Zeth by Merdihan Ridic (top inspirational books .txt) 📖

a hand to help Don get back on his feet. He swatted away some dirt and leaves off his friends shoulder. As soon as Don stood up he scooped Zeth into his arms, wrapping them tightly around him in a brotherly hug, shaking him back and forth. It's been years since Zeth has seen or heard from him, any outsider would think that this brutish affection would be an assault.

“Why so tense boy?” Asked Don as he released Zeth he was smiling widely, his eyes were blue as the sky and his teeth were the whiter than snow, they stood out against his bronzed skin. His head was bald and shiny, and he was much taller and broader than Zeth. Don was captain Koms twin brother, physical resemblance being the only thing in common thing between the brothers.

“How did you sneak up on me? And, when did you get back?” Zeth asked eagerly; he really wanted to know how Don did it, he couldn't afford to have it happen again. Zeth hasn't seen Don since he left the village 10 years ago, Zeth was only 12, but they best friends even though they were born years apart.

Don laid his heavy hands onto Zeth shoulders looking at his face and body going over every detail, Zeth could see his eye widen in worry and horror as he looked at the scar covering the right side of his face. Zeth looked down ashamed of it, the scars, the past, tears started blocking his vision.

Suddenly Don pulled him in again rubbing his hair as Zeth let his tears loose, for the first time in 5 years he cried, letting out his built up frustration. He missed Don since he left, Zeth had other friends but since 5 years ago they all avoided him and he was too focused keeping what's lefts of his family well fed and taken care of.

“Zeth…” whispered Don through a sniffle hugging him harder, growing up next to each other Don and Zeth were inseparably , Zeth was more of a brother than Kom ever was, the falling out with his brother and his family is why Don left, it was hard but it had to be done. Zeth started squirming in his arms struggling to breath as Don let him go, enjoying his friends wide grinning face, even tho both of their eyes were covered in tears

Don grabbed Zeth’s face, his thumb running along the scar, his face grim and unmoving. He muttered something under his breath and both of Don hands grabbed his bead, not letting him move. Zeth felt his face starting to burn as Don kept muttering under his breath, he looked at his friend, his eyes pale blue unmoving from his scar, Zeth grabbed his wrist trying to pry his hands away from his head, He couldn't budge Dons hand, they were like logs compared to Zeth arms. He started screaming as the burning got more intense, Zeth let his instance take over as he swung his right leg toward Don’s left knee, hoping to shatter it and break the hold.

Don let go of Zeth as he moved back with deceiving speed that a man of his size shouldn't have, Zeth kick missed and sent him off balance as he slammed into the ground his face burning, tears running down his eyes, as he slowly started crawling away from Don. The pups were whimpering as the nudged toward him, keeping their distance. Don sat down cross legged next to Zeth as he was trying to crawl away, he put his heavy hands on him and held him there not letting him budge, Don started muttering again, this time louder than before, Zeth couldn't understand anything, he turned his head toward Don as darkness started creeping in his vision, his body felt heavy and wasn't responding to his pleas, his heart sank as he realized his only friend betrayed him, tears started running down his face as he wonder if this was the end of his journey, his life. Darkness took over.

“Wake up boy!” Said a old raspy female voice, there was a smell in the air of wood burning and hay, there was also a hint of strawberry in the air. Zeth sprung up on his elbow, realizing he was in his bed, his bed being a piece of cloth on hay, it was uncomfortable but he was used to it. Zeth looked around the room, he saw Emilia, his grandmother she was a small overweight lady, with wrinkles all over her face, but her eyes looked like they have seen it all, Zeth always listened to her, the villagers always say she was wise beyond her years, she was the oldest villager and herbalists in town, she tried to teach him but he can't tell difference between plants so they both gave up on it.

“How'd I get here?” Whispered Zeth as he didn't see anyone else in his small dusty room, it only had a few shelves and they were mostly empty expect for his favorite swords and braces. He still had his clothes on from when he went hunting but all of his weapons were taken.

“Don brought you here, said you passed out on top of the hill” said Emilia, her voice filled with worry and sadness. Zeth remembered the burning in his face, he ran his fingers along his face but everything felt normal to him, what did Don do to him, what possessed him to do whatever he did.

“Granny, where's Don now?” Said Zeth as he sat up at the edge of his bed, taking off his shirt, he could hear the winds howling, as their small house danced back and forth with the wind, he knew that in order to make it through the winter, they'll have to reinforce the house more.

“He’s gone to see his brother” muttered Emilia, grabbing her potions and flasks, she started heading out of his room.

“Those wolves need to go” Emilia said as she left the room, the scent of strawberry leaving along with her, Zeth remembered that he had a skinned deer and those pups that followed him, he was surprised they were still here, not knowing how to take care of them or it'll they'll survive the winter if he left them alone.

He grabbed his shirt and put it on, it was a little short on him, it belonged to his father, it'll have to do until he had time to sit down and make it longer. Zeth grinned as he remembered all the sewing lessons that his parents forced on him during the long winters, maybe he'll do the same with the twins this year.

Zeth stepped out of his room and stepped outside into the cold fall wind, ripping through the forest and hitting him in the face, their house was hidden in the forest right outside the Wolfwater village. Since their parents died five years ago, Emilia moved them out here, she didn't want to deal with the villagers and their lack of humanity to help them.

“Zeth? Zeth!” Screamed two small voices, he knew it was the twins. Lance was smaller than Luce but his hair was dark as his eyes, taking after their father he liked to eat, even tho Zeth could hardly bring food to table, Lance never complained about it, he was always thankful for the food.

“Lance, Luce” said Zeth as they threw their arms around his middle, for eight year olds they were going pretty tall, already past his waist. Luce was the trouble maker of the two, always outspoken and curious, her hair was blond but her eyes dark as her brothers, even tho they were twins, one could easily tell which ones which.

“You've been asleep for days since uncle Don brought you back home!” Said Luce her small voice filled with worry, they let him go as the wolves came closer circling their legs, they seemed to have taken a liking to the children.

“Days? What do you mean Luce?” Asked Zeth confused and worried as he wondered just how long has he been asleep for? He sat down on the small step in front of the house holding the kids next to him as the wolves ran off chasing each other.

“Yeah, you's been asleep for a day now” said Lance with a Big smile, as he realized something. “Buts you's bought me food!” Yelled Lance, wrapping his small arms around Zeth’s neck.

Zeth slowly pulled that back from the hug as a figure came into corner of his vision, his massive round frame and his bronzed skin make it hard for Don to hide, Zeth stood up and held the twins by his side. There was a sense of tension in the air, the wolves were whimpering confused by what was going on, they think of Don as a friend but their master had other feelings toward him.

“Lance, Lucy. Go help granny tend the meat, and take the pups with you.” Said Zeth in a calm monotone voice, making it clear for the children to not question him, even the pups stood up and walked toward them as they understood what he said to them. It wasn't the sight of Don that had him tense it was the sight of the man next to him, dressed in all black with a hood covering his face, He was shorter than either one of them and slender compared to Don.

“Zeth, I'm glad your awake”said Don with his high pitch voice, a big smile on his face as he came forward, the stranger followed but was a step behind him, keep their distance.

Zeth looked over his shoulder to see if the twins were gone and out of sight, slowly pulling the dagger that was hidden on side of his leg. A small, thin, jagged blade made of silver is held by a grip wrapped in regular, wolf leather. It was his favorite blade, a lot of outsider and even the villager have approached him to buy it from him, for a good sum of money too but he couldn’t part with it. He put the blade infront of him across his body, Don and the stranger stopped instantly.

"Zeth, where is this aggression coming from?" Don asked, his hand going up in front of him prompting Zeth to hold on, but the stranger drew their blade out of the robe and went in a fighting stance, not taking any risk. Don turned to the strangers, staring them down to put the blade away.

"What do you think you're doing?" Said Don, his voice low and gritty with anger, the stranger tensed up then relaxed as the put away their long silver blade.

"Don, What did you do to me? I thought we were.." Said Zeth as he stared at Don, he pulled the blade closer to his body as he started sprinting at Don and the stranger.

"Ros Voraxor!" Shouted Don, as Zeth slammed into the ground, his blade flew forward landing next to Don,

Zeth tried to stand but couldn’t, his legs weren't responding, Don's done it again, taken him down without even trying. The stranger came forward and grabbed Zeth dagger, looking at it in close range, then proceeding to nod to Don as if they agreed on something.

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