Abandoned: New Beginnings

[OutofSight OutofMind]

Zaire had once again managed to summon the shadows, and he stood to run while the barbarians were distracted. He only managed a few steps before his numb legs refused to support him no longer. With a short screech, he fell to the ground. He spotted someone heading towards him, unfazed by the darkening sky and now grinning faces. That was when he suddenly felt something close in around his arm as he lay collapsed. Glancing at it, Zaire was surprised to find that the shadows had wrapped around his arms, and looking at his numb legs, they had wrapped around those too.


Zaire's eyes widened as his legs began to move on their own, and he managed to get a bit further before they dissipated. D-Did... did he hear voices in the hiss as they left!? He ignored the ideas, and as a total of four barbarians inched closer, he concentrated on getting as far as he could. He grasped a nearby stick and hoisted himself up on it, just to find that he was surrounded. His eyes widened as one sent a fist flying into his face, and grabbed the rod from him. He fell once again.


((I love it, bro! Great idea!))

 

[Archon]

Michael ran for a long time, he reached the forest edge before stopping. He checked to see if he was followed, and it seemed he had managed to escape the barbarian after all. he decided to go with the safe option however, he paced along the forest outskirts, looking for any sign of his friend and enemy-or, hopefully not-more barbarians, he figured that they wouldn't give chase if the shadows had in fact revealed the faces, though that didn't mean the other man had managed to escape, he knew he couldn't wait around for long... The adrenaline was beginning to die down, which also meant his severe wounds, and lack of food and drink would soon catch up to him. He needed to find food and water... Yet he hoped, he decided he would wait just a little longer before departing.

 

[OutofSight OutofMind]

With a loud hiss, the shadows came and seemed to tackle the faces of the barbarians. The savages, taken back in surprise, clawed at their masks trying to dislodge the grinning creatures so that they could once again see. Even though Zaire was still slightly afraid of his shadows, he knew that they were on his side. He grabbed the rod and continued to run, only adrenaline keeping him conscious. He heard more hissing, soon followed by more footsteps. He cursed under his breath as the barbarian chased him, and he risked looking back.


THRUP!


Zaire's mouth filled with dirt and his stomach twisted and turned as he tripped. With a groan, he forced himself onto his back just as the barbarian stopped. The large brute readjusted his mask, and the sound of hissing let Zaire know that all the shadows were gone. The barbarian raised his fist, and soon sent Zaire tumbling and coughing. He wished that the other was doing better than him, and was far away from their former captors.

 

[Archon]

Michael was just about to leave, now realizing the other was likely dead, or soon to be. Yet, he swore he could hear something. Very faint footsteps? Frantic ones, running perhaps? Or maybe it was simply his mind, but he had to be sure, he had to know if there was something out there, even should it be a barbarian, he had recognized the man as the same one who had fought with him, yet he didn't seem to get a chance to ever gaze at Michael, he just hoped if he did find him he wouldn't do anything stupid.


Surprisingly enough,the closer he moved to the general direction of the faint sound of... Conflict? The more confident he got that the other man was still alive, he most certainly hoped so, why he did was beyond him, but he did. Eventually Michael reached a clearing where the sound of a fight was incredibly obvious, moving as quietly as possible through the trees he then noticed it was a single barbarian, attacking the other man, who had been so close to escaping on his own accord.


He was in a poor position, similar to the one Michael had him in but the barbarian was violently trying to punch at the mans face, he couldn't have that. Letting out a sort of battle cry he charged at the barbarian, who wasn't fast enough in reacting, which resulted him being tackled forcefully to the ground, not waiting to capitalize, he then drew his fist back and hit the barbarian with all his force, twice in the face. It was sweet sweet revenge, he had him now. Whilst the barbarian was stunned, he proceeded to choke him in the same manner he had done to the other man before, unfortunately for Michael though, he knew how to fight. Regaining his senses and realizing his plight, the barbarians hands reached between Michaels arms and struck out with deadly force, breaking his grip on the mans throat, and in one swift motion, the hands were now wrapped around his own throat, bringing his head towards the man which was followed by a painful head butt,sending Michael reeling to the floor, the barbarian's turn to capitalize, mirrored Michael's previous position on top of him, and did the exact same choke which he had previously suffered, only Michael knew not of how to escape it.

 

[OutofSight OutofMind]

Hearing a battle cry he assumed was the barbarian's, Zaire winced and waited for the punch that could very well kill him that never came. It was then that he realized that the battle cry had not been the brute's, but someone else's entirely. He heard a few grunts and gurgles, and he dared himself to look at what had happened. He opened his eyes warily and turned around.


Seeing the battle taking place around him, Zaire struggled to his feet. Wait a second! The man he had fought before... was here, and had... protected him? He shook off his confusion as it took a turn for the worse. His frenemy fell to the floor after a head-butt from the barbarian, and Zaire looked around frantically. The only proper repayment for being saved was saving someone else, right? Zaire grabbed his long stick from earlier and a sharp rock. He took a deep breath as the barbarian came down and grasped around his victim's throat, effectively strangling him.


Zaire waited a moment, daring adrenaline to fill his body. In a moment, Zaire felt well enough to charge and take his revenge on the murderer and repay his temporary savior. He let out a battle cry and charged while the barbarian was too involved strangling the other. He hissed and jumped onto the barbarian's back, using strength he didn't know he had to pound the rock into the back of the man's neck and split the brain stem from the rest of the body. The savage's hands released from his frenemy's neck, and Zaire used his stick to knock the dying barbarian over. He smiled, and leaned on his rod in victory.

 

[Archon]

Michael coughed on the ground, as he felt his breath finally returning. He noticed the mangled head of what was once the barbarian, his skull bashed in, he looked at the man beside the body, the bloody rock in his hand,as he leaned on a stick to regain his breath, the mark of triumph plastered across his face. It appeared as though they were even, each one had saved the others life, he sat up when he thought he had enough energy, and turned to his savior...


"I thought I was dead for a second there... Thanks..." He inhaled deeply, and began to realize his desperate need for sustenance, his legs felt weak and sore, he desperately needed to find something to eat or drink. Or he'd be to weak to move, and then he'd either starve or dehydrate. Not a nice way for anybody to die.

 

[OutofSight OutofMind]

Zaire turned his smile towards the other. "I coulda said the s'me ta ya." He said. "Ya alright, 'fter all th't?" He inquired in a mumble, blood slowly dripping down his chin. Zaire took a deep breath and stretched out an arm to help him to his feet; however, Zaire was still wary that the man might attack him again at any moment.


Stomach rumbling, his mind wandered over to how to get sustenance to continue going on. He needed food, water, and rest. With a glance, he could probably say the same to the man that currently sat on the forest floor. Zaire thought that he wasn't the only one that would likely die if something useful didn't come by anytime soon.

 

[Archon]

He let out a chuckle at the question, he was anything but alright. "I'm feeling great..." He stretched his aching limbs, pain jolting throughout his body as the will to survive fueled him to stand up. So he took the mans arm and pulled himself up...


"We need to find food and water... We'll die if we don't..." His words were desperate, each one ringing true, the full effect of survival was now kicking in, they couldn't go another day without eating or drinking... His true hunger was soon noted as he stared at the dead barbarian... Thoughts of cannibalism turned to mind, and only now did he realize the truth behind 'people will eat anything if hungry'. He snapped the thoughts away, disgusted by his mind. No. He would not resort to that, he would no stoop as low as those savages!

 

[OutofSight OutofMind]

"Got that 'un righ'." Zaire slurred, looking around. "'Prolly our bes' chance 's huntin' for starters... but we don' 'ave any weapons..." Zaire's face turned dark. For the water, he had no idea where to start, and drinking salt water was a bad option to start with. He wasn't going to do that again.


Zaire sighed, looking to the other. "Standin' 'ere ain't gonna get 's anywh're. Which direct'n should we 'head?" He asked. "Th't is, if ya don' wanna kill me..."

 

[Archon]

He gave the man a quizzical expression. "If I wanted you dead, I would have let him take care of that." Michael said, pointing at the now dead barbarian... Then he had an idea, a terrible, terrible idea... This was a stupid plan doomed to fail but it was try and die or just die.


"What if... What if we sneak back in the arbarian camp... We steal weapons, food and water... Think about it! Many of their best hunters will be looking for us right now, they'd never expect us to pull a move like this!"


He was mainly trying to reassure himself that this plan could work, despite the incredibly small chances.

 

[OutofSight OutofMind]

"But," Zaire said. "if th'y 'ave a bit'a sense... there'd be 't least a f'w on guard... and ev'n then, we'd be scr'wed." He sighed. "But ya're right, th'y wouldn' be suspectin' it, but I don' think we're in a good enough condit'n ta pull 't off."


Zaire looked at even just his arm, covered in scratches and bruises and still having the mark where the ropes had tied his hands. He could barely walk, much less sneak into a camp full of healthy people that would most likely best him in a few seconds.


"But if we don' try, we'll die eith' way."

 

[Archon]

"Well, what about your power? What if you draw their attention with that, whilst I sneak in from behind when their distracted. Grab the food,water,weapons, leave. And we regroup here?" He knew that it was a stretch, he was right. There would be about five at least, each one armed and dangerous, in much better condition than those. But the power may work again... Even if unlikely as it was used only minutes ago, but it was true. If they didn't try this now they were dead. "We have to try, if we die then so be it. At least we'll die trying to live." His little heroic speech probably didn't do much to convince his new-'friend' but it was worth a try...

 

[OutofSight OutofMind]

"I guess, bu' those th'ngs st'll creep me ou'." Zaire said, looking to the sky and around him to make sure that they weren't still there. "S', I'll d'stract th'm wh'le ya get the s'pplies?" He asked, changing his position on his stick, as the end of it was beginning to imprint his hand. But, the stranger was right. If they died, that was how it was to be. But they had to try to live, no matter what happened! Maybe someday, Zaire thought, I'll regain my memories. But there's no chance of that if I don't live to see the day I remember.

 

[Archon]

He smiled briefly at the agreement of help, the distraction offered a new level of hope, and maybe, just maybe this plan would work... He couldn't help but chuckle at the pair of them, just a day ago they had tried to kill one another, now they were working together. It was certainly true, that if God existed-he worked in mysterious ways.


"Yes... Alright, we can do this..." He took a breath, realizing he was about to willingly walk into the place were suffering seemed to be taken to a whole new level. He shuddered at the thought of it, and more at the possibility of being caught again, he didn't even want to think about what would happen. But thoughts like that were serving no use, they had to do this.

 

[OutofSight OutofMind]

Zaire's mind relentlessly pounded the facts of every danger that they were risking with the plan. "Yeah..." He told the other, preparing himself to be a distraction while the stranger rushed in as a sneak attack to get the surprise. Zaire looked around with shaky, nervous breaths. They had to do this. They had to win. If they didn't get the supplies, even if they did get away with their lives, he knew that their deaths of dehydration and starvation would be horrifying. But, if they wanted to do this, time was of the essence.


"So..." Zaire scratched the back of his head. "Ya ready ta g't goin'?"

 

[Archon]

He took a breath, now focusing on the task at hand. They couldn't afford to make any mistakes, doing so would surely end in death, not a quick one either. "Yeah, I'm ready... It's now or never..." He knew this was their only shot, soon enough the barbarians hunting for them would give up and return, if that was to happen then they'd never get the food, or water to survive. Acquiring weapons was merely an extra bonus that could come of this course of action.

 

[OutofSight OutofMind]

Zaire gestured out towards the way he had come from earlier with one hand. He nodded and mentally began to plot his strategy. He took a deep breath in preparation for what was to come, and faced the other, beginning to speak."L'd the way, uh," Zaire stopped in the middle of his sentence. It came to mind he had never inquired about the other man's name before. "Pard'n me, but wh't is yo'r n'me?" He asked.

 

[Archon]

Michael began walking in the direction of the camp once more, all previous fear replaced by the possibility of being able to eat and drink, upon being questioned on his name he noticed he didn't know the strangers name either. So obviously he answered and questioned.


"Michael, and yours?"He found some sort of morbid amusement in realizing they may learn each others names only to die later, but it was the prospect of living that drove them on.

 

[OutofSight OutofMind]

"Zaire, I th'nk." He said, following the man he now knew as Michael back towards the camp. Sure, Zaire was scared, but like his newfound friend, he was entranced at the thought of eating and drinking. He smiled as the fantasies continued in his brain, and he wondered whether or not he had issues like searching for food such like this in the past. He hoped that Michael had had a better life before he ended up here, and he wondered: Had he been sent here in a similar manner to himself?


He continued to stay silent as they walked to what was likely their doom.

 

[Archon]

The camp soon appeared in sight, he hadn't spoken after learning Zaire's name, what was the point in pleasantries if they ended up dead? No. They would have time for such things after they had full bellies and wet throats, until then it was pointless. As Zaire had earlier predicted, however, he counted at least six people, three women three men... The woman had bows and axes, the man had spears and axes. This had every potential to go wrong, this had to be the stupidest thing ever done. But dying makes you desperate, as Michael thought Zaire would agree.


"Ok, I'll go around to the back of the camp, count to five minutes, then start the distraction."

 

[OutofSight OutofMind]

"Alright," Zaire replied. He looked around for a place to hide. He settled for a bush near their perimeter, and began to wait for Michael to make his move. As he waited, he counted the tents in the camp that were in his sight, and every dangerous object in sight. He sat there patiently and bided his time. Will Michael survive this? Will he succeed? Zaire wondered.

 

[Archon]

Michael stayed low, creeping through the trees to avoid detection, when he reached the other side of the camps exterior he carefully examined the camp, the watchtowers weren't being used, the mangled corpses of multiple bodies were piled up... He had to do this quickly, lest he end up joining them in death. So he bided his time, waiting for Zaire to begin the distraction, so he could move in and claim the supplies. He had to confess, the thought of running off and leaving Zaire had crossed his mind, but he trusted him, he didn't know why but he did.

 

[OutofSight OutofMind]

Zaire figured it had been about five minutes. He looked at the sky, and took a deep breath. And another. And, with a final intake, Zaire screamed as loud as he possibly could in his poor condition. He tried to keep his long note up as he glanced at the sky, as it twisted with shadows and darkness. It wasn't long until he was out of breath, and gasping for air. He coughed as darkness continued to wrap around anything and everything, even himself. The shadows invigorated him and, as his breath stilled, he once almost felt like he could hear voices. Zarie dismissed it from his mind as nothing, and continued to look around and search for the sight of Michael, hoping that he had made his move.

 

[Archon]

The signal was made, the scream echoed through the sky in an eerily inhumane manner, something was up with that man... Yet he didn't care as long as they were allies, the shadows shrouded over Zaire's location, the barbarians heading towards it, as expected. With great haste he sprinted into the camp, multiple weapons lay on a table before him, though not entirely dignified, he lodged an axe between his waste and pants, an axe would be useful. His next move was a bow, he slung it over his shoulder, and grabbed the quiver of arrows, also using his pants to hold them. Though they were more unsteady, he hoped the quiver didn't fall out.


Then it was time for survival needs, he darted to the left of the table, into a tent which appeared to be where the supplies were kept... Sure, it was a hunch. But it was the best bet he had, to his astonishment though, he had been correct. Buckets of water, and boxes of food. Unfortunately, his lack of hunger and water combined with his injuries would make lifting a single one a daunting task... He soon began to realize the foolishness of the plan, alas, it was too far in effect to back out now. He grabbed the box first, running on pure adrenaline, he lifted it beneath his arm, barely able to hold onto it's seemingly heavy weight. With his one free arm, he reached for the bucket. Struggling to lift that also.


Yet he had the supplies, now it was time to move... His condition was atrocious though, he couldn't run... Adrenaline or not the human body had limits, walking as fast as he could he neared the village edge, hoping he wouldn't be spotted.

 

[OutofSight OutofMind]

Zaire saw all the barbarians dashing towards him, screaming things in a language he didn't understand. Something inside of him saw this as a funny situation, but Zaire as himself found nothing funny about the people pointing bows at the bush he hid behind. Soon enough, they'd be right here and attempting to kill him. The savages didn't even slow at the grinning faces lying in the shadows, as if millions of murders were hidden and waiting for the right moment. Zaire let out another ear-piercing wail and hoped that the shadows might blind them. The darkness increased, the only light in the area the bunches of red eyes poking out from everywhere. But it did do it's job, as the murderous barbarians had stopped pursuing him and now struggled to get the demonic shadows off of their faces. In the commotion, he grabbed his walking stick and looked around for Michael. Zaire spotted his comrade walking quickly along, dragged down by the weight of a bucket and a crate. He rushed along, leaving the blinded barbarians behind, and came to aid his friend with the supplies. Zaire willed the area to lighten just enough for him and Michael to be able to see to get to safety.