The End of Travel...

Once again the unhelpful—to say the least—mass in the sky was attempting to murder him in some way, this time though, it seemed to be trying to make him drown in a pool of his own sweat. He almost thought he was dead and had landed in hell until he felt the fluttering around his neck. Cracking open an eye he peeked down.

Paper. A piece of paper was tied crudely to his neck. Glaring at the offensive object, he tore it off with a sharp tug and used it to shield the sun from his eyes while head read. It was a bit hard for him to make out, reading was not his forte.

‘Boy, you have water in the sack and ya ain’t dead. Good luck.
P.S. If ya ever try to kill me again I’ll use your skin as a blanket!’

A small ‘C’ was scrawled in the corner, the paper crumpled in his fist and he sat up gingerly. Besides bathing in his own sweat he felt fine. His knees a little sore but nothing too bad. Glancing at the paper crumpled in his hand he felt his lips twitch, air bubbled up from his stomach and a loud barking laughter erupted from the pit of his being. It wasn’t often he laughed and it wasn’t a pleasant sound but, damn it all, it felt good! Tossing the paper behind him he patted himself off and down, mentally ticking off his few possessions.

As he stood his laughter died down slowly and his face returned to its usual blank state. But mid-stand he noticed a funny marking in the dirt. Tracks. Not animal track but tire tracks! He had lived in a car! Shaking his head slightly he noted with mild annoyance that his hair-tie was stolen. Hadn’t taken his sword or his water-skin—hadn’t even filled it! Just left it like it was!—nope, the short, burly man had stolen his hair-tie. Flicking the white strands over his shoulder he wondered idly if he could tan before beginning his trek. As he scanned his surroundings he realized he was in the middle of a dried up lake--if the old fish scales were anything to go by. There was sparse foliage and what looked like a congregation of people not to far away.

Newport… Unconsciously his pace picked up, quickly he slowed himself once he noticed that he was nearly jogging. No point in tiring himself early. Newport was a bigger town, the biggest he had ever seen. He needed to plan and it would take him at least a day to get there, might as well spilt it into two.

Was he going to attack? Who was their leader? How would he crush the growing organized people? The questions rang through his mind with each step he took. Maybe they wouldn’t even be worth going to. Staring at the large expanse of land before him he cleared his mind. The world would stay or do what it pleased with or without his help, all he knew was he enjoyed the way the world was now. The chaos and destruction. The world his Aunt showed him rare pictures of wasn’t something he would enjoy coming back to life. And people would just have to learn to see it his way.

Content with himself he now paid closer attention to the vegetation small and scare as it was there was a notable plant growing in small clumps, wandering over he pulled it off only to drop it with a wince. Prickly Pears. Food, most definitely, but if one forgot the spines they would be hurting after, much like Malik. Grimacing he carefully plucked each thorn from his hand, while sending glares to the pitiful fruit. Damn his bodies need for nutrition or he wouldn’t have even reached for it! Using more care he tentatively picked up the fruit, looking at it closer it was half eaten by ants and other insects. Pulling out his small sword he sliced it cleanly in half, dropping the infected half to the ground.

But now he was at a loss. He couldn’t really peel the fruit…he eyed his knife before cut a small square in the half he carried. Using the knife like a fork he once more turned his body toward Newport.
--
The plant life being as thin spaced as it was both a blessing and a pain. Though he found some shade/shelter beneath a spinney, relatively tall shrub it left him wide open to attack and hide nothing. At the same time it allowed no one to sneak up on him, for where would they hide? As he lay on the ground he idly wondered what to eat and why there were not more animals. Or maybe it was even too hot for them?

His question was answered quickly though and while he dozed and finished off the last of his water he noted a small herd of donkey was grazing nearby. The sun was nearly set now, it was a dimming painting on the other end of the sky, stretching himself out, Malik crouched low and inched forward. He must just eat some donkey tonight. Or sell it for water in Newport. He wasn’t sure yet.

Quickly he counted each donkey off—four, there were four of them. He had no urge to chase them down but no idiot would just waltz in either. Donkeys had vicious hooves; he knew from experience and had a scar on his temple to prove it. Slowly pulling out his weapon from his sheath he went for his easiest kill opening.

Sprinting quickly he caught them by surprise and they scattered a bit too late. Obviously they were too used to humans. Two though weren’t very happy and he realized they were a family and pops wasn’t happy.

The male charged quickly, attempting to head butt the large man in the stomach, while the female skittered off after her young. Malik held his ground till the last second when he dropped to the side and grabbed the beast around the neck. Momentum carried them roughly into the ground and with his free hand and stabbed the angry animal in the neck. One brutal swipe and it was over. The donkey dead, though not without leaving a nasty brushed rib or two for Malik to contend with.

Dropping the carcass he groused at the blood he would have to wash—in what water he didn’t know—and proceeded to thank the donkey for his meal. Using the small weapon he carved a few thin slabs of meat then ripped apart his water skin. It was useless without the water anyhow and it would help him carry the food to the city.

Using his pants he wiped off what blood he could from his hands and pants. It was cooler now that the sun was down. He had napped, he had food and he was ready to finish his trek. Tucking away his new found food he set off a quick walk-jog toward Newport.

OOC Note: If the beginning doesn’t make a whole lot of sense it’s because you missed his ‘very’ beginning start of his trek and him meeting Carter…which is my RP sample for Malik.

Also if he’s not allowed to have the meat please tell me and I’ll correct it

Also when I make little {--} thingys, it means hours have past, or days have past. In this case he slept all day and it's night, well, evening but you get the point.

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