My Flock

I wake to foreign smells invading my nostrils, they are mostly repulsive. Death, blood, smoke, muk and piss. Underneath these overpowering reminders of yesterday's discoveries, are the pleasant scents of cooked food, my stomach rumbles with hunger. I feel dirty and damaged, the aches of fresh wounds throb from severely damaged tissue. My right hand is completely numb, I try to clench my fist but find it barely responding. I squirm about, attempting to get a view of the damage and also feel out the rest of my body, a fresh stench kicks up from the disturbance and makes me gag. The fight, along with vivid nightmares, has left a thick layer of sweaty grime and body odour on every inch of my skin. My dry eyes still sting from the smokey air and it requires a battle with my crusty eyelids simply to open them. I discover that I’m cocooned in a bedroll inside a Daemon's tent.

I want to stay in my nest. But the body makes demands I can’t ignore forever, water, toilet, coffee, food, clean then more rest.

I hope this world has coffee.

Single handedly unravelling the cocoon, I am transformed into a smelly broken man. I inspect my wounds and discover Piia has used bark wrap on them, unfortunately without the Sana flower. She did say it was rare for Mother to offer the blessing to her most devout followers, of which I am not even the latter. Well, that will have to change, I’ll venerate that lady till she gets a restraining order on me.

The bark wrap works to numb the pain, mostly. I hope it stops infections, otherwise Piia has rubbed a ton of bacteria into the open cut. I shouldn’t doubt my companion, she’s a hardened survivor.

The palm of my right hand is covered in a two inch thick wrap, explaining the paralysed sensation I have been having. My right cheek is also stiff, I feel the crusty scab of bark wrap below my eye where I almost blinded myself with my sword. I see the pommel of my Xiphos amongst my gear, the memory of the runic symbol glowing in the fire before I yanked it out. A very hasty decision that saved my life and gave me third-degree burns that I will carry into my old age, if I can survive long enough. I will take those scars over an amputated limb, though without the Sana’s special properties, infections aren’t off the table.

The tent door flaps in the wind, revealing a glimpse of Piia stirring a large pot over a fire. We need to get away from this place before Daemons or hungry animals find us. My slow mind, still half asleep, only now notices my limited possessions are neatly laid out next to my makeshift bed.

Bear poncho, Xiphos and sword belt. All completely covered in blood. Another chore to add to the list.

I sit up intending to dress and head out, when the mound of bedrolls beside me moves.

I roll towards my sword like a trained soldier, however I am just an idiot from Earth and roll completely onto my bad arm.

“God damm!” The pain shoots through my limb, making my head swim.

I writhe around on the floor until an exhale of hot breath washes over me.

I stop in place and slowly crane my neck up.

A gigantic mound of pink-grey leathery flesh fills my entire vision. Two shiny spheres of darkness stare into my eyes.

The hippopotamus snorts another wet breath, showering me with snot and general nostril goop. I freeze, unable to reach for my sword or bailout of the tent. I am very aware of how dangerous these animals are, annually killing hundreds of people. The hippo’s great jaws open wide in a lazy yawn, revealing its terrifying ivory tusks. Closing its maws, it leans in and rubs rough whiskery skin against my face. A rune appears in my peripheral vision, I semi-focus on the symbol and read the foreign language.

Tamed cattle of Seth the Shepherd

Status: Healthy

Tamed. I tamed a hippo.

Using my good hand, I carefully reach out to feel along the wide jaws of my new companion.

“This is incredible.” I croak.

Those beady eyes stare deep into mine, like a lost puppy that found its way home.

My hands continue inspecting until I reach under its muzzle. The hippo snorts, mouth gaping slightly and adorable tiny ears flutter with pleasure.

“Ah ha, you like to be scratched then.”

My hippo pushes against my touch, clearly loving every second of it.

“As the latest and only current standing member of my flock, I promote you to second in charge. Such a distinguished position can’t be held by anyone without a name.”

What shall I call my new companion? Looking underneath, I look for clear signs of gender, with no luck. I slowly stand, my hippo presses its snout into me, offering support. Its large barrel shaped body looks immense, even from above.

“Dam them, you poor thing.” A thatch work of deep scars covers the top and behind, fresh and old mixed, illustrating a life of brutal treatment. An outline of worn, callused leathery skin surrounds its neck, where a collar had been attached. It was a pack animal, used to pull those overturned carriages I had seen in the camp. I look into those obsidian eyes and they search mine as well. I see an awareness, this is an intelligent animal, I am sure of it.

“You will never be treated so harshly again, Crook.” I smile and scratch its muzzle again, ears fluttering in response. I guess they like the name and every shepherd does need their Crook.

Crook sounds a bit odd.

“How about Cane?” Cane’s ears flutter in response. “Well you just love everything I have to say.” I look down again and this time I am certain he’s a male, and very confident he likes the new name.

The tent flap is drawn back.

“You're awake and standing! What a resilient sapling you turned out to be. You will feel weak for a while from the blood loss, but that burn is most worrying. It will need redressing daily.” Piia’s beaming smile softens my aches further.

“I am nothing without your healing knowledge and friendship. Seriously, I would have died a few times without you Piia.” I return her glowing smile. We share a happy moment until Cane snorts loudly, drawing Piias attention, and her smile dissolves.

“This Daemonic being clings to you like sap. I tried pushing it out of the tent, but it weighs more than a ferrum tree.” Piia scowls at the hippo, clearly unaware of our new friendship.

“Piia this is Cane, I tamed him with an ability or skill. I’m not too sure how it works. He is definitely friendly though. Poor guy has had a tough life and just wanted a buddy.” Cane’s ears flutter at my words, I doubt he understands what I am saying. He must be picking up on my tone and positive vibes.

“I would not trust any Daemon spawn, they are created to spread chaos and corruption.” Now it is my turn to scowl. I understand Piia grew up with stories of Daemonic creatures, she was practically conditioned to fear and avoid them. Cane was only a tool or work animal in their eyes, during World War 2 you wouldn't label every chicken on a German farm a Nazi.

“Cane is fine Piia, you said it yourself that I would need a flock to convince your tribe that I am a Shepherd.” She frowns at me with concern.

“But this thing is from the purple lands, it reeks of taint and corruption.” Piia pinches her nose dramatically.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m not from these lands either, and I smell even worse.” I retort, starting to feel irritated by her silly argument.

She mulls that over for a few seconds then nods her head.

“Let us eat and begone from this place, we have lingered for far too long.” She abruptly turns and heads out of the military tent, the waft of cooking reignites my hunger.

I collect and don my possessions, Cane sniffing at the bloody layer covering each item.

“Cane you will soon discover, that I am no ordinary shepherd.” I didn’t want to openly admit that most of the blood was mine. Who knew shepherding was such a dangerous career choice?

I feel extremely dirty and disgusting, I sniff my bear poncho and grimace. I promise myself no matter what happens today, whether I teleport to another world or I’m attacked by a T-rex, I will wash myself and my clothes before the sun fades tonight. Stumbling slowly through the tent flaps, a strong wind ruffles my attire and whips through the camp. I look towards the Daemon’s 15th Lux flag fluttering in the sky, it stands strong and poorly reflects the dead battalion it symbolises. The smell of conflict rides the winds deep into Silva, I have no doubt we are not the only ones aware of the mass death in the clearing.

Past the flag are several large orbiting spheres in the sky.

Planets, three giant planets. Their proximity to each other is minuscule, in scales of space distance, for them to be so large and visible without the need for a telescope. A swirling purple and blue gas giant with twisting violent storms. A rich green and blue dwarf, in comparison to the gas giant, reflects Earth’s image. The final planet has an asteroid ring and contrasting stripes of colour. The ecosystems and climate there must change at very vivid lines in the land, or it has a strange atmosphere. I’m mesmerised by the wonders of this universe, so visible and beautiful, leaving me lost for words or thought. Until my subconscious does the maths and kicks in my startled mind with a hard boot of reality. I am in a different world. I was still denying the facts, or at least being distracted by life threatening events that stopped me from considering my situation.

How the hell do I get home? Dazed, I stumble over to the cooking food.

Finally reaching Piia, I collapse in a heap next to the boiling pot emitting foreign aromas. Cane dramatically buckles next to me, forming a large pink and grey potato pillow for me to lean against. Is he trying to support me through this emotional moment or did he just mimic my wounded body's struggles?

“Let us break our fast before the shadows grow longer.” Piia says while spooning stew into wooden bowls. I look into the beautiful blue sky, back towards the alien planets, and only now comprehend it’s the afternoon.

“Did I sleep all morning?”

“Yes, you desperately needed rest. Did you fight an army of Daemon’s to sustain so many injuries?”

“It was this large dinosaur with claws and armoured plates in its limbs.” I shudder at the memory of its burning red eyes and bloody teeth.

“A Verox, one of Mother’s hunters. You can tell me the story later. We must be in the trees where She can watch over us.” She scoffs and drinks the stew between words, hardly breathing.

I follow suit. The food is fairly bland, my stomach and tongue taste only the fulfilment of satisfying a fatigued body making each mouthful wonderful.

“What are these vegetables?” I inspect the chopped chunks of blues and reds floating in the mossy waters.

“Another time, we leave now.” She snuffs out the fire with a pail of water. So much for my leisurely morning of coffee and more rest. I use Cane to push myself up, the food having worked wonders in boosting my energy. It’s not all about me and Piia now, I need to start thinking about my flock's needs.

“Is there any food left for Cane?” I ask while she wraps more vegetables into a marginally clean napkin. She answers by pointing behind me,

“He can forage his own food.” Hoisting a plundered grey leather satchel over her shoulder, Piia stores the wrapped food away. The Satyr suddenly begins a strange ritual of rubbing her mossy fur, disturbing the speckles of Mother’s light inside, and flicking her hands out in a whipping motion. All the while muttering under her breath in a satanic possessed fashion.

“Piia, not to be rude, but what’s going on right now?” I ask, stupefied.

“I am blessing this soiled land with Mother’s light, to ward against evil and allow renewed growth.” She states with the irritation an adult gets from answering silly children’s questions all day. She then turns and sets off towards the treeline, maintaining her religious dance along the way.

I look over my shoulder to see Cane munching the contents of an overturned barrel. Red fruit, with skins like tomatoes but shaped like crossed bananas, are mixed with bunches of soft blue roots. Kilos are rapidly decimated by the hippos' immense jaws.

“Cane, let's go.” He immediately turns with fluttering ears and chases after me. We follow Piias' path out of the camp. As we walk I use Cane’s immense frame to support my weak legs, quite a genius name choice I decide. Hitting the treeline, Piia dips into a thick bush of ferns, her furry arm appears from the top and begins vigorously waving for us to follow. I increase the tempo of my shuffle like a panicked penguin until she yanks me down into cover.

“Ow, I just fought a deranged raptor you know.”

“Quiet you stupid hairless being, and hide your Daemon.” She points back to the clearing we had just escaped.

Following her intense gaze, I see a pack of dark shapes hugging the shadows on the opposite. Cane’s giant shiny rump stuck out in the open as he watches us bicker.

“Hide Cane.” The hippo, with surprising grace, slips into the ferns and lays low, disappearing amongst the foliage effectively. I knew he was smart.

Watching the shadows and the hidden threat surveying the camp, unsure if they spotted our retreat into the trees, we remain frozen like statues.

“Who or what do you reckon it is? More Daemons?” I whisper. Stealth is our only salvation right now against so many numbers. I haven’t the heart for another fight or the strength for a hasty retreat.

“They are far, so I can not be certain, but I believe they are creatures of Silva. They will have smelt the dead.” She contemplates our next move, while vigilantly watching the camp.

“We should put many trees between ourselves and this place, stay low.” Piia begins a slow crawl between the thick ferns, venturing deeper into Silva.

“Copy us Cane.” I tell my hippo, hoping he understands the danger, then I follow after Piia.

We continue through the underbrush, adding more dirt and mud to our festering outer layers. The going is slow and impossible with one arm, succumbing to fear of the shadowy threats, I begin using my right arm as well. Painful throbbing pulses start in my hand and forearm, the numbing bark is strong for an organic provision, however it’s no opioid.

Finally Piia crouches in place and checks our progress.

Looking back as well, a sea of ferns flows with the breeze all around us. Trees are spread sparsely, allowing rays of sunshine to puncture gaps in the canopy above, the golden light mixes with Mother's green aura creating a dazzling spectacle. Cane's bulbous body has flattened a snaking trench, separating the fern ocean like a hippo Moses.

“Can we rest for a moment? Crawling isn’t easy with an injured arm.” I say with sweat trickling into my eyes, the throbbing pain is threatening a serious headache. I turn to face Piia, she’s glaring at Cane with a piercing scowl.

“Your Daemon has created a clear path for any of its masters to follow.” Piia sneers at me.

“He was a pack animal, hauling their belongings by pulling carts. He isn’t a Daemon, look at the scars Piia.” Her hypocritical prejudice reeks of the divide between the races.

“We don’t know enough about Daemons to trust anything found in their camp, it could be spying on us.” She snaps back with anger.

“You sound just like the humans you loathe, they mistrust the unknown with similar discrimination.” Her eyes flair with rage.

“How dare you compare me to humans, they have taken my family, my home. Why do you think I ventured so far from the tribe? They took my little sister, snatched her in the night like evil spirits.” Piia’s fury lashes out at me, her eyes run with tears of despair.

“I'm so sorry Piia, truly. I won’t pretend to understand what you have lived through. But you can’t let the world change you into one of them. Cane has no affiliation to the Daemon’s, he was just a slave.” The last word falters Piia, she glances past me to Cane.

“I am human as well, don’t you trust me?” I say. Her eyes break away from Canes at my question, her wrath washes away to reveal a tired, sad Satyr.

“Forgive me Seth, you are right. I do trust you, and your judgement.”

“We are both tired from the last few days. We will find your people and have some decent rest soon.”

Piia stands and walks over to Cane, she rubs across his head and feels over his scarred back.

“I apologise for my poor treatment of you Cane, you deserve a kinder travelling companion.” Cane flutters his little ears and rubs against the Satyr's leg, she smiles down at him in response.

“Now, not to insult you further, but you are rather large and stick out like a Guardian’s stripe.” She then moves to the nearest tree trunk and expertly peels away layers of moss. Placing them on Canes' back like a shroud, the large hippo becomes an ancient boulder.

“Guile can be more effective than a sharp sword or arrow.” She states admiring her craft.

“No doubt, would that moss stick to my poncho?” Piia grabs another handful, applying it evenly over my shoulders and back. She rubs the rich emerald moss deep into the Guardian bear hairs, till sticks tight.

“We may have to keep reapplying, but you will blend like a Rubus.” The rich smell of plant matter helps to smother the perfume of homelessness and metallic blood I waft.

“What is a Rubus?”

“They are large beasts with deadly spiky bushes growing from their hides. I will point one out as they can hide like an Esca.”

“Great, another danger to add to the list. No wonder Silva doesn’t see many travellers.”

“Rubus are gentle creatures, they eat bark and small saplings. My father told of a Voice from his childhood that had a Rubus as a pet. He said it had a peaceful soul that only wanted to eat, sleep and muk.” Piia laughs at the tale and surveys the now camouflaged party.

“I think we are ready to cower in the shadows from any passerby.” I say, she giggles in answer.

“Yes, let us see if you stick to that plan, that means no more fighting deadly Verox.” Verox was the name of the raptor species I fought, just as the runes claimed when I looted its corpse.

“That bloody dinosaur was manic like the Guardian we saw. I swear to Mother I hadn’t provoked the attack.” I thought back to the burning crimson eyes.

She slaps my forearm lightly, instigating a harsh pain.

“Ow, I’m as delicate as a flower right now, stop hitting me.”

“Don’t swear to Mother, even if you speak the truth.” That twinkle of mischief flashes in her grin, she has a sadistic humour. I reluctantly smile back, I suppose it’s her faith and not mine.

“Verox mainly hunt Elk and Rubus. This attack sounds unusual. While we are resting you can tell me of this battle with the raptor.” Piia’s ears wiggle with curiosity. I don’t want to think about the event, it reminds me how close I came to death. The trauma is still fresh, but Piia could decipher the beast's actions into useful information. Anything might help with future encounters and why Mother’s creatures keep attacking us.

“It was feeding on an imp inside one of those big barrack tents, I may have started it by kicking a bag of metal objects. It attacked without hesitation, going straight for the kill.”

“Protecting food aggressively sounds like normal behaviour, but there was only one?” I nod a yes.

“Verox are always in packs. They are a tight coordinated family that moves everywhere together. Even the young follow on hunts. Was it wounded from the battle?” I recall blood dripping from claws and teeth, the smoking splatters that painted its tail.

“It had burning crimson eyes and specks of blood on its body that trailed red smoke. The Guardian had that exact eye colour and strange blood markings.” Piia shakes her head in disgust.

“It must be Daemon magic. The enraged fury was cast upon them, bringing chaos and wrath.” Daemon magic. Is the power I wield to ignite my blade Daemon magic? I had to use my blood to activate the spell, cutting my flesh, and weakening myself to bring about the ability. Sounds chaotic. I will mention it to Piia another time perhaps. I have only just convinced her that Cane isn’t an evil Daemonic agent. What would she think of me?

“That reminds me Seth, I found this in the camp.” Out of her satchel, she produces a slim pink-grey book and holds it before me, the shiny leather cover matches the bulbous shape just behind her. I look over to Cane, he’s watching us with dozy eyes, his skin the same shade and texture. Poor animals, they pull the Daemon's burdens and are harvested for leather as well.

“I needed evidence as proof of the Daemon’s military presence and ability, I can not read the pages. But you might.” She passes me the book. The 15th Lux emblem is stamped across the cover in ebony ink.

“Why would I be able to read Dae-” I open the page and answer my own question. Lacquered inked runes and glyphs cover the dry yellow pages. My mind translates the runes into English, other pages contain diagrams of hand movements and positions.

“I knew it, I knew you were a Daemon spy.” Glancing from the book, I see she’s wearing a cheeky grin.

“What gave me away? Was it my four eyes or my Daemonic lover?” I gesture to Cane, who’s softly sleeping in the ferns now.

Piia snorts a laugh. “I would not joke about cattle sharing your bed Seth, Shepherds already have a reputation.” She continues to giggle at the joke. “Now, spill the berries, what is it?” I continue to flick through the pages, hoping to confirm what I suspect. Finally several large diagrams fill a two-page spread. The illustrations are all hand drawn and noted, creating this book must have been expensive and time consuming. Holding the book open, I show Piia the evidence she needs.

“It’s a military recruits field guide or instruction manual. These diagrams show tactical formations they would use in a battle.”- turning the pages - “Here, basics in swordplay, common battlefield commands, constructing a castra.” Piia looks delighted.

“Do you think it will convince them? To leave this region of Silva?” Her concerns were obvious.

“They will have to, I just hope my presence aids your argument instead of hindering it.”

“Once Mother’s Voice understands you are the Shepherd he foretold, he will have confidence in your words, the tribe will follow suit.” Piia reaches out to my swelling arm, feeling the warm skin and inspecting the bark wrap.

“The bark has been disturbed and broken from the crawling, we should replace it tonight. It will cause you much pain.” She says with a grimace.

Sounds fairly standard for this world, I think to myself.

“I will store the instruction manual in my inventory to keep it safe and dry.” I say while continuing to scan through each page.

“Good idea. The sun is waning, we should seek shelter.” Piia says.

“Agreed, decent sleep and more food as well.” I feel depressed knowing I’ll be sleeping in my own filthy skin and clothes again. I knew that promise I made to myself just hours ago to clean was unrealistic. No wonder everyone smelt like faeces in the past, you never appreciate the convenience of modern appliances until you're stuck in a fantasy forest of horrors.

Before I close the book, a chapter title sticks out at me.

‘Basics of Chaotic Will’.