A Cool Breeze Came Up. Adding To How Cool It Already Was It Was Rather Unpleasant But I Had To Keep Up

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

The Gate Keeper

At first I was scared, but my curiosity took over.

What or who is that? And how did it get here?

I carefully went closer. Carefully. Closer and closer.

Mwuahahuahahua

What? Why? Wait… I know that laugh.

The other stood still. Not moving from his position.

A snap from his fingers.

Then I remembered. I remembered it all. That maniac back then. The one who killed my father. My mother. The one who burned down the whole town. And all in the name of the king.

Ah… So finally you remember me.

But how can you be here? These are my dreams. There’s no way you could get here… or is there?

Oh, no worries. You brought me here yourself. Kind of.

He snapped his fingers again.

This time columns of flames arose all around us. For the first time there was light in this Nothingness. But it all got eaten by the darkness all around us. It only reflected on him. And on me.

How did I bring YOU here?!

It’s easy boy. I’m in your memories. Deep down there somewhere. You could say, I’m burnt into your memory Mwuahahuaha

And what do YOU want here?! Do you know what this… wall or whatever is?

I do lad. I do. But I won’t tell. And you wanna know what I want here?

I am the gatekeeper.

Picture Gatekeeper (WIP 2) by JonathanGragg

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Just a Nightmare?

Underground

‘Where am I?’

Yøü? Yõü ærrê ïn mÿ tèrrrítørrý. Wåñnâ knøw whæt'ss fùñ about zãt?

Its voice was omnipresent. It came from everywhere. And it was so deep that it was soothing and horrifying alike. I was unsure if I wanted to know, but I asked. 'What?’

Zæt whílè yøû årrê hërê, Ï hâvë còñtrrøl. Ha Ha Ha

I didn’t see anything. But still I felt how devilishly that thing on my back was grinning. What does it mean by that? It has control? Control over what? And where is its territory?

Picture Blackout found on 巫女miko's blog

Music Underground by ◄-NATURE-►

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

I asked around a bit, knocked at two three wrong doors until I saw a familiar face

“...Ingrid?”

“Mr. Naked guy, a surprise to see you here” She laughed

embarrassed I scratched the back of my head, looked at the ground and forced out a short laugh

“riiight... So you're the hunter of this little village?”

“I am, huntress to be precise. What brings you here?”

“This old guy, Ernest I think, he told me you'd need help hunting and...” I paused for a moment “...and that I could stay at yours as long as I prove to be a help on the hunt”

her face changed suddenly “That old Bastard. Still trying to convince me the housewife's life is what a woman should strive for. To stay in this hut all day, do chores, make food, get knocked up, have a few kids. Bastard.”

“...well I... I can go and talk to him, I'm sure you're not the only one in town who'd need help”

“I'll show it to this old bastard. You know what? Come in. Knock me up! He'll see what good it is if his only good hunter is worried about a kid rather than bringing some meat on the table.”

“...What? No, No, definitely not. I'll rather stay outside the winter than do that.”

“Fine with me. Stay out!” She banged the door shut

I sat down besides the door for a moment, to think through my options So that is Ingrid, quite some temperament. And it sounds like she doesn't really like Ernest, or at least the way he thinks things should be. It looks like I have three options, go back to Ernest & ask for some other place to stay, try to get on Ingrid's calm side or try to get to the next town before it gets too cold.

It was already chilly outside, but the evening sun was still warm. So wonderfully warm, it was great. Not hot so you'd sweat but like lying besides a camp fire that's burnt down all the way, only embers remaining. It made me drowzy. So incredibly drowzy. And tired.

Picture Barbarian Girl by Simon Gocal

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

' 'tis 'im! Guards! Guards! Capture dis monster!' All people stopped up immediately, and all gazed upon wich the man was pointing.

Me.

Two guards came. Both with there sword drawn, but as they noticed there was no danger, they sheated them again. 'What's happenen eya?' One of the guards asked

'Dis fel -- tin' dare, it ate me game.'

'Coost be a bit mower specific? Yom a hunter, many people ate the mate yaouw bren. That is naaa crime'

'Naw. Yer don't git waaat oi say. Yer man ate me game. Oi 'ad jist shot it, den yer man 'oofed over ter it. As oi came ter 'imself an' asked waaat yer man wus doin' 'is bake wus al' deformed wi' razorsharp teet an' yer man 'ad claws.'

The guards looked at each other. They had to hold back their laughter 'Is that the same kind of story loike that 'un with the three-headed elk yaouw met?'

The man was baffled 'Naw! listen ter me-'

The guards nearly pissed themselves from laughing 'It's alrooight, we'll let yaouw get awoy with this unneeded call fer help since yaouw gave us a bostin loff.'

Picture Deer-ner is Served by Hjoldir-Hildwulf [EDITED]

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

The wound healed in mere seconds.

Ha ha ha ha ha

It came at me again. I was ready to dodge it again, ITs attack was far more open than the last ones. Suddenly -- it disappeard. In midair.

I felt a warm breath at my neck but before I managed to turn around, my other arm was gone too.

Høw dö yòû wännå fîght mé nøw? Ha ha ha ha

I was baffled. What am I gonna do now? If cutting doesn't work headbutting or biting---

IT dissapeared again, and the same instance IT cut off both my legs.

Picture source unkown

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

“It... it's ok. You don't have to tell me.” She looked at me and forced a smile

Yøû wõn't téll hèr? Åftær ââââll shë's dønê fór yøû?He... IT asked mockingly

I told you to shut up!

Ingrid took a step back, fright painting her face

“Where does that anger suddenly come from?”

“Please Ingrid, it's in no way your fault.”

“Then I demand you tell me whose it is” Suddenly her voice was tense again. The fright had vanished from her face.

“Please Ingrid-”

“You know where we are?”

“What?” I was confused about the sudden change of topic

“You heard me!”

“...I don't know, in a forest”

“Know how to get back?”

“What?... No. I don't”

“Wonderful, if you wanna get back you tell me. Else I'll leave you here. You know I can”

“Ingrid, that is ridiculous”

“How about that then, we'll exchange secrets. I'll tell you mine, you yours afterwards.”

© 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

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

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