The End Of Nothing?

The branch I found to my liking was thick. I could comfortably sit on it.

So now I had to play the waiting game.

Nothing on the first day.

Neither on the second.

I wasn't sitting still up in that tree all the time. I had to move around a bit, but it wasn't that much that I could be scaring off anything with that.

At first I began to doubt my eyes. That I was too far away from the pond to see slight movements. So I changed position. Hid in a large bush near the lake. Focused completely on my hearing instead. Sitting there in silence for a long while. But I heard nothing. Just a slight, consistent rustle of wind through the leaves.

I knew wild animals aren't really the ones to come stomping through here, breaking every branch lying on the ground, walking into every nearby bush and jump into the water. But still, they had to make some sounds, break this silence somehow, add something to it.

But I heard nothing, not a sound.

© 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

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

May the Brave Come

Temple of Light

While being there, in that cave, doing nothing, I gradually got hungry. And I thought about it for a long while.

Should I find something to eat? Or should I just let hunger end this? NO-- I won't give up. If I don't get to be Bjorn anymore, I'll be the monster of this forest. May the brave come and test their skill on me.

I went outside my cave, to look for something eadible. It wasn't easy to find anything with this sight. Suddenly I noticed another gleaming thing. So they've already come for me? I screeched, to scare them.

The gleaming vanished for a moment. Then it was there again, moving into the distance. But it didn't look like a human, it didn't even move like one. It was much faster and it made quick, long jumps instead of running.

Was that-- a deer? Does that mean these gleaming things... I looked around. It didn't take long to find another. It moved similar to the deer, but it was much smaller. This gleaming, it's movement. So I can only see moving things clearly.

Picture Magic deer! by Reneder

Music Temple of Light by Electus

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Don't Look Back

Great, now I even have to wash these Anyway, him fainting makes the whole thing easier, at least partially... He won't complain, but I'll have to take off his clothes myself

It was no easy feat to undress the man with these claws and transforming back would've taken too long and been too risky But I managed to get his shirt and pants, without hurting him although the clothes did look a bit butchered Holes and cuts in a few places, all made by me

I went back into the forest, to my cave

Now I do have some clothes, probably won't fit too well but far better than running around naked

Now all I had to do were some preperations I hunted myself a deer first, skinned it, cut part of it in pieces then got myself some wood, piled that up at the cave entrance now all that was left was turning back and washing those clothes

but first I went to the pond another time to get, for now, a last look at this wretched creature I was to burn it into my memories, to be motivated by it

I'll get rid of this cursed thing inside of me someday I'll be cured of this form I'll find a solution to this

Picture Forest Pond by Ruth-Tay

Music Don't Look Back by CMA

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

I went on. Waited again after a while.

Frogs... not edib... or are they? Anyway, would take- my head turned in reflex ... in the bushes... irregular... not the wind... no waiting this time.

I went into the direction where the sound came from without hesitating. On hands and feet, was easier to be silent that way.

From here... it must've been round here somewh- suddenly there was no ground beneath where I wanted to place my hand, I fell, hit my face on the ground

Ouch... What's this? A hole... rabbit hole maybe... wanna take the chance...? Yeah, should.

I stuck my hand in the hole, all the way up to my shoulder must be something inside, that rushling could have been from a rabbit, and it could hav-

“AAH!! Fucking Hell!”

I quickly pulled out my hand Great, it bit me... at least I now know that there's something inside

“I'll repay you for this, asshat!!”

I stuck my bleeding hand into the hole again, but only up to my elbow. Ok, touch, only touch... I focused for a moment, luckily didn't get attacked again

Come on! Bite me again! I dare you!

I sat there for a while. Stood still in that position, on my knees, one hand on the ground and the other in a rabbit hole. Could see it in my head.

Away with that, focus!

...for how long have I been waiting for this rabbit now? Fuck I know. Feels like an eternity, could've been only a few mo- ...mrrrm!! gotcha!!

I pulled it out of it's hole “Ha, didn't think I'd snatch ya when you bite me again?”

Ze grræt hûntérr, tålkïn tø ä rræbbît

What is it you want now?!

Øh, nûfín, jùs$t cømmêntïng ón zë h@ppênîng, måybæ dîsstråct yøu å bít ssø tìmé pässêss by, yøû knöw, zê üsµâl

O-no! I won't join in on your games now, go talk to yourself or somethin'

Ha ha ha haa fûnny... fïnê, håvé fûn Mï$stêrr Rræbbît Ss$nætch€rr

I was back with the rabbit in my hand, holding it at eyes height, my blood all over it.

“Sorry I called you asshat, but it was in the heat of the moment, and you bit me”

The rabbit just continued staring at me well what did I expect to happen? It going all like 'yeah totally understand that man, hope I taste good'

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Note from the Author

Kinda sorry for this long episode... or rather for leaving out one on Tuesday. Had no way of getting' to my PC so I couldn't write anything, hope you understand ^_^

Anyway, thanks for following, thanks for reading and a good weekend to all of you. Especially you :D

A Puddle

Kyne's Peace

I wandered through the forest for hours, lost in thought.

Ok, think rationally. Who... No... What did that blood belong to? It can't be mine, I have no wounds anywhere. Maybe a bird carrying a dead mouse just flew over...

A splash ripped me out of my thoughts. I stepped into water. It was just a puddle --- but I was rather covered in mud than blood.

I dug my hands into the puddle and smeared the mud over my arms. Then I smeared some over my face too --- I wanted to make sure that there was no more blood left.

Picture Quick, paint a forest by kynlo

Music Kyne's Peace by Jeremy Soule

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

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 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

Wâtchã døìñg bûddy? Hüntîñg?

Why would you care? Just fuck off again, go wherever you hid all this time.

Lêmmë güês$s, yøû åré döwn fôr zæt $ståg zêrë? Î'll gïvè yøü å hænd...

No-

WAAAAAAAHHH!!!

The stag looked around shortly, with terror in it's eyes, and fled immediately.

How did you...? Why did you...? WHAT do you want!?

Jüs$t wâñnå hævê sømê fún Ha Ha Ha Ha

“What happened there? Besides us there's nothing around, but still it fled.”

I nearly jumped up as she suddenly appeared behind me.

“I... I... I don't know... I... I was just about to take an arrow... then it ran”

“Why so on edge? Thought it ran from a wolf who was creeping up on you?”She laughed

If she only knew what it really ran from... If she'd know there are worse things than wolves around... But I can't tell her... Or can I?... No. For her sake I won't tell her.

Wo-ow Whö'$ zât cütîé?

Just. Shut. Up.

“Hey. You still with me? Why so tense all of sudden?”

“What... oh... eh... it's nothing. Really.”

“Doesn't sound like nothing to me. What are you so worried about? Tell me, I can see it in your eyes.”

“No... I can't. Please trust me on this one... I can't... I won't. And there's no persuading me”

“But-”

“No!” Damn, that came out harsher than I meant to. Come on, apologize“I'm sorry Ingrid... it's just... I'm unsure myself what actually is up. Please, trust me, you don't want to know.”

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016