At First I Went Right Through The Water, But Noticed After A Few Steps That It Was Quite A Lot Louder

I woke up just after sunrise. Birds were chirping all around, the sun was behind me and I had some breakfast with me. I had left over some smaller pieces of the horse meat from my last meal. And even tho cold, they were still tasty.

Getting down from the tree was, just like getting up, not very difficult. I took a look around, to see if anyone or anything was nearby. Nothing.

“Lets see... plan for today... drench thirst, wash blood of my... the stuff I found... hmm... lets see how long that takes. After that maybe try to find my bow and arrows again. Sun will surely be down by that time.”

So I set out to follow that plan.

Went to the nearby beck and drank some water. As I wanted to begin washing of the blood from the stuff I found, I realized that I had no idea how to go about it. The water was shallow, the current was weak, so I decided to just put everything in the water. Except my pants. Then I ripped a piece of cloth out of my pants and used that for cleaning the stuff.

Getting the blood off the Flint & Iron was easy enough. Cleaning it off the whetstone wasn't difficult either. After that I cleaned the knife and the arrow quiver. Cleaning the bow was more difficult. The crust of dried blood came of easily enough, but below that some blood had drawn into the wood. It seemed like my scrubbing had no effect, no matter how long I tried to.

“Guess I'll have to hide that somehow... maybe with more blood on the bow”

© 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

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

A Hug

Helos

He opened the door. I walked in behind him.

'Martin, where 'ave ya been?'

'Met th' wee un on th' way'

'Wee wahn?'

I came forth from behind Martin. I saw in her eyes that she was exactly like him, only wanted to protect the people dear to her. And it seemed like I just became one of those people.

'Wot 'appened ter ya lil' wahn?' She came down and hugged me tightly. I didn't resist, it felt like paradise. I wanted that moment never to end. This warm, sincere hug. Like the one from a worried mother.

Then, still hugging me, she looked at Martin. 'Ya think...'

'Aye, ah think he cam fae that toun'

Picture Black Butterfly by Selenada

Music Helos by Scott B. Morton & Michael Verrette

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

I took and chewed a bit on a piece of the dried meat

Let's see... the hound noticed me... I waited a bit... ran out the back of the bush... …next thing I know I stumble over the root of a tree... and end up over there... where Lord Half&Half and his companion are lying. Hmmmm... Any more...? … …

Oh right, he swung his sword into the tree... about head height-- gulp... I remembered what could have happened if that tree hadn't been there.

But, what could have happened shouldn't hinder me at following back my steps, so I searched for exactly that one tree... in a forest.

Surprisingly it didn't take as long as expected. I found it after trying a few dozen trees.

Ok, I found the tree... let me think... he stood there... I stood there... came like this... uhuh... uhuh... guess I came from there then.

And I followed the way I thought I came from.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

The End of Nothing?

Lucid Dream

The night after I ‘awoke’ in my dreams again.

Blackness all around me, as usual.

But something was off, as if the blackness would end a few paces in front of me.

Has that always been there? Did I just not notice it?

I went closer.

Wondering what and if there was anything beyond that 'end', I carefully stretched out a hand.

My hand was stopped. It was cold and hard. And it had a rough feeling to it. Like stone. Or Bricks.

Does… does this... ‘thing’ end anywhere? But how can an end, end? And how can this nothingness even have an end? Are those the boundaries of my mind, my dreams?

I held one hand on this… whatever it was, this stone thingy. I held one hand on it, and went along, without ever letting go.

After some time, I noticed something glowing.

Light? Here? How can this be?

I went closer. At a faster pace.

The lights were moving, and they twinkled every few seconds.

I began running towards it, since I didn’t seem to get closer.

Suddenly I realized what those lights were, they were eyes. A pair of glowing, twinkling eyes. And they had seen me.

Picture The Black Wall by Eleni Tsami / eilidh

Music Lucid Dream by Neeko Freeman

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

At first I didn't hear him at all I was still scared of myself

What am I doing? I do hate this guy for what he did but Just a moment ago this hate consumed me I was only this hate for him no more, no less

I was afraid of it where did this all consuming hate come from and how could it take control over me like that

Many questions, no answers only the idea, the conclusion, that it came from IT somehow through the claw.

But how?

I wanted it gone but I couldn't focus enough not enough to get rid of it again

''Hey! Boy! We're done here! You can go on.''

I looked at him shortly and in him I saw a solution only a temporary solution but better than nothing

''Hit me''

''What?''

''I said Hit me! Like those hundreds of times before''

''But-''

''Just do it for fucks sake''

Note from the Author

Thanks for reading, for following, for liking. It's good to get some feedback, and even better if it's mostly positiv.

Merry Xmas to all of you ^^

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Wild Woods

I went out, to the pond again.

It was broad day. The sun was high and birds were chirping.

I looked around a bit at the pond.

Hmm… still no one’s come to fight this beast. Didn’t expect it to take them this long to find someone brave enough to kill this monster.

A deer got near the other side of the pond.

A deer?!

I looked down at my stomach.

Well, I ain’t hungry. At least I don’t feel hungry. I’ll let it live. No need to kill it just for sport. Don’t wanna overeat either.

Walking back to the cave I thought about this ‘dream’

How can I beat this guy? He’s superior to me in every way. Stronger, faster, more experienced…

I got his first punch, it hurt like a bitch to block it, but I know he isn’t almighty.

Just have to look out for upper-cuts now. Biting of my own tongue is even worse than getting hit in the arm.

Picture Deer by Jason Behnke

Music Wild Woods by Brandon Fiechter

© 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 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