silence is all we have (Rewrite in progress)

Chapter 4

When I first walked into the castle I expected to see something grand or rich, I couldn't of been more wrong. There were boxes littered everywhere filled with weapons that looked blunt and are in need of sharpening and repairs, holes in the walls from big to small. This place is a mess, at least it has a roof. I came across two guards with a sword on their belts and shields strapped to their backs standing at attention in front of a oak door, as I approached they pulled open the door to what appeared to be a bedroom not a throne-room. Taking a deep breath I prepare to beg for probably a measly man that doesn't know how to lead.

First impressions of the elder was.... well he was old, he wore robes with a thin lining of what appears to be silver running down the length of them. He had no hair and looked to be in his late 60s. "Welcome to my village Axel, my name is Dirk and I am the leader of this village." I need to choose my next words carefully I think to myself. "Glad to meet you Dirk, I wish it was under better circumstances but as you are probably aware the previous person on the mission to save the world is dead. I have taken on the burden of this mission in hopes to help people and learn who I am." He scratched his chin for awhile as if he was sizing me up, "Yes I've heard of you the man who has lived a life and can't remember anything from it. You are not the person I want on this mission your skill sets are a mystery to us and yourself, but there is no time to look for a better suited one. I can only give you a companion that will keep you sane and supplies." What does he mean by companion I see no other living things in this room but a mastiff...

" Thank you Dirk for your generosity, but what do you mean by a companion?" I hope his answer is not the dog, I feel like it would slow me down and if injured would become a massive burden. "I'm going to gift you one of my personal mastiffs they know this world better than any human, and he will help keep ya sane." At this moment the mastiff got up from the floor and trotted over to me and sat there in front of me tilting it's head curiously. "His name is Rockie, a fine dog too." Great now I have a mutt to look after I think to myself, "Thank you Dirk for your generosity, I will do all in my power to make sure Rockie stays safe and we both come back only after banishing the dragons back to their cages in the sky and end the curse." He looks at me approvingly "I know you will."

I was ushered out of the room by the guards, that dog following me out... "Why a dog" I mutter to myself, Rockie at this moment looks at me with curiosity in his big round eyes. When we were out of the village back up the hill that hides the town away from unwanting eyes I took this moment to talk to my new companion. Letting him sniff my hand and allowing him to lick me I started speaking from my heart "Hey Rockie, this journey your about to actually start is going to be tough and while you may know the land better than anyone if you slow me down I will leave you behind. We on the same page?" Rockie instantly starts heading towards the oasis without waiting for me as if to say "you better not slow me down Axel."

I hurried to catch up with the mutt, he is cute though I think to myself. As long as he gives me my space and doesn't slow me down then I think it will be fine. Throughout the journey back to the oasis whenever I'm about to show where to go Rockie maybe out of spite for what I said earlier instantly goes the direction I need to go in, I guess Dirk was right they do know these lands better than any human. Though its kinda scary relying on a animal lead the way in places where you have never been, you can't ask the animal where we are going and get a answer. Well in a way I'm okay with having Rockie lead, the village elder Dirk wouldn't have given me something that isn't what he claims it to be.... would he?

We arrived at the oasis in good time based off the suns location we still had half the day left, but I called camp while I may be able to keep going all day I am unsure of Rockie's stamina. Rockie didn't seem to care much about my decision to end our march today just jumped into the spring and left me to set up camp by myself. Dirk had given me another backpack that contained a mix of survival supplies such as a tent beef jerky flint and many other things. Pulling out the tent I start setting it up, it took longer than it probably should've to set it up but I had some things on my mind. The voice that told me to head back to the jail wants me to go to the security office, but why? What is important about that room, does it contain information of my past perhaps or does it have information on how to end the curse? The tent was now set up so I now needed to start the fire which was easy enough, would be more difficult if I didn't have the flint but since I do it took a minute.

It was starting to get dark now and I swear the oasis looks even better during a sunset, the way the water sparkles is breathtaking and with the trees only half lit it adds a new dimension to them. "Roof roof" Rockie headbutts a tennis ball to me and looks at me with playful eyes. "no no I don't do fetch." Rockie stares at him then backs away, god I think to myself I ain't here to entertain the dog. Next thing I know Rockie is charging me and he leaps onto me licking my face relentlessly, "wha-- Rockie what are you--- doin, get off of me" I sputter while laughing. Rockie suddenly growls, "whats up buddy" I whisper. This is when I hear the voices nearing me, I get up pulling out my sword and shield.

"What do we have here two lost travelers hehe" a guttural voice from dark said. "why don't ya step out and cross swords with me and you shall see who is here." I smirked, silence was my own response till a gray paled faced man dashed out of the dark with a sword. he tries to cleave my head off quickly but before he can I parry and kick him to the ground which Rockie then jumped on top of him and mauled him to death, to my surprise. I'm suddenly grabbed from behind me and being pulled into the darkness, a few seconds later I hear the guy carrying me screaming and I flip him over and stab in through the head pinning him to the ground where he squirmed for a bit then went still.

Inspecting the two corpses closer I see that this isn't the first time they have died they looked like the zombies you see in the movies. But they still were able to function and do everything a normal human could. "These must be the undead that I've heard of" I mutter, "bark" Rockie barks in agreement. I think people are confusing dead to being controlled by someone, if they were truly ever dead they wouldn't of had the flexibility that they had in that instance. Putting out the fire to hide us I whisper to Rockie, "good boy you save me there by biting that guys leg while he was dragging me away, lets go to bed bud." I head into the tent and as soon as I lay down Rockie lays down atop of my chest and falls asleep, "life may be weird but it is a good life" I mutter before falling asleep.