There Was No Way For Me Of Coming Out Of This, So The Only Thing I Really Could Do Was Stretch Out My

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

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

So my travels began It didn't take long till I came to a village I wasn't really greated by anyone, didn't expect it either the only thing I noticed strongly were curious but harsh eyes They were all around me, every single one watched me with them After looking around for a while, always being kept an eye on, an elderly man came up to me, trying to put on a friendly face to hide his distrust

“What brings you here, stranger?”

“Well, actually I'm just looking for some work, maybe a place to stay”

“We cannot pay you”

“Oh no worries, a roof over my head for the winter & some food would be enough pay”

“Are there any crafts you know?”

“I did work for a smith for some time a while back, but that got kinda broken off 'cause of... reasons”

“Reasons? Hmmm... whatever it may be, I do understand that there are things you won't tell a complete stranger. The smith already got too little to do on his own, but the hunter needs a hand”

“Great.” I smiled & reached him my hand “Bjorn”

“Go to the other side of the village and ask for Ingrid. Tell her I said you can stay at hers as long as you prove to be a help on the hunt”

He took my hand, shook it & this time with a slightly more honest smile said “Ernest”

Picture humble village by Skvor

© 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

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

Wåkëy wækêy lørds$släyérrr

“What?!”

At first I felt panic when I woke up, but I noticed that I was on a branch so I moved slowly. I cautiously looked down.

Not that high, can easily climb down.

Said, done. I was back on ground again, looked around to see if anything was nearby.

What happened? Last thing I remember was... In front of my inner eye I saw Lord stuck-up grinning at me, nearly felt the thud in my back, that I was pushed onto my knees, and saw something blurry protruding from my right flank.

I grasped for it immediately, but there was nothing there anymore.

A bad dream? No... I was... hunting... and became the hunted

While thinking I walked by myself. Suddenly I kicked into something mushy. Instinctively I looked down.

Oh fuck!!

The moment I saw it all that happened flushed into my mind.

I had blacked out as I got that hit in the back, and IT took over. Killing first someone on a horse, sliced open the horse, then decapitated the man. Then pushed his claws into Lord Rage's chest while he was begging for his life and... ripped him apart.

Guess that is part of him then.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

It’s gone?

A Lannister Always Pays His Debts

It -- gave up? That easily?

'You won't trick me, you're still there aren't you?' No reply

Is it really gone? Why would it give up so easily? It must have had some reason to come. Did it find what it searched for? Why even overthink it. I finally got rid of it, whatever it might have been.

At that time I really thought IT was gone. That I'd never hear IT again, never again feel IT's presence. I was wrong.

Picture Hunter x Hunter (2011) --- [E131] --- Gon Freecss

Music A Lannister Always Pays His Debts composed by Ramin Djawadi

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Thoughts

But what now? I had learned to transform by will, had gained back my human self.

There was something I still had to do but... I was much to scared of that scared of going back to my dreams scared of continuing on that path wherever it leads.

So what else do I have left? Living out here would be an option, no one has come yet to solve this monster problem I guess it's true what they say; Out of sight, out of mind

But then again, it would be quite lonely out here peaceful, at least at peaceful as it can be with IT around but very lonely

And I could walk around without problem I got this transforming thing under control But how to continue out there? I can't stay with Martin & Ruth, I'm unsure how much they did notice, and I don't want them to live in fear

But I should at least them tell what happened or at least bits of it, maybe just that I'm alive They should know at least that

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Realization

Starting Disease

I woke up drenched in sweat.

Did -- did this all really happen? There's no other reason for me to be out here. I climbed down from the tree.

Why would the king order this? Why would he send such a madman to our small town to destroy it? We didn't do anything wrong --- or did we?

I was lost in thought for a long while. That was the first time it really hit me what had happened a few days ago.

Picture Creek by TWPictures

Music Starting Disease by Eduardo C.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Something ripped me out of my sleep.

As I opened my eyes I saw the ground below me, and it was coming towards me quickly.

After what felt like a moment or two I was wake enough to realize it wasn't the ground coming towards me, but me falling down towards it. Down from my safe branch.

Why had this to happen this night? Is it just a coincidence or is it somehow connected to me thinking about it earlier? And if yes, how could thinking about something affect if it's going to happen? I mean, naturally if you plan on going hunting and shoot a deer, that does affect it very much. If you hadn't had that thought you might have not gone to do that. But something like this, like thinking about that it'd hurt to stumble and fall on your face and it then happening only a while later. That can't be connected, right?

Suddenly I noticed this pain in my arm, and through that also how numb my whole body was. It was transforming, beginning at my elbow and slowly crawling towards my hand. Slowly it moved, I didn't have any control over it, towards the tree, reaching for it.

Then things began to get faster, I was falling faster, my arm was moving faster.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016