Cut Through to Survive

A Peaceful Day

It was a beautiful day, the skies were blue and there was not a single cloud in sight. He could smell the fresh air that surrounded them. Jake Odenberg and his friend Alexander Rehnquist walked along the river bed. They said nothing to each other as they listened to the river run over the rocks and sticks, giving the field a sense of well-deserved peace.

Alex was the first one to stop dead in his tracks. As he continued to stare at the lush grass Jake could feel a sense of warning wash over him. Alex looked up at him and opened his mouth as to say something, but got no further. All that came out of his mouth was a small dreadful croak. As Jake turned to look at Alex, he was completely paralyzed in shock at what he saw sticking out of his best friend. Alex had an arrow sticking out of his right shoulder. While still in shock at this, Alex went to grab the arrow and pull it out of his shoulder, but Jake had to stop his for fear of the arrow causing more damage being ripped out of Alex's shoulder than not. Jake went up to Alex and broke the arrow in half, behind his shoulder, then took it out of his shoulder harmlessly.

As Jake told Alex to get himself patched up, he grabbed his crossbow and took aim. He spotted multiple archers with red armor, which meant that the archers answered to Eddie Sjöholm of the Vaulhar clan. Jake, who answered to Magnus Öberg of the Kozoth clan, took aim and fired at the archer who he had presumed shot Alex. The arrow traveled straight at the archer and hit him right in between the eyes. At which point Jake turned, grabbed Alex, and made a run for it.

After about 10 minutes of running along the river bed, which was still flowing as peacefully as ever, they finally stopped running. Jake took a look at Alex's wrapping. Slapping Alex in the face, he started undoing it. "God this wrapping job is hog shit. I taught you better than that Alex," said Jake as he continued to redo Alex's wrappings.

"Oh yeah, sure. Just let me get shot and then perfectly wrap up my shoulder like nothing ever happened! My bad," Alex shot back.

Jake glared at Alex and continued to wrap. "Shut up and stop moving, you're making this a lot more difficult than it needs to be dumb-,"

"Don't you even start with your lecture, you don't even know what the hell I'm feeli-", Alex bit his tongue as he looked at Jake with the sudden realization of what he had said.

Jake shot Alex a look of warning, then continued to fix Alex. When he finished, the boys got to their feet and went on down the river bed. Jake retorted, "There, now you won't die of infection. Let's go. We don't want to be late for supper, Magnus will kill us."

Jake and Alex continued on their way as though nothing had happened. The river was still running peacefully over the rocks and sticks, and the grass was still full as ever and flowed in the light autumn breeze. Both of the boys kept their weapons at the ready just to be prepared, but they were as relaxed as they were before, walking and listening.

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When the two boys got back to the village, they were greeted by none other than Arlo, the village Chief guard. Arlo had a mouth of a sailor and never held back his opinion. He was a big beer belly of a man. Always had great laughter, but it was usually about the most disgusting of jokes. Jake didn't care for the big burly man much and did his best to avoid the beast.

As the boys attempted to sneak their way past Arlo, he stopped them and bellowed out in his big drunken voice, "Well now here's a couple for sore eyes. How are you two rooster suckers doin' these days, huh? How many men did you swindle today? I still haven't fought either one of you shit hole penetrators yet. Huh! And y'all say you guys are something to be proud of. I call chicken shit!" As Arlo leaned into Jake as if to try to seem more intimidating, it took all that Jake had not to vomit at the smell of the drunk. "I'll tell you what man fucker, I'll make a deal with you. We battle here and now. If you win you get to choose what happens to me, but if I win, you have to admit to the king that you suck cock, and he will be forced to execute you. Deal?"