Today has been unnecessarily difficult: Physical exercise, all the learning, and even almost dying. It was just too much for me today, but at least when I went to dinner, I saw Buloke with both his cheeks swollen, but still he got off too easy for almost killing me. I still can’t punish him for hurting me, but at least I can reward Willow. I should see what I can do for him, but that is tomorrow’s Orbs problem. Right now, I am going to sleep.So, as I am about to get into bed, something drops down from the roof and lands on my back. As I am about to say something, a hand appears over my mouth, and I hear, “Quite down, or I will snap your neck.”Following my instructions, I quieted down, but the voice I heard was oh so familiar to me. I heard it every time I approached Sequoia house, It was Maples.Soon after this, Maple gets off me, and I quietly ask her, “How did you get down from up there.”“They needed to take me down so I could do some things.”“I see you needed to relieve yoursel
Φ As I feel the warm comfort of a bed, I realise what happened. I don’t want to get up because if I do, I have to face the fact that I failed again, even after everything I said to Orb. How many failures does this even make? Mother and father, I am sorry for letting all you’ve done for me go to waste. I genuinely am pathetic.As my despairing thoughts continue, tears fall from my eyes, and soon after that, I hear, “Doctor, he’s crying.”That Voice was Orbs, so I quickly opened my eyes to look around the room, and saw the doctor coming toward me with Orb not far behind.After the doctor gives me one last look, he says I should rest for a few days. Then it’s just me and Orb left in the room as the doctor went to handle other business. Orb has a worried look and says, “Willow, I.”“Sorry Orb, this is sort of embarrassing after everything I said to you earlier,” I say quickly, stopping Orb’s Sentence. “I guess this was a bad day. I still have next time; I won’t give up.”“Willow.”“Don’t
-Break-Φ I have been in this cell for almost six months. The only contact with people I have had is the guards who bring me my food, and the doctor who comes to treat and check on the progress of my frostbite. Still, I do not know why I am still here. If I were an issue, I would be executed if I weren’t, I would be let go, but I was much more likely to be completed.My reasons being, that these people were highly hostile towards outsiders when we first came, they immediately tried to dispose of Orb and me, and if you add in that most of them look at me as if I am some monster, as well as their primitive clothing I can only guess they are an isolationist village that doesn’t let people come in.But how long have they been like this, people have been adventuring the bottom half of Fimbulwinter for centuries, and there have never been any reports of civilisation here, and from the brief look I had around the village, they seem well adapted? They must have been living here for quite some
It has been eight months since I joined the village; to put it simply, it has been fun. At first, all I did was wake up, train, eat, and then sleep, but over time I was able to make a friend: Willow. Through our mutual love of animals and knowledge we were able to bond, and since we both became warriors, we have grown closer; it seems through all the time I spend with Willow and the other kids, all of the older villagers have been more friendly with me. It also seems Pine and Sequoia were putting in a good word for me.Being part of this big family has made me enjoy being here, even though some people would like me to die. Regardless, I have many people who care and want me to be around now. It makes me want to stay here forever, but I still need to leave. I can’t stay here forever, so I have two objectives to accomplish to do.The first, is to make it so I know the entrance and exit to the village. I still have to be knocked out whenever we go hunting. From being here for so long, I
-Break-Φ I still remember those days, when an epidemic ran through our village. It would make the infected suffer in extreme agony, while their brain started to swell. It was a slow, painful death as they lost control over their bodily functions. Every single day people were dropping like flies, the population of the village halved. Brothers lost their sisters, wife’s lost their husbands, and I lost my parents.Eventually, it was decided to put all the sick to death to stop the infection and end their suffering, but I opposed it with all my might. Even as a kid, I stood in opposition to everyone, saying there still might be a way to save everyone. I keep saying that we can’t just dispose of all these lives like this; it was just a pipe dream. I knew there was no way to save all those people, yet I kept opposing the decision to buy time, because I didn’t want the last words my parents would say to me to be: it hurts Buloke.It was a selfish desire that gave false hope to people who we
“So, anything to say.”“You talk too much.”“Talking is the greatest form of communication, so thank you.”After a moment of silence, I ask Orb, “Why are you trying to help Cole.”“So, you’re finally using his name.”“Just answer me.”“I simply think leaving him to die is just too sad, so I won’t let it happen, simple as that.”“You’re a strange one.”“Thanks for the compliment. You are just layering on the praise.”“I am not praising you, moron. It seems you need to learn what a compliment is.”“Now you’re trying to insult me to keep up that bad attitude. I am like a virus; even if you don’t want me in your system, I find a way to get in.”After a moment of silence, Orb says, “Sorry, I probably shouldn’t have said that.”“Why is that?”“Well, simply because of what happened to your parents.”“How the hell do you know about that!”“I have been spending lots of time with all the villagers, so of course the epidemic would come up.”“You have spent your time in our village well, you have
-Break-Φ As I am preparing to finish up my day, I receive a visitor, it was Orb. “Hey Sequoia, I know you are probably tired after everything that has happened recently, but would I be able to talk with you for a bit.”Orb is not one to bother people if it is not essential so I say, “No problem, let’s head inside my room first,” after we both head inside; he giddily sits down wherever he can.“Would you like anything to drink, Orb?”“No, I am fine and sorry about this.”“Don’t worry, it’s no problem. Now, what is the issue? Is it that you might want to extend the punishment period a bit more, since it ended today.”“No, having Buloke be my servant for the last two months was fine enough, and I made sure to embarrass him lots over that period, so I think it’s fine.”He made Buloke do everything for him, even at a point I started to feel bad, but it was a light punishment considering he tried to kill Orb. He would’ve had to go through something worse, if Orb hadn’t proposed this himsel
The blow that Maple received sent her flying, but she quickly got up and said, “The truth hurts, doesn’t it, Sequoia.”Sequoia yet again becomes visibly enraged by her words and is about to go for another punch, but a group of warriors, including Orb and Buloke, hold him down.As he is being held, Buloke says, “I know what Maple said was out of line, but doing this won’t get your point across at all, so please calm down, chief.”As the chief relaxes, he turns around and walks away, but as he tries to do this, Maple starts walking up to him and says, “Is that all you’ve got, you piece of trash.”The chief ignoring all her words walks away, but Maple continues to spew insults at him without stopping. “Garbage, filth, pig, idiot, MURDER!” But she eventually falls to the ground holding her bruised cheek, as some people try to go up and help her, she screams “, LEAVE ME ALONE!” And then she runs off with tears in her eyes, with Willow following her close being.“Cole, can you come with me