The wind howled over me as I carried the weapons and scraps the Goblins had, now mine. The walk back to camp was frigid as the night came quickly however I couldn’t overlooked the dried and sticky blood that clung onto me drawing more heat out. It was a long walk as the grass scratched at the blood on me, causing a trail of blood to follow my cold steps but by the time I had reached camp I could no longer feel the blood on my legs nor the legs them self, as the warm blood had left my legs and left a trail.

“Stop there and give me your name!” A guard yelled out as I approached camp.

Still walking forward with heavy steps I raised my hands up showing I was not armed and spoke, “Name is Andrew just coming back from a run.”

“Are you okay you are covered in blood!” He shouted full of concern.

“Few scratches that’s all so, what’s next this is my first time,” I lied, I just had no idea what you were supposed to do because of... John

“Simple, just let me inspect everything you got, from outside the camp.” He answered in a helpful manner.

“Thanks,” I said, surprised by how simple the whole process was, as he hadn’t even mentioned searching me but surely it couldn’t be that simple.

“What you got from outside and stop wasting my time.” The guard asked, this time a bit frustrated due to my pause for thought. Not wanting to upset the guard any more after such a small slight I gave him my bag, only for his face to go pail contrasted by his dark beard and hair. Looking up at me with his brown eyes, full of terror he screamed “support!”, suddenly my body became heavy as if gravity had increased and I heard my bag drop with a clang.

I heard a shout “unknown danger so go get Zac.” Looking up I saw the guard that I had been talking to not to long ago pushing down on nothing, almost certainly the cause of more gravity on me.

Wanting to stop this but unable to think of anything I did the only thing I could, I took a slow heavy step forward and as I was going for another step I was hit in the head by one of the guards running at me. After the hit my vision went black, until I woke up tied to a poll with a man and a woman standing in front of me. The man seemed to be the guard from the gate but now that there was more light on his face I could tell he was mid 30’s while the newer woman was a younger brunette with piercing blue eyes. She spoke first in a sly tone, “Look. the kid is awake why don’t you get Zac, and don’t worry I can handle the kid.” The man nodded his head and left quickly after that. After he had left she continued teasingly, “You know your in big trouble with that stunt you pulled.”

“What?” Is all I managed out as the confusion of this mess seemed to try and overwhelm me.

“Ow, your manners seem unfit, next time do at least introduce yourself,” She said once more in that teasing manner.

“Andrew. and what is your name,” I said playing along with this weird game inly to finish with a sarcastic remark, “So great fair lady.”

“Wonderful you are starting to get it,” she expressed joyously only to continue once more after a quick pause, “The name is Tara.” Tara seemed to wait for something only to continue with a huff, “So you aren’t going to tell me the story on how you got those daggers?

Still just as confused I answered, “what do you mean, the daggers?”

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“So they’re not yours but I thought you were strong, then again it is sad what happened to John,” She said mockingly with a smile on her face, just like those Goblins, only smaller. My fist tightened into balls and I tried to stare a hole through her with my rage “Nothing to say?” she continued mockingly, only to be interrupted by Zac and the guard that had left to get him.

“Tara are you winding the suspects up again, do you remember what happened last time?” Zac asked clearly tired of Tara’s antics.

“You have got to be kidding I nearly got him and if you remember I dealt with that,” She said, as if the previous conversation was just an act put on by her. “see,” she said pointing at me to back her claims up. Taking a deep breath I relaxed.

“Yes you do good work,” Zac praised only to continue “but usually you get false confessions or something gets broken and this is quicker most times.” Zac turned to face me with a amicable face on but I could see disgust in his eyes, then he spoke calmly, “you are suspected of a terrible crime, do you know what it is?”

“No and I don’t know what is going on,” I said trying to take the only path that seemed to be in front of me, proving my innocents to anyone, of a crime I didn’t even know.

Zac’s eyes started to shimmer with a off orange and spoke once more, “Sorry but repeat the response”

Repeating the response I said, “No and I don’t know what is going on.”

Zac continued he’s questions completely serious “So how did you get the daggers, did you kill people?”

“What, no I killed Goblins to get the daggers,” I said caught off guard by the allegations of murder.

“Are Goblins humans?” Zac continued.

“What no, why are you asking such a question,” I said, confused how someone didn’t even know what a Goblin was.

“What a relief, well, will return your stuff just point on a map to where you found them and you can be on your merry way,” Zac said joyfully, while gesturing to Tara which she responded with a roll of her eyes.

Once I was cut free by Tara they placed a map on the floor but I had no idea where on the map it was so I looked up at them and said “No idea where it is on the map, but I was going through a mountain pass of some kind.”

“Mountain pass, well do you know the directions at the very least,” Zac asked very interested.

“Yes it was East until I reached the mountain range then I went south along it,” I said swiftly trying to be helpful.

Before Zac could say anything Tara started in a annoyed tone, “Yes I will get onto that Zac.”

“Good well let’s get going, and Jake get Evan his stuff.” Zac said as both him and Tara left.

Throwing a bag of stuff Jake apologised, “sorry about what happened but you have to understand that you had blood all over you and weapons that looked to be from people.”

“Could have asked,” I shot back with just a bit to much venom.

“I could understand that but now a days you can’t predict what people can do,” he replied solemnly.

“Yeah,” I responded actually thinking it over.

Finally moving towards the bag I looked through and counted what was in it but I didn’t need to as it was clear the bow had been taken, grabbing John’s blade from the bag and placing it on my hip I accused Jack, “So where is the bow and its arrows.”

“Camp has it, got a problem with the tax,” Jack asked challengingly

Remaining firm I pleaded my case, “Well I thought after being knocked out, you would have the decency to not tax me.”

“Rules are rules Andrew, even for a young man such as yourself and count yourself lucky Tara didn’t have her way,” Jack said before leaving me behind. Seeing nothing else to do I went to check up on John.

Finally arriving at John’s tent I made my self known with a hello but John turned to me with that same distant stare and a slow, “H-Hello. Sorry do, do I Kn-ow you?”

“Yes John and I know you,” I said, seeing that he hadn’t improved.

“S-sorry, my mem-ory is not as-s good as-s it use to be.’ John got out slowly.

Seeing him trying to reassure me even if he didn’t know me anymore I responded in as confident and up beat tone as I could, “I know but that is fine and I just wanted to see how you were doing,” I finished with a smile.

“Thanks kid,” John said clearly but before he could say anything else his eyes went silent and he continued, “S-Sorry wh-who are you?”

With a smile and hope in my eyes I got up and said, “Don’t worry John, I was just checking on you and I promise I will be back.” Then I left the tent going to quiet edge of the camp were I could see the gate to reflect on everything I had dealt with so far. However my thoughts were cut off by a familiar howl and the sight of a large pack of wolves following a line of blood to the camp.