So My Travels Began It Didn't Take Long Till I Came To A Village I Wasn't Really Greated By Anyone, Didn't

All of sudden I felt my claw gripping into the tree, me swinging towards the tree and bumping into it. Then I was just hanging there.

It took me a lot more time to realize... to fathom what just had happened. As I looked up I saw that I was just a bit below the branch I had been sitting and sleeping on. Just about an arms length.

My mind began working again without all that surprise and wonder twisting into every single thought. I pulled myself up and sat on the branch again.

For a a moment I just sat there, looking at my arm.

IT saved me again. I would maybe have survived the fall, if I was lucky enough to not fall on my head, but I had surely hurt myself badly or broken something. And that out here, without any help.

How come that IT has already saved me two times? It's not like I don't appreciate surviving, I just wonder why IT has to help me with it. Clearly it's helpful to have a partner with you, but I don't think I could consider IT that.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Note from the Author

I’m sorry guys (& girls) but I have some private matters to attend to so there probably won’t be any posts this week. I’ll try to make it up for you with some extra posts next week.

Ssø bë ît

Fallen City

Covered in a layer of mud I continued to wander through the forest. Does this damn forest never end?

Î wøñdërr whö zät bløôd bèlóñgëd tø ha ha ha ha haaa

There was that voice again. What does it want from me and where does it come from? Can other people hear it too? 'WHOEVER OR WHATEVER YOU ARE, DONT TALK TO ME ANYMORE! LEAVE. ME. BE!'

--- at least until I can find out who or what you are

Ssø bë ît

Picture Disturbed by Dunjochka

Music Fallen City by G Empire Music

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

POWER

I looked at my hand for a moment clenched it in triumph

Moments later I was lying there anew with that fucktard right beside me

''Are you ready to lose to me another time?''

''Not this time.'' I said grinning

I held up my right hand

Closed my eyes

Concentrated

Drove the energy from deep inside into it

As I opened my eyes again they were there.

Those deep black talon like claws My skin slowly falling off, revealing what is beneath

It was difficult to hide my agony the pain of the transformation was tormenting but I managed

I was still grinning, like a maniac and I looked at him, saw fear in his eyes

I felt amazing,

POWERFUL

''Hey, you're cheating. That ain't part of your body''

''I made it part of mine''

Then his face turned

He began grinning it felt like looking in a mirror and then I realized

This wasn't me

''That's all I wanted to hear, boy. You may pass''

Picture Glowing by Eemeling [EDITED]

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

My only real problem at the beginning was I didn't have any coin. So I hunted.Began setting up rabbit traps, selling those to other people on the road or sometimes in towns or villages.

After some three or four dozen days I had enough to get a bow and some arrows. And then I was at it again. Hunting.

I still traveled while hunting, but I usually went a bit off the main road to look for tracks or any other signs of prey or predator. Tho I usually just found rabbits, no big game. I guess I was still to near that road, but I didn't wanna lose sight of it. Had surely lost my orientation somewhere on the way.

It stayed with rabbits for quite a while. They fed my hunger and I could still sell a few. Survived well for quite a while with that, tho one day I dared to venture further into the forest. Search for bigger game. And get some coin out of it. So I could get my main focus on the traveling again.

© 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

A Small Measure of Peace

Martin seemed to be a nice man. He didn't talk very much on the way but every now and then he looked at me and smiled.

I guess he was a little bit smaller than most people, as he was only two heads taller than myself. He was about the same age father... was, maybe a little older.

I can't tell why but I somehow knew from the beginning he was a sincere & honest man. He had no reason to wish bad things on anyone. Nor did he want any bad things to happen to himself or the people who are dear to him.

' 'ere we er wee 'un'

Picture house by 0BO

Music A Small Measure of Peace by Hans Zimmer

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

At first I went right through the water, but noticed after a few steps that it was quite a lot louder than I imagined because of the shallow water. So instead I went a few steps beside the beck, always having it in sight.

It didn't take long till I was at the pond again. Keeping in mind the unknown dangers of it I trod with caution and tried to re-trace my steps.

Ok think... you found the pond... went up on a tree... lemme see... no... no... no... ah! That one!... from there down... and... … into a bush... into... that bush! After that... … I went to the pond... ...why?...

I pondered over that for a moment, Why did I go to the pond? What was there for me to do there?

Hmm... no matter... IT warned me of the pond... then I went further up the stream again...

As I began walking back up the beck I noticed how the area seemed very familiar so I followed that sense of having been here before, the feeling of having seen this before.

After much looking around and searching I found my old camp and all my stuff too. Looks ransacked... hope it was just some animal who hoped to find anything edible here.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

The Plan

And after that? I could travel

Maybe, just maybe, I can find a way to rid myself of IT Perhaps I'll find out what IT really is, what IT wants from me

And even if I'm destined to live with IT till the very end I'll get to see new places, learn new things Probably help people in need Maybe even hinder something like back then, when my hometown got burned down, to happen again

And so my plan was set Only one question was left Where should I get some clothes from now? I could rob a caravan or the like, naturally without hurting anyone, just taking what I need

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

I gave away my presence a bit rashling in bushes, cracking twigs, jumping through tree crowns, even a short growl

That's was the first time he actually looked afraid guess he must fear wolves good then that I aint one

The whole encounter itself was over before it began

I screeched, loud, and I was less than a dozen paces from him He fell on his rump, spilling some of the baskets contents

It was filled with vegetables So I was right with the selling stuff

He was crawling away from me, stumbling over potatoes and carrots

I am able to arouse such fear in people without them even seeing me

I jumped out of a bush, landed right over him he just sat there, paralyzed by fear I leaned over him, getting on all fours Still trying to 'run' from me he got closer and closer to the ground As there wasn't any more room between him and the dirt the moment I was right beside his ear Saliva dropped on him I really am one of these fiercy monsters, even drooling The moment the saliva hit his face

He pissed himself and fainted

Picture [Study] old man by GDYang [EDITED]

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016