[Mkguild] Patrol XV

[C. Matthias]

>Woods: April 1st
>I was taking a break from walking, sitting on a 
>stump. My legs were throbbing from carrying the 
>extra weight of my soaking wet dress. My tail 
>rubbed against the backside of the stump. I 
>could feel every splinter and crack in the wood dragging against my underside.
>"I've never really thought about what the back 
>of a chair feels like." I mumbled. "You don't 
>really until you have a tail. Now I've got to 
>sit in chairs with holes in them or stick my 
>tail up my ass." I laughed. "I'm going completely insane."
>The sun had risen more but it was still the 
>morning. I wanted water in the worst of ways. 
>"Will I enjoy being a lizard?" My claws dug into 
>the fabric of my dress. "I...I assume no but...but I-
>-snap- My head jerked up.

You will totally love being a lizard and having 
that tail.  It's the natural order of things. ;-)

>Berl held his knife in his right hand. His arms 
>shook too hard for him to raise the knife. 
>Before him stood a lizard man, back turned to Berl.Â
>"I...I could take him home as a trophy...I 
>could..." He swallowed. The Hunt Leader's words rang out in his head.
>'You are only to kill if your life is in danger.'
>"Okay I won't kill him...I can take something 
>from him as a trophy." Berl swallowed. He tapped 
>the knife against his stomach just to verify he 
>was still holding it. "I can. I can do that. I-"
>Berl stepped on a branch that broke with a loud crack. The lizard spun around.

I do feel sorry for Berl, no question there.

>The hunter was dressed in leather armor and a 
>cloak. He looked like Brightleaf but more so. He 
>was holding a knife though, that's what got my 
>attention. I gripped the hatchet against my side.
>'Oh my gods I'm going to die. I'm going to die 
>and he's going to kill me. I'm so scared...' I 
>closed my eyes...and I saw someone. I saw Sir Egland from the other night.
>"I was more than scared." Sir Egland said, "I 
>was petrified. I was cursed, everyone in the 
>outside world thinks I'm dead, and I'm trapped 
>in a strange city. But I'm still here."
>'Sir Egland...he was scared but he didn't show 
>it. He kept going.' I opened my eyes and studied 
>the knife-wielder. He was young, as young as I 
>was. He looked even more scared. I could see his 
>fingers trembling and his bottom lip shaking. 
>Incidentally these were details I'd have missed a month prior.
>'Sir Egland survived by being brave...' My mind 
>began to whirl through ideas, 'Maybe I can get 
>through this by being brave.' I steadied myself. 
>I couldn't shake, I couldn't whimper and I couldn't let a tear out.Â

I like how James remembers what Egland said right 
here; his attempt not to let his fear show seems to almost work right.

>"I mean what is wrong? It's obviously not just 
>James. You said you were a knight; you've fought 
>in battles before. Last night with arrows 
>sailing around us you barely reacted." Misha 
>gestured at him. "Now you're shaking. You're anxious." Nemo moved on.
>The trees were identical tangles of gray with 
>splashes of color, orange, white, pink and 
>yellow. The ground was littered with dead 
>leaves, shrubs, brambles and the occasional tree 
>root. Nemo focused on these instead of the fox asking questions.
>"I...Yes there is something more at play than 
>just James being lost." Nemo swallowed. "But it 
>is a personal matter of no concern to you." Misha shook his head.
>"Don't let it affect you." Misha said.
>"I'm not trying to let it affect me." Nemo said, 
>breaking off a branch from a tree. "But I know 
>that James is lost and scared. If we don't find 
>him, he'll end up killing himself. And we-
>"Help!" The two snapped around.
>"That's James" Nemo said. The two took off running towards the voice.

His past, the change coming on him, etc.... all that is on his mind too.

>"Who is that!?" Berlitz screamed, pointing his 
>knife at me. I gripped the hatchet.
>"Pu-put that down." I stammered. "I'm warning 
>you." Berlitz arms were shaking but now his eyes 
>were wide. He was starting to freak out. Sir 
>Egland would be calm, he survived. I want to 
>survive. I tried my best to remain calm. "I don't want to hurt you."
>"You're a monster! You want to kill me!" He spit 
>with fear, "All you Keepers, you're monsters! 
>You want to kill us all!" I was taken aback. "All monsters!"
>"I'm not a monster." I yelled back as my anger 
>flared up in me. "I'm just a guy who wants to go 
>home!" Now it was his turn to look surprised. "I just want to go home!"
>Berlitz began panting. I saw him tense up a 
>moment before he leapt at me. That's probably 
>why I'm still alive. I leapt, or at least fell, 
>to the right as Berl slammed into the mud.
>I flipped onto my back just in time for Berl to 
>jump on me. He slashed with a blind frenzy, 
>quite literally his eyes were closed. A few 
>glancing blows cut me but not deep. I punched 
>Berl in the face, knocking him off.
>"Owe gods my nose." Berl rubbed at the fresh 
>flowing blood. I leapt up and took off running, 
>only for Berl to jump me again.Â
>"Gah!" The two of us crashed into the ground. I 
>scratched at him in desperation, but that did 
>nothing. Berl prepared to stab me in the chest. 
>I grabbed at something, anything and threw it in Berl's face.
>He dropped the knife and yelled as dirt struck 
>him in the eyes. He rubbed at his eyes, trying 
>to clear them. I grabbed my hatchet off the 
>ground as Berl stopped rubbing. His eyes connected with mine.
>"You won't get me!" Berl's hands grabbed my 
>throat and started choking me. My lungs burned.
>'I can't-I can't breathe!' He looked so happy 
>strangling me, shaking my head up and down. 'I-I 
>have to-' I swung the hatchet up.
>Thunk.
>"Oh gods." The hands around my throat went limp. 
>"Oh gods no." I scooted away from Berl, sitting 
>up. "No no no." Berl sat up on his knees, 
>swaying from side to side. I could only hear him 
>gasping for air, and the sound of my heart 
>hammering. "Please, please don't..." Blood 
>flowed from his head. From the hatchet I had swung in the side of his head.
>"Please don't be dead." I whispered. Berl's eyes 
>filled with sorrow looking at me. He tried 
>mouthing something. "No, no you're alright." 
>Berl started to fall back. "You have to be!" I 
>grabbed for Berl's shirt, but his body fell outside of my grasp.Â
>'No no please no.' I grabbed Berl and pulled him 
>against me. All of my anger was gone as the 
>realization settled over me. "Help! Please someone help!"
>"James!" Nemo and Misha came bounding out of the 
>woods. I was still screaming I think and trying to stop the bleeding.
>Yes I held him. I held that boy until he died in my arms.

I am reminded of the scene in "Where the Red Fern 
Grows" when the bully gets killed with his own 
axe when trying to kill the dog.  I cannot help 
but feel sorry for Berl.  I would be holding him and crying just like James.

May He bless you and keep you in His grace and love,

Charles Matthias