He had a hint of suspicion, this land he was walking, the cold air he was breathing, even from the cloth these humans wore, forced him to contemplate a book he oh so cherished.
"…..ok, tell me something, and I will let that one go." he bargained.
The girl slowly nodded, her thoughts plowed with anxiety, watching an eight feet armored giant looking down on her. "…..ask away."
Arrax took a step back, not to come off as too dangerous to the people. He gazed back at the others, and again at the girl. Still eyeing their wearing. " you lot, what do you call yourself?"
Maybe he was of some faction, some group, asking such an ambiguous question, the girl gulped, fearing that she would be giving the answer which would jeopardize their very lives as the man in blue armor looked like a knight in more ways than one. She looked to the leader, her eyes showing her desperate fear. Asking if she should answer. The man only nodded toward her, giving her permission to do so.
"..we….we are the free folks, the…the people beyond the wall may call us wildlings and animals but, we are people, same as them, same as you….so p..please." she pitied.
Arrax gasped, his dark eyes turning wide, forcing himself to take a step back. His thoughts were turned chaotic right then and there. Trying to remember the book, trying to reminisce the novel he oh so loved. The story, the epic, the song of ice and fire.
"….is it really true?" he questioned to himself.
After a minute or so, Arrax finally recollected himself, turning to the man who was at the front of the group. Leaving the girl and the wounded dire wolf be, for he had many questions, and if he was right, the man who seemed to be the leader would answer him with more faith than the girl who had already pissed herself.
He stepped towards the group, forcing them all to take a step back. He had thought it was just because of his size, but the fear they felt for him was true to a higher degree than he thought. well with all the bloodshed and hunger-driven kills, of course, he would look horrifying.
"….you." he pointed to the man.
Arrax gazed right at his dark eyes, at the man who seemed to be in his twenties, looking a bit into the young side, but his eyes told something different, a fire, a glint which wouldn't quiver even with his look.
'…..I guess it's him,' he thought.
"….you, I will give you an option, I will give your people all the food and water I possess, and for that trade, I need a guide, I need you. To take me around this land, So what will it be?" he questioned.
"No!!" shouted one of them, a red-haired man pacing forward with foolish wrath. "you won't take him, I will guide you, I have walked this land more so than this cunt" he declared.
Arrax looked at him with interest, why wouldn't he be, this man who looked barbaric, with his red hair and beard was awfully similar to someone he had read about, again confirming his inquisitive thoughts. but that was still not enough. Dire wolf? Red-haired people? wildlings? These terms could be found anywhere, used wherever in this wide universe. So he needed something solid, something concrete, that only consisted in the book he knew best.
"So, you going to be my guide." Arrax lamented.
"yes! I am an excel…."
But, Before the man could finish his words, he was taken by surprise by his so-called leader, twisting his hand around his neck.
"yo…you bloody fuck…" the red-haired man desperately voiced, struggling to be let loose, before finally losing consciousness all the same.
"haha….I guess it's decided…" Arrax commented. Walking away to give the man some time. With this simple action, he had already found his answer. No need for further discussion, more so because he wanted to rest, his hunger now reaching bounds above his control.
He paced near a rock, sitting as he oversaw them starting to discuss this matter. He may have come over as a bully as such but, he needed to be so, as he knew with experience, fear would reciprocate more so than a simple request.
Aaaaarrrr…!
'aaaa…..I'm fucked.' He thought, his palm touching his stomach. He was hungry, so much so that he wanted to eat the dire wolves raw. But showing such barbarism would scare away his fellow guide more, decreasing his chances even further, so he had to wait, and be patient.
'…..haaaa, I heard, the angels of death could survive a whole day of continuous combat without having to eat or sleep. I guess that was a li…'
Ping!
All of a sudden, he felt a pinch at his back, something piercing his skin, with surprise, he looked back, thinking how anybody could even scratch his armor, but there seemed nobody, only the lying dead wolves he murdered for nourishment.
'is it from the inside….' He thought.
He was right, as he felt something unalike, his hunger gradually diminished with his sharp senses returning. He knew rapid hunger could layer down once logistic thinking and senses but he felt a sudden clarity, a sudden energy that the dry meat could never bring.
'…..there must be a drug injection as well, oh, that's how they battle for untold days and nights.' he judged.
Now clearness reaching his mind, he felt a bit guilty, killing all the wolves in waste, and he had thought to leather them in extinction to boot. Such foolish aggressive thoughts had reined him, controlled him.
'haaa….' He sighed.
But no matter, his hunger was in control, and that was more imperative, and with that he knew more, his suit having the right nutrition for his body. No need to hunt the whole forest down to its last animal to binge his hunger. No need to cook for the sake of his stomach. " I guess there is still more to learn." He said, tapping his suit.
Watching the man now walking towards him, Arrax also stood up, more energetic than ever. Now his starvation was in check, all he needed to do was, square out the location that he was extremely excited to visit.
He gazed at the red-haired man being dragged like a rug instead as they went their way. it seemed they had their discussion. ' I guess they don't want my food. The smart choice though, I could have poisoned them and such.'
"had your discussion?"
"yes…. And sorry, I forgot to say thank you, from my people and myself, we are grateful to be saved by a great warrior like yourself."
Arrax waved his appreciation away as he didn't care as much. He only wanted to satiate his hunger. And he did so, automatically triggering it. he was grateful to them instead as he was going to turn mad, thinking he would be the only sentient being on this planet, and thankfully he was not.
"no need….so are you ready?"
The man nodded, carrying luggage of his own, carrying things Arrax thought as primitive.
"so, where do you want to start?" the man asked.
"…..haha, the wall, of course," Arrax answered.