Mortalized

Something (7)

     "Gha!"

     Another one, which I tossed to the floor beside me. The high pitch clinging noise upsetting my ears. Again, I reached my hand over my good shoulder, straining to reach the shard of glass a little further down my back. Blood leaking from the open wounds; I already had some torn up strips made with my own pant fabric, all in a soaking blob at my side. Once I was done I would try to use the long but thin strips to wrap around myself. But first,

     "Ughhah." I pulled out another blood stained shard of glass, noticing how much more blade shaped the bits that had been in my body looked, with their exterior having already been dissolved a little. Even though I was not physically exerting myself, I still heaved in and out deep breaths. Guess that made up for the times I held my breath while pulling the glass out.

     I heard a low whine beside me, which turned into a yawn as I craned my neck to look at the domesticated wolf not too far away from me. I couldn't tell if he was worried for my health, or bored.

     I grumbled back at him as I turned again to what I was doing. It had already been a couple hours since we reached the safety of the forest and still he was following me. And by following me, I mean just sticking around the same area, since I had hardly moved ever since reaching the creek.

     This next time I had to reach my back from a different angle, since the glass I had to pull out next was now too low for me to reach over my shoulder. I was still very weak, so my flesh was also very tender and screamed with even the slightest tap. My back had thankfully been numb for some time.. but that was no longer the case. As much as I wanted to just wait it out and let the glass pieces dissolve and fall out on their own, I was far too impatient.

     I pulled out yet another shard, this time only letting air escape through my tightly clenched teeth. Why does this hurt so much? Before that attack, I was able to stand tall and firm with an axe sticking out my back. Pain hadn't been this extreme.. in years.

  "Hurry, crawl through! Get out! I'll hold them off!"

"No! I can't leave you here! Come on!!"

  "Sorry, but you are the only one with any innocence remaining! I've been here far too long! You will actually be able to enjoy your freedom, I won't!"

    "Hey! What are you two shouting about?!- Wait! #-#####!! They are trying to escape!!"

  "Hey, wait! What are you doing?! Don't push me!"

"I am NOT letting you stay behind!"

  "No! They are already coming! Just GO!"

"Not without you!-" ...

    "Aww, did your big bwuver weave you behind? Sad.. Well, you better wish he returns on his own, because, if not.. He will be labeled as defective... Until then, you're just going to have to be punished fOr him.."

     A wet tongue licked my face, bringing me into the present time. My head was suddenly very dizzy and all my muscles were suffering from clamping down into such a tight ball for so long, likely shaking, as all straining muscles do. Once my eyes shot back open I saw the dog right in front of me as he raised his paw and let it land on my head. My position was terrible, once again stuck in a tight ball... Ugh! That's why you don't think about things for too long; don't stay in one place for too long; never let a calm moment exist; always busy yourself with with things of the present! Too much thinking always leads to the worst of things..

     I straightened, tiredly sitting up, only then realizing how dark the forest had become. Shadows were slowly setting in, and soon, the creatures would be too; and not the kind I could control.. I sat up slowly, dreading the pain that followed, and hurried to pull out the last remaining shards of glass. Meanwhile, I watched as the dog appeared to be more alert, ears ready to detect any suspicious noises. After I had pulled out the last shard of glass with a grunt, I was finally able to slide off my shirt and quickly wrap the strips of cloth around me. They were rather rough for bandages, and they irritated my skin a little, but it would have to do. Also, I would have to save washing the cuts for later. I just put back on my shirt after tying the bandages tightly, leaving old problems for later. Eh, with water once again in my system, and some good rest, they should be fine by tomorrow anyway... Unfortunately, I had forgotten once again how weak I was while making those calculations.

     My gaze locked tightly onto that of a tree, which, with it's holes inviting many critters, appeared to me like a face.

     "Get away from here, boy." The tree told me. "You don't want to be out in the dark. That is where all bad things happen." I scowled at the wooden creature, wishing then for my strength and fire abilities to return to me. Unfortunately, however, I already knew I was no match for what the tree had warned, and stood, searching for a place I could call shelter.

     Darkness fell upon the forest, resting like a cold blanket upon all things colorful, instead giving them a dark, eerie, taunting appearance.

     "You don't scare me." I spat out at the darkness, spinning in a slow circle. There was nowhere to hide. The wind moved about like a whisper; the branches moved with it, as if deciding amongst themselves: my fate. "Shut up!" I choked on my own words. Still, they whispered my name.

     "HerObrIne.." I cringed. No.. I took a step in a direction. Any direction would do. I just had to make it looked like I was doing something. Still, the whispers sent unnoticeable shivers both up and down my spine.

     "Rhaa! Did you hear me?! I said shut up! I- I will kill you, once I have my strength back! I'll k-k-kill all of you! You pathetic trees! You pathetic-pathetic-, ghaaa!" I stomped my foot deep into the grass, my injured one. Darn... Falling over, I cursed Notch's name.

     "To the Nether with all of you!" I shouted, shivering as I stood. "D-d-do you-you hear me!? Once I get my strength back! I-I-I'll burn this entire forest down!" But the shadows didn't seem to care, dancing with the movement of the tree branches. They appeared to be mocking me. Enraged by this, I limped quickly over to one of the trees, grabbed a stick -- with my good arm -- and proceeded to swing it wildly at the tree. Images filled my head with each swing. Empowering ones. Ones of me conquering cities, of me destroying countless defiant monsters, of me burning the lives of others with ease unknown to any mortal. But, as I looked back to what I was doing, the tree still stood firm, not even dented. It was the stick I was holding which had broken. I bit the corner of my lip as the swinging slowed, each strike growing desperate. This, can't, be, it! When the stick had been beaten to a pulp in the tree, I used my own fist. I punched the large tree's thick and layered bark until it split through my skin, sizzling blood oozing out. My jaw clenched as my body finally decided I had had enough, giving out, leaving me to the mercy of the damp grass and whispering wind; to the mercy of the tree I so wished to brutally slaughter. I quickly hugged my knees, whispering to myself with eyes tightly clenched. "I'll comply, I'll comply, I'll comply, oh Notch, I'll comply.."

     I stiffened further when shuffling came my way, and I heard the odd pattern of footsteps: a limping dog. The creature came up to me and began sniffing the back of my neck, to which I almost shrieked. I then felt the weird, slimy texture of the dog's tongue lick my ear, and then he sniffed my back, seeming to check to see if there was still any glass lodged in there, before once again plopping down next to me. Except this time he lay with his back to mine. He seemed so calm in that moment. So knowing. So, accepting... Why was he still here? Why hadn't he left me already? I clearly wasn't providing any food or shelter for him. So, why..?

     The dog shuffled a little, making me realize then how much I had relaxed my muscles when they suddenly tightened again. His head came up so that his snout was in my hair. He sneezed, causing me to jump where I lay. The dog seemed to lay sprawled out at my back, panting a little bit before, after some time, a soothing rhythm of breaths overtook him, and he had fallen asleep.

     Nope! I wasn't going to fall into that again! I simply lay there instead, not daring to shut my eyes, noticing as my own breathing calmed, and I was once again just listening to the sounds of the night. Luckily there were no noises of creatures. But, occasionally I would see a shadow move quickly in the corner of my eye and tighten up again. At least it seemed as if I were pretty well protected. A strong, rough, formidable tree to my front, and a soft, warm.. kind, dog, to my back. There, I rested, until morning finally rose with the sun.

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Geez! These chapters are just getting shorter and shorter! XD

"You need not fear darkness as you bend it with a grip of iron and steel, but, when that power is stripped from within your bod.. there will be a whiplash like no other." -Me, just now. XD