swing from Lord Whatever. I managed to pull myself together and dodge it, even tho I had to use my left leg again.
AAARGHHH!!! without this leg... could beat him... attacks... too open
Another high swing. He seemed to be getting slower, taking longer between each swing. They didn't look as powerful anymore either.
I noticed something moving in the corner of my eye. I risked a short look only to see that his hound was about to jump at me. I held up my arm as defense. He bit right into it.
Lord High-and-mighty grinned at me triumphantly.
Suddenly something gripped and pulled on my other arm too. I took a quick look
Another hound? From where?
A short hissing sound behind me. Then something hit me in the back. It pushed me to my knees.
I looked down at myself, something metal-ish gray and pointy was protruding at the side of my stomach. I couldn't make it out clearly, my sight got blurry all of sudden.
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
I checked out my hand, it had healed already since yesterday. Only a small scar was left of the wound. I cautiously got up, stood on one knee and checked the leg the hound bit into. Lord Raspberry-head continued shouting, stomping and wildly waving his hands through the air so he didn't seem to care much about it.
Those are quite deep, and thorn up too... if that damn hound hadn't... fuck! This will take some time, even with ITs help.
All of sudden I heard the unsheathing of a sword through the shouting. I was half-prepared for this so I wanted to jump back, out of his reach. But my left leg didn't like that idea, it stung like hell. Thanks to hands and the other leg I got up and a bit backwards, but from there on it was more stumbling than jumping.
Before I could get out of his reach, I hit the tree whose roots I fell over.
Fuck!... at least it stopped me from falling
He forcefully swung his sword over his head and at me. He was wide open, this man was either no good swordsman, or his rage had consumed him completely. Lucky for me he didn't quite think about the tree and chopped into it before he could hit me.
Before he could swing another time I jumped to the side, trying to put near to all force on my right leg. Both while jumping and while landing again. Jumping kinda worked, it wasn't like I felt nothing, but far less than at my first jump.
Landing didn't work quite as well. I managed to land on my right foot, without the left even touching ground. But I lost my balance and had to cross-step to stop my body, meaning I had to put all my weight on the left leg.
“AHHHHHH!!!!”
It was stinging even more than the first time. I could feel how more blood was running out of the wound instantly.
Cømë ôñ. ¥ øû knôw yöù'vé gøt me, Ï cån hælp yôµ. Jús$st håvæ tø lêävé mè öút he he he
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
He began shouting unintelligible at me. His face turning more and more red with every word he said. After a few sentences his head was red as embers, I was just waiting for his hair to burst up in flames.
The sight was so amusing I couldn't at all focus on what he was saying. I managed to hear out a few words like poaching & hanging. At first those sent a chill down my back, but then I realized something. What can this blown up snob do to get you there? I mean unless I'd feel guilt towards him, and cooperate with him, I wouldn't expect that he was able to capture or bind me somehow.
He did wear a sword, which might help him, but all I had to do was stay out of his reach. Seeing the way he rages at me, he doesn't seem like he'd be a good fighter. Might only use it for giving the final hit to his prey.
And I do faintly remember a few guards, how to react to them. So if I think fast... No, I don't have to underestimate him, I only got a knife, and it's been years since I had anything like training.
But I've got a knife. As long as he hasn't drawn I do have a chance.
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
“I... I am Bjorn”
“Bjorn of...?”
“Bjorn of not your business”
His face began turning slightly red, he stopped holding his nose so high and actually looked at me while talking, or rather, shouting. “I said it before peasant, Hold. Your. Tongue! If I want so I can let you hang before this day is over!”
I sighed “Bjorn, son of a mine-worker, from a town, that has been raided and burnt down several years ago. Satisfied oh mighty lord Bhaltair?”
He straightened his jacket and rose his nose to the sky again “Not fully, but it shall be enough. What is your business here in my forest?”
“Just... passing through.”
“Although it sounds unlikely, I shall believe that for now. Why did you run from my hound?”
“Because it growled at me and was about to attack me”
“Any idea why it could be hostile towards you?”
“No. Are we done?”
“Not yet. What were you really doing here? In this forest?”
“Hunting for gods sake. I am a traveler, was out of rations, so I had to get some food somewhere. How am I supposed to know this is the forest of lord stick-up-his-arse?”
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
There was no way for me of coming out of this, so the only thing I really could do was stretch out my arms as good as possible to break my fall with them, instead of doing that with my head.
I fell to the ground, felt several sharp stones pierce my chest and stomach. Although my whole body was in pain I turned on my back a few moments after I had landed.
Almost immediately I felt a pain in my leg, only as my leg began moving on it's own I noticed it was the hound who bit me. I kicked him with my other foot, more out of escape-reflex than actually thinking I had a chance to skill escape.
Before I manage to kick another time the rider was standing besides me, calling back the dog and getting of his horse. He gave the dog a short pat on the head and then focused on me.
“An' you are?” he asked in a quite arrogant tone
“Me? I am myself, and your prey too, I guess” I paused, catching my breath “An' you?” I mockingly imitated his tone
“Hold your tongue, peasant, I am Bhaltair, son of Eoghan, count of these lands, including this forest. I will not ask again, Who are you?” he began sounding a bit aggressive, but still with this noble & arrogant tone
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
I ran and tried thinking of something.
Come on. I need ideas... ideas... IDEAS!!! come on, right now!! what can I do... what can I do... wait... what can I do, that a deer can't... ok, now we're getting somewhere at least... lets see... I can... climb... … … … damn it! There must be something more... if it'd be just the hound it may be worth a try, but with that rider behind me...
Yøû kñöw... yóµ cåñ dø zï$ önê síng zæt nø ônè æls$së cân dö he he he he
What?! NO! That'd be the last option, that I wouldn't do before he had cau-
Suddenly I hit something with my foot, and I wasn't moving only straight forward anymore, I was... moving towards the ground too.
In that blink of an eye lots of things happened.
First I saw the ground in front of my head, less than an arms length away, I was falling.
Then I realized that I must had stumbled over something, as I slowly looked behind I saw what too. A giant root protruding from the ground
I looked a bit further behind me and saw the hound, already preparing to jump over the root, and the rider only a few steps behind the hound.
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
Note from the Author
Hey Sorry for the 'long' (I know, it was just a week) break from my side, was sick and in no condition to write anything. Anyway, I'm back to 'normal' and there'll be posts. Double as usual... But only for this week :D
Thanks for reading and thanks for the feedback so far ;)
PS: Ok, it was more than a week, just realized it's Wednesday already :D
I waited in the bush
Maybe he didn't notice me but just heard a sound here
He came closer, about a dozen paces in front of me he began growling.
Hê såw yøü hahaha
I know. Shut up. What now? Run or... don't run...? run or not...? run or not...!?
The hound was just a few more steps from me, I had to decide... NOW!
Run!
I swiftly turned around inside that bush and began running as quick as I could
Is it at all worth to try running? Guessing from the guy on the horse this hound is trained for hunting, such a large one probably for deer or stags, I can't outrun him. Gotta outwit the dog somehow.
I ran for my life, not looking back once. I heard the hound still running after me, and I think I heard some hooves a bit further back too. I tried focusing entirely on running, to not stumble over roots or similar, but I felt that I didn't have any chance to outrun him, I really had to outwit him somehow.
Outwit a hound... outwit a hound... come on, I need some good ideas now
I tried looking around while running, but no ideas came up, just trees everywhere, and this quite shallow beck that the hound would just run over like I'd do.
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
There was it again, that sound.
What could this be... and why are they so spread?
It was clear that simply couldn't be one singular being making this, not because of the difference in sound and tone, but because of the distance, because of where these sounds came from.
I looked at my arm shortly I'll have to find out later what that was, surely won't fall off for now
...Ss$ûrræ he he hee
He surprised me, and that comment of his shortly filled me with fear What could he have done? How could he have? But I calmed myself nearly immediately again No, he couldn't... just trying to get some revenge... stay calm
So again I focused on the... on whatever was around me.
I was still in the safety of the bush, so I took a moment to listen The water was calm, the wind was calm, the birds were mostly calm too, a few panicky ones from one of the direction I heard that sound from.
Hooves!... deer? No... to heavy... and just one... it's coming closer... barking?... hounds?... why out here?...
It was just about to run by me I opened my eyes and looked into the direction I expected it to run by in a moment.
A horse, with a rider, quite plump man, quite fancy hunting dress too. Right behind him came two big grey hounds.
One of them stopped
and looked right at me
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
It had become dark already but I still hadn't decided what to do... or... I had... in a way. But I didn't want to... tell myself... I guess, so I just stayed there, watching the glowing embers, that the fire left behind.
I had eaten both hares some time ago already, but still I was just lying there, watching the embers and... kinda enjoying the... emptiness in my head.
I was woken by a weird sound in the distance. The first thing I noticed was how numb my left arm was... or at first I was worried if I still had it, but I think that would have been painful instead of numb.
I got up and looked around.
Nothing... lucky I guess
Although my arm was still numb I was back in hunting mode.
There... that sound again... but... it's different... and from another direction... or did I just mishear the first time?
I had never heard that sound before, nothing like it either. It was a long, dull sound.
Another...! over there this time... two short ones this time...?
I wasn't sure what to make of those sounds. What animal could make this sound? My imagination ran wild... maybe something human-like, but bigger, fur all over, with the head like a bull? I wouldn't wanna meet that in person
I got scared by this thought, wanted to climb high into a tree, but my arm was still numb. I found a bush instead, hid inside and inspected my arms.
No scars... just like usual... I tried to move my fingers. Didn't work as good as expected. I helped with my other hand, bending each finger by itself, moving the hand around a bit, bending the elbow, moving the whole arm.
The numbness left my arm again.
Suddenly my arm was filled with another weird feeling... like ants were crawling all over it. Out of panic I frantically shaked my arm, I didn't see any ants but it came out of reflex “Get them away, get them away” I thought, tho there was nothing on my arm.
The feeling vanished, my arm was back to normal
I looked at it in wonder... What was that?
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
Birds... frogs... the stream in the distance... the wind in the trees... Damn it!
I opened my eyes and stood up again.
I looked at the sky, it was the first time I had done that all day. The sun is setting... lets see, two hares... had one in the morning, some berries too... guess I don't have much of a choice... either one risk, or the other... but which is the safer bet?
With every step I took I felt my energy being drained. I had to eat something, now. Even if it wasn't enough. I went back to the beck, took with me some branches on the way to make a fire.
I skinned and gutted the hares. Threw the rests into the forest on the other side of the stream. Something would surely come to eat that, but I wouldn't want that over here.
I fastened the hares to each their stick, and set both by the fire. Washed my hands in the water, drank some, and laid down besides the fire.
What should I do? I can either take the risk of hunting at night, or take the risk of sleeping while hungry and drained of strength. After having some food I should be able to get up on a tree, if I find one, but what if he... IT thinks of any shenanigans in the meantime.
Yøû kñöw Ï cån hær yôú?
… Shut up.
Yòú... Yôü... Yøµ...
I-I-I What?
He snarled at me. Didn't hear much more from him after that.
I laid on my side, watching the hares by the fire, the fire itself, how the flames danced their warm, but destructive dance on the wood...
Sleep... or Hunt?
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
I went back to the stream to wash off my blood and see how big the wound really was. It cost some time and energy but I'd rather check on that and maybe fix it somehow than leave a blood trail after me. Who knows what or who might sniff me up thanks to that.
The holes in my hand weren't that big, he did bite me two times so naturally there were four, two on the back of my hand, two inside of it. There wasn't much blood running from them tho, the bleeding had been worst in the beginning.
I tried moving my hand around a bit, into different positions I could think of that I'm using while hunting. But there was nothing that really caused much more bleeding than when I relaxed the hand.
A bit more when drawing my bow but I guess I had just to be a bit more selective with my prey, and more accurate with my shots.
I went on, looking for any kind of tracks of animals, focusing on my senses to hear if there's anything nearby. I found another hare, but this time I managed to sneak up and get it with my bow. Hit right in the head, quite a lucky shot I had there.
Guess that means one more to go, and then I'll eat something. My stomach growled Yeah I know it's time, I know that I'm tearing at my reserves, just gimme a bit more time
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
I gently stroked through its fur “I thank you, Brother. May your spirit pass on, while your body feeds me”
Yøû ssërióùssly köntinûé wïz zât? Cøme oñ, $hê åïnt 'røùnd nømôre. Jüst kîll ít ænd bê dönê wïz ít.
I held the rabbit up at its hind legs, took a club lying nearby, and hit it in the back of the head. I tried poking an eye, to see if its really dead.
It was.
I fastened it to my belt, and continued.
Did you want anything?
Why ærê yøu sstïll dôiñg zåt? Shæ âiñt 'røûnd tö nôtïce íf yøù dön't.
What does it matter if Ingrid is 'round? She introduced me to it, but I don't do it for her. I do it to show some respect to my prey, to thank it for giving me its body, its flesh. But why do I bother to tell you, it's not like you'd listen anyway.
Büt zêræ ï$ nø ssëñssê în døing zåt, ïts nôt åwæ-
How would you know that? Can you tell? If you can, tell me how
Î... Ï... Åh fück yøû hümâñss ånd yøûr ëmótìónàl sstüff! $sînk mørë rrråtiønæl, lësss êmøtiônål. Yöúr kìnd îs zë ønly ånimæl zât døe$s zæt, zê ønly kînd zæt ssínks êmøti-
Again, how do you know? How can you be so sure?
Didn't hear any more from him after that. Did I corner him? Interesting, doesn't happen very often.
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
I went on. Waited again after a while.
Frogs... not edib... or are they? Anyway, would take- my head turned in reflex ... in the bushes... irregular... not the wind... no waiting this time.
I went into the direction where the sound came from without hesitating. On hands and feet, was easier to be silent that way.
From here... it must've been round here somewh- suddenly there was no ground beneath where I wanted to place my hand, I fell, hit my face on the ground
Ouch... What's this? A hole... rabbit hole maybe... wanna take the chance...? Yeah, should.
I stuck my hand in the hole, all the way up to my shoulder must be something inside, that rushling could have been from a rabbit, and it could hav-
“AAH!! Fucking Hell!”
I quickly pulled out my hand Great, it bit me... at least I now know that there's something inside
“I'll repay you for this, asshat!!”
I stuck my bleeding hand into the hole again, but only up to my elbow. Ok, touch, only touch... I focused for a moment, luckily didn't get attacked again
Come on! Bite me again! I dare you!
I sat there for a while. Stood still in that position, on my knees, one hand on the ground and the other in a rabbit hole. Could see it in my head.
Away with that, focus!
...for how long have I been waiting for this rabbit now? Fuck I know. Feels like an eternity, could've been only a few mo- ...mrrrm!! gotcha!!
I pulled it out of it's hole “Ha, didn't think I'd snatch ya when you bite me again?”
Ze grræt hûntérr, tålkïn tø ä rræbbît
What is it you want now?!
Øh, nûfín, jùs$t cømmêntïng ón zë h@ppênîng, måybæ dîsstråct yøu å bít ssø tìmé pässêss by, yøû knöw, zê üsµâl
O-no! I won't join in on your games now, go talk to yourself or somethin'
Ha ha ha haa fûnny... fïnê, håvé fûn Mï$stêrr Rræbbît Ss$nætch€rr
I was back with the rabbit in my hand, holding it at eyes height, my blood all over it.
“Sorry I called you asshat, but it was in the heat of the moment, and you bit me”
The rabbit just continued staring at me well what did I expect to happen? It going all like 'yeah totally understand that man, hope I taste good'
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
Note from the Author
Kinda sorry for this long episode... or rather for leaving out one on Tuesday. Had no way of getting' to my PC so I couldn't write anything, hope you understand ^_^
Anyway, thanks for following, thanks for reading and a good weekend to all of you. Especially you :D
I looked around for a moment. Ok, which way should I choose? Just into the forest would be a bad idea... follow the river... yeah, but upwards, stream-wards there is only unnecessary danger.
So I went up the stream. Focus on your hearing now, don't need touch or sight for now. I stood still, closed my eyes and worked on my focus.
I heard a crack, my head turned in the direction out of reflex. I waited some time Come on, gimme another sound. I promise it'll be quick.
Nothing more, either an old tree or something that noticed it's wrong doing.
I continued listening for some more time. I don't know for how long, I just stood there, focused on my hearing. My eyes were closed, a flock of deer could walk by directly in front of me... if they were silent enough.
No, away with these thoughts, they only distract you.
Still nothing. After a while I continued. I bore my bow over my back, it was easier to switch on all fours that way if I had to.
Come on, you gotta find some food. We... you... I... whatever I shaked my head this had never happened before, this situation, there was always enough food after turning. I'm unsure if I wanna find out what happens if there aint.
I stopped again, closed my eyes, and focused.
Birds. No... won't ever hit them, and even if I would, I would need uncountable of those. Done with the thought. Silence.
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
After completely focusing on my arm for some time I had back my own arm and hand. Skin, five fingers, nails, hair and all those small marks.
I ate what I had left, emptied and refilled my flask twice. By the time I was done the sun was high in the sky. My stomach was grumbling and I sensed that I was far from my usual state. I usually wasn't the guy to go jumping through the woods because he was overflowing with tons of energy, but now I was near to drained.
It was time to preserve my energy as good as possible, to think twice about it if it's worth running after some prey. Naturally I had to take some risks, but even those had to be close to a bet I'd surely win.
I left all unnecessary stuff at the tree, including my shirt and shoes.
It was rather warm and the air stood still, so it was much more pleasant to run around with just pants, bow, arrows & a knife. Might have been a good idea to take some rope with me too, to set up some traps in case I found any good spots, but didn't really think of that then. The Idea was more, fast & much. And traps usually weren't the fast way of getting prey.
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
For now I focused on turning back my arm instead of overthinking this.
The main problem with my current situation was, turning back that arm costs me lots of strength. This other body has kind of it's own will. It doesn't want to go 'back'. It want's freedom, which is definitely understandable, but I can't give it that. So it was, as always, a fight to turn back the arm.
Fight may be the wrong term, it's not like fighting someone or something. Not like a classic brawl or arm wrestling where it can go back and forth between both sides. It's more like... something I have to beat down, that simply takes the punches without getting hurt much by it. It needs many, hard punches to go down... if that makes any sense.
And that costs me energy, which means I have to eat & drink more afterwards.
The first meal usually is the biggest, then it goes down drastically meal by meal till I'm back to 'normal'.
This time it was just the arm, so a hare or three as first meal would surely be enough, tho I didn't have that much left.
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
All of sudden I felt my claw gripping into the tree, me swinging towards the tree and bumping into it. Then I was just hanging there.
It took me a lot more time to realize... to fathom what just had happened. As I looked up I saw that I was just a bit below the branch I had been sitting and sleeping on. Just about an arms length.
My mind began working again without all that surprise and wonder twisting into every single thought. I pulled myself up and sat on the branch again.
For a a moment I just sat there, looking at my arm.
IT saved me again. I would maybe have survived the fall, if I was lucky enough to not fall on my head, but I had surely hurt myself badly or broken something. And that out here, without any help.
How come that IT has already saved me two times? It's not like I don't appreciate surviving, I just wonder why IT has to help me with it. Clearly it's helpful to have a partner with you, but I don't think I could consider IT that.
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
Something ripped me out of my sleep.
As I opened my eyes I saw the ground below me, and it was coming towards me quickly.
After what felt like a moment or two I was wake enough to realize it wasn't the ground coming towards me, but me falling down towards it. Down from my safe branch.
Why had this to happen this night? Is it just a coincidence or is it somehow connected to me thinking about it earlier? And if yes, how could thinking about something affect if it's going to happen? I mean, naturally if you plan on going hunting and shoot a deer, that does affect it very much. If you hadn't had that thought you might have not gone to do that. But something like this, like thinking about that it'd hurt to stumble and fall on your face and it then happening only a while later. That can't be connected, right?
Suddenly I noticed this pain in my arm, and through that also how numb my whole body was. It was transforming, beginning at my elbow and slowly crawling towards my hand. Slowly it moved, I didn't have any control over it, towards the tree, reaching for it.
Then things began to get faster, I was falling faster, my arm was moving faster.
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
How could I've been so dumb not getting that. That also explains why there are nearly now plants in or directly by the pond.
That means the source of whatever danger, is directly inside the pond, or a bit further up the stream. I saw the fox drinking from the stream, and I drank the water myself even further up, it must be safe there.
I decided to go further up the stream again, hide and wait there. There weren't going to be any animals near here anytime soon, that I was sure of.
I'm unsure if you can hear this, and if you might still be ignoring it but... Thank you, probably saved my arse there
Î dïd zæt før mýssëlf, rrêtård
I didn't expect any other answer from IT so I didn't bother saying anything else.
After a while of walking upstream I found myself a new branch to sit on. The sun was already near the horizon and it began getting darker. I climbed the tree cautiously and sat myself on the branch. As usual it wasn't comfortable, but it was safe
...unless I'd fall down in my sleep.
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
I was puzzled.
How come I neither saw nor heard anything after more than two days waiting. Was there maybe a better source of water nearby? Was IT messing with my senses?
I got out of the bush and took a break. Just sitting there and doing 'nothing' was... not quite exhausting but... tiring.
I had something to fill my stomach a bit, noticed that I was beginning to go empty on food. Got the last sip out of my flask too.
Hmm... that one empty too? Better refill it, after all I'm right near some water.
I went to the pond, knelt down right at it, was just about to sink the flask into the water –
$STØP RRRÎGHT ZÆRRË, ÏDÍØT
What?
Ýöû... ¥ØÙ håvë ßêεñ ssîttïng hærê før HÔW löng wîzøût ÅÑÝ ænîmäl$ bêïng nær zîss ƒûçking pΘnd ånd yøµ sstïll æsk zât?!?!
You mean... the water is...?
€KZÅ₡TL¥, rrêtærd!!
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
The branch I found to my liking was thick. I could comfortably sit on it.
So now I had to play the waiting game.
Nothing on the first day.
Neither on the second.
I wasn't sitting still up in that tree all the time. I had to move around a bit, but it wasn't that much that I could be scaring off anything with that.
At first I began to doubt my eyes. That I was too far away from the pond to see slight movements. So I changed position. Hid in a large bush near the lake. Focused completely on my hearing instead. Sitting there in silence for a long while. But I heard nothing. Just a slight, consistent rustle of wind through the leaves.
I knew wild animals aren't really the ones to come stomping through here, breaking every branch lying on the ground, walking into every nearby bush and jump into the water. But still, they had to make some sounds, break this silence somehow, add something to it.
But I heard nothing, not a sound.
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
The beck ended up in a pond.
There were no animals in sight, but that came probably from me just stomping through there, which was quite mindless to do.
My main thought was that I had gotten to my destination and now had to find a place to hide.
I pondered whether I should hide in a bush or in a tree. And after some time I came to the result that it was in many ways better to sit in a tree than in a bush. Better look over the area, no need to worry about predators sneaking up, I could actually move a bit sitting on a branch, in a bush I'd have to sit still all the time. And after deciding whether tree or bush, I only had to find a suitable tree.
The trees near the lake all seemed very young, not one having any branch that would be thick enough to endure my weight.
It took me some time to find a suitable tree. It wasn't directly by the pond, it was a few paces off. Behind some younger trees.
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016
Note from the Author
Once more I have a note for you people out there :D Actually, this time, I wanna thank you all. It's about a year now since I've started this blog and began posting episodes and I am really happy how this all turned out.
So to all my followers, new or old, official or lurkers, trustworthy or... supsicious; Thank you
I enjoyed that moment for a while longer, just sitting there. It was a welcome change from walking near to all day.
The sun had moved quite a bit, lighting the area in a different way, when I noticed a fox drinking from the beck a few paces from me.
I hit myself against the head.
How couldn't I have thought of that. Animals need water. This may not be the only place around here for them to get some but it's one of them. If I just wait around here somewhere... maybe even follow the stream a little, might even find a pond where it ends up.
I got up and packed my stuff. The fox ran away as soon as I moved, but he wasn't my target anyway. But still, I learned something from him too; If I wanna wait around water for animals, I gotta stay still, or move very slowly.
My new plan was set, following the beck to where it ends and waiting for animals. If I can't follow them, I'll wait for them instead.
© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016