...Nightmare?

I went back into the cave To have my peace and quiet while transforming Although I had mastered it pretty well I still needed all the focus I had

It was risky to do this outside I'd be completely unprotected for the whole time and someone could see me transforming There was no way I'd take that risk

A few days later I was back looking like me again Dammit, again those scars from wounds I never had They were everywhere, on my arms, my legs, my chest I do have a few scars that genuinely are 'mine' who I got by myself, from being careless around the forge I paid well for those unwary moments, a large burn on my left arm and smaller ones on my right Naturally some on my hands too, but those are rather usual After I was done in the cave, I went to the pond to wash the clothes I got from that old man Wonder if anyone found that guy

I went back to the cave, put the wet clothes on a flat rock then I gathered a few stones, put them in a circle and stacked the firewood inside I got the fire going with some dry grass and Flintstones and went into the cave to get the meat I had cut up Hope it isn't spoiled yet

Picture Night Plains by danielwachter

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

“I ran into a forest... not far away. It was the only place I could think of.

Then... one morning... I think it was the first, I had... I had... blood. It was everywhere... on my hands... my face... it wasn't mine. And there was that voice... it was... h-h-horrible. So deep... and it was... everywhere.”

I paused for a moment, to relax a bit.

“I... I got it off... somehow. Beyond the forest... I met a guy... Martin. He and his wife, Ruth, they took me in, cared for me... raised me.

And then... years later... one n-n-night... I... I... I...”

The words were stuck in my throat. Why was this so hard? I took a few deep breaths. Ingrid didn't say a word, didn't move, I barely noticed her breathing. This break was longer. We just sat there in silence, for a while.

“That night... I had a dre-dre-dre--

LËÂVÉ HÎM ÂLØNËËË, HÊ Í$$S MÌÎÏNÊÊ!! YØÛ HÈÅRR MÆ FØÔLÍ$HHH GÎRRRRL? ÅLL MÍNÊÊÊ!!!”

I was surrounded by blackness, by this feel of nothing, again.

Why am I here? Why now? WHAT did you do!? And what are you doing right now?!?

Mäkê ss$súrrê yøü rrêmëmbèr bøyyy, Yôü åré mînè, ând mìnë ålønæ!!!

What? I have no time for your nonsense now, let me back again. Don't you dare hurt her.

Øhhh, ýøû'd cärê íf Î hürt hær? Wê cån ärrràngé zât, yöû knøw.

Don't you dare!! You piece of shit!! It's me you want, come here and fight me.

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha YØÛ thînk yöú'd sstând å chäncssæ ågàïnsst mê?!? HA HA HA HA

I... I... godammit, FUCK YOU!! What is it you want from me? What do I have to do so you leave her be!?!

Æsy, døn't têll ånyønê åbøût më ânýmørê. Nëxt tïmê zërê wøn't bé å wàrning

Sure, you've got yourself a deal, now let me

“OUT!!”

Whoa, I was back. She was sitting a few steps away from me, looking at me in terror, tears running down her face.

“Whatever happened, I'm sorry. IT--”

Hêy, rrëmêmbèr whåt YØÚ jüsst ågrêêd tø?!

“...I-I-I sometimes have these... no, I can't lie to you. Now I really can't tell you. For your safety. Else you'll get hurt, and I don't want that.”

“But-”

“Please Ingrid, it's no threat, no bluff, it's... a warning.”

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Beat by Memories

Looking at it afterwards I’m unsure what I thought. Although he was just an image from my memories, I did barely know how to fight.

The only experience I had was the training with that one guard. And hitting at a tree stump on my own.

I didn’t even know how to use a sword properly, and I had the brilliant idea to fistfight with this guy.

Oh shit-

He came at me with a right. By acting like I had a shield in my hand, I actually managed to block that.

It was a hard swing, It hurt like hell. But I had a small success there.

I was actually able to block that p –

He hit me under the chin.

I felt how I bit through my tongue, then lifted off the ground. Still pushed by his punch.

I woke up again. Panic-stricken, sitting up instantly

He beat me. Should have expected as much.

Picture DOWN + B by vashperado

© 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

the Author Speaking

This post won't be about Bjorn, sorry to disappoint you there.

This post is about a woman. But not just any woman. She is... *grins* different. She has far more than just a pretty smile. Some might call her weird, scary, or even damaged. But again, she's more than that.

She's intelligent, calm, focused, just, powerful, deep, *grins* almost harmless. I can promise you, you won't find another like her. She's a fighter, a survivor, inspiring, skilled, got the best make-up tips.

Someday, she awoke through a chain of events. And now, she's just incredible. If you ever meet her you'll know what I'm talking about.

Today she's better known as La Kapitana. And to be honest, all I came here for, today, was to wish her a Happy Birthday.

* looks at the text * shakes head * Somehow this always happens when I'm trying to keep it short

Author - out

Martin

A Hard Teacher

Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder.

Looking around I was kneeling in grass. No more trees around me. The hand was a man's. It was big and scarred, but it's touch gentle.

'Wha's wi' ye wee 'un?'

I tried to say something but I couldn't bring out a word. I began to cry.

'Noo Noo, na need te blart. Ye git a name?'

'...Bjorn' I said faintly

'So Bjorn, ye hungry?'

I nodded, wiping away my tears

'Folloo me then. Name is Martin by th' wey'

Picture Male Peasant by dashinvaine

Music A Hard Teacher by Hans Zimmer

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

I woke up again much later.

The first rays of sunlight were already showing at the horizon.

I was cold and stiff, and my butt hurt, this wasn't the most comfortable place to sit all night long. I began with slowly untying the branches around me. They did help quite well at keeping out the cold, but didn't really keep the warmth in either.

To loosen the stiffness in my body I moved my arms and legs a bit before I thought about climbing down.

I took a look down first, Anything down there I could hit? Or that could be waiting for me?

Didn't seem like there was anything under me... just the ground. It wasn't that high, it wasn't the first time I did this, but still... I always had a weird feeling looking down from 'high' up.

But it didn't matter, I got up here, so I had to get down again too.

The legs hanging down I was much closer to the ground already, I held the branch firmly, turned around and slowly let myself down.

As I was fully stretched out I hadn't touched the ground with my feet yet.

Did IT come out tonight? Set me on another tree? No... it couldn't. I hadn't been covered by those small branches otherwise. It may be shrewd but it's simply not able to do that.

I had faith in my judgement and released my grip...

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

' 'tis 'im! Guards! Guards! Capture dis monster!' All people stopped up immediately, and all gazed upon wich the man was pointing.

Me.

Two guards came. Both with there sword drawn, but as they noticed there was no danger, they sheated them again. 'What's happenen eya?' One of the guards asked

'Dis fel -- tin' dare, it ate me game.'

'Coost be a bit mower specific? Yom a hunter, many people ate the mate yaouw bren. That is naaa crime'

'Naw. Yer don't git waaat oi say. Yer man ate me game. Oi 'ad jist shot it, den yer man 'oofed over ter it. As oi came ter 'imself an' asked waaat yer man wus doin' 'is bake wus al' deformed wi' razorsharp teet an' yer man 'ad claws.'

The guards looked at each other. They had to hold back their laughter 'Is that the same kind of story loike that 'un with the three-headed elk yaouw met?'

The man was baffled 'Naw! listen ter me-'

The guards nearly pissed themselves from laughing 'It's alrooight, we'll let yaouw get awoy with this unneeded call fer help since yaouw gave us a bostin loff.'

Picture Deer-ner is Served by Hjoldir-Hildwulf [EDITED]

© 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

Dark Cave Ambiance

Back in my dreams. As always he was standing right beside me; waiting, laughing, provocating.

But this time I was ready, I knew what to do.

Again he did the first hit, a stiff right. As usual. Blocked.

Ok, now turn. In that moment I realised something, but I didn't even have time to think it.

I woke up

''Damn that bastard!

Wait, calm down. This was your own fault.''

I had totally forgotten how I turn my eyes. I knew how to, but couldn't recall the steps. It had become automated.

Like breathing.

So I stayed awake. Sitting in my cave, remembering how I turn my eyes, trying to apply that principle to my arm.

But it was exhausting. By far more than turning my eyes,

I could feel this 'energy' stream trough my arm, but it wasn't enough.

I'm unsure how long it took exactly, sitting in the darkness of that cave the whole time. But after what probably was a dozen days or so I finally did it.

I turned my right arm back to normal. Only the lower part but now I knew how to do it.

Picture Hand Study 1 by irysching [EDITED]

Music Dark Cave Ambiance (Part 1) by Cr1msonKing

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016