Rough ☆ Jake

Pail

It had been 5 years since Soeri had left her hometown and its many dark secrets behind. She was doing well on her own if she had to say so herself.

"Woah, almost got me with that one!" I yelled over my shoulder as another arrow flew past my head. The 'thud' that came from the poor tree the arrow had sunk into made me grin at the fact that was almost my head. I gripped the reins in my hands a bit tighter before I clicked my tongue to urge my horse faster. I knew the creature below me could handle what was going on, we had done it many times before. Never once has my trusted companion failed me.

Not too much later and I knew we had lost the guards from town. In all honesty, they weren't the best. That's why I choose that town to steal from if I needed anything. You would think after so many years they would hire someone new to keep the town safe. Instead they leave it up to those incompetent men that were more worried about getting back to sitting around and drinking their days away as they bullied the poor townsfolk. I never harmed any of the townspeople or the guards, I may have knocked one or two off of their horses here and there but nothing too bad. I would just visit for food or supplies when needed. I would not harm anyone if I could avoid it.

Once I was sure we had not been followed I slowed my horse to a walk as we neared our hideout. It was nothing fancy, a small thrown together shack in the woods. It was my home though.

"You did good today Max, as always." I patted the black and white paints shoulder as I lead him to his post where he would be tied up for the night. After I had looped the rope around the wooden post I shove my hand into my bag and grab one of the many apples I had taken. "You deserve this, buddy." I smile as he quickly took the apple from my hand and set it on the ground so he could take a bite out of it. Max was a very well-trained horse.

When I had fetched him a pail of water I head into my small house to unpack my gatherings from the day. I had gotten a few food items as well as a roll of cloth so I could fix the pants I had ripped a few days ago. I smiled as I placed my things where they belonged before grabbing up the said pants along with the materials I would need to repair them. I stroll back outside to use the last bit of sunlight to fix the pants. I had a lamp but those were so hard to use when sewing. Lucky for me I finished up just as the sunset over the mountains.

~~~

I sigh in frustration as I walked from my house to a creek that ran through the woods behind my house. My bucket was on the verge of giving out thanks to the fact I had thrown it at a spider this morning. One of the only things that really scared me. Their many eyes and legs made it too odd and creepy looking for my liking.

I shudder as I think of how the thing had been on my pants leg before I smacked it away with a horrid scream, soon followed by the bucket being thrown in its direction. I had no Idea if I had killed it or not, all I knew was that I did not find it after staring at the area I thought it had landed for way too long.

"Stupid thing made me ruin the only good bucket I had." I crumpled as I bend down at the water's edge to dip the bucket under the cool water. Letting it fill before I pulled it back out. Sighing once more as I turn to head back home with the water for Max.

I froze in my tracks as I hear a stick break from behind me. I wait for a second for any other sounds, but nothing came. I slowly lower the bucket to the ground as I slip my free hand into my right boot to grab a knife I kept there. Just as slowly I stand straight before whipping around holding the knife over my right shoulder ready to let it fly if I saw an animal worth eating or one that might want to eat me.

Nothing. There was nothing there. I raise a brow as I scan the woods around me, I knew I wasn't hearing things. I was not that crazy yet. Just as I was questioning my sanity I heard another stick snap before what sounded like something hard hit the ground. I couldn't see what had made the commotion thanks to the few bushes that lined the creek's other bank. I stood still as I debated on checking out what it was or just leaving and not thinking about it again. Something was telling me to run as fast as I could. Yet, I didn't. That was the old me, that ran as soon as things became tough or scary. I don't run from anything- other then spiders.

I took a deep breath before I made my way back to the creek. The creek wasn't that deep only coming up to my knees. Nobody liked wet boots or pants though. So with that I hopped over the rocks that stuck up out of the surface of the creek, careful to not slip as I did. I walk straight to where I had heard the sound from behind the bushes, my knife held ready to strike. I stood on my tippy toes to look over the edge of the underbrush only to curse at what I saw.

"It's a fucking human!"

**

By the way I won't have a set update schedule. I'll post as I get parts done I suppose.