Winterfell

“What was it you wanted to talk about earlier? Had enough time to sort your mind?”

“Well... I've sorted my mind but... I still have no idea how I should ask this”

“Then work around it, what is it you wanna ask me about?”

“It's... it's this... well my, or rather our, 'contract' “

“Oh you mean the staying for winter? You're right, winter is over but... if you wanna stay for longer do so”

“That's... not really it, tho I'm thankful for your offer, but... hmmm”

“What are you worried about?”

“I... I'm... … I'm worried I leave you without giving you anything back for what you showed me. That I leave without repaying you properly”

She put a hand on my shoulder and looked into my eyes“Do you really think I did this with the plan to get some compensation for it? I did this because I wanted to, because I had a feel you could use it in the future. Compensation neither needed nor wanted.”

“r... really? You sure?”

“Yes, and besides, you gave me lots of fun memories” she smiled

“...but-”

“No buts! It was fun for me, that's more than enough pay”

She hugged me suddenly, the first time since IT forced its way out. At first I was scared, worried, but I didn't wanna take this hug from her... and didn't wanna let it slide myself. We both needed it.

“Thank you Ingrid, a thousand times and infinitely more”

© 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

As I looked around I suddenly noticed the severed head from the headless horseman. The more I looked at it, the more it seemed to be watching me.

Creepy... better put it back to it's... owner?

I got up and walked towards it. As I bent down to pick it up, I for the first time noticed that my leg wasn't hurting anymore. I inspected it immediately.

No injury left, only the scars from the hounds teeth that cut into my leg

I dropped the leg of my pants again and picked up the riders head instead. I went to his body and put it roundabout there where it would be lying if it still was attached.

Then I noticed that the man was carrying a knife on his belt.

I shouldn't...

Büt hê's dæd.

But... that's stealing...

rïght nøw nö ôné døès pôss$ë$ss thåt knîfë, yøú'd stëâl thæt ås müch âs yøü'd stêäl thé førès$t æ hår€ whên yøµ ëæt ît

hmm...

cøme øn, tåkë ît, whö's göññæ pµnïsh yøû för ít?

That was about the first time I agreed with IT. I took his knife, and I did search him for other usable stuff.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Introduction - Bjorn

Path to Darkness

I am a traveler. Some might call me an adventurer but I myself, see me only as traveler. I traveled far and wide, slayed both beast and man... But I'll start with the beginning.

I am... was an orphan. The village got burned down... fucking mercenaries, fucking KING... killed my father, killed my mother. The only thing I have left of them is this necklace. It's itchy but I never take it off.

Martin & Ruth took me in. Thanks to them the rest of my childhood was ...kinda normal. I began learning the smith's trade.

Then... I found... met... someone. No. SomeTHING. IT is what made me start my travels. Through Towns, Cities, Forests. Fighting both beast and man. And learning. I never stopped learning. Man, Beast, Nature. Simply everything that could somehow be related to IT. In the end... No... *grins* I won't spoil the fun.

My name? Bjorn. You might hear more from me in the future

Picture Traveler by iZonbi

Music Path to Darkness by Adrian von Ziegler Bandcamp, Youtube

Note from the Author Thanks for reading. Hope you liked it. If not I hope you leave some critique, but please stay constructive ;) Further a Pleasant day and a good weekend to you

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Drying, Crumbling, Scratching

Panic Music 2

What should I do? If someone finds me here like this... I need to find some water

After wandering through the forest for some time, partially looking for water, partially lost in thought, the blood started to dry. To crumble. I could just scratch it off. And so I did.

I did get most of it off but still there were visible remains. I had to find some water.

Picture Blood on Cloak 2 by mohzart

Music Panic Music 2 by FesliyanStudios

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

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

Kioku

There I was; No arms, No legs, lying in a pool of my own blood. And around was nothing. Again. Like the first time I was here. Just me and this... nothing-ness.

Is this how people die? What happens to them after they died? No afterlife, no great god waiting for you?

Suddenly a drop of blood fell on my face. As I turned my head IT was standing right over me. Scared the shit out of me.

$$$cärêd? Ha ha ha ha Ït's $ssûrrêlÿ mørrrê fùn tô ssséé ÝØÛ $sstrrûgglë øût thërê, sssø Ï'll gîvë cøntrrrôlè båck tø yôu Ha ha ha ha

Picture source unkown

Music Kioku from Jigoku Shoujo

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

How could I've been so dumb not getting that. That also explains why there are nearly now plants in or directly by the pond.

That means the source of whatever danger, is directly inside the pond, or a bit further up the stream. I saw the fox drinking from the stream, and I drank the water myself even further up, it must be safe there.

I decided to go further up the stream again, hide and wait there. There weren't going to be any animals near here anytime soon, that I was sure of.

I'm unsure if you can hear this, and if you might still be ignoring it but... Thank you, probably saved my arse there

Î dïd zæt før mýssëlf, rrêtård

I didn't expect any other answer from IT so I didn't bother saying anything else.

After a while of walking upstream I found myself a new branch to sit on. The sun was already near the horizon and it began getting darker. I climbed the tree cautiously and sat myself on the branch. As usual it wasn't comfortable, but it was safe

...unless I'd fall down in my sleep.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Whø ëls$ê shøµld håvæ döné ìt?

Errh... I don't know

Æxåctlý

But still, why?

Årë yøû såýìng yôu'd råthër bê dæd nøw? Håd räthêr gôt chøppéd òf yøµr hëâd bý thîs såd ëxcú$sé ôf å swørds$smân?

Nono... Just wonder why you do help me

Ëâsy, yøû'ré nøt thè önlý ønë thât dïê$s

...Wait... what?

Yøû hærd mê, nów léàvê mê bë

No! If I die, you die too? But you're just some... thing, you'd just go back to where you came from.

He didn't answer anymore. What he said really left me wondering. If I'd die, he'd do too. But that shouldn't cause any problems for him. He's just some... I don't know what he is, but I can't imagine dying being of any concern to him and his like.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

There was no way for me of coming out of this, so the only thing I really could do was stretch out my arms as good as possible to break my fall with them, instead of doing that with my head.

I fell to the ground, felt several sharp stones pierce my chest and stomach. Although my whole body was in pain I turned on my back a few moments after I had landed.

Almost immediately I felt a pain in my leg, only as my leg began moving on it's own I noticed it was the hound who bit me. I kicked him with my other foot, more out of escape-reflex than actually thinking I had a chance to skill escape.

Before I manage to kick another time the rider was standing besides me, calling back the dog and getting of his horse. He gave the dog a short pat on the head and then focused on me.

“An' you are?” he asked in a quite arrogant tone

“Me? I am myself, and your prey too, I guess” I paused, catching my breath “An' you?” I mockingly imitated his tone

“Hold your tongue, peasant, I am Bhaltair, son of Eoghan, count of these lands, including this forest. I will not ask again, Who are you?” he began sounding a bit aggressive, but still with this noble & arrogant tone

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016