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Chapter 7: A New Life
Bright afternoon sunlight blasted into Leech's eyes has he quickly snapped awake, and wondered where he was. He lay on the floor of an old, deteriorating, wooden shack. He slowly stood and tried to think of where he was. The last think he remembered was eating the capsules from his pouch. At that thought he reached for his waist, and noticed the pouch and the rest of his things were gone. When he looked down he was shocked to see his clothes and body covered in dried blood. He frantically searched his body for wounds, finding none, but noticing a scar on his stomach that he hadn't seen before. He found and sat in a small wooden chair in the corner, and began to think, trying to straighten out his mind. The next thing Leech knew the light from outside had dimmed considerably, and the stood thinking he should find a river or lake to clean of the blood that covered him. Just as he reached for the door it flew open, smashing into his face and knocking him to the floor. He almost literally jumped back onto his feet and shook his head, as if to shifting brain back into place. Once her could see straight again he saw a girl a little taller than himself with freshly cleaned, light brown hair that came down just below her shoulders. "who are...", he stopped momentarily as she turned to face him after closing the door. "oh! it's you. Your name is Alice right?" Leech asked unsure, she nodded, "Yes, But how did you know?". He looked at her and said simply, "Well, I saw it on your clothes a while ago.", Alice looked at him slightly confused, "You mean when we were in the lock up? That was quite a while ago, and you weren't there for very long.". Leech nodded, smiled, and rubbed his head where he had been stuck by Randel, "I know, but that's not important, we're free now. How long have we been here?", she thought for a minute then said, "about three days now i guess.". He nodded to show is understanding, then suddenly look as though he had remembered something, "Oh! do you have my things?", Alice smiled and held up a one finger before stepping back outside for a moment.
She returned carrying all of his things, "Here you go, and a little gift from that b*****d Heartman, he won't be needing it anymore." she said handing him a blood stained leather scabbard. Leech looked at her confused, "Did you..." his voice trailed off, but she understood, "No, i didn't kill him, it must have been some kind of bear.". Leech nodded happily, "Thank you for this, and for rescuing me.", he carefully slid his sword into the scabbard and found it fit perfectly. Once he was done with admiring his new item, he turned to her and said inquisitively, "What do we do now?", Alice cocked her head to the side, "We?". He laughed and stared at her for a moment, "Well, neither of us have any family or home to speak of, so it'd be beneficial to both us to stick together. I know you thought of that too, or else you would have left me here long ago.". She smiled and said, "You pretty smart for a kid ya know. oh! that reminds me, what's your name anyway?", Leech suddenly looked sad and shrugged, "I don't know if I even have one.". Alice put her hand on his shoulder and smiled, "Well then, I think you need one, i think i'll just call you Kid. how about that?", he smiled, "That's good with me. Now that that's taken care of, what are we gonna do?". She shook her head, "Well, I don't know about tomorrow, but tonight we'll eat and get a good night's sleep.", she then picked up a burlap sack that Leech guessed she had brought in with her, but he didn't notice. She pointed at a small fireplace, "You wantta get a fire goin', I'd like to eat as soon as possible.". He just nodded and jump to his task happily.
*Eight years later*
Snow fell lightly as Leech an Alice made their way to their favorite tavern in the large city of Shale one winter afternoon. Leech wore a tattered white shirt, and pair of torn black pants, leather boots, and his sword on his left hip. he looked at Alice, who walked beside him. She was dressed the same as him except her clothes were almost brand new, and she wore his cloak. The Cloak was a little too big for her so the slack cloth was held up by clothes-pins. Alice look up and notice him looking at her, "Aren't you cold?" she asked sounding slightly worried. Leech smile and shook his, "Nope", he looked away and began to think of something then a moment latter blurted out, "Oh! I remember now!". He looked at her and smiled, she rolled her eyes slightly, "What is it this time?". He stopped and started to laugh, "It's your birthday! Did you forget again?", she looked at him blankly for a few seconds, then laughed a little, "i guess i did. Thanks for the reminder.". Leech turned and started walking again, "What would you do without me." he said jokingly, she looked at the ground sadly, and mumbled, "I really don't know". He turned, walking backwards, "you say something?" he said smiling, she jumped slightly at his voice and looked at him smiling and walking faster to catch up with him, "Nope. Ya must be hearing things.". He shrugged, "Okay, if you say so, I just coulda swore you..." he stopped abruptly, grabbing Alice's shoulder, stopping her as well. She looked him confused, "What's wrong?", he shook his head, "I don't know but there's some kind of commotion coming from the tavern.". He looked around and then the two stepped well into an alleyway, "You stay here, i'm gonna go check it out.", Alice nodded "Sure, but be quick about it.". He nodded to her and stepped back, as he did so his form began to change. Red fur covered his body has he knelt down on all fours, his face became dog like, his hand and feet became white fur coated paws, and a tail red furred tail with a white tip appeared on his backside. He was now a two foot tall, red and white fox.
Alice looked at him and laughed, "Aww, look at the cute puppy.", he looked her as if to say "this is no time for jokes", she nodded and he was quickly off to investigate the trouble at the tavern. He darted trough a few alleys before finally coming to one the exited to the front of the tavern. He remained hidden in the shadow, he could see a fairly large group of people standing outside, listening to someone standing on a crate, Leech recognized the man as Lou, Shale's mayor. Leech had picked his pockets many times and once even stole from his house, he had no second thoughts about as Lou was a despicable man who looked down on almost everyone in the city. The man was tall but fat, had a thick graying mustache, and almost no hair. He was quiet as more people approached he began his speech again, "People, I have dire news, and as crazy as it may sound you must believe me. Ancient creatures walk amongst us once more! I speak of vampires ladies and gentlemen.". There was a sudden outburst, some sighs, but mostly laughter. One man stepped forward, "You've lost it old man! everyone knows that vampires are pure myth. How dare you stand there and try to frighten people, i demand you show proof or rid us of your insane ramblings!", there was a mumble as the crowd showed there agreement with the man. Lou smiled widely, "I thought you'd never ask.", with a snap of his fingers two men pushed a wheeled, covered cage from an ally into shade from the tavern.
Lou stepped up to the cage and pulled off the tarp that covered it, reveling an extremely pale man who leapt at the bars of the cage, showing long and sharp fangs. There was a loud gasp of surprise and fear, then Lou pulled the cage into the sunlight, the man began to scream in agony as smoke rolled from his body as he burned. It wasn't long before the creature's body bust into flames, and his scream got louder, then died along with him. The mayor stepped back up on his crate and produced a scroll from his vest, "The creature gave us a description of his master. Although he said he hadn't seen him since he was bit eight years ago, we think this is a fairly accurate depiction of him.". He showed the scroll to and it was a drawing, of someone who looked surprisingly alot like Leech. the mayor continued, "As a result of this new discovery I have founded a vampire hunting section of the town guard. If any of you see this person, or anything you think is suspicious you should report it to them. They will be based right here at the Dragon's Fire tavern.", he nailed the picture to the outside of the tavern, and then walked off. Leech raced back to Alice, returning to his human form immediately after rounding the corner coming into the ally. He looked at her worriedly, "We need to leave tonight.", she sighed, "More hunters? Already?". Leech nodded, "But this time it's different. They caught an actual vampire, i recognized him as one of the slavers from when I...well, you know.", he looked shamefully at the ground. Alice put her hand on his shoulder, "yes, i know. As i told you when your memory of that night came back two years ago, it's okay, that monster isn't you. It was an accident and those were bad people anyway.".
He looked at her smiled and nodded, "You're right. You do know that you don't have to run right? I mean you're in no danger.", she smiled, "I know, but as i told you before, i go where you go. Besides, you did promise to be my body guard right?". He laughed and said, "I did, didn't I. Well, i guess it's decided then. What all do we need before leaving the city?", Alice thought for a moment, "Well, we defiantly need more gold, and we could use some dried foods and bread, new water pouches, and some new blankets.". Leech nodded, "well, you can get the gold, I'll get everything else.", she looked at him a little surprised, "You sure?", "Defiantly. You're a better pick pocket, and that takes longer, so in the same time it'll take you to get the gold, I'll have gotten the other things.". She shrugged, "That's true enough i guess. Well, I'll be off to it then.". Leech stopped her, "Wait, remember, don't take from those who can't afford to lose it, and don't get greedy, and don't hang around one place too long.", Alice waved him off dismissively, "I know, I know." then set off toward the wealthier part of town. Leech just chuckled and shook his head before he too set about his tasks in the market. Some time just before dusk Leech met up with Alice outside the city's east gate, he held all the things he had picked up in his arm with the smaller things wrapped in two new blankets. "What took you so long?" she said, sarcastically, yet annoyed. Leech laughed a little, "Had to make an extra trip." he turned his back to her, laid the blankets down and folded them back to reveal the things inside. He pick up something in both hands then turned back to face Alice, keeping his hand hidden behind his back.
She eyed him suspiciously for a moment, "What was that you said about an extra trip?", he smiled at her, "Well, given what day it is I thought it a good idea to get something a little special. Close your eyes!". She raised an eye brow at him, then reluctantly closed her eyes, something wooden was placed in one of her hands and something leather in the other. "Okay, you can open them" she opened her eyes, the wooden object turned out to be a finely crafted and sturdy short bow, already stringed, the leather object was a black leather quiver full of strong oak arrows with perfect fletching and silver arrow heads. She found her self completely dumbstruck, "Happy birthday! I hope you like them", Leech said smiling as he recollected the other things he had laid down. He went to walk down the road, but was suddenly stopped as Alice lept, hugging him for several second, then let go, "Thank you. alot.". Leech turned to her and smiled, "It's no big deal. It's just my way of saying happy birthday and I'm sorry for breaking you other one last week.", Alice smiled at him, "Don't worry about that one, it was gonna break on it's own anyway, and besides, this one's much better. I can't wait to get in some practice.". He looked at her and shook his head, "Practice? you're already better than most people out there!". She strapped the quiver on her back, "Well, i don't know about that, but more practice couldn't hurt right?", Leech shrugged, "I guess not, but try and save the good arrows for in-case we need them, I'm not sure when we'll be able to get more like those.". Alice and Leech then began to walk eastward, "I know, I'll make my own. Oh yeah, that reminds me. Here, this is all i got." she toss him four and a half small pouches of gold coins, "Wow, feels like a good take, how much?". She looked up at the sky and thought, "If I remember correctly, about 1,028 coins. Leech let out a small whistle, "That should last us a for a while.".
They were almost out of sight of the city gate when suddenly there was a faint whistling sound, then Leech was rolling to the ground. Alice quickly looked at him and saw a large arrow in the middle of his back, she helped him to his feet and the two started to run into the nearby forest with arrows flying at them from behind, Leech caught two more one in the shoulder and one in his calf. Once they were among the trees, they were able to hide. Leech turned to Alice, "Quick, pull these things out." when she did the wounds bleed profusely for a moment, then healed, but scars were left. The two looked at the trees near the road, and soon five men entered hiding behind trees, two with bows and three with swords. Leech grabbed and threw a rock to his left, when it hit the ground he saw an arrow fly in the direction, "Well, their jumpy, that could be good" he said smiling as he picked up a handful of rocks and sticks. "We'll use these to get them to fire their arrows, the less they have, the better chance we have to get away" he handed some to Alice and she threw her's on to the other side. After a few minutes of trowing sticks and stones the arrow fire stopped. Leech looked around, then pointed to a larger tree a few yards behind them, "If we can make it there we'll draw them deeper into the woods, and then we can circle around them and get back out again.", Alice nodded and the two took off running for the tree, making sure the hunters heard them. The plan work, the five men made their way more into the forest, Leech and Alice drew them in farther, where the trees were thicker and there were more shadows to hide in. When they thought they were in deep enough, the two started to move more silently to the left of the position of the hunters. They slowly and silently made their way through the trees, eventually passing the hunters and making it back to the road way.
The two crossed the road and traveled into the forest on the opposite side, getting farther and farther away from the men that had been pursuing them. Leech and Alice stopped and rested just out off sight of the road, "How did they find out so fast? You didn't stop for a 'snack' did you?", Leech looked at her surprised, "No, i most certainly did not! I can't believe you'd think I'd be that careless twice.". Alice looked at the ground, "Well, I guess not. But that doesn't answer the question, how did they find out?" he started to draw in the snow with a stick, "It might have something to do with the drawing.", "What drawing!?", she said surprising Leech by ripping the stick out of his hand. He jump a little and shuck his hand, "Ow! That hurt...Well, in any case, the vampire they caught gave them my description, and they were able to get a very good drawing of me. So now i don't need to be caught feeding on livestock, my face alone will get us in trouble.", "Well, hell! what do we do now?" Alice complained and threw the stick carelessly behind her. There was no sound of it landing though, the two turned at the same time to see ten men standing not but a few feet away from them, four of them held bows which were nocked and aimed, the rest held swords at the ready. Leech looked around for a moment, then in a flash grabbed Alice and darted into the forest, but not before taking an arrow in his left forearm.
After a few minutes of chase Leech and Alice found themselves trapped between the hunters and the large stone wall that protected the city. Leech had positioned Alice behind him and drew his sword as the men began to close in on them from all sides. One of them reached for Alice and Leech instinctively sent his sword arching, the man screamed in pain as his arm fell to the ground and passed out from shock. One swordsman tried to rush him, but Leech was too fast and sliced his stomach so deep that organs could be seen easily as he dropped to the ground dead. The remaining hunters seemed to back away as they realized how skillful Leech was with his sword, but it was only for a moment, the four archers then drew and aimed more arrows. Leech stood ready to take the small volley, but just before the arrows were released something grabbed Leech and Alice and before they knew what had happened the were far away from the city and safe in the woods again. Leech and Alice were laying on the ground, and a boy around Leech's age, dressed in black, with brown hair was standing with his back to them looking around. Leech stood nervously, "um...Thank you. I don't mean to sound unappreciative, but why did you save us? and if you don't mind, who are you?". The boy shrugged, "Well, to your first question, you seemed like coulda used the help. To your second question, you can call me Zero, but right now I'm a little busy, so I have to go." before vanishing he looked over his shoulder, "Try to stay out of trouble from now on, okay.". Leech looked around confused, "Where the hell did he go?", just then he heard Alice behind him, "What was that all about?", he shook his head, "I have no idea.".
 randomizor301 · Fri Sep 10, 2010 @ 06:05am · 0 Comments |
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