The Silence [Unfinished]

Stone Road

The odd duo have been together for a few days. The traveller is having trouble adjusting to his new-found partner. He doesn't like the creature talking all the time, trying to make Zach speak again.

Zach only said his name. He didn't speak another word other than those two words. He didn't speak for years before that. Not even a gasp when he watched a Monster of Silence kill a whole group of people. Those people were armoured and had guns. Automatic guns. He didn't get to see what happened to them though, he left quickly after because the guns were loud.

In the silence, the Monsters of Silence go towards noise.

Zach got curious though. Tempted to ask questions but too afraid to do so. He knows that he's somewhat safe with Zular, but he doesn't know if he should speak.

Zular is unaware of the laws humans developed from these monsters. He thinks they just naturally don't talk at all. Which gets annoying for Zach since he's not handling the pressure well. He isn't adapting well to the creature, and vies versa.

But they'll have to learn to like each other along the stone road and the ashen trees. It reeks of ashes and fire here, burnt leaves, and most of all, death.

Death is everywhere though...but it stains the land here. It crawls under everything, and into anything.

Zach recalls what happened here as he looks around in the darkened sky. The thick clouds covering the entire sky.

It was late one night and there were three times as many people in the world as there were today in Zach's world. A quarter of them were in the group and armoured from head to toe. Automatics at hand and a primary weapon at both sides on every person, if they were old enough to have them.

Everyone enjoyed being there, in that group. They felt secure because the gunners killed many Monsters of Silence. They were army men and hunters mostly. Marines and air force there too. They all protected the citizens that they escorted everywhere. It's what they were taught to do, so they couldn't help but do so.

The group had wandered into the ashen forest, unaware of the population of Silence Monsters. They thought it wasn't common for them to hideout in forests.

Well, so did everyone else that went there only to never return.

Zach keeps recalling the story in his mind. His head down and his expression is angered and confused as he doesn't move. Smelling the scents around him as he inhales. Exahilng through his nostrils. He takes a breath in through his mouth, tasting the scent as it invades his lungs. He holds it for a moment before exhaling. The bitter taste of memory stained on his tastebuds.

The group continued along the stone road. Guards let down just a hint, which was a mistake Zach will never make.

The group didn't know the monsters surrounding them. They didn't hear the snapping of twigs and bristle of leaves over their laughter and carelessness. The sky was brighter then, it was nicer to be out during the day then than now.

The group didn't see it coming. The few monsters attacked all at once. Gunfire ripping through the sky like thunder and children screamed in fear.

Zach sees the dried and crusted blood that stains the stone, and corpses that lay torn for eternity, and stops in his tracks. Zular notices the change in his mood and turns to look, whimpering when he sees Zach on his knees. Zular goes over to him.

"What-" he gets cut off by Zach's soft, quiet, but truthful words:

"I was part of this...One clung to me and I picked her up and ran as fast as I could, dropping the guns and running with the kid.
I sprinted as the others were slaughtered violently and ripped to shreds. Helpless against death. Unable to get away with luck anymore. I...I could have done more." Zach tells Zular, tears forming in his eyes.

He was pained by the memory that taunts him every day. Zular nudges him a bit, whimpering. "You saved one at least. One makes a difference. Better than none." Zular tells him. Zach looks at the creature disguised as a wolf horribly. He thinks, not speaking anymore than he has to.

Zular helps Zach to his stable and crusted feet. Zach sighs and the two keep walking.

A few miles up the stone road, they have company. Monsters of Silence await there, hoping that dinner/lunch is served. Unaware that the best is guarding their favourite dish. The best in the business won't let this one, special human,get killed. They might notice, but don't really care.

Zular senses them though, he looks around growling, and Zach gets tense, holding his blade tightly. If Zular growls, it's a bad indication for the both of them.

The monsters jump out, hissing as they breathe in. Zach stays close to Zular as the Monsters of Silence circle them. No, I can't die on this road! Zach screams in his thoughts. He can't let the road take him too. It took his group first, but it won't take him. He won't allow it.

Nor will Zular.

"So you have a person. You weak little-" one starts, cut off by Zular's howl.

"I am not weak!" Zular demands with his demonic voice. Zach could almost feel the anger seeping off Zular. The anger reached out and touched Zach, sending a shiver through his whole body.

The Monsters of Silence laugh at Zular, which is a mistake.

Zular quickly attacks the one closest to Zach and throws it against a tree, hard. The traveller gets grabbed by a Monster and cringes as the claws sink into his skin, blood flowing between his skin and the claws that punctured him.

Zular growls; "Let him go!" before he throws himself at the monster. The monster goes flying back and drops Zach. Zach stays on the ground, unable to move. Tears rush to his eyes from the deep claw wounds as Zular fights off the other one.

The second one (the one that was holding Zach) gets up and shakes off the pain. Zular senses the movement and rips off the monster's head before running at the third monster and killing him in one swift motion.

Zach sits up once they're all out. Zular walks over to the injured human and sniffs him, sensing the blood. His red eyes flash brightly for a second before he reminds himself that he's physically and mentally unable to harm his partner.

Zach looks at his arm, cringing at the blood pouring out. He takes off his bag, trusting that Zular won't attack him. The creature of silence growls to himself so that the traveller doesn't understand him.

Zach takes out the torn blanket and rips a large portion of it off. After he does that, he wraps it around his left arm and tightens it so the blood doesn't leave so quickly. As Zular is scolding himself, Zach does the same thing to his other arm.

Zular growls then looks at Zach. "Are you alright?" He asks. Zach nods and puts his bag on, getting up afterwards. He then starts walking with the loyal creature following him every step of the way.

Zach keeps up with the pain in his arms as they walk along the stone road. Zular keeps his guard fully up. Not wanting Zach to get hurt again.