7
After having spoken with Farkas I found that he and I aren't too terribly different. We get along, and even though he says he isn't 'that good of a talker' I found I understood him quite well. I had thought that being a part of the companions would mean I'm surrounding myself with brutes like Dain, but he's actually really nice and doesn't hold my 'odd' way of talking against me. After going back up with him to eat. I told him how I was going to head out for the mage problem in the morning. So we were able to enjoy each other's company more than if I would have headed out right away. Face it, I haven't been able to get much sleep lately so I was planning on cleaning up from how hot it is in here and going to bed.
"Farkas?" I ask lightly drawing his attention from the training area as he seems to become lost in his thoughts. "Hm?" He grunts in question before taking another drink of his mead. "Is there a good place in town where I can clean up? Like a pond or something?"
"Yep." I watch as he stands before grabbing my wrist lightly and pulling me up from my chair. "I'll show you." Giggling I follow behind him even though he isn't giving me much of a choice as he continues drinking from his mead bottle. As we round the corner of the building so we could walk further into town I found my feet stopping. "Hm?" Farkas looks back at me in question before turning to face the overly large male now standing in front of him. Whose pale eyes were looking from me to Farkas and back again. "Oh, your that other newbie. I trust you got the job done."
"Yes." He answers curtly his eyes now solely on Farkas, after if I'm not mistaken briefly falling on the fact that Farkas has a hold of my wrist. "Well done. Here you go, 250 gold for your trouble." Farkas releases my wrist to pull out a bag of gold and hand it to him. Dain takes the gold his cold glare never leaving Farkas. "Where are you two off to?" his tone was stern and demanding as if he could force the companion to answer. "Twilight was just looking to swim and I was showing her a place." Dain gives a grunt before turning towards me. "I can show you one." I tilt my head and look from Dain to Farkas questioningly. Why. Why are both of them looking at me like that? What's Dain's problem? I'm sure the swimming spot Farkas has in mind is a pretty good one, and he's from here so he knows more about WhiteRun than Dain does. I shrug and look away. "Farkas was already showing me a spot. But, if you want to come along no one will stop you."
"No, I'll let you two have fun." I find my gaze shooting back to Dain as Farkas chuckles and grabs my wrist again. But before we could get too far Dain stops me by grabbing my left hand, forcing Farkas to stop as well and look at him. "I have something I need to do in Ivarstead. Come with me." Sighing I turn more towards him and look up into his pale blue eyes. "I have some mages to take care of tomorrow for the companions." I watch his eyes widen before he turns his head to cover the slip from his usual stony expression. "I'll come along with you then we can leave for Ivarstead." And with that, he walks into Jorrvaskr. Don't I get a say in this?!
"Hm. I see what you mean, he is commanding." Farkas comments before tugging my arm to lead me the way to our swimming hole. "Funny, that was the first time he held that tone with me. When I showed him where the Whelps sleep he took it all in stride."
"Really?" I nearly laugh at imagining Dain the submissive Whelp. "I find it hard to believe." This causes Farkas to erupt in a fit of laughter as he pulls me to the stairs leading up to the largest building in town. "What building is that?" I question as I point up to the building. Farkas stops and follows where I was signaling. "That is dragon's reach, Jarl Balgruuf lives there… here. Pick a side and jump in." He lets go of my wrist signaling we were where he wanted to take me. On the walkway up to Dragon's reach just before the second set of stairs, there was water on both sides.
Removing my weapons and setting them on the stone at my feet I smirk at Farkas before running to the side farthest from Jorrvaskr and jumping in. "Woohoo!" I shout in mid-jump before I am submerged in the cold water. Moments later I hear the muffled sound of someone else jumping into the water. Surfacing I look to see Farkas coming up for air from the water darkened by the night around us. "Been a long time." He mutters looking to me, I can see the dirt that had been caked to his skin streaking down his face. "My brother and I used to swim here." I smile at his words before spinning around in the water playfully. This. This is what I've been wanting. As I dive under the water again I take the time to scrub my face making sure all residual dirt that may have clung to me is gone before swimming closer to the bottom. At least until I felt meaty hands grab my left ankle and yank me back up towards the surface.
Turning around once I take in a breath, I am met with water splashing me in the face. Sputtering out the water I had taken in since I had opened my mouth to say something. I pin him with a glare before splashing water at him in return. "Payback!" I giggle just as he sends another wave over me. Ducking under the water I drop to the bottom before kicking off and grabbing his armor. Pulling him under with me. He begins to squirm in my grasp before suddenly he slips away. Figuring I lost this bout I move to the surface to nail him with another splash, but just before I get there I feel arms at my waist as I am pulled deeper into the water's depths. Squirming I fight to get out of his hold but his arms were too strong and I swear I can hear him laughing near my ear. My lungs begin to burn with the need for oxygen as I continue to struggle. Though it wasn't until I pat his arms lightly did he let me go. Kicking off the bottom I shove myself quickly to the surface. As I break above water my lungs suck greedily in the air, trying to make up for the oxygen they had been deprived of.
Turning towards him when I hear him surface as well, I raise my brow when he doesn't seem to need as much air as I did. "You seriously can hold your breath a long time!" I find my words echoing around us in my utter disbelief causing him to laugh. "There will be a rematch when you figure out how I did it." He finally says just before he swims to the steps in order to sit on them. I watch as he pulls out a bottle of mead from his inventory. I guess he's done playing then. Floating on my back I watch the stars in silence enjoying the feel of the cold water around me for the first time since I arrived in this game. I find I can actually enjoy myself properly rather than the scary way I had begun enjoying killing the bandits. This… almost seems like what normal people would be doing in my world. Swimming, playing around, then relaxing in the water because neither one of us actually wants to get out and call it a night. Maybe I need moments like this to cling to in order to make it through my jobs and whatever I may be facing?
After drinking a bottle of mead together Farkas gave me a couple of stamina potions with a laugh. He wished me luck on my plot to defy Dain and I had set out on a whim that night to Rannveig's Fast. There was no way I'm going to just let Dain take away from this job. I'm almost level six after that fight with Mikael, who knows what level I'll be when I'm done. I can't say I am too happy about going against mages. I mean unlike bandits, mages don't usually cause trouble right? What do I know, technically beyond hearing about a college for mages I know nothing about them other than they cast spells. I would think that since there is a college for them that they wouldn't be bad people if Dain hadn't of mentioned he had to save me from a necromancer just last night. Wow, has it really only been a day since I drank mead with Hadvir? Stop it Twilight, you need to focus on not getting lost in the dark and to see your enemy before they see you.
The further I walk down the road the more I find myself trying to hug the ground in order to stay out of sight. So far in the dark, I've seen huge black masses that cause the ground to have little tremors whenever they take a step. I can see a huge bonfire off in the distance that when I can barely see I don't really feel like investigating. At some point though the road ended forcing me to navigate my way over grass and weeds, around fallen trees and rocks. It wasn't until I heard a snarling that I found myself pausing dead in my tracks. Did something really see me first? What is that sound coming from? I couldn't even make out what had found me before I saw a dark shadow running on all fours barreling towards me. With no time to draw my bow I pull the blade Kodlak had given me and ready my stance. I hadn't been expecting a saber tooth to launch itself at me, further reminding me that I am not in the world I know.
Ducking I roll on the ground. I slip beneath the large feline so it would land on the ground instead of on me. Standing I turn just as he jumps for me again forcing me to grab whatever I can get my hands on in order to try and stop it. A fist full of fur, I realize is not a good idea as its massive weight bears down on me causing my legs to shake with the strain just to try and remain standing. The paw catching my right knee was unseen in the night bringing me down to one knee. Flipping my blade in my hand my mind barely registers the throbbing pain of my leg until I bury the blade hilt deep in the feline's throat. Coating my hand and wrist in its warm sticky blood. Retrieving my blade as the paw that was just going to swipe for my face falls limp, I let the massive feline fall to the ground.
The sudden sound of music told me all I wanted to know. That I had leveled up, I am now level six. However, before I could even bring myself to go into the level-up mode I touch my leg with a wince. Squeezing below and above my knee, I check the main bones to see if they are broken from the strength behind that paw before even checking the main source of impact. My knee still felt sturdy even though I could barely stand to touch it. So I know it isn't broken, but the pain from it is going to severely slow me down. Am I still willing to fight mages when I am hurt? Pfft, I don't even have to ask myself that. Touching the dead feline I reach into its inventory first noting that it was called a sabercat. Within were a sabercat eye and its pelt. I'm not exactly sure what they are used for but if I can get them it must mean I can use them, or at the very least sell them. Emptying its inventory I sigh setting down completely and stretching my sore knee in order to rest it a little.
"Next thing I need to do." I mutter to myself before opening my inventory by slipping my hand into my pouch. Tapping on the level-up words I watch as everything darkens and the familiar tri-colored clouds fill my view. Let's see the last two times I did health and stamina so… seeing my health is 110 and my stamina 135 I found myself hesitating only momentarily before touching the word stamina again. Watching then as the number changes to 140 I look at my skill sets. Let's see, I've raised my bow, light armor, and one-handed once. It doesn't look like my one-handed or my light armor can be raised again yet so I found myself touching the first star on the archer bringing it up to a level two so that my bow will do more damage. Even as I exit out of the level up… whatever it is. I couldn't help but feel like I should have raised my health rather than my stamina. Yes, stamina lets me carry more so I can sell more, but if my health was higher would attacks from things like the sabercat not hurt as much? I found myself sighing before even pushing myself to stand. Placing more weight on my left leg than my right so I won't irritate it further. The next time I level up, I'm definitely raising my health to see if it helps.
After a couple of hours of walking my knee didn't hurt quite as bad so I was no longer limping. I found myself coming around the mountains and being forced to stop as I see something glowing blue standing just at the foot of a large stone staircase. Pushing myself against the mountain I reach into my inventory and withdraw my map, using the moons above me to light my view of it. I trace my finger over the thick paper following the direction I had gone to where I should be now. According to my map, I am at the base of Rannveig's Fast, so just up those stairs is where I need to go. Folding my map I look back towards the blue things just before a familiar echoing call catches my attention. Dropping low to the ground I look up towards the dark sky trying to pinpoint the dragon's location. Shitshitshitshit! I can't deal with a dragon right now! I bet all I would do is make a small snack for it! The unmoving glowing blue made me silently wonder if the dragon was actually anywhere nearby or if I am just hearing its echoing calls from a distance.
Well if a dragon lands on me I won't last long enough to regret it. Pulling my bow, I ready an arrow and aim it at the blue thing. If this hits then I really have nothing to worry about. If it just goes straight through then I could possibly be relying on the actions of a light. Exhaling slowly in order to try and clear my mind, before releasing the string and watching the arrow disappear from my view. The blue thing to my surprise, crumbles to the ground leaving nothing but a pile. Well, this is weird. I found myself getting ready to take a step toward the pile just before another glowing blue thing catches my eye. Further up the steps appears as if it were standing on the corner of a landing. I watch as it makes its way back to the steps and up them leaving my sight. Is it safe now to see what that pile is? Or should I wait to see if it comes back? I'm not in a hurry I guess. I have until sunrise until Dain even figures out that I didn't stay the night at Jorrvaskr, then even longer until he figures out I had just gone ahead and came here. Pulling another arrow I ready my bow, focusing on the top of the stairs.
I only had to wait a few moments, that felt almost like an hour, before the blue thing follows the steps back down to the landing. I follow it, keeping my arrow trained on whatever it is. This time when it stops on the corner of the landing, I waste no time and release the string of my bow, letting it smack against my bracer with a low thump. Just like the other one, as soon as the arrow left my sight I watch as the glowing blue thing crumbles into a pile on the landing. Keeping my bow out, I make my way slowly to the first pile as I watch around me for the dragon whose echoing call is still sounding around me, or any more movement in the nearby area. As I reach out to the blue pile, I find my fingers touch something soft. Reminding me of back home when I would clean out the fireplace. The inventory words pop into my line of sight as I realize the name of what I had just taken down. Subjugated Ghost… So that was a Ghost? Okay, things just got even weirder than they already were. Taking its entire inventory I make my way slowly up the steps to the first landing then to the pile of ash near the edge.
Taking its inventory as well before I ready my bow with an arrow and slowly ascend the stairs to the main level. Keeping my eyes peeled around me for anything blue. When I feel certain there isn't another one behind me on the landing my eyes scan around the tents and fire finally spotting another one just on the other side. Taking it down in one shot wasn't difficult at all as I watch it collapse into a pile. I'm guessing as long as the opponents don't see me then it's easier to kill them. But if they see me then I'm shooting arrows like mad much like with those bandits in bleak falls. After taking its inventory I look up to another screeching call of a dragon to see its shape finally appear over the edge of the mountain above. That explains why it hasn't seen me yet. It's too far away, I couldn't even shoot an arrow that distance if I wanted to. Standing straight I sigh as it removes the pressure off of my still sore knee before taking a better look around. The shadowed outlines of the building around me contrast with the light of the moons so I can barely make out what they look like. They almost look as if they are high arches leading to a much darker and larger mass of black. "That's probably where I need to go." Walking to the closest barrel I lift the lid and empty my extra inventory into it before making my way to the building.
The closer I walk towards the black mass the better I can tell the massive archways are made of stone as is the building. The doors however to my disliking are the same heavy metal as in bleak falls. This time as I put my bow away and lean into the door I find it's easier to open compared to when I had entered the barrow. Smirking to myself as I slip inside, I pull my bow again and ready an arrow for just in case. Immediately inside I see I am in a large circular room with plants growing inside it. The moonlight shining in through a hole in the ceiling lights my way through the large empty room towards another archway. As I walk through I crouch low noticing a set of wooden planks to my left making the landing larger. Walking forward I aim my arrow down the stone steps as another subjugated ghost comes into view. Timing his steps I release my string in time to watch the arrow disappear inside of the glowing mass. As it crumbles into a pile I look around noticing something on the other side of the room that looks like a large chest and three darkened bodies laying on the ground throughout the walls of the room.
Deciding first to check the bodies, I figure out they are just dead Draugr. So I empty their inventory before making my way to the ash pile and taking everything it had. But as I walk towards the large chest, I notice that there is a spot in the ground much darker than the rest, so I jump onto the platform's ledge and make my way around the outer edge until I feel safe enough to walk to the chest. My world darkening as a sound echoes around me catches my attention drawing my gaze towards what I had thought was just stone. I see something glowing, drawing me closer to it. As the blue lights swirl around me my eyes narrow on the word in front of me. This time trying to make out what it actually says but it seems to be in another language. I could feel my heart pounding as this time without Dain here, I figure out he isn't the reason for the last set of blue lights that happened in the barrow. Shaking my head I look behind me to the chest as my world lightens up again and everything else comes back into focus. First this job, then I can dwell on what's going on later.
Finding the chest empty, I nearly kick the wooden box before deciding to empty my excess inventory again and making my way back around the black spot on the ground towards the next doorway. Coming to a gate just down the hall I see a lever on the other side but no way I can actually open it. Well shit, how am I supposed to go further? Looking around again I notice a pathway that goes to my right lit by a single torch. At first glance, I had thought it was just a wall until I walk closer and see that there is a set of stairs to my left. Shrugging to myself I decide to follow them in order to see where they lead.
At the top of the flights of stairs, I find myself in a small little room with a broken shelf and pottery laying on the floor. Walking in further I see a lever to my right and a path leading above the room I had just been in with the once empty chest. Pulling the lever I decide to investigate the path and follow it over the room. In the middle of the archway, I find myself kneeling looking at the room. The word wall and chest stuck out with candles but it is only now I see the black part of the floor is actually a hole. "Some sort of trap." I mutter before moving my gaze around. It seems just to the right of the word wall is a door I had missed. "Hmm. Guess I'll get that later on my way out." I decide before continuing to follow the path. Inside the small room, I kneel on my knee as slowly as I can as I ready my bow. Just on the other side with its back to me I see another ghost. I lined up my shot and without hesitation just before it could turn around to walk around the room, I embed my arrow in it. The words echoing around me as if in the aftermath as the ghost crumbles into a pile. "I don't want to do this!" So... The ghosts are actually being forced to guard the place?
That's not right. It's just plain wrong to force a spirit to remain in the land of the living to do someone's bidding. Even the wicked need to go wherever it is they are meant to be. Taking the ghosts inventory, I turn to make my way back out of the room when a chest catches my eye. I make quick work of the lock and I find myself smirking at how easy it's becoming just to get into locked chests. Within I find an orcish bow that does more damage than my hunting bow. Giggling I slip my hunting bow into my inventory and keep the orcish bow out and ready. Only realizing now that it is slightly heavier than my other bow by no more than a couple of pounds. Shaking my head I turn around and make my way back to the gate that had once stood in my way. Another ghost later I find myself next to a burning bowl with a wooden door in front of me and movement to my right. Should I look right or look in front of me? Pushing my curiosity aside for now, I sigh turning to walk around the room on my right. Picking up health potions and blue bottles on my way. This gate was open, I realize as I find myself in an area with cells inside. One large one in the center of the room with water on the floor and bodies laying within. The robed figure walking around drew my attention as I ready my arrow. Taking aim I release the string only this time the arrow embeds into the figure's back between its shoulder blades but he does not drop.
The robed figure turns around as his hand begins to glow blue forcing me to stand and put my bow away. Drawing my blade, I run forward not expecting a stream of blue light to hit me in the stomach sending waves of electricity throughout my body. The pain felt as if my veins were on fire as my body convulsed until I was dropped to my left knee. Glaring at him as I fight to catch my breath and regain control of my body. Was that? Lightning he just shot me with? "Greed, a wonderful thing to catch new subjects but it seems you… aren't as greedy as the last ones." I nearly laugh at his words as I stand readying my blade again. "You don't know me very well. Maybe I noticed something off about the floor and went around it in order to find your ridiculously empty chest." He laughs before turning around as if I wasn't a threat to him at all. "No matter I'm sure I have something here to make short work of you." Rolling my eyes I take his back being turned as an invitation. I push off the ground with my legs as quickly as I can, running up behind him. He however turns around at the last second just before another wave of electricity surges throughout my body. With my body still in the throes of pain from the last stream, I couldn't help but call out in pain as my body convulses unwillingly.
Bare it. Just deal with the pain Twilight! I shout at myself inwardly as the stream stops. Yet this time I watch as the mage's eyes widen when I don't crumble to my knees. Biting my bottom lip I silently yell for my body to move. As if they were lead weights, I finally raise my arm and step forward into my swing. Thrusting the blade across the mage's throat. As if in slow motion I watch the freshly cut line open as blood begins to slip out. The mage's hands reach up to catch his throat in a failed attempt to stop the bleeding just before he falls to the ground. Writhing on the floor as he emits gurgled choking sounds. The last time I was faced with this I had ended the bandit's life to spare him the torture, but as my body still radiates with the pain from this mage's attack I find myself just watching as his feet twitch in his convulsions. As his body stills and the gurgling stops, I reach down and empty his inventory before looting the bodies around me and taking everything I find to be of value. Using the key the mage had on him to open the cell doors, including the door into the pit I probably would have fallen into, if I hadn't of had a moment of clarity to walk around it.
Needless to say, one ghost later that I ended up having to fight head-on, because I had tripped over some roots. An empty health potion later the level-up music had rung in my ears before I had found a hidden room and taken everything from inside it before retrieving all the items from the chest within. I made my way out into the morning light. Taking in a breath of the fresh air I find myself sighing before setting down on one of the sleeping bag things and laying down. Even after that health potion, I can still feel the pain from the mage's lightning coursing through me. I even found I'm half tempted to using another healing potion just to end the pain. I was carrying too much, it was a struggle just to make it out of the Fast. Maybe I should look in my inventory to see what I can get rid of since I don't have anyone with me to help haul this stuff in. Or maybe I should sleep first. I am so tired.
The next thing I knew I felt a huge meaty hand pull on my ankle successfully sliding me out of the tent. Without even opening my eyes I raise my free foot in order to kick whoever was pulling me only to have it blocked by another large hand. Finally glaring up at the figure, I find I have to blink my eyes a few times in order to clear my vision. With the bright sun being blocked by his form I first noticed the strawberry blond hair dangling past a well-figured face. His pale blue eyes suddenly reminding me of the silver steel on a sword. "Are you alright?" Even though he was asking something pleasant that only someone who actually cares would ask, I could hear the anger just beneath his tone. I nod to him as I set up and rub my eyes. "Yeah, the job's done. See I didn't need you after all." Even though I meant those words to be playful with a smirk I found myself yawning as he gives a grunt in annoyance. "You shouldn't sleep here with a dragon nearby. You could have been eaten." I shake my head before using the tent stick beside me to help me to my feet. My whole body is aching, I just don't know what hurts worse. The residual pain from the mage's magic or my knee from when I tussled with that sabercat. Maybe it did hurt my leg worse than I had thought. "Are you sure you're okay?" This time his voice sounded skeptical to my earlier claim as he watches me get to my feet. "Yeah, nothing a little rest won't cure. I certainly wasn't expecting that guy to shoot me with lightning."
"This is why you shouldn't have come alone! You don't think!" He growls at me as I see his hand raise up. I flinch only to find him pushing me back down onto the sleeping bag. "Sit here while I get the horse." He mutters as his actions seem rather forced to me. Almost like he really just wanted to hit me instead of help me. Wait, since when does he have a horse? Duh, Twilight, he probably borrowed one from somebody. "Oh, not sure if it's important but there is another wall in there like the one at bleak falls barrow." He suddenly stops as I watch him glance over his shoulder at me before looking towards the doors of the Fast. "Stay there." He grumbles before I see him walking inside. Humph, he still thinks he can order me around? Not likely! Standing back up I limp towards the large stairs leading to the ground. Just off to the side next to a tree, I see a tan and white horse munching on the grass at his feet. Smirking I slowly make my way down the steps, having to catch myself once or twice from the weight I'm carrying causing me to miss step but I eventually reach the dirt below.
By the time I reach the horse and untie its reigns from the tree I find myself hesitating on my decision. He's going to be really really mad if I do this. Hell, he was angry I came here by myself for some reason. Imagine how mad he'll be if I take off with his horse without him. I look up at the horse and run my fingers through its mane. It has been so long since I rode one. I haven't even been near a horse since my brother had rented out a stable when I was twelve. Riding one would be like riding a bicycle right? Once you learn you never forget? Raising my right foot slowly into the foot strap I try to jump in order to give myself enough leverage with this extra weight to pull myself up. But a hand suddenly pinning me to the ground stops me from doing it.
Uhoh….. Pulling my foot out I stand straight before slowly turning around. My heart beating against my chest as if it was trying to punch a hole through in order to free itself to run away. On the plus side, I wouldn't feel what's going to happen next. Just when my eyes meet the pale blue ones of Dain, I barely have time to notice how his anger visibly etches itself on his face before my sight flashes a bright red. The feeling of the massive fist against my face was only an aftereffect when I was sent to the ground from being sent off-center with the force. Landing on my butt with a thump I groan as my hand covers my face, feeling the wet sticky substance coming from my nose. "I've given you enough time to realize, when I speak you listen. Not to try and take my horse is a lesson I'm going to enjoy teaching you." I could barely hear his words of anger over the sound of my own heart echoing in my ears. I was carrying far too much to move well enough to avoid the fist latching onto the front of my armor as it pulls me up off the ground. I could faintly make out a grunt as he fights to lift me up causing me to smirk when my feet hit the ground again. "What is with you and always taking everything!" He shouts in frustration just before another wall hits my jaw sending my head to the right. "I have a better idea." Came his sinister words as I fight to open my eyes. Seeing him withdraw a leather strip from his pocket made my eyes widen as I try to step back.
His hand still holding onto my armor keeps me from moving. So I raise my arms to try and hit his hand away from me but that only successfully allowed him to grab my wrists when he let go. Grunting I try to yank myself free but he was firmly pinning me in place. Throwing my foot forwards I catch him in the side forcing him to release me. Panting from the energy it took for me to fend him off, I turn to run as quickly as I can from him but the weight still in my inventory kept me from going very far. His meaty fist met my side knocking the air out of me just before I felt his elbow slam against my back between my shoulder blades, sending me to the ground. As I was fighting to regain my breath he grabs my arm and forces me to roll onto my back. I was going to raise my leg to kick him away but his massive weight now setting on my stomach forces what air I had managed back out of my lungs. I could feel my world darkening as I fight for breath that was being kept from my burning lungs. The feel of his hands barely even registered in my mind until I feel myself being lifted back to my feet. The pressure having left my body allows me to take deep intakes of warm air. My predicament didn't seem to matter as I continue gasping and coughing whenever my stomach would lurch from my hyperventilating.
I was pulled forward helplessly as I watch him tie the end of a rope to the saddle he was now setting in. With a smirk, he laughs back at me before kicking the horse into action. The horse had barely started running before the rope tightens and yanks me off of my feet as Dain pulls me on my stomach over the grass and rocks. I could feel the sharp edges digging into my flesh and pulling against my armor even before he drags me through the river water. The water though left me sputtering was a nice change until I feel my raw flesh hit rocks again on the other side. Causing an echoing scream to escape from me as my body is wracked with even more pain. If this wasn't bad enough the horse begins to run faster causing every boulder we went by to knock a new found searing pain into me and send me rolling again. By the time he stops my body had finally gone numb as the darkness consumes my consciousness. If I'm dying… at least I won't be in pain anymore.