Post by Jakodi on Sept 23, 2007 22:33:22 GMT
There was howling in the distance
Jakodi was running. Every movement was like agony through his veins. His tortured, wretched body was no longer built for this, but he had no choice. Each breath he drew was burning in his throat, his heart ready to implode. Leaping over bushes, fallen logs – his feet ripping the ivy from the soil as it tangled itself round his legs.
A branch cut deep in his cheek, the sap stinging the open wound.
More howling – it was getting closer.
Completely terrified, Jakodi sobbed as he fled. ‘Please not this way…’ He had been cursing the gods for about a month now after he tripped and fell down a slope, broke his leg. Miraculously and still mysterious to Jakodi, it healed itself, but left gangrene. This wound was throbbing the most. Every impact on the ground like someone taking an axe to it. ‘When will this end?’
He could see the edge of the forest. Light. That surely must mean a village, town… Guards. Jakodi was ready to give up. He had no more strength to give. Still he made his legs go forward though he was slowing. He could hear the wolf getting closer. But he knew this wasn’t your common wolf. Its howling was like listening to the pain of the earth, it teared through his soul every time. The only glance he got of it was a tall black, hellish shadow. Its hot, putrid breath stank like rotting corpses. No, this was an animal of unholy creation. He had managed to spear his dagger into its side before running.
‘I’m nearly there’ The mass foliage around his feet was getting easier to move over. Adrenalin urged him forward. It was no longer energy moving him, just a pure will to live.
He broke through the forest, and fell. Yet another slope, he uncontrollably rolled, hitting stones, thistles, bramble. But he didn’t care, this wouldn’t kill him.
Jakodi finally stopped at the bottom of the hill and jerked up, listened. No howling. The wolf must’ve given up on the chase. Or maybe it knew not to go any further. He turned his blood stained face toward the direction of the light – Town. He opened his mouth manically and deep throaty sounds came out as if he was laughing and fell back down in a pile of nettles. The poison was a mere tickle over his skin compared to the pain that overtook the rest of his body. Nothing.
Jakodi opened his eyes, and admired the stars. Making out the different constellations, he had made names for them over the years so he knew which way he was facing at night. He puzzled himself as he had never seen these ones before. ‘where am I?’ he thought. Again he leant up and moaned. Still agonising to do so, he was used to it. Pulling himself up as best as he could he faced the town. It didn’t look far. It didn’t look like a town anymore either. Infact it was more like a city. His left side of his face started to sting as the cut started healing itself. Jakodi shrugged and started hobbling toward civilisation.
A pungent smell was in the air as he reached the wall surrounding the city. He had managed to find the entrance gate with ease, a bored looking guard casually waved him in without even a check. He wasn’t surprised as he just looked like another peasant looking for riches in the big city. He walked in and was greeted by a bustle of people. All different kinds of creatures and beings seemed to pay him no attention as he cautiously crept through them. They were loud. Curiously he stared upon them as they pushed passed him, knocking him left and right. Jakodi making incomprehensible noises in his throat whilst walking got him a few funny looks from the passers-by. Eventually the crowd opened up and he stopped at the sight. A marketplace. This was where the noise was coming from. Men yelling about their offers, Cackling women, dogs barking, fighting, a drunk chorus, chickens running around aimlessly with children chasing them. He subconsciously attempted a smile ‘This is like home’. He reached down to his pouch and got out a terracotta pot and lifted it lid and smelt it. A tear ran down his cheek as the nostalgia sunk in. ‘Beth’ he thought.
‘Ar ye loo’in te sell tha’?’ A woman asked him in a coarse voice. His eyes darted in fear at her. She hunched over like him, with an almost toothless grin. He panicked and shoved it back in his pouch and shook his head vigourously, started moving quickly into the depths of the market.
Jakodi was running. Every movement was like agony through his veins. His tortured, wretched body was no longer built for this, but he had no choice. Each breath he drew was burning in his throat, his heart ready to implode. Leaping over bushes, fallen logs – his feet ripping the ivy from the soil as it tangled itself round his legs.
A branch cut deep in his cheek, the sap stinging the open wound.
More howling – it was getting closer.
Completely terrified, Jakodi sobbed as he fled. ‘Please not this way…’ He had been cursing the gods for about a month now after he tripped and fell down a slope, broke his leg. Miraculously and still mysterious to Jakodi, it healed itself, but left gangrene. This wound was throbbing the most. Every impact on the ground like someone taking an axe to it. ‘When will this end?’
He could see the edge of the forest. Light. That surely must mean a village, town… Guards. Jakodi was ready to give up. He had no more strength to give. Still he made his legs go forward though he was slowing. He could hear the wolf getting closer. But he knew this wasn’t your common wolf. Its howling was like listening to the pain of the earth, it teared through his soul every time. The only glance he got of it was a tall black, hellish shadow. Its hot, putrid breath stank like rotting corpses. No, this was an animal of unholy creation. He had managed to spear his dagger into its side before running.
‘I’m nearly there’ The mass foliage around his feet was getting easier to move over. Adrenalin urged him forward. It was no longer energy moving him, just a pure will to live.
He broke through the forest, and fell. Yet another slope, he uncontrollably rolled, hitting stones, thistles, bramble. But he didn’t care, this wouldn’t kill him.
Jakodi finally stopped at the bottom of the hill and jerked up, listened. No howling. The wolf must’ve given up on the chase. Or maybe it knew not to go any further. He turned his blood stained face toward the direction of the light – Town. He opened his mouth manically and deep throaty sounds came out as if he was laughing and fell back down in a pile of nettles. The poison was a mere tickle over his skin compared to the pain that overtook the rest of his body. Nothing.
Jakodi opened his eyes, and admired the stars. Making out the different constellations, he had made names for them over the years so he knew which way he was facing at night. He puzzled himself as he had never seen these ones before. ‘where am I?’ he thought. Again he leant up and moaned. Still agonising to do so, he was used to it. Pulling himself up as best as he could he faced the town. It didn’t look far. It didn’t look like a town anymore either. Infact it was more like a city. His left side of his face started to sting as the cut started healing itself. Jakodi shrugged and started hobbling toward civilisation.
A pungent smell was in the air as he reached the wall surrounding the city. He had managed to find the entrance gate with ease, a bored looking guard casually waved him in without even a check. He wasn’t surprised as he just looked like another peasant looking for riches in the big city. He walked in and was greeted by a bustle of people. All different kinds of creatures and beings seemed to pay him no attention as he cautiously crept through them. They were loud. Curiously he stared upon them as they pushed passed him, knocking him left and right. Jakodi making incomprehensible noises in his throat whilst walking got him a few funny looks from the passers-by. Eventually the crowd opened up and he stopped at the sight. A marketplace. This was where the noise was coming from. Men yelling about their offers, Cackling women, dogs barking, fighting, a drunk chorus, chickens running around aimlessly with children chasing them. He subconsciously attempted a smile ‘This is like home’. He reached down to his pouch and got out a terracotta pot and lifted it lid and smelt it. A tear ran down his cheek as the nostalgia sunk in. ‘Beth’ he thought.
‘Ar ye loo’in te sell tha’?’ A woman asked him in a coarse voice. His eyes darted in fear at her. She hunched over like him, with an almost toothless grin. He panicked and shoved it back in his pouch and shook his head vigourously, started moving quickly into the depths of the market.