Chapter 4 - Jared
Underneath the impartial setting desert suns rays a stalwart figure was ungracefully scrambling up a sand dune. Clad in great baggy white robes that were constantly being caught underneath his sandalled feet and tripping him up, the lonesome figure would of been rather comical in his antics if it were not for the splattered crimson blood stains up his chest. Long blonde locks fell around the fifteen year olds face as he pushed onwards, framing a dark tanned face and delicate nose. Two desolate striking blue eyes kept their gaze focused dead ahead of them, terrified of looking back and seeing figures pursuing him.
Ripping air into his lungs Jared looked around in distress. Panicking he frantically recalled what his father had imparted to him "Flee from Shuda on the north road and carry on to the north towards the centre of the desert, after five miles there should be a pool marked by a solitary stone. Wait five days and if no comrades arrive carry on north for another thirty miles until you reach the town of Dhiran"
Anguish at his plight was constricting his throat making drawing each breath harder than the last as he fled deeper into the barren desert leaving Shuda far behind him. Tripping over his outer garment again Jared let out a low growl of rage whilst lying amidst the sand. Staggering to his feet he ripped the outer robe off, leaving only his loincloth and sandals on. Barring his toned upper body to the deserts elements he kept moving northward bound.
Cresting the dune he had been climbing jubilation burst into his striking blue eyes as they came to rest upon a giant lone rock that rested atop the next sand dune maybe not even a kilometre away. The sunlight was being replaced with moonlight rapidly now, so when Jared saw the small pillar of smoke rising beside the great lone rock he offered a pray of thanks to the gods, hoping there was space around the fire among the travellers encampment for him. Picking up his flustered pace he hurried to make his way over to the rock and, hopefully, his saviours.
Climbing up the great sand dune the rock his father talked about rested upon uneasiness flashed through Jared mind. He was only fifty or so metres away from the top of the dune and yet no one had called out to him or asked him to identify himself. There weren't many types of travellers that wouldn't place guards to keep watch for the night. The dark thought that maybe they weren't travellers at all surfaced in Jared's mind, they could be bandits or members of a Dark Guild. The uneasiness in Jared's mind graduated to full time fear as he thought about deaths potential embrace waiting for him. However he knew he couldn't survive in the desert without any water, death awaited for him if he were to journey without water, he was forced to go to the oasis if he wished to survive. In addition there had been an increase of Desert Dire Wolves around this area in the past few years, the people at the top of this dune might offer him some protection, safety was after all found in numbers. Nervously he carried onwards.
The sun had finished setting just as Jared crested the dune, perplexity filled his expression as he comprehended the bizarre sight that met his gaze. The half darkness of the encroaching night was held at bay by a small fire over which a fox carcass was being roasted, the flickering flames cast light upon a ramshackle hut constructed against the side of the solitary rock he had been seeking. Animal Furs and bones and were decorating every part of the hut making it seem tribal in nature. The flames cast their light to reflect and glitter upon a pools surface to the right of the rock and hut. Fur and bone was spread everywhere in the immediate area whilst sparse amounts of plants grew up through the sand and animal pieces.
Sitting on a small rock staring intently at the cooking meat hovering over the fire was a youth tinted yellow and orange by the billowing camp flame. Tanned a bronzed brown the male youth was almost as naked as Jared was. He wore a pair of loose shorts that couldn't even reach his knees, his sleek powerful chest was all bare apart from a terrifying robe. Two shaggy grey paws acted as a brooch whilst the top half of the Dire Wolfs head was being used as a hood. Jared's eyes bulged as he realised this youth had donned a Desert Dire Wolfs skin as a robe. Two yellowed curved fangs rested upon his forehead stopping just above his eyebrows. Dark chestnut hair fell wildly amongst those two serrated incisors. Two piercing amber eyes slowly looked up from the meat and met Jared's astonished gaze. Jared felt a shiver run down his spine as he was gazed upon by this savage looking youth, he was reminded of the time he had locked eyes with a RedDesert Mastiff, he felt as if he was looking at a predator whom viewed his life as nothing more than sustenance for itself.
The trait that truly terrified him however was the slightly faded but still prominent angry white scar that started above his eyes in the centre of his head and jaggedly run down over his left eye and finished equal with his nose in the middle of his cheek. Getting to his feet slowly the wild young man displayed his impressive physique. Sleek and streamlined his entire body looked like it balanced speed and power perfectly. The wild youth wasn't as tall as Jared had expected, being perhaps only one metre sixty but that didn't truly affect the barbaric figure he cast.
Taking note of the Runed blade beside the barbarians feet Jared inhaled a deep shaky breath slowly steading himself whilst becoming prepared to flee if that was what he had to do to live. The oasis wasn't worth getting killed for and looking at all the bones on the ground there was a good chance he was going to be killed for nothing more than amusement. Gingerly placing a foot behind him Jared readied himself to turn and run all the way to Dhiran with this desert barbarian hounding after him baying for his blood all the way. However what the barbarian youth did next stupefied Jared even more than finding him here in the first place. With a smile the barbarian gestured to another rock by the fire and sincerely spoke "Come you're free to share my campfire" Jared's jaw dropped even lower.
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Destro noticed the youth as soon as he crossed the crest of the nearest dune however not a trace of fear, excitement or anxiousness could be seen on his face, his facial expression was the picture of serenity and tranquility. Last monsoon season he had turned fourteen years old. It had been six years since Leo had fought with the Desert Dire Wolf. That night was the first time Leo had saved his life, he had woken up to find Leo protectively lying next to him mauled and mutilated. The Desert Dire Wolfs corpse lay a few metres away, it's throat had been ripped cleanly out.
Struggling to his feet he had dragged the dire wolf back to his hut and went over to the pool to look at his face. He knew the injury wasn't light as he hadn't been able to clearly see out of his left eye, but seeing the severity of it Destro was absolutely mortified. The entire left side of his face was swollen beyond the point of recognition, his left eye was practically closed entirely having turned a sickening shade of purple and blue. The jagged red wound had already scabbed up, showing just how long he had been out for. The heavy shock was a little to much for Destro's weakened mental state and even weaker stomach, turning around he retched up the little undigested food left in his stomach.
The wound healed up quickly however, turning into a ugly scar in just a couple of months. After that life had carried on. Destro had realised the cry of a distressed Burrower was very attractive to a fox and acted as a deterrent to other Burrowers, so constructing a small cage of rib bones Destro had caught a Burrower and imprisoned it. Every night he would mercilessly poke and prod the trapped Burrower causing it to shriek shrilly, attracting droves of foxes whom Leo would easily catch. Destro had felt bad about tormenting the creature in such a way at first however he kept the Burrower watered and well fed upon fox meat, he convinced himself that the Burrower was leading a safer life now than it was before.
One cold night only five months after the Wolf attack Destro had spotted a group of five men making their way in the direction of the oasis. Being cautious intrinsically he had headed down the dune with Leo and camouflaged himself by lying under one of the darker blankets he had. When the men had arrived at the rockery pool they went through Destro's hut and the belongings inside of it. They laughed at each other and one had even struck a match motioning to throw it into his hut. As the match was lit Destro had seen the tattoo on the mans neck illuminated by the small flickering flame. It was an insidious tattoo of a heart being pierced by a dagger and constricted by a snake simultaneously. It was common knowledge in Shuda and the surrounding area that anyone tattooed with such a symbol was a member of the dark guild known as Bloody Viper.
As soon as Destro realised they were members of a dark guild he had stealthily snuck up on one man and slit his throat. That was the first time he had ended a human beings life that night, Destro's only thoughts on the event was that it wasn't to different to taking an animals life, as far as he could see each life ended was worth the same amount of sin. Leo had attacked in unison with Destro and had ripped another mans throat out. As easily as extinguishing a flame a nine year old and a dog had killed two fully grown men who were supposedly vicious outlaws whom slaughtered men and raped women for a living.
Two of the remaining three men had been quickly seen off to the next life that awaited them by Leo's jaws before they had truly registered the threat to their lives, at which point the survivor who had disarmed and sent Destro sprawling to the floor had turned tail and fled. Destro knew dark guilds had such sinister reputations for a reason, if that man got away then they would come back here in force looking for Destro's blood. Hesitating for only a moment Destro had motioned for Leo to kill the fleeing man. Bolting after the dark guild member Leo had caught up in seconds and clamped his fine fangs around the hapless mans throat.
On four other separate occasions such scenarios had been played out again. The only difference being that the past two times Destro had Leo hide however he himself stayed out to greet the intruders. Of the five batches two had been groups of Blood Viper men, one dark guild group called the Ruptured Jewels and two bandit organisations. The largest group had been second bandit group, they numbered eight men. Destro's survival in each fight was entirely down to Leo's innate ferociousness and bloodthirstiness, not a single one of the five brawls would of been won without his talent for battle. The fighting was hard and both Leo and Destro had to spend a few weeks after each battle recuperating and recovering from the injuries they had sustained killing them. Destro had a long scar from his right shoulder straight down to his hip to commemorate the fight against the large bandit group.
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However he had received compensation for his injuries and hassle. There were a few things of particular interest on the Dark Guild members bodies, he plundered thirteen well crafted blades, eleven serrated daggers, a single pair of battle hatchets and four small bows with eleven quivers of various arrows. There was also four rings with the same rune inscribed upon each one, there was one ring from each group apart from the smaller bandit group. The weapons interested Destro however the runes upon the rings were what truly captured Destro's attention and fascination. according to legend Runes were the written form of the language of the gods. Such things would be dismissed as heresy if it weren't for the mystical effects of the Runes that made people believe such brazen claims. There are thousands of Runes according to legend and each one has a different effect. One must have a certain level of ability to be able to read Runes and an even greater level of ability to write Runes. Because of this anything marked with a Rune was a valuable commodity blessed by a powerful human entity.
This alone meant that what Destro had plundered from the larger group of bandits was of equal monetary value to a ring, however to Destro the treasure he liberated from the bandits clutches was multiple times more valuable than the rings. The first bandit group were inferior to the other groups in terms of equipment, however they had provisions in their bags as well as sufficient funding, a total of eighty five silver coins.
The second bandit group possessed better melee equipment and provisions in their bags, as well as the treasure the bandits leader had fought with. It was the weapon that had left the scar upon Destro's back. A curved crimson long sword with a pommel hilt sculpted like a billowing flame. Down the centre of the blade from the pommel to the tip mysterious unfathomable Runes had been inscribed into the metal itself. Drawing Runes onto an object was effective however if the Runes were actually inscribed in the material itself then the Runes power would be multiplied many times over. The blade was crimson and baleful in appearance, the Runes effects were miraculous in Destro's opinion, when he swung the sword fast enough flames would sprout all over the blades surface casting it in a truly demonic light. The faster the blade was swung the greater the intensity and heat of the Flames. Needless to say Destro highly valued it. He would regularly spend entire days swinging the sword, he found it intrinsically gratifying to see the insubstantial flickering flames on the blades surface slowly grow and surpass the raging wildfire the barbarian had produced with each swing.
Destro was incensed every time he recalled those five fights. He lived out in the desert harming no one, minding his own business without a single tie or link to any civilisation and yet people still found him and caused trouble for him, all Destro wished for was a quiet subdued life with Leo. He just wished to spend all his days together with Leo at his side living under the deserts stars, listening to water flowing into the rockeries pool whilst staying far away from human contact. Humans only existed to hurt one another and cause suffering Destro had reliased over the past six years and they were two aspects of humanity Destro despised, residing here with Leo Destro was truly content. However he now realised that bandits and people seeking trouble would always find him in this life and cause him grief no matter where he settled down.
The only thing Destro could do was to become strong. If he was strong bandits and dark guilds would fear and revere him, not daring to offend they would stay away from him, he could live peacefully and worry free, savouring life's many joys and pleasures a single day at a time. The one true god in this world was strength, what a ruler does none will question and so following this rule an unparalleled expert may act as audaciously as he wants and true to the rules none will question. Such philosophy Destro had comprehended over the past six years and so the youth who had been different to the other boys and girls at one point set his sights on the same dream they too had, to become a figure of unparalleled martial power.
The six years that had pleasantly passed had been joyous and care free, the only years of his life he could truly say were a pleasure, the greatest joys he had experienced in his life had been during the past six years, every single day was a bright and every moment tasted richer and sweeter than the last. However Destro knew that in life one would offend people with filthy intentions, to protect ones life from the offended one must align oneself with a power that can shelter them or become a power themselves and so to continue enjoying this simple carefree life Destro had to become strong and to become strong he had to fight. If the half naked youth who approached the top of the dune offended or threatened him without a second thought Destro would fight and kill him, to evolve into something ruthless and stronger.
The youth ascended the dune and stepped into the circle of light cast by the fire Destro had made using his treasured sword, setting alight to spare skins and bones. The youth looked to be a curious individual. He had a well defined physique, obviously not one of the more impoverished citizens of Shuda, assuming that was where he originated. Long blonde locks that were crusted with sand fell raggedly across his sun darkened face, blue eyes that starkly contrasted his tanned complexion stared in shock at Destro. Destro returned the shocked stare with one of a quizzical nature. The boy was clad in nothing but a loincloth, even beggars would wear a cloak of some sort, to see someone just in a loincloth was truly bizarre. Of course all Destro was wearing was a pair of shorts and his wolf cloak, but he was dressed in such a way as he found it comfortable, if he were socialising and interacting with humans everyday he would clad himself more suitably to do so.
Noticing that the youth seemed to have no intention of causing harm Destro relaxed slightly and beckoned towards a smaller rock by the fire "Come you're free to share my campfire" as far as Destro saw it if the other party wasn't hostile he saw no point in being cold and unfriendly.
With a start the youth snapped himself out of his agitated musings and amicably replied "Many thanks friend, please, refer to this junior as Jared, may I boldly inquire as to seniors identity" saying so Jared slowly meandered over and sat upon the stone next to Destro.
Destro was startled by Jared's silver tongue that flattered one and humbled another. "Our ages aren't so different Jared so just address me by my name, Destro" Destro's heart sank slightly as he though about the possibility of the youth in front of him having a quick tongue that could trick and tie him up. Surprise once again surfaced upon Jared's face as he heard there ages weren't dissimilar but it was quickly buried by decorum as Jared composed himself again "Excuse me for a moment" Destro allowed the silence to settle before disturbing it again, excusing himself whilst getting up he proceeded to walk into his ramshackle hut.
Jared's composed expression dissipated as Destro turned his back to him and made his way into the hut, Jared's true emotions bubbled to the surface in turmoil. Fear, distrust and anxiety replaced the relaxed open expression he had been wearing only moments ago, looking around worry was clear in his eyes as he looked for any potential threats Destro had planted. Composure and a friendly smile quickly swept away any agitated emotions upon Jared's face as he saw Destro coming back out of the hut. "The nights are getting colder" saying so Destro casually tossed a black shadow at Jared. Jared flinched and hurriedly dived and rolled away as the black shadow fluttered down onto the rock he was sitting upon.
Panting heavily Jared stared in a panic at the cloak that he had thought sought to take his life, instead of seeking his life it now lay innocently on the rock he had only just occupied. Realising how foolishly he had just acted Jared could only laugh awkwardly as he met Destros bemused gaze "Many thanks for your kindness" saying so Jared grimaced slightly at the falseness he knew his hollow words must carry after his previous untrusting actions before reaching out and donning the black high quality linen cloak.
Chuckling slightly Destro sat down upon the rock he had originally been seated upon. With a flourish he reached out and plucked the sizzling fox carcass off the wooden spit it was impaled upon. Standing the spit uptight in the sand Destro proceeded to rip a succulent leg off the cooked carcass. Without any reservations he started ravenously knowing upon the meat. Jared could only sit there staring into the flames contemplating upon the dire plight he was stuck in.
Pausing from eating the leg Destro stared into the flickering flames just like Jared was, as if he was trying to see just what it was that had captured Jared's sight "Well this is the most visitors I've had in a good while" speaking out after a moment he looked directly up and stared intently into the darkness of the surrounding desert "Why be shy, you and your men aren't unwelcome here"
Looking around in befuddlement Jared was confused as to who Destro was conversing with. However promptly after Destro greeted them under Jared's confused gaze several figures clad entirely in black leather stealthily emerged from the darkness, there were six of them completely surrounding the camp. Seeing the figures shrouded in darkness separate from the shadows like ghouls Jared could only stare slackly onwards in sheer horror. Under his aghast mortified gaze a older man walked forth from the direction Destro was staring so intently towards. Without breaking his stride the older man smiled at Destro and spoke in a smooth authoritative tone "The man seated by your side is wanted by the Shakur Clan hand him over or face the severe consequences"