Blood

Kingslayer

A few days later Ruth and I went to a nearby town for... something -- I can't recall for what or why. Nothing really special was in town. Only masses of people, far more than in my hometown.

As we came by the Tavern a man came out. He was still looking inside while walking out the door. But then, he turned around. And his face went from tipsy smiling to sober fear. He went white as a sheet in no time.

He stood there, frozen in place. He slowly raised his shivering hand, pointing at me. He was opening his mouth widely. Like he wanted to scream, but -- nothing came out.

Picture Prancing Pony tavern by daRoz

Music Kingslayer by Ramin Djawadi

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

The start of my day was successful. Quite successful to be honest. 'Discovered' some (most probably) edible plant and had already found a way to enhance my meals with it. In my opinion a very good start of the day.

But the day continued, and so I had to continue too.

Continue looking for any tracks of animals. Preferably something large like a deer. Something to get a bit of profit out of.

I remembered the the berry bush I found. There had been some animal eating from those.

I inspected the bush again. The traces were on the upper part of the bush, so it couldn't have been a rabbit or the like. Might have been a deer. Or at least something similar in size. A cow maybe... here in the forest? Well you never know.

As I inspected the bitten of stalks I noticed that they were already dry and brown were it got severed. Guess it's been some time since something fed from that bush.

But I didn't give up. Up until now I had only known how to trace animals by their tracks in the snow, now I could maybe learn how to follow them by other kind of traces they leave.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

A Face on the Inside

Papercut

Why does it feel like night today? Something in here's not right today. Why am I so uptight today? Paranoia's all I got left I don't know what stressed me first Or how the pressure was fed But I know just what it feels like To have a voice in the back of my head Like a face that I hold inside A face that awakes when I close my eyes A face that watches every time I lie A face that laughs every time I fall And watches everything So I know that when it's time to sink or swim That the face inside is hearing me Right beneath my skin It's like I'm paranoid lookin' over my back It's like a whirlwind inside of my head It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within It's like the face inside is right beneath my skin I know I've got a face in me Points out all my mistakes to me...

Picture Disturbed by Dunjochka

Music Papercut by Linkin Park

Note from the Author

Yes, this is part of Bjorn's story. Would be boring to write the whole story like a usual book, wouldn't it?

© 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

Maybe a lil warning for those who... don't like blood, there'll be some of it in this episode :D

To everyone else Enjoy :D

And another. Pox!! Why can't I hit him?! I'm the best swordsman of Father's sons!! I even beat the tutor!!!

I sent another powerful swing in this maggots direction.

How dare he jump out of the way. I AM Bhaltair, son of Eoghan!! NO ONE insults me and gets away with it!!

I noticed Hector running towards him from the side. Jumped at him. And bit him in the Arm!! Getting what you deserve you scum!!

Good boy, defending your Master.

He looked at me, and I looked back, into his eyes. I could see the fear, finally he acknowledged who was standing before him. That I, Bhaltair, am better than him. That I will bring justice upon him!

Suddenly Bryn appeared behind him out of nowhere and bit into his other arm.

Bryn? That means Roderick must be near.

Just as I thought that, I heard a sharp hiss, a 'wet' thud and the felon fell to his knees.

Right! Kneel before me, Bhaltair!!!

As I looked up, behind the outlaw, brother Roderick stood a dozen paces behind him. Sitting on his horse, lowering his bow. He came towards me.

Suddenly the hounds whined, loosened their bite and backed away from the guy.

I inspected him for a moment, something was off. There was blood... no... flesh on the ground right in front of him. I knelt down to inspect it more closely. Took up a bit.

Flesh... but so warm.

I looked up, at my captive. All of sudden he raised is head and screeched at me. His eyes were black as night. His face was like the insides of an animal. His teeth long as daggers.

I fell to my back, crawled away.

W... W... Wha... WHAT!?!

Slowly he stood up, flesh falling from his limbs as he began to move them. Long black claws came out of his hands.

“Hector...? Hector...?! HECTOR!!!”

I didn't see him anywhere near. Damn dog. No loyalty towards his Master!

That thing was just standing there, watching me. Was it waiting for something?

Suddenly Roderick rode by it. With a swift move it sliced into his horse and chopped of one of Roderick's legs. At first it seemed like neither even noticed they had been hurt. Then the horse fell and Roderick began screaming.

Another swift move from the abomination. Moments later Roderick stopped screaming. Then...

Rod... Roder... h... h... h... his... he... head...!!

It just fell off. Blood was coming out of his neck and flowing onto his steed.

I... i... i... is this still this felon?

Suddenly he turned around and towards me. I began crawling backwards again. After a few steps a tree stopped me. It came slowly closer, taking his time.

I closed my eyes...

Oh please lord, do something against this demon, I don't deserve to die.

...as I opened my eyes it stood directly in front of me. On all fours. Eyeing me down with those eternally black eyes. Drooling all over my legs.

“Please... please... spare me. I... I do not deserve to die... I have done nothing wrong. I'm sure you want stuff, don't you? Right! I can give you everything you want. Jewelry, Clothes, Food, Women. Everything! Just please spare me. I didn't want to hurt... y... you? Or Him? I didn't want to hurt this scu... eh... Bjork... no... Bjorn! I didn't want to hurt him. Just please please spare me.”

Somewhere in those sentences I began crying. I didn't want to die. What had I done wrong? Justice was on my side. My will is justice.

It came closer to my face. Hissing fiercely at me. Drooling more and more on me.

“please... please... let me live... you've taken my brother... isn't he enough?”

It changed it's weight on it's hind legs, moved its claws to my chest.

“...please...”

Then I felt this pressure on my chest, and saw his claws disappear within me. Blood soaking my clothes. Then an unbelievable pain began moving through my whole body.

“...p...p...please...”

It pressed to the sides and ripped Bhaltair apart. Blood spurting all over itself and the surrounding. Both his horse and the hounds had run away a long time ago.

It just climbed on top of a tree.

Hid there.

And fell asleep.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Note from the Author

Ok, this one got a lil bit longer than usual but I thought it'd be fun to show you guys some stuff Bjorn doesn't really witness. And I guess if I have any further chances to do this I will, it was defintiely fun to write.

Thanks for Following, Thanks for reading & Thanks for your feedback (altho I'd love to get some more of that)

Morrowind Soundtrack

First the other hand, then my feet, head after that, then legs & arms and in the end my whole torso

that was the first time I actually looked into the pond again and didn't just drink from it

I had longer hair than ever before was quite a bit taller and naturally I had aged a bit even gotten a few stubbles I had 'gained' a few scars all over my body too

But I didn't stop there, didn't walk back home I had to learn to control this turning to the best I could

Transforming my whole body took a few winters & since I was sure this wouldn't be the last time I had to do it I had to drastically improve that time

It took a bit longer than another two winters nearly reached the third but in the end I was able to turn within a few days and although it took far less energy now I still felt like I could eat an elk afterwards

Picture cave by pilot-whale

Music Morrowind Soundtrack by Jeremy Soule

Note from the Author

I know I'm a lil late but, Happy 2k16 to everybody ^^

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

New Theme

Note from the Author

Sadly I have to change theme since the Library Theme from Themes By Eris does not seem to work anymore.

I'll take a look into it and see if I can fix it by myself but I can't promise anything. And even just the fixing might take a few weeks. So for now this blog is back to Optica, either till I fixed Eris' Library Theme or found a good replacement.

It was a horrible view.

What was left of my hair were a few long, light strands. By far longer than my hair.

My eyes were… black. Deep black. Like ITs territory. The left one looked like it could fall out every moment.

As I saw my mouth… or rather jaw, my heart stopped.

Nothing that would resemble lips in any way. Two rows of razor sharp teeth. Like I had a mouth filled with daggers. And it was wide. Very wide. My… jaw… went nearly from ear to ear.

How could I close this mouth? I would surely hurt myself.

I tried. Now I knew where the blood had come from while deer hunting.

I bit right through what one could call my “skin”.

My skin looked like someone had burned it off. I had neither ears nor nose.

I could’ve never dreamed of such a creature. Not in my wildest nightmare. But there I saw it. Worse than the worst thing I could imagine. And it was my reflection.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

We went back shortly after. Neither of us said much. I looked at her every now and then, to see if she got hurt somewhere. Physically she seemed fine, but I was sure there had to be some serious mental & emotional damage after that.

She didn't tell me what had happened. She might think I know what happened, that I saw it all, but had no control over it. Or maybe... No, I had to stop overthinking this, without asking I can never guess what she thought. It was simply not possible to think myself into having no idea at all of whats up with me. I know not all of it either, but I know some important bits.

“Ingrid-”

I tried to break the silence, had to find out what happened.

“Whatever happened, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't tell you beforehand, but I don't want people to know, for their safety. And now I'm forced to not tell anyone”

She didn't answer. She just continued walking, looking at the ground, staring far far away. Just like I did back then. Seeing that helped me a bit, helped me understand. It was a different situation, a different enemy, a different time, but I think it was somehow still very similar.

“Please Ingrid...” I put my hand on her shoulder “...please, I beg you, tell me what happened. I don't know, I cannot tell you why, not even what, but I never remember those...” I paused, carefully looking for the right word, to stay true to my contract “...those moments”

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

We went back to the village in silence.

We had ventured out far. Were back in village a bit after noon.

Nothing really special happened there. People greeted as usual after we came back. Some asked if the hunt was bad. We told them bout the stag we followed but, we altered the story a bit. First time we got asked Ingrid improvised, then we agreed keeping the story of a pack of wolves coming out of nowhere. That they luckily went after the stag instead of us. Must have noticed that he was the bigger meal. We kept the rest to ourselves. No need to tell anyone.

After that day talking between Ingrid and me kept to the most important stuff. Every now and then, I saw in her eyes that she really wanted to get closer to me again, but she didn't try. She feared what might happen. Wished I could have done something about IT back then.

Then spring came, the snow began to melt, birds were chirping in the forest... and my 'bargain'; a warm place to stay in winter, paid with my help came to an end.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016