She raised her head to see will' sitting down on his knees in front of her ...
He observed the wounds on her forehead and leg
"Just a few minutes we got separated, and you got hurt this badly? " He asked surprised.
She remained quiet looking at her feet fidgeting
"How troublesome" Zia flinched as she heard that.
Will sat on his knees and pulled a small bottle of whiskey out of his sock
"It stings a bit," he said and poured the whiskey in small portions two times on her knee
Zia bit her lip hardly shutting her eyes
Amidst the urgency of the moment, he retrieved a folded piece of cloth from the depths of his pocket, handling it with a practiced ease. With gentle care, he secured it around her wounded knee, each movement deliberate and precise, ensuring its snug yet comfortable placement.
"May I trouble you for a small cloth?" His request, delivered with a calm and collected tone, found its way to her ears. Without hesitation, she unzipped her bag, rummaging inside until her fingers found purchase on a compact fabric. She passed it over, the exchange swift and seamless, a silent understanding conveyed through their shared urgency.
In a swift yet cautious motion, he immersed the cloth in alcohol, allowing it to absorb just enough to serve its purpose. With a deliberate touch, he applied it gently to the wound on her forehead.
A sharp intake of breath signaled her discomfort as she instinctively recoiled. "Stay still," his voice, firm yet reassuring, urged her forward. Taking care not to exacerbate her pain, he maintained a steady pressure, the cloth working diligently against the injury.
Despite her initial reaction, she yielded to his guidance, allowing him to tend to her injuries. With meticulous attention, he methodically dressed her wounds, his actions speaking of experience and a quiet determination to aid her recovery.
Inquiring softly, "Can you walk?" his concern filled the air as she nodded in affirmation. Attempting to rise, her efforts faltered, resulting in a disheartened sigh.
Without hesitation, he gathered her into his arms, effortlessly hoisting her weight. Securing her belongings across his back, a faint chuckle escaped his lips, "So light." With a reassuring smile, he embarked on their journey, each step deliberate and steady.
As they ventured forward, a gentle breeze danced through the serene forest, brushing against her face, carrying a sense of tranquility. Nestled within his embrace, a comforting warmth enveloped Zia, coaxing her into a peaceful slumber. The rhythmic cadence of his steps provided a soothing lullaby as the world around them faded into the embrace of nature's serenity.
In a tender gesture, Will carefully settled Zia onto the bed within his meticulously crafted wooden abode.
After a half-hour repose, Zia's eyes fluttered open. Curiosity guiding her, she observed the snug yet inviting layout of the dwelling. The hand-built structure boasted two modest rooms: a kitchen and a bedroom. At the entrance, a cozy space akin to a hall welcomed visitors, adorned with a cushioned seating area and a diminutive table.
The kitchen spoke of practicality, showcasing an assortment of knives, pans, and plates neatly arranged within the space.
Stepping into the bedroom, Zia found simplicity and functionality intertwined—a solitary bed and a small section designated for Will's personal effects, embodying the essence of minimalism and purposefulness.
Perched atop the mountain's summit, Will's modest abode exuded a charm born of simplicity and resourcefulness. The small yet inviting house offered solace in its isolation, surrounded only by the whispers of the wind and the distant calls of nature.
To the left of the dwelling, the washroom stood as a testament to Will's careful planning, perched precariously close to the edge. Its design allowed for a panoramic view while attending to the essentials, an experience both thrilling and serene.
On the opposite side, a groundwater bore served as a lifeline, providing the vital sustenance necessary for survival in this remote location. Its presence symbolized resilience against the unforgiving terrain.
The front of the house revealed a path leading downward, veiled by a thorny barricade that Will had meticulously arranged. This natural defense shielded the dwelling from unwelcome nocturnal visitors, ensuring safety and tranquility during the night.
Behind the house, a steep decline hinted at a bygone route, its faint traces evoking tales of past journeys. At the base of this descent loomed the enigmatic "Wall of Death," its name shrouded in mystery, an ominous marker at the edge of their domain.
Amidst the daily routine, Will tended to practicalities. With steady hands, he pumped water into a sturdy bucket, placing it in the bathroom for Zia's use. "Refresh yourself," he encouraged her warmly, "I'll procure us a meal." With a confident stride, he began his descent down the rugged mountainside, disappearing momentarily into the untamed wilderness below.
In the tranquility of foraging, a sudden disturbance shattered the calm—a rustling amidst the foliage. Instinctively, Will's hand swiftly sought the comfort of his dagger, poised for action.
Emerging from the underbrush, a wild boar burst forth, a formidable presence commanding attention. Its appearance was a testament to nature's prowess—a creature adorned with thick, protective hide and formidable, razor-sharp tusks.
Despite the tense atmosphere, Will remained motionless, his very breath held captive, a testament to his experience in the wilderness. The boar, a massive and imposing figure, loomed at an estimated 500 pounds, an embodiment of strength and potential danger.
The air thickened with a silent understanding—an acknowledgment of the lethal capabilities of this intelligent creature. An unspoken truth lingered—a wild boar's kick possessed the ferocity to shatter bones, causing internal injuries that could prove fatal.
In this charged moment, the inherent danger underscored the delicate balance between survival and the untamed wild, where an instant's misstep could tip the scales toward peril.
[I can't deal with a boar now] he thought and slowly started taking back steps.
**crack**
In a heartbeat, the tranquility shattered—a snapped branch betrayed Will's position, drawing the boar's attention to his silhouette. With lightning speed, the enraged creature charged, its brute force aimed squarely at him.
Reacting with reflexes honed by survival, Will dodged the impending collision by a hair's breadth, a moment etched in the annals of close calls. The ground trembled under the boar's thunderous momentum as it redirected its fury, scanning the surroundings for its elusive target.
Seizing the opportunity, Will utilized the terrain to his advantage, leveraging a nearby tree branch to vault himself skyward. Swift as a shadow, he maneuvered, timing his movement with precision. As the boar thundered past, he descended upon its back, driving the dagger deep into its flesh.
The forest echoed with the boar's anguished cries as pain surged through its body. Its initial fury transformed into agonizing shrieks, a stark reminder of the brutal reality of their encounter.
[Damn, that didn't go deep]
The tension escalated as Will's memory surged—his strategically placed trap nearby, a contraption designed to ensnare and immobilize wild animals. Racing toward the trap, he reached the contrivance—a cruel yet necessary measure to protect himself and the territory.
With a grim determination, he triggered the device, a swift and merciless snare, designed to snap shut upon intrusion. The boar, caught unaware, found itself ensnared in the jaws of the mechanical trap, its struggles intensifying as the unforgiving teeth sank into its flesh.
Agonizing cries pierced the air, echoing through the forest, a chorus of suffering borne from the creature's futile attempts to break free. Each movement only deepened the wounds, the sharp teeth savagely tearing at its skin, leaving a trail of excruciating pain in its wake. The once powerful and ferocious beast now lay helpless, its anguished squeals a haunting lamentation that carried across the expanse of the woodland.
The forest fell silent, interrupted only by Will's resolute voice slicing through the stillness. "It's your fault... you provoked me," his words, a grim acknowledgment of the deadly dance that fate had orchestrated.
With a heavy heart and a grim determination, he recognized the necessity of survival. "Whatever it is… you are two days' worth of meat," he uttered, a somber acceptance of the circle of life and the reality of sustenance in the wild.
Each stab of the dagger, a painful necessity, aimed at the boar's heart, a final mercy in the face of the relentless struggle. Again and again, the repeated strikes drove home the inevitability of the creature's fate until the tremors of life ceased within its form, marking the end of the harrowing encounter.
Amidst the echoes of the forest's tumultuous events, Zia sought solace within the familiar walls of Will's abode. As she ventured through the hall, her gaze wandered to the hanging pictures, capturing glimpses of an unfamiliar past.
One image seized her attention—a portrayal of a young boy bearing an uncanny resemblance to Will, devoid of the telltale scar etched upon his older visage. A poignant realization dawned as she beheld the innocence captured in the frame.
Further exploration revealed another picture—Will, flanked by two enigmatic figures. A man with striking features, possessing blonde hair and violet eyes, and a woman exuding an uncanny resemblance to Zia's mother, yet veiled in subtle differences. Will, a youthful figure in the midst, wore a smile that betrayed a poignant melancholy.
The man on the left of the image stirred a sense of familiarity within Zia, a stirring recognition unanchored in her conscious memory.
Entering the bedroom, her curiosity piqued by scattered papers adorned with circular images and enigmatic symbols. Her eyes fixated on a particular sketch—a man, possibly the enigmatic figure from the picture, the name "Eren" penned beside it, tantalizingly withholding its full context.
Before she could decipher the obscured writings, Will's voice cut through the air, shattering her reverie. Startled, she turned to face him, her eyes widening at the sight of him, his attire stained with telltale traces of blood, a stark contrast to the serenity she had hoped for within these walls