Yawning while stretching my arms, moonlight shines onto my face. Jumping up onto my feet while looking around Armin is sleeping. Getting serious, I sprint as fast as I can quickly opening and shutting the door, pulling the hood over my face I continue. Four groups, four territories, with patrols being cautious, it’s likely they avoid them. Sticking to the shadows, the patrols walk by none the wiser. Five avoided areas, five groups? Not enough information, should I? No. Following the patrols, I slowly build a mental map. The more I can do at night the better.
Sinking further into the shadows at the sound of footsteps, two, no three. Inspecting the three, they don’t seem to have the best equipment, are they new? Crossing between shadows with them in sight gets more and more difficult as torches become more frequent. Wishing I could get closer to hear them I continue at a distance. Watching as they get further and further, I begin retracing my steps. Thats not a feeling I’ve felt in a long time.
Finally, was further than I had thought. Getting deeper into this area, the more scarred and rugged looking people there are. Never imagined I would appreciate the practice of slithering around in the dark. Avoiding the areas that gave me a bad feeling I eventually reach the, center? The place looks better than the surrounding area and has, twice the number of guards around. Getting settled, I can afford to observe. With people coming in and out in close succession it's safe to conclude the one in command is there. Now, where would they keep supplies?
If I can take a small amount of food, they could miss it. Even some grain wouldn’t be bad, as long as you're not in a dungeon, wells are common. Just as I’m about to start looking someone in dark robes comes into sight. Is that a black moon? With a bad feeling that only gets worse the closer this individual gets I slow my breathing. Staying like a statue until the robed individual enters the building, I quickly start looking for a storeroom or something else that may hold supplies.
It's getting too close to morning. Sweating, I see what appears to be a rather large congregation of tents. From where I am there is a gathering place with pots and firepits. The supplies must be around them. Scanning over what I can of the camp. Not that many people patrolling, must not have been expecting someone to get this far. Entering with my senses pushed to their breaking point I glide past any patrolling people.
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‘When will we leave this dump!?’ Standing on their right heart smashing into my ribs I release my breath when they turn left. Clamping my own hand to my mouth my breathing becomes crazed, too close, far too close!! Swiftly getting between the tents I drop. “I didn’t hear anything, if they had turned right.” With knees to chest, I just stay there, trying to calm myself. Seeing the horizon, the sun starting to rise, I get up and hurry. Turning back may be the best option but, I’m hungry. Each step deeper into the camp increasing the danger and difficulty of leaving only becoming a fading rationality to hunger.
These patrols are getting irritating. Slipping through a group of five I can start looking for the food. Lifting lids off the pots they all are empty. Gazing over the edges I stop at one tent that is bigger than the others. Opening the flap, not what I was expecting. All around are jars, jars of pickled food. Looking through all the jars, what was that?! Having stumbled over something I turn around and see? Is that a hatch, hand outstretched I hesitate looking around. Sighing I open it seeing a latter. Climbing down cautiously into the darkness, with my feet hitting the floor, I feel around.
Grabbing a torch from the side I light it. Feeling my stomach acid rise I try and swallow. Getting overwhelmed by the sight before me, it’s no use, it comes out. With my stomach acid splattering on the ground, I meet eyes with, eyes. All around me a jared body parts, eyes, hearts, not even skin was left. What kind of, sick, monsters would do this. Climbing back out after putting the torch out, I just grab something.
Making my way out, more people are out walking around. Almost getting spotted a couple times I make it out. Slowly making my way back home, the image of those lifeless eyes keeps appearing. Shivering the whole way, I stand outside the door. With a creak it opens, placing the jar on the table I sit. Mind blank, world blank, nothing, a noise breaking that trance. Turning around Armin is rolling and turning. With a strained smile, lying down, I pull him into me, falling asleep, with the sun coming up.