Wild Woods

“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 was starting to understand this form. So that's why things seem to disappear sometimes.

With that knowledge I could go hunting. Better than any human hunter. Far better. Although I still had to learn to differentiate between silhouettes.

A glimmer in the corner of my eye Another hare I lept for it. But I overdid the jump. The hare got away.

Damn it! I need to learn to control my strength, my new won abbilites. But I was hungry and it's hard to concentrate with a growling stomach. I went for bigger prey.

I climbed a tree, with ease. Looked around for movement. It took quite a while till I saw some suitable prey. A deer, probably, it came all the way to the tree I was sitting on. Like it wanted to be eaten.

Picture The White Deer by EternaLegend

© 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

The crowd was still standing around. Unsure if they should believe the drunken huntsman or not.

Ruth grabbed my hand firmly and went through the masses of people. A few dozen paces later she stopped, turned around and crouched down in front of me.

'Don't listen to that drunkard, he always tells stuff like that.' She calmly said to me.But in her eyes I saw that she didn't completely believe those words herself.

© 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

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

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

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

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

Underground

And suddenly, I was there.

This blackness all around me.

Hey! -- Does it have a name? -- I know you’re there! I need your help!

Sssøö, yôü €åmé aftærr åll. Ýøû wånna knòw whät Ï’m cællêd, æh? Whÿ døn’t yôü leårrn yøurr øwn nåme fïr$sst?

My own name? But I know my name, I’m Bjorn.

Hr Hr Yøü sssêrïøusslý $till bêlïevæ zât? Wëll, sîncæ yôu cån’t wãlk ‘rrøûnd åskin pëøplê ‘bøût it, I’ll tell yøu. Sssincë yøu, 片 Kata, åctûally føûnd më yøursêlf.

Did IT just call me 片 Kata? How can that be my name?

IT sighed Yôü gûýss næverr lêärrn. Yêsss, ýøurr rRRëâl nåmë is 片 Kata!

Ok, Ok, I got it. 片 Kata. So, what do they call you?

Thåt, yøü’ll hâve tø find øût yöûrrsssëlf.

Music Underground by ◄-NATURE-►

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016