All Of Sudden I Felt My Claw Gripping Into The Tree, Me Swinging Towards The Tree And Bumping Into It.

“What was it you wanted to talk about earlier? Had enough time to sort your mind?”

“Well... I've sorted my mind but... I still have no idea how I should ask this”

“Then work around it, what is it you wanna ask me about?”

“It's... it's this... well my, or rather our, 'contract' “

“Oh you mean the staying for winter? You're right, winter is over but... if you wanna stay for longer do so”

“That's... not really it, tho I'm thankful for your offer, but... hmmm”

“What are you worried about?”

“I... I'm... … I'm worried I leave you without giving you anything back for what you showed me. That I leave without repaying you properly”

She put a hand on my shoulder and looked into my eyes“Do you really think I did this with the plan to get some compensation for it? I did this because I wanted to, because I had a feel you could use it in the future. Compensation neither needed nor wanted.”

“r... really? You sure?”

“Yes, and besides, you gave me lots of fun memories” she smiled

“...but-”

“No buts! It was fun for me, that's more than enough pay”

She hugged me suddenly, the first time since IT forced its way out. At first I was scared, worried, but I didn't wanna take this hug from her... and didn't wanna let it slide myself. We both needed it.

“Thank you Ingrid, a thousand times and infinitely more”

© 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

She clapped half sarcastically“Lucky shot”

“...thanks, any chance you could... give me some tips for the more precise aiming too? Like... hitting that snowball over and over again?”

“Not much to tell you there, look at your target, focus and gather much experience. You'll learn the best way to aim through just shooting and hitting or missing. And don't get impatient, latter will happen more frequently.”

“Ok, thanks”

I thought about her words; Look at your target, focus and gather experience. Guess of those three I'm mostly lacking experience... which isn't easy to acquire, but that's what makes it worth the work

“It's just like reading tracks, either you hit or you miss. Only more literally”

I nodded in understanding “I'll give that stag another try. You... do whatever you feel like...”

“I'll be in the bushes behind you” She said with a smirk and disappeared out of sight again.

Ok, first I'll see if I can find those arrows.

I found the arrows. At least three of them. The one I shot at the stag I never saw again. As soon as I lost contact with it while still in flight it was doomed to be lost forever.

After that I took on hunting down the stag. It was exhausting following it, it ran quite a bit. But I managed to track it down. Although I was wondering how Ingrid was holding up, and how we'd get that big animal all the way back, naturally only IF I was able to get it.

I was in close vicinity to him again. Was already down crouching. He was feeding of something growing from trees. Curious, never seen that before. Gotta ask Ingrid about it later.

Wåtchà tãlkîñg 'bøüt, bûddý?

Oh not you, fuck off for a moment, would you?

Nãh, Ï fêél lìkê $sstæyïng

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Routine

And again, I woke up.

Damn it, I need to try again, be stronger.

I took another walk to the pond, got some water. But I went back at once to try again.

I gotta beat him somehow, I just gotta block better. ...And I need to hit him too.

So I went back to the realm of dreams. And again I woke up directly besides him.

''Back for 'nother beating? Ha Ha Ha'' ''Not this time'' ''I'm ready boy, come at me whenever you want''

I hesitated for a moment He let's me do the first hit?

But he didn't wait for me to attack him. Again the right swing. Wich I managed to block. & again the undercut. Wich I again failed to block.

And again, I woke up. ''For fucks sake!''

Again, a walk to the pond and back again. Again, I went to my dreams.

And... Again. I was beaten.

This continued for some time. I have honestly no idea for how long. I lost completely track of time, of day and night. When I woke up while it was bright I used my own eyes. When it was dark I used the beast eyes.

I fully went into routine, doing the same thing day after day. In between hunting a deer since I got hungry, but that wasn't often.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

“Ingrid-”She broke me off aggressively

“No, I won't give you a chance to refuse. You know, my father, he was a bastard. He was once a hunter of this small village. But you know what? He was the worst hunter you could imagine. And know what he did when he came back without any game? He beat me. To a pulp. But the worst part hasn't come yet, everyone knew, Ernest too, but no one gave a shit. And one day, I went with him on the hunt. I persuaded him somehow to let me join. Wanna know what I did?”

“I-”

“No, I told you, no chance to refuse. That day, I took a knife with me and... and...” She paused for a moment, got calmer “He didn't come back with me that day, and neither any time later.

As I came back alone... at first some people asked where he was. As soon as I looked into their eyes they knew, but still I... sarcastically... I told them that he... that he saved me from a boar and didn't get up from that. They all knew he wasn't that kind of person. He had never done that... not for me.”

At that point she was overflowing with hatred and sadness. Tears were running down her cheeks. She dropped down to her knees. And nearly out of reflex, since it just felt like the right thing to do, I held her in my arms.

We sat there like that for a moment.

Still sobbing she said “Now it's your turn...”

“I... I...” I sighed “Where should I start? My village got burnt down. Everyone got killed, except me. I don't know who it was, but this one guy was shouting 'Hail to the king' all the time.”

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Thoughts

But what now? I had learned to transform by will, had gained back my human self.

There was something I still had to do but... I was much to scared of that scared of going back to my dreams scared of continuing on that path wherever it leads.

So what else do I have left? Living out here would be an option, no one has come yet to solve this monster problem I guess it's true what they say; Out of sight, out of mind

But then again, it would be quite lonely out here peaceful, at least at peaceful as it can be with IT around but very lonely

And I could walk around without problem I got this transforming thing under control But how to continue out there? I can't stay with Martin & Ruth, I'm unsure how much they did notice, and I don't want them to live in fear

But I should at least them tell what happened or at least bits of it, maybe just that I'm alive They should know at least that

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

A Survivor Born?

Panic Man

I woke up in the middle of the forest. What was that dream? It felt so real, like I was standing right there. I could feel the heat. I looked around. Where am I? Why am I sitting on the ground, in the forest? Why is my back so stiff? How long have I already been here?

Ssø mãny küêsstîønss, ssø fêw åñsswêrss ha ha ha ha ha

What? Where did that come from? 'Hello? Is someone there?'

No one. I was all alone. But where did that voice come from then?

Picture Forest by aJVL

Music Panic Man by FesliyanStudios

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

The first half of the deer didn’t last for long. But it sated my appetite, so I took the other half with me.

How long until raw flesh gets foul? I wish I knew. I should eat it by tomorrow ‘round this time, just to make sure it doesn’t get tainted.

After I was back to my cave and had ‘stored’ the remaining half of the deer a question came up.

So… what now? I figured out I can only see moving things, everything else is blurry and reddish. I am able to hunt, apparently I got amazingly sharp claws. Only question is; What to do with this new won free time? Hunting for fun is a waste and only gives me unnecessary attention – What do dragons do in their caves? I guess they sleep in their piles of gold, until some brave hero comes who ends up eaten alive. But I am no dragon, at least I don’t look lik…

Then it struck me, What do I actually look like in this form? I went out again, in search of water. It didn’t take too long till I found some.

I gradually moved my head over the water. To not scare myself too much.

Picture Inside the Cave by Joaru

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Raw Rabbit

Distant Horizons

My stomach was rumbling Nothing edible in sight --- at least nothing I know is edible. I hope that I find another town soon. Else I'll starve in this forest.

I noticed that there where many animals around now. Although I only saw that beaver in the days before. Maybe if I somehow manage to catch a rabbit --- no, I wouldn't be able to make a fire here and raw rabbit doesn't sound very good.

Continuing through the forest I thought about what I could find here that was edible.

Picture Deer by IntroducingEmy

Music Distant Horizons by Jeremy Soule

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

The Attack - Bjorn

Prepare for the Onslaught

One morning I woke up to the smell of smoke and burning flesh. To screams of pain and agony. To the sounds of clinging metal. At first I thought it was a bandit attack. They must be after the gold father got for that jewel he sold to the king I thought. But I was wrong.

Mother tried to stay calm. Father took his pickaxe and was on his way out the front door. Suddenly the door burst open and someone came through it. It felt like time was frozen. I looked at him and saw every detail on his armour. This is no bandit. This is a mercenary. Time unfroze again as father rammed his axe into the intruders head. He fell onto the floor and father went over him and out.

Mother didn't look. She did her best not to. To keep her calm. But I knew she wasn't calm. I could see the fright in her eyes. She took of her necklace and put it around my neck. Then she mumbled something I didn't understand and kissed me on my forehead. 'Run!' She said. 'Run out the backdoor. Get away from here. Survive.'

Picture Nibelheim by jordangrimmer

Music Prepare for the Onslaught by Epic Score

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016