Multiple authors story - write one paragraph each

**Franconicus** · 03-06-2006, 10:24

21

Chapter 3: Howling with the wolves

It started to snow and soon the footprint of my commrades was gone. I looked around. Along the river there was a band of wood, the rest was empty plane. And snow, snow everywhere.

I was alone; in the middle of this endless solitude. No move, not even a sound. I started to run; as fast as possible. I did not care about the direction. Endlessness has no directions. I kept on running through the snow. The snow was deep. It reached my hip, when I tried to push through. I run - until I finally fell down on my knees. I turned around and saw the river. I had only managed to run some hundred yards.

Then I heard a sound. First I did not realize it was there. However, it repeated and when I realized it my blood began to freeze. Wolves! I had thought how to find the Tartars and what to do then. I had even thought about running away, trying to hide from then. Now I realized that I was lost if I could not find them. Lost; and nobody would ever know what happaned to me. Nobody would ever care.

**Kagemusha** · 03-06-2006, 10:46

22

I forced my frozen feets to continue moving through the snow.The howling continued,but it didnt come closer.It struck me, the wolwes didnt have to run for their pray tonight. They were feasting on the carcasses of my friends and countrymen.
I walked for hours in the frozen wind towards a goal that was uncertain for me.Why didnt my friends give me a horse? A single man on frozen steppe. My chances of surviving this mission were starting to feel less then possible.

**Franconicus** · 03-06-2006, 11:15

23

Then I saw them. They came out of the copse. They sat on small horses, therfore I thought they might not be wolves. However, they had no similarity to men, too. They looked like a composition of beasts and demans.

They did not attack; they did not even come straight to me. They came slowly, scenting, leery and yet curious. I was so scared that I could not move. They came closer, so close that I could smell the disgusting odor of these spawns of darkness.

From the corner of my eye I saw one of the creatures raise a club. Then it was dark.

**Kagemusha** · 03-06-2006, 11:43

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" Good morning stranger". I was not anymore in the frozen steppe,but in a warm tent, but clearly as a prisoner not a guest. In front of me was a big creature who sayed those words, that woke me up. This man was bigger then the ones who captured me. He weared the same clothes as the others but his stature showed him to be a man of high position. His fore head was bold but in the back of his head he had a long hair that reached his shoulders his eyes were more yellow then brown.In fact he reminded like a big cat moving around me soft and smiling at me while his eyes told there was no warm feelings behind his smile.

"My men found you at the steppe, walking around. Where is your bow and horse? Why are you walking these plains with a sword? You cant hunt anything with sword. Or have you come here to fight us and die like the other fools that have tryed that before you? Speak man, becouse i have no warm feelings for my enemies. I rather burn them and give their ashes to the God of Wind."

**Franconicus** · 03-06-2006, 11:56

25

I stared at the creature, unable to understand his words or to answer him. Then another face came into reach: "You better answer, young friend, or you will not have no second chance."

I knew the face, that was smiling at me. It was unlike the face of the beast. It looked human. However, the person was probably worse than the tartars. It was Claudius, the traitor.

**Rodion Romanovich** · 03-06-2006, 11:58

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I knew Claudius was aware of the fact that I wasn't a renegade. Claudius had seen my loyalty proven on various earlier occasions, before he had changed sides. I felt panic striking me. I needed to get rid of Claudius in some way, otherwise there would be no chance convincing the tatars. Then I remembered I hadn't shaven in a week, and that my face must still be dirty. Maybe he wouldn't realize who I was, at least not immediately. When I replied I tried to distort my voice.

**Kagemusha** · 03-06-2006, 12:38

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Instead of talking latin to these men.I decided to talk my own Northern dialect.I told them who i was that i fought with the Romans against them, but lied that i had no love for the Romans.
The big creature stared me right in to my eyes with an expression that i couldnt figure out.At the same time he looked intrested but also savage, like he was thinking wheather or not to eat me.After i finished he spoke few words i could not understand:
" This man doesnt speak the language of the Romans, i think he is from the people of the forest. Bring in slave Theodavacar. I think he understands what this man is trying to say to us".

**Rodion Romanovich** · 03-06-2006, 13:45

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This gave me some more time to think through what to say. First I needed them to trust me to be a traitor. In order for that to work I must tell them something that they could verify was true. Something that didn't hurt too many of my own, but at least seemed important enough to show I was ready to let down my own. Not until then would I be able to convince them that Aquincum was the best place to strike next. I didn't have time to think any further before I heard the footsteps. Theodavacar, whoever he might be, was coming.

**Franconicus** · 03-06-2006, 13:58

29

Claudius, however, said: "He is not worth the trouble!"
He took a torch and held it in front of my face: "And by the way, he knows Latin as much as I do, aren't you, Herulius?"
A wave of anger went through my veins. Yes, he recognized me. He, the traitor, would make me die too. Maybe I had been a coward, who left his comrades in battle. He, however, was a betrayer, he was the one to blame for their lives.

"You are right, Claudius!"
"So, my friend Herulius, why did you stand all alone in the wilderness? Why did you leave the glorious army?"
"I was dispersed."
"Dispersed? Didn't your general take care of you? Maybe he is dispersed too? Maybe he is even dead?"
"Dead? He is alive! He will return to tear out your lying heart!"
"Then why does he run away. By the way, I do not believe a word you're saying. There are no Roman troops near or far."
"There are! They wait for you! They will defeat you and your Barbarian friends."
The Tartarian chief gave me a slap in the mouth.
Claudius: "Please, Balimir, let him talk. So, you runaway bigmouth, were can we find that glorious Roman army, that will defeat us?"
I wiped the blood from my cheek and caught: "Aquincum, go to Aquincum and they will kill you!"
Balimir turned to his Roman ally: "Claudius, this may cause trouble! Didn't you pormise that they are finished."
Claudius: "Do not worry noble chief! This one is a liar! I know the Roman way and he only wants to mislead us. I tell you, Herulius, we will go to Aquincum and you will accompany us! If we will not meet an Roman army there, you will be the first who is dying!"