Part 12 - Shadows

They had walked back from the false emergency signal, reaching camp by nightfall. Zo'ruuk felt good, the power he had used, the power that welled with-in him felt good, and he was still a little drunk with it. Fortuna got a fire going, smiling and chatting as usual, Jackal grabbed some pre sealed salted food packages from his pack and threw one to Fortuna. He offered Zo'ruuk one but he just shook his head. As the two talked about nothing in particular, Zo'ruuk laid down near the fire, looking up at the purple sky, watching the past traces of the sun ebb out like poison from a wound. The stars revealed themselves, Zo'ruuk stared and wondered, what was his place here? Was it among Fortuna and Jackal? Was it alone by himself in a foreign land? He had been given these powers for a reason he thought. Time passed, the stars moved across the sky as Zo'ruuk watched, he had no such need for sleep, unlike Jackal and Fortuna, laying on their bedding, breathing softly. The breeze rustled the leaves in a nearby tree, crickets chirped from the grass not far away. Zo'ruuk closed his eyes, at peace. Laughter. Zo'ruuk sat up, the other two were asleep, alarmed Zo'ruuk stood. His vision was hazy at the edges. "Get up you two!" He hollered over his shoulder, turning, looking for the source of the disturbance. As he looked at the two, they did not. "They can't hear you, shell of a man," a voice snickered, voice ghostly and grave, it emanated from everywhere but nowhere. Zo'ruuk spun, behind him, the tree. His visor detected no life, but Zo'ruuk saw clearly what he needed to see. Two ghastly glowing eyes, leering at him from the shadows of the tree. The fire played tricks, the shadows dancing as a form rose from the Shadow of the oak. It was tall, hooded, featureless save for Large Antlers protruding from the hood. It began to glide towards Zo'ruuk slowly. "I know who you are, Zo'ruuk the Hero. You do not know who I am." It said, moving its hands in slow and deliberate fashion, smoke fuming out of its sleeves and the hood of its cloak. Zo'ruuk couldn't make out any features. "What do you want from me?" Zo'ruuk said fearlessly. He thought he felt the creature smile. "It is not what I want from you, Guardian of the Traveler." It said, disappearing, smoke billowing from where it stood. Zo'ruuk drew his blade, at the ready. "It is what I need, and I will take it from this world, life, life itself." The voice whispering in his ear, sending an icecold chill down Zo'ruuk's back. He spun, slashing where the creature stood, hollering for his team. It disappeared....smoke blowing away in the wind. Zo'ruuks eyes opened, he was sitting upright, breathing heavily, Fortuna was at his side. "Cap, are you ok? Cap!" She hollered. Jackal watched from across the fire, his eyes not so wild. "Yes, yes, I am fine." Zo'ruuk said, removing his helmet, he smiled at Fortuna, reassuring her. Her face was of concern, biting her lip in worry. It took her a second, but she nodded. "Let me know if you need anything, ok?" Worry still echoing in her voice. "Mhmm, just a nightmare, thank you Fortuna, I'm ok." He said smiling. Again she smiled, nodded, "I'm going back to bed, we have a long trip tomorrow, i'll be right here, ok?" Getting up, she walked back over to her bedding, facing Zo'ruuk this time. Minutes passed, Zo'ruuk sat, twiddling with a stick he found on the ground, it felt so real he thought. That creature, what was that. Jackal stood and walked around the fire to Zo'ruuk, kneeling a few feet in front of him, "I know what you do dreamt of, I know dat look in your eyes. You saw the Black Shadow, yes? Many a man has dreamt of it. It drives men mad, it do, that do be the reason, I yam what I yam." He said, Zo'ruuk was shocked at what the man was saying," "It was neh a dream, Cap. It was as real as the blood here in my veins, it was." He said quietly, almost a whisper. His eyes held sanity to them, and that was what made Zo'ruuk believe him. He nodded and Jackal stood, "Get some rest, eh? He will no be back tonight." Jackal laid down, facing away. Zo'ruuk laid down, his visions were dark, but this was different, looking up at the stars, he knew one thing. He did not want to meet it again on it's terms. The sun graced and kissed the valley with it's warmth not many hours later. The Team packed in silence, mostly in thought and still tired from the long night. They stood looking at the far mountains, packs ready, deep in thought, waiting for their dropship. It came just an hour later, the pilot sensing the silence said few words as the weary team strapped in. They were on their way back to the city, looking out the nearby window, Zo'ruuk watched the land change from sand and hills to grassy, rolling planes, to great mountains and foggy valleys, marshes came into view and he knew they were close, hours passing in silence. "30 minutes out folks." The pilot said, notifying them the ETA. "Copy that, soldier." Zo'ruuk said politely. He turned his head to Fortuna and Jackal across from him. "We are going to head in, debrief, brief, and grab Nikolai and two other Guardians." He said in a cheerful voice, as to perk the two up, they smiled, nodding. "We are going on a hunt, you hear?" Zo'ruuk said, taking off his helmet, smiling. Jackal and Fortunas eyes sparkled, smiling wider they nodded again. Zo'ruuk chuckled, what a bunch he thought. Looking out the window, eyes on the Great Traveler in the distance, Zo'ruuk thought about that shadow creature Jackal knew of. As they neared the city, all Zo'ruuk could think of was how it was just another question to be answered. One more question he thought. Might as well, his journey was to be long and arduous. To Be Continued.... -Hope you enjoyed the read! Please like and comment! More is always on the way!-