The End

Chapter 4

I woke up the next morning feeling better than I have ever felt. I sat up in the bed, which was honestly more of a cot than an actual bed, and popped my neck to the left and the right. I raised my hand up to my face and popped my knuckles as well.

I stood up and walked out of the room, closing the door behind me. I looked around and saw that no one was there. I went into the common room and found that everyone was at a large table in the center of the room.

The table was long and rectangular with almost every seat filled. On top was a tattered black cloth the was smothered with the best food I've seen in what feels like ages. My mouth watered as I saw the roasted pig, fresh fruit and berries, and the most beautiful garden salad.

"Hey," Gren said happily. "Get over here! I saved you a seat!" She motioned to the seat next to her.

Almost instinctively I rushed over and sat down, ready to eat. It was hard to believe that a day ago I was starving and eating whatever I could find, now I'm at a table ready to feast.

"Do you all eat like this everyday?" I asked.

"Only on special occasions." She replied.

"What's going on today?"

"Only the anniversary of The Yearn!" She yelled. Everyone at the table yelled back in excitement.

"Seems like a big deal."

"No shit, Nathan." She said in a slightly annoyed tone.

I smirked a bit, she didn't see the joke the same way I did. Maybe six years does make a difference.

"Can I, y'know," I asked motioning towards the food.

"Go ahead," Gren replied. "Help yourself."

Without further delays I reached for the most luscious piece of steak I could see. Gren slapped my hand. I looked at her with confusion.

"What the hell," I said.

"Use a fork." She said back, sounding slightly more annoyed.

I looked at the blue ceramic plate in front of me. To the left there was a silver fork that was obviously starting to rust at the handle. I gripped it, feeling the rough rust on the top.

Once again I reached for the steak in the middle of the table. I impaled it with the fork and brought it over to my plate. It looked like what some people would call medium rare. From my understanding that means that there's a small bit of pink in the middle.

I brought the piece of meat up to my mouth. Once I bit in my mouth exploded into a rush of flavor and sensation. My senses were becoming more keen. I could smell everything in the room. The flowers, the odor resonating from the men in the room, the food, the scent of the grass outside even.

I brought more items over to my plate; berries, lettuce, steak, eggs. After about ten minutes of non-stop eating I was shaken back to reality by the ringing of a bell at the end of the table. The man with the beard, who I suppose is the leader, stood up from his seat. The crowd hushed as he began to speak in a roaring voice.

"To those who are new to our ranks," He roared. " Welcome to the Clan of Yearn! We are two years strong this day. Five Hundred human souls willing to fight for what is right and just, and return the world back to its' former glory!"

The crowd was ecstatic. People screaming and cheering in approval. I smiled. I wanna be a normal person in the old world.

For a split-second, the leader faced me. As I peered into his reddish-brown eyes I saw but ruthlessness and strength. Maybe there's a balance between the two,for I have seen the gain and downfall of both.

"Yearning for the old world, "He continued, "We fight for a new! We will continue our fight 'til the very end. Usque ad mortem!"

"Usque ad mortem!"  The crowd erupted. The leader sat down and everyone continued to eat.

"What does that mean?" I asked Gren.

"What? 'Usque ad mortem'?" She replied.

"Yeah, what in the literal hell does that mean?"

"Until death. It's what we live by."

I gave a puzzled look," Does that only go towards the warriors or..?" My voice trailed off.

"The frek it doesn't. Everyone needs inspiration, and that as well as Mortifer over there give us just that." She gestured towards the leader.

-----------------------

About thirty minutes passed. Chatter stopped, people began to leave, and there were two drunkards passed out on the table. Gren stood up and motioned for me to follow. We walked across the courtyard outside the inn to a stone building with smoke coming out of the chimney.

"This is the blacksmith," Gren told me. "Follow me."

As we walked in, heat swarmed my body. We walked up to the counter and greeted a very stout man who had a burn scar on half of his face.

"'Sup John?" Gren said casually whilst leaning on the counter.

"Ah, well if it isn't the legend herself." John, the blacksmith, said in an Irish accent. "What can I do ya for?"

"We need a sword."

"Oh, nice. What for?"

"This kid right here is brawling with Break."

John's eyes widened. "Him?" He said, "Have you seen him?" John covered his mouth with his hand and whispered to Gren, "I've met leaves as big as him, but they won't tear as easy."

"I know. But, this kid can throw down, right?" Gren said nudging me. I nodded.

"Alright," John said. "You got the coin?"

Gren threw a bag of coins onto the counter, "Will that cover it?"

"Looks like it." John said, grabbing the bag. "I'll be back."

He walked off to get a weapon.

"You'd better be worth it, boy." I'm scared.

John can  back with what looked like a pretty standard sword with a curved hilt.

"Here," John said handing it to me. "How's it feel?"

I tightened my hand on the curved grip. It felt a bit heavy, but nothing I couldn't handle. I twirled it a bit.

"Feels nice." I said.

"Great," John said to himself. "His voice sounds a fragile as the plant too.

"It's yours, treat it well and it will provide protection and power. Now scram, I've got more to make." He walked off.

I walked out to the courtyard. I reached behind my back and pulled the wooden spear out of its holster. I dropped it to the ground.

"Thanks for everything," I told the spear, "But it's time to move on." I slid the sword into the holster, it fit perfectly.

"Get some sleep, kid," Gren said. "We're leaving tomorrow for Nock."