It happened so quickly that I can't even explain the full details. One minute I was happily living my life, the next I am hanging from a cross in the middle of the desert. Stripped nude and tied high off the ground. Above me I could see buzzards circling, just waiting for their chance to sink their sharp beaks in to my flesh. The hot wind blew hard, the sand biting at my skin. It was then I felt it. The rope holding my right hand loosened. I wiggled my wrist to test my bounds. The rope loosened just a bit more. This was my one chance, if I was going to live, my situation relied solely on this moment. I strained my muscles pulling on the rope, gaining any sort of leverage was near impossible hanging as I was. I felt the rope give way and my hand was free. The sudden shifting of weight to my left arm caused the muscles to ache as they strained against the rope left holding me up. The rough fibers cut through my skin, blood soaking the binds. This provided enough lubrication and with the weight of my body pulling down, my hand slipped through the rope. My tired body hit the ground hard enough to knock the wind from me. I could do nothing but lay on the hot sand weeping. A buzzard landed just feet from me. It squawked, startling me back to reality. I raised my head and yelled in the birds direction hoping to scare it off. It worked and I knew that if I lay there much longer he would be back with his friends circling above. I got to me feet and looked at my body to assess what damage had been done to me. There was a note hanging from a piece of twine around my neck. It read Here hangs Senga Mac Latharn Put to death for the following crimes conspiring with a demon deflowering a virgin using bad punctuation Anyone found releasing this prisoner or aiding in any way will be put to death as will their family All of it false. Some one had it in for me and they almost got me. I am free now though, free from my personal hell on a post. My eyes survey the area, and my mind thinks that perhaps free was not such a good choice of words. Around me is nothing but sand and the skeletons of those not lucky enough to have loose bindings. The trail of Crosses leads some what to the North and I decide to head that way. Surely I can find something in that direction, I hope.
As I slowly made my way through the hot sands I could feel the sun baking my naked body. Vulnerable and angry I walked. My temper seethed at those who put me to death. How dare they fabricate these lies to justify their actions. I have never used bad punctuation. At least not intentionally. The virgin thing is a different story. He was sweet and it just kind of happened as we were both drinking. Things got a little out of hand and we went with it. I had no idea he was a virgin, being quite a few years older, I was not. We were enjoying the moment until his father burst through the door. His look of surprise turned quickly to that of lust as he saw me lying on the bed. That look scared me and I pushed his son away to get off the bed and cover up. I waited to see what would happen. The Father lunged and I dodged his attack and ran out the door. That was two weeks ago. I know he is the one that had me put on a cross. It was the father's doing. He will pay. A very loud Screech caught my attention, it came from somewhere ahead. I looked up and saw a very large creature flying away from it's perch about fifty yards ahead of me. Not having any other direction I headed to that point, curiosity getting the better of my judgement. As I approached I could see a body laying on a large rock. I stopped and waited to see if there was any movement before approaching. Scanning the rest of the area I saw nothing and decided that if the person laying on the rock could hold his leg at that weird angle without moving it he must be magical. No one could voluntarily hold that position for more than a few seconds. I went to the body. He looked to be a soldier of some sort, I did not recognize the garb he was wearing nor the insignia adorning it. He stunk of rotting flesh and maggots were eating what they could as fast as they could. I saw next to the body a water skin and a letter. I grabbed the water skin and opened the top. After smelling the contents I threw caution to the wind and drink deeply from the leather bag. I searched the body, no weapons, nothing else of use beside the water skin. I read the note quickly, it spoke of sand storms and beasts hiding in the storm as well. Clearly this man was delirious. Nothing can live in a sand storm. Can it?
No as it turns out nothing actually lives in a sandstorm. In this land they are thick and long lasting but to this day I have not seen a living creature in a storm that I haven't seen before. Then again I've seen some things outside of the sand storm I would sooner forget. I've established a meager existence in the world. I was able to cobble together some rudimentary tools to help me survive as well as some shabby clothing to cover my now well tanned skin. The sun is relentless in it's assault on my body and I find I am thirsty quite often. I take trips to the river to drink from the cool running water. I would establish myself here at the river side but the area is full of dangerous creatures who have gathered here looking for a quick meal. I have defended myself from creatures I will call Shale backs. Their shells remind me of shale rock and are as tough. My stone blade barely makes a scratch on the surface and I am forced to fight in close with them to get at their soft necks and underbellies. A few well placed strikes and Turtle meat fills my belly during the next meal. I have also found their nesting places. The eggs contained within are tasty and quite filling, they are also much easier to obtain. At night the area is so dark I can barely see my hand in front of my face. I have made a small shelter to hole up in due to this. I avoid wandering more than a few feet from my campfire's light. I can see other campfires or at least some type of flames and various locations around me. Tomorrow I am going to sharpen my stone sword and venture toward the closest one I see. I have made a mental mark of the landscape of the area I believe the light to be coming from. For now my belly is full and sleep calls to me.
The morning sun wakes me from my slumber and I reluctantly get up and out of my little shelter. I stretch the cramps from my muscles and hear a few joints crack as they settle down in to their proper places. The stretch feel good and it gets me rolling. I gather my equipment for my hopefully small journey, I grab the stone blade I sharpened before nodding off. My trek to the river is uneventful as it seems the wildlife that I have slain has thinned the area considerably. I can hear the river ahead, it's cool waters make trickling sounds as the river flows past the pieces of rock jutting up through the surface. I remove my crude shoes and let my feet sink slightly in the cool damp soil. It feels marvelous on my worn feet, much better than the hot sands some hundred yards away. I look to the left and to the right deciding on which way to follow the river and remembering my goal. I turn to the left and head off. A short time in to my trip my stomach grumbles so I reach in to the bag I made from some skins and pull out a piece of cooked meat. I bring it to my nose and sniff it. Quickly I toss the meat away, it is rank and putrid. Realizing my new situation I continue to walk the shoreline in hopes of finding a shale back nest. The sun is slightly higher in the sky when I see in the distance a group of people standing around a bonfire. This must be the one I see at night. I approach slowly and inspect the situation. There are two men clothed similar to me and a woman who is stark naked. She is dancing for the men and their excitement shows in intimate ways. I move slowly closer. The group doesn't notice me right away. I accidentally step on a fallen branch and the snapping sound draws the dancer's eyes in my direction. She gasps as her eyes widen. She quickly covers herself and points in my direction. The two men turn, their weapons drawn, both the ones in their hands and the ones below. The look in their eyes reminds me of the look in the father's eyes the day he burst through the door. My choices, fight or run. I quickly opt for plan c and open my shirt, flashing my breasts at the men. This makes them lower their weapons and smile. Their stance becomes less threatening and the body language more accepting and open. They continue to move toward me, the nude dancer behind them forgotten. This does not please the dark skinned woman and she charges me with a dagger. My look of surprise causes the men to turn around just as she comes within stabbing distance. I step behind the bigger man as the woman lunges forward. She has no time to adjust and her trajectory has forced her dagger in a path to the mans chest. He is forced back in to me with a loud grunt, the weight of him causing me to stumble over the branch that started this whole thing. I am able to twist away from his falling body but find myself face down and vulnerable. The woman's scream gets louder as it comes toward me, I roll just as her dagger comes down. It barely misses me and digs in to the soil below, I strike with my closed fist at the base of her skull where it meets the spine. This forces her harder into the ground. Luck is with me as her head is driven in to a rock. I hear her scream in rage as I scramble to my feet. I take a quick look around me assessing the situation. The man that fell is lifeless on the ground, a giant blood stain ever growing on his chest. The woman is hurting, her face is bleeding badly from the gash the rock has caused, the blood is leaking in to her left eye. The second man is standing with his mouth open, his stiffness quickly fading. I reach to my hip and draw my stone blade. In one quick arc I remove the woman's head. The man is finally broken of his shock and he screams his rage in my direction, his weapon is drawn again and he takes a menacing step toward me. As a ruse I try to sway him, I grab my bare breast with my free hand, "whoa, big fellow, this wasn't my fault, I thought we were going to be good friends until she ruined it. Wouldn't you like to take a sample of this before you decide?" The last is said in my sweetest voice, I add a sway of the hip to help drive my point home. It works for a second, he hesitates as he looks down at the two lifeless bodies. "C'mon big fella, just take a feel," I say as I step slowly closer. His eyes soften slightly and his stance loosens. His animal mating instincts are running the show now and it will be his downfall. I move one step closer still holding my breast toward him. He drops his weapon to his side as I drop my breast and allow my left hand to join my right on the handle of my blade. The force of my two hands as they swing the blade is enough to drive it down in to the man's shoulder just where it meets his neck. Blood flies everywhere as veins and arteries are severed. Another heart beat and the blood shoots all over my face and chest. I pull my blade away and strike again as the man's body is falling to the ground, the shock on his face brings me pleasure and I decide that he will be my next meal. I shall sacrifice his body to Yog and feast from that which is his blessing. I drag the bodies back to the bonfire and start carving the best meat from them. While the meat cooks I search their campsite. I gather all the useful materials together and sort through them. Once I have the pile sorted I use the Woman's dagger to hack the skin from the bodies, the hid will prove useful back at my camp. As my fingers work the flesh I think about how this all transpired. I had no intention of attacking these people. I was only seeking company and companionship. The woman attacked first. I curse her as I slash her now rotting breast. "Selfish!" I yell at her as I continue to carve her friends up.
