Kritchel's Mission - Chapter One Chapter One The mist swirled around Kritchels feet, as the soft crunch of the marshland under foot, echoed through the valley. The air was still, the wild#life muted as he made his way down the squelching path that revealed itself through years of footprints from weary travellers on their way between the village of Kraven, and the distant shores of the Sea of the Dead. Kritchels footprints were deep, his burden heavy, and with every step he took, his muscles ached that little bit more. His baggage groaned as his legs gave way slightly, the passenger across his shoulders becoming heavier. "Hold on, not long now" Kritchel reassured the body he was carrying. "Stay with me, keep awake, keep awake". In the distance, he could see the smoke coming from the the few huts that made up the port, where he hoped his ship was still waiting, still anchored a few hundred yards from the waters edge. If they had left without them, he was going to be in some serious trouble, not least his comrade, who would not survive much longer with out the medical attention of his ships physician. His pace quickened as he approached, his eyes strained to see across the water, searching for the ship that would save them both. What would they do if they were too late, if their transport was gone. Kritchel's comrade would not make another journey, his #life was slowly fading away, Kritchel's muscles were aching also, so he would not be able to carry him much further. Their only hope was to be rescued, and that was looking less likely as they got further to the sea. The ship was nowhere in sight, it was not in view, it was not waiting for them, it was not ready to save them. Kritchel paused as despair seemed to overcome him. The slight pause in his pace made his legs falter under the weight of his friend. His knees buckled as he fell to the ground. He looked up and down the waters edge, looking for his ship, but alas, it was gone. He lowered his wounded warrior to the ground, and raised his head. Blood red eyes looked up at him, blinking into focus. "Its going to be okay, I will think of something" Kritchel said with a forced emotion of hope. His comrade could not speak, pain obviously surging through his body, all he could muster was a grimace, and a frown. Kritchel's eyes flitted around the port, absorbing as much detail of the wooden shacks, each one looking like it was built in a hurry, without much thought. No body was around, it was still early, the sun had not fully risen, and the inhabitants of the shacks must have still been asleep. Kritchel stood, and dragged the body at his feet across the sand, to a large aged piece of driftwood near the waters edge. He positioned the now #lifeless body between the water and the driftwood so no one would notice it once they awoke. He sat for a moment, trying to formulate a plan, his muscles finally getting a chance to relax. The sound of the waves lapping the sand was soothing, his eyes closed for a moment, a vision appeared before him, of the previous days dawn, as he was standing on the bow of his ship coming in to port.