The Black Moon, Fear of Madness
“He cleaned his blade but not the rivers. He left no foes but brought no allies. They can bear the load but are crushed nonetheless. They would fear for their lives if they thought it still there. One army may live but the lone man dies” – The life of an new soldier, Phirrin
I woke up in a dark cave. The silence was all encompassing.
I tried to stand up but I immediately collapsed. Breathing heavily, some sound started to return. Ragged breaths could be heard to the right of me and foot steps to the left.
Tiny specks of light started to appear in my vision until my eyes were restored.
Vera was lying on her back further in the cave while I appeared to be near the entrance. The footsteps must have been from Yorn, who was building something outside. As I once more try to stand up, I accidentally let out a cry.
“Aaaagh!”
Yorn looked at me before rushing over.
“Idiot, be careful. I am not going to lose you, else I might go mad in solitude”
“Why would I ever want to leave. You two are the only ones left,” I said with clenched teeth. Vera and Yorn really are the last people I know so I would never leave them. After the pain subsided, Yorn helped me over to the fire that was burning on this cold autumn day.
“Yorn, what happened? I can remember having to face a mad one with a shield but further than that it is merely black”
“To tell you the truth, the only thing I was paying attention to was not getting killed. The mad one really was ferocious. Most likely, I only live now because it suddenly stopped at the end. I killed him before he could continue of course, but it was a close call non the less. I only noticed you when I heard your weapon fall and boy did it scare me” Yorn said to me.
“Not really helpful but how did I get here then?” I asked him.
“Well, when I asked you where that former peasant’s corpse was as I couldn’t see it, you started to speak some gibberish and then mumbled about how it had fled. Are you sure that it means there are more though?”
“Yes, back when I was a guard, we once had to track down some mad ones that ran. One of the veteran guards knew that it meant that but we didn’t really pay any attention to it other than complain. We didn’t find them so we returned home but on the way a group of them that was larger than ours ambushed us. If not for our captain’s sacrifice, many more than just the five would have died”
“Hearing you say that may change my plans as a guardsman… not to mention that it may come to kill us here”
“No, Yorn. Don’t give up on your dream, even if it’s a shitty one” I jokingly told him to lighten up the mood. “We have killed too many of them to be afraid. We will survive”
“Ha, with Vera unconscious and you injured, I would like to see my poor self stand up to them with only said person” He hysterically said.
“Calm down Yorn. Thinking like that leads to fear and madness”
“Good for you to say, but you most likely will be able to get away as they rend me to pieces. I don’t know about you, but I have seen what they do to captured people. First they scratch of your skin and then make you eat it to fatten you. Then… I’m sorry but I think I need a moment alone” With a sudden silence he stood up and left. It looked like he really was riding on that I was delusional back there.
After Yorn left towards the trees, I took a look around the entrance of the cave. Yorn seems to have been able to construct a small, unfinished canopy where our firewood is presently. He was placing the leaves on its roof when I interrupted.
With a grunt, I stood up and went over to the pile. Spacing them out on its slanted top I worked quietly for about an hour, while also having to collect more sticks or branches with leaves when it either wasn’t strong enough or I had found an uncovered spot.
Finishing up, I went back to the smouldering fire only to hear a coughing fit from in the cave.
Carefully making my way to where Vera was, I pulled out my canteen and put it to her lips.
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“Thank you” came out a forced whisper.
“Vera. Thank the gods that you are conscious. We feared you would die before we got to speak with you again”
“What happened?” she asked between ragged breaths. “I don’t remember coming here”
“You remember the battle?” I waited for a slow shaking nod from her before continuing. “The sorcerers completely turned the tide of the field. I am sure we would have managed another day before one rank breaking but those bastards doomed all of us. An explosion took our rank out. The survivors were run down by cavalry and further beset by magic. We only survived because of our low numbers and even then we lost Yorn’s friend. Yet none of us left unscathed, you least of all” I told her with the brief explanation.
Like she wanted to know the hunger we felt as we walked for hours looking for the safest bit of shelter. Trying to ignore the pain and hopelessness.
She has enough with all this than to have to know about the fear we felt each time as the dark came forth. The madness.
“Damn” when she closed her eyes, she looked like a corpse.
“What do we have left then…?” She mumbled as her mind faded away once more.
“Each other” I told us both but only I ever heard it. Making her eat some berries and wild carrots before leaving the cave, I cleaned my bandages before going over my equipment.
My tent and other belongings were still at camp. Since the mad ones wouldn’t rummage through them all, except walk over a few and their binders and sorcerers wouldn't bother with the belongings of a lowly foot soldier, I think we will be able to collect a few items there when we are all healed up amongst the rumble.
What I did have with me was the string for the bow I lost, we will have to find it soon.
Furthermore I also had a few arrows that Yorn had made today, one remaining knife, a very damaged common Histern armour and a pack that had a few bits and bobs we needed on the field like flint and steel, a canteen and a blanket for if we couldn’t make it back to our tents that day. We obviously didn’t but I am still thankful we brought them with us.
After going over the other’s gear that was present, I also cleaned Vera’s blade as otherwise I would be defenceless since Yorn had taken his sword with him when he left. He will return soon but I don’t know when, as he seemed pretty distraught.
I could do nothing but wait for him, so I set to making myself useful. I tried to replicate what Yorn had made but I did change a few things that I thought would make it better and as the sunlight lessened, I lighted a fire.
The canopy was nearly finished except for the roof when I heard wolfs baying in the distance. Just to be safe, I placed a few extra logs on the fire, to keep it strong.
The sun was entirely gone now and the moon had come up. With Vera’s blade in hand, I stood guard near the fire, watching the trees for any signs of wolf. Then, in the moonlight, I thought I saw something move.
“What is there? Answer me Yorn, dammit!” I shouted as the shape swayed in the light.
From the darks of the forest a white woman came forth with pitch black eyes. Her face was gaunt with tears seemingly coming out of the void in her eyes. As she held her face up, she came towards me with her hands reached out.
“No… Ylla. Gods don’t do this to me. You can’t still be here Ylla, don’t break me again. Please Ylla…” I hysterically said as I nearly broke down into tears.
“The dead are gone. The dead don’t walk. The dead don’t talk. The dead are gone” I keep chanting to myself as she came closer step by step. I brought my blade up to meet her once more.
Then when she stepped into the fire’s light, she was gone.
From where her silhouette once was, a black wolf sprung forth. Coming out of my stupor, I immediately fell away from the wolf. Getting up, I had my blade just in time in place to prevent the wolf getting to my throat.
As the wolf bit unto Vera’s sword, I pulled on it through the wolf’s mouth and kicked the cursed thing into the fire. With a yelp, it thrashed around before finally getting out of it with a bleeding mouth and burnt side. It then ran away from me.
As I got back to my previous place with a god damned hurting side and head, not to mention distraught, I started to hear more rustles in the trees as soon more eyes appeared in the shadows.
“Yorn, where the hell are you. Get away you beasts! You will find no food here!” I managed to get out between deep painful breaths. They remained there for what seemed like hours with only the fire and the occasional thunder showing their eyes and indicating their presence but eventually they all suddenly left at the same time, as if something else got their attention.
I was most likely a buck or a mad one. With my exhausted mind, I remained there until dawn, whereby I fell asleep next to the dead fire.
I only woke up when it started to rain a few hours later. At least it wasn’t snowing yet.
Slowly getting up, carefully moving with my reopened injuries, I went over to Vera. I tried waking her up but shake as I could, she wouldn’t wake. I did put the canteen to her lips but there were only a few drops left in it. We really needed something bigger that can hold water than a mere canteen. I remember a few basic structures that could help us which are also quite easy to make. I don’t know how to make a pot though, so I would have to experiment with that.
As I left the cave, exhaustion once more set in but I couldn’t sleep now. I had… Too much to do. Yeah, too much to do, that’s all.
I stumble from there on to the edge of the trees. I collected some nettles, what yucca and even a few flowers for their fibers. My father taught me how to make cordage so that I could be somewhat useful in my youth. While it should be a great skill to have now, it hardly made any difference then.
I then sat making cords and strings for some time until I once more fell asleep. I woke up shaking and covered in sweat.
The horrors of the dreams were dispelled and I ignored its visions. These dreams were not new to me but seeing her… She shouldn’t have been there, that’s all. I got up and though the rain had long since stopped, the dark clouds were still present overhead with thunder and its flashes appearing every so often.
Yorn still wasn’t back, even after a full day. I know that he is a competent swords man and a pain in the ass sometimes but with a few fingers less I really got worried then. With some pain, I picked up the piles of wood I still had and tried to obscure the cave entrance as much as I could. Even if Yorn or I weren’t here, I would have to protect Vera.
Even more so, just imagine how they would have killed her if I hadn’t been there last night. I left Vera’s sword here as I would only be gone for an hour at most and I doubt that I would get attacked in that time.
Yorn can’t be that far and if Vera woke up, she might want to have a weapon nearby. I set out into the darkening woods with my knife and an unlighted torch. I never really minded the shadows and the blackness is actually quite comfortable. Yet always hold your guard, as you’re not the only monster to stalk the darkness.
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Just want to say that this isn't my main fiction that I am writing so I won't be too weird if a chapter doesn't come out for some time. You can expect at least 1 per week and especially if there has just been one for Crowns. Hope you enjoyed!