Cold. My skin shivers, on the cold wet dirt.
The screams and protest of people echo as my head throbs with pain from what I assume to be a headache.
My breath turns to mist white as my taste buds are filled with the sour and clumpy texture of dung and mud.
As I open my eyes I'm met with a burning town- animals and people slaughtered alike. As my memory is hazy.
I take notice of the sound of horses growing closer but my instincts shoot open as I pick up a dull knife that had been laying beside me
I claw the wet soil
(scratch, my fingernails would dig into the dirt- grip my palms would as feel the environment around me)
I bring myself to my feet as almost instantaneously with no time to think I dart for the forest as my thoughts run free
"What's going on?"
"Why am I scared?"
"Why do I fear death so much??"
Each step carried the weight of fear as I take notice of my short stubby legs and hands as if they had been new to me, turning around-
Clack-clack- click-clack, clip-clop
I see men clad in armor on horses lifting torches with the same throbbing headache returning but this time it'd make it feel like my eyes are bulging out of my face, gritting my teeth shutting them and trip over what had felt like a rough rope.
Catching my breath in short huffs, I swing my side as I look down on what I tripped on, as hissing caught my attention the rough scaly texture of a snake-
A silent yet evident hiss runs down my ear
Coiled around my neck, it restricted my left arm as it began blocking my trachea and trying to dislocate my arm.
"Gngh-! Someone- HELP!"
"LET… ME… G-GO…"
("The more talk… the more air im gonna use up. I should focus on setting myself free and escaping the troop chasing me…")
I call out for help but my pursuers continue riding after me not in an attempt to help me- but rather claim my life, with their mounts approaching-
I continuously stab at the snake until I make an incision into it's skin- puncturing it's hide revealing the red meat- as I see that gleam of light of being left free I bite into the piece of flesh pulling it back.
As I wildly cut as the snake had taken notice of this too, as it's energy toward restricting me had greatly increased as we both were determined with our main goals.
("It knows I'm trying to set myself free… But like an insect- I'm willing to give you a piece of my body if it means I can live to see another day.")
With this dark determination to set myself free, I use my legs to pull myself downwards, I can barely feel the blood in my left arm anymore.
I take deep breaths in preparation to take drastic measures to set myself free.
My left arm snaps being dislocated from the snake's grip, as I cry out like a little girl in pain, I continue trying with no avail in sight, the snake lets go of me, not by choice as it's head had been struck by an arrow.
My lungs gasping for air, using my working arm picking myself up while the adrenaline inside me had been rushing wildly, as the heavy steps behind me rang closer as with no time to rest nor prepare myself I run through the forest-
patter -patter my feet went as I surprisingly slowly outrun the constant thumps that followed behind me
zig zagging around trees, jumping over fallen canopies as rushing waters of waterfalls for what felt like hours, as unknown memories flood through my head
WOOSH- the air breezes into my face, as leaves dances around me as I dash through this forest
"Yknow [...] this village is made up of blacksmiths… from the water that makes our weapons, chill and cool from the angry fires made up of the great wood that builds our homes."
"The animals we hunt and eat for energy, giving a hearty warmth to all women and children that make our lovely home."
"This entire place. Is our forge."
"Anyplace can be a forge if you have the necessary material."
The same headache from before would throb painfully as i fall to my knees-
"GN-NGH!- AH! WHY-..."
the unbearable pain surged through my whole head as if trying to find pieces of a broken puzzle.
SNIKT
A sharp object pierced my hand that had been plated on the ground, seeing an arrow wedged into my hand. Upon seeing it before taking a step my movements were cut short as a chain wrapped around my neck and cut my breath short.
"UWAAH-!"
I feel my limbs going numb as the adrenaline in my body is lost, and my already ragged breathing turns to suffocation as I hopelessly claw at the chain-
My feet are lifted from the ground as a sharp tipped cold blade stabs me from the lower spine as I see the sword protrude from my stomach.
I sheath my knife in my waistband, as i'm aware of the fact, had I not concealed my weapon in time, the horseman dressed in a suit of armor would not have hesitated to kill me.
The individual clad in cataphract would suck their teeth, with a strict feminine voice that only I can hear.
"Poor kid. Sorry you got wrapped up in this. Your people are traitors."
"Don't worry. Heaven awaits."
The greatsword that had plunged itself into my body would slip out with less force that had been taken to impale me. I lay flat on my stomach after colliding with the soil- my ear up to the ground I hear the trotting of the horse vanish into the forest, as I begin crawling away
scratch, grip- drag. scratch, grip- drag
Feint but audible, the cries of a horse echoed deep in the woods, the constant cries of a horse neighing were not of horse riding- rather it sounded like the horse had been gravely wounded.
A roar of a beast grew closer as I looked over my shoulder, I had seen a brown grizzly bear approaching with a horse head in its mouth. It caught a glimpse of me.
I try to stand only to be met with the depressing reminder of the fact I can't feel nor move my legs.
I dig my already bleeding fingers into the mud, clawing into the dirt as I swim on land, flailing my arms as I desperately scoop away the wet layer of soil.
As I see the bright light beyond the trees, far but yet so close.
The bear had made its move as it had been running at me with the pure intent to kill for fun.
It already had it's fill of horse meat- Now I'm next on the platter.
But I won't let that happen.
Not now. NOT EVER!
I grip my knife as my heart beats fast, my emotions run rampant- I'm scared shitless but my face can't help but clench my teeth, I growl like a feral mutt- not because I'm guarding my territory.
It's because im really fucking pissed.
The bear approaches smacking my right hip, as I roll over, it follows up with taking a bite into the left side of my torso.
I'm being held upside down but my chance to strike presents itself- with no hesitation I grab my dull knife, and plunge it deep into the eye of the bear
I feel my finger near its eye so… Of course I grab onto it's eyeball and gouge it out
The giant grizzly bear roars out in pain, letting me go momentarily- my lungs have expanded and my pupils have dilated to allow my sight and reactions to be faster.
Using it's only good eye, the bear rapidly charges and claws my chest
Snikt would go the claw to my soft human skin, tearing away at my already torn shirt revealing the red meat, the blood dripping down my chest to my stomach would be covering me from head to toe.
I take immediate notice of the "scratch' it left me.
I know it's going for another attack- This bear has the potential to knock me back by at least 50 meters in a full swing of rage, I'll use its own strength to push me back.
My breath tenses in focus as I wait for the bear to come in.
I know my plan is farfetched. One might even go as far as to call me stupid and could tell me to die now.
But i'll take that chance.