Chapter 44 Alone?

I have been running for a few hours, the Sun is up and the air is crisp, my breath leaves a trail in the air as I exhale each time. I am thinking back to when I first entered the Marine Corps out of school. It was at first a grueling training, but it gave me a purpose in life, a family of sorts. Having lost my parents at 17, due to a drunk driver, I was all over the place with my thoughts. I did not know how to go on. My life was in ruins back then.

I got into fights afterwards, even got suspended from school. A Marine recruiter had visited the school, he was a dad to one of the students and came on parent teachers day. I saw the uniform and looked at him, he was proud and disciplined, he stood tall with a purpose. Something drew me to him and I began to talk to him not knowing why. He offered to meet with me after the parent teacher conference was over and I had accepted.

He took me to a Diner, where we sat and ate and talked for hours. He saw my turmoil, heard my story of my parents dieing and made me an offer. He explained the Marines to me, gave me a direction in my Life, and I grabbed at it eagerly. After joining, I cursed his name every night at first. But eventually what he said came to pass, I found a home and a purpose.

After three years I entered the Marine Corps Special Forces training in Lejeune North Carolina.It was hell on earth. The training was designed to evaluate and eliminate personnel to become a Special Forces Operator. Many times, I thought to quit and give up, but kept going, and in the blink of an eye 9 months passed by and I graduated.

I was assigned to a team and went on many missions. I lost several friends on those missions, so I steeled myself from that over time, never getting too, close to someone as it hurt each time I lost someone. Probably why I never entered into a relationship with the opposite sex, now that I think about it.

20 years passed by, and before I knew it my hand was being shaken and I was thanked for my service and throwing my duffle bag into my Truck, I exited the base, and I left active duty, driving off leaving the Marines behind. I headed for a little place in New Mexico, my dad was born and grew up there. Told me many stories of the hunting and fishing and of the nearby Rocky Mountains. It had everything one could want of the outdoors.

Having no family or destination after leaving the Marines, I decided to go there, and quickly bought a house after arriving. I got up each morning and did my run to stay in shape out of habit, there I saw Julie. At first I did not pay her much attention, but as the days passed, I began to reflect on my life with nothing to do. I did not find a job at first as I had no idea what I wanted to do or could do, besides being a soldier.

I met the neighbors and became friendly with them, but never close. I still kept my distance out of habit, but each morning I saw Julie running, and when she saw me she would wave and smile, at times greet me. Once in a while we would somehow wind up running together and talk Did I do it subconsciously? Or did she initiate it? I do not remember. I felt drawn to her, for the first time, the opposite sex attracted me, maybe because I was alone now, the Marines becoming a distant memory.

She would call me old man at times and that, for some reason, hurt as I looked back on my life and began to wonder what I had accomplished. But I was still attracted to her, and each day it grew. Before I knew it, two years passed, and we were still running and talking each morning, but never grew closer.

Then that fateful Saturday came, and somehow I wound up on a date with her, then shit hit the fan, go figure.

I laugh out loud thinking back, as I continue my run, I am headed for Fort Carson, it is just south of Colorado Springs, Colorado. As I am running, I see my Stamina is going down fast and decide to take a break and find a shaded area with an embankment off the side of the road. So far I have had no encounters with monsters out in the open. So I stop to take out some water and splash onto myself, then take a drink. I could have used my Truck, but with fuel at a premium and me needing to test my abilities as well, I decided to run.

I might have spoken early about no monsters tho, I hear something approaching. It is squawking almost birdlike, but much louder, in fact there are several squawks to be heard. I crawl from where I am to the embankment and spot 4 of the creatures. The are large, standing about 8 feet tall, their heads look like giant vultures, completely black, they have two arms that extend six feet out that end in curved nasty looking hooks, and 4 smaller arms that just end in stump, their feet are talons like that of a birds, huge and sharp. I watch them as they move about searching for food it seems. I identify them as they are close enough.

Creature!Hook Horror Level 58

I equip my sword quietly and continue to watch them. They are making a lot of noise. Something draws my attention and I turn around and see two more, staring at me about 20 meter away. They squawk loudly and rush at me. They found food.

I jump into action and infuse my mana into the sword. It begins to glow a soft blue. I rush forward and as a hook swings at me I sever it cleanly, while dodging the blow from the second one who rushes at me.

The squawk drew the attention of the other 4 and I see them from the corner of my eye rushing in hungrily at me. I speed up and the world slows down around me. Their movement suddenly in slow motion to me. I experienced this once before. I continue my movement moving behind the Hook Horror whose hook is severed and thrust my sword deeply into its back where it's heart should be. It cries out in pain, but is still alive. Different anatomy?

I pull the sword from the creature as the second one is swinging it's two massive hooks at me, dodging left then right to avoid the strikes, then I strike back plunging the sword into it's face. It cries out as well as it's beak is split in two, but still stands.

I see the first one is swinging it's remaining hook at me and I jump away to give myself some space from the two, just about then the other 4 join the fray. Hooks come flying in slow motion at me, there are so many I cannot dodge them all, I take two glancing blows which rip my uniform shirt, the glancing blows not cutting my skin, but I can still feel the powerful impact.

I rush forward and attack the one missing the hook, this time I slash across its stomach area opening it up. The wound is large and gaping and it's innards begin to spill out. I take a direct blow to the back, not able to avoid all the hooks coming at me, I let myself slow down and paid the price as a hook pierces me in the back. Instinctively I swing my sword backwards and sever the arm attached to it, the hook still in my back. The Hook Horror with it's gut s spilling out falls to the ground, five more left and I am injured badly.

I focus on the one whose face I already hit, and charge, pain throbbing in my back, I keep my speed up but it is hard to maintain. I slice at it, severing an arm. The less arms I have to deal the with the better. But a beak snaps at me, narrowly missing me. They have me surrounded now. I try to break thru with a dash, but hooks bar my way. One of the Hook Horrors is cut clean in half.

There standing in it's place is Ki'Diera, her eyes fill with battle lust, she quickly swings her sword at the Hook Horror to her right and severs it's arm. I too, strike taking off the arm of the nearest one to me, it is the one with the split beak and missing arm already. It bellow out in pain and drops its head towards the ground, I do not miss the chance and with a clean swing of the sword, I remove it's head.

Ki'Diera is dispatching a second of the creatures, Sword and Dagger flashing like lightning, shredding the beast to pieces till it falls over to the ground dead, without missing a beat she is in the air and swinging at the next one. I jump in and attack it too, hitting it low, cutting at it's legs and together we take it down fast.

The pain in my back is throbbing badly now and I am slowing down. The pain is getting to me and we have two more creatures left. I can do this I steel myself and rush one, while Ki'diera rushes the other.

Jumping evading and dodging, we strike the two creatures scoring hit after hit while evading their hooks and beaks. In seconds, both creatures fall to the ground dead, and I let myself fall to my knees. I let go of my sword and begin to grasp the hook in my back and am about to pull.

“WAIT Scott let me do it, at that angle you will cause yourself more harm.” She cries out.

I nod to her as she approaches then simply pulls it out. I call for and drink a health potion. And let myself relax. Ki'Diera scouts quickly and returns, "We need to move Scott, this place is not safe".

I call forth my truck, as I am right now not able to run, and we both get in and drive away. After about 30 min I bring the Truck to a stop and get out. It looks barren here as far as the eyes can see, no one can approach unnoticed. I put away the Truck into my inventory. We have not spoken a word yet.

I go to the side of the road and sit down. I look at Ki'Diera who is looking off into the distance looking for something.

“Why are you here Ki'Diera?” I finally ask “Better yet how did you find and get to me?”

She turns and looks at me then smiles” I acquired your scent on the two nights we slept together, tracking you was not hard, and you are not the only one who can run.”

You think you can leave me behind? I will not allow this shame upon me and show you I am worthy!

“Why then are you here Ki'Diera?” I ask of her again, knowing what she is thinking but wanting to hear her excuse.

“This is our seven day trial period, my duty to my people demands of me to be with you at all times Scott. Now then, shall we be going? The sun is still high and we have lots of day left to travel.” She says with a smile.

God this is frustrating! I did not want this! But what can I do?

I get up, the healing potion did it's job and I have recovered. I begin to walk, Ki'Diera is next to me. I look at my notices.

NOTICE!You have been awarded 800XP,

no party members are in range to receive XP share.

NOTICE!You have been awarded 800XP,

no party members are in range to receive XP share.

NOTICE!You have been awarded 800XP,

no party members are in range to receive XP share.

Hmm only 800xp for a level 58, that is a far cry from before the 7 days ended. At this rate it will take a while to level up.

I look at my skills and see none are close to leveling up either.

“So you are going to insist on traveling with me Ki'Diera?” I ask of her.

“Yes Scott, that is my duty.” She replies scanning the horizon while walking.

Seeing as I have no choice now, I sigh.

“Add to Party Ki'Diera” I say out loud.

NOTICE!Notice you can not add NPC Ki'Diera to party.

What the hell?