Post by mina on Apr 5, 2021 15:30:56 GMT
Here I tell little stories about Vladimir Duckula's past. He has had many experiences in his life that are worth telling.
Little Vladimir slowly opened his eyes, in the cave in which he had hidden for the night there was no place to stretch.
So he stuck out his beak and sniffed the air first. It all seemed peaceful. No predator nearby, he smelled a deer close by, a hare ... his stomach growled.
He crawled slowly out of the cave. Nearby was a small stream that led to a lake.
Here he wanted to wash himself and then think about how to proceed.
Vladimir went to the stream and hesitantly began to wash, hesitant because the water was freezing.
He went to a stone, sat on it, took the compass from his neck, took the map out of his pocket and unfolded the map.
His goal was still so infinitely far away! His little hand brushed it briefly, but then turned away to stop thinking about it.
He didn't know how long he had been on the way. He had already experienced several winters in packs of wolves, so it must have been years gone by.
Or better, to the countries he had crossed ...
If only he could fly! but he only had his little duck feet, which took him slowly. He shook himself, better not think about it! But align yourself with your next stage. What led him further, nothing else! Vladimir looked at the map, he was still in Russia.
It was such a vast land! Finally he wrapped the card again. A hare had appeared next to him. Vladimir looked around for these. Hares were really worthwhile prey, but unfortunately for him, almost inaccessible.
They were way too big for him, way too fast and had sharp claws which one should not underestimate under any circumstances.
Vampire duck or not! in effect, he was a very small predator with only two canine teeth.
What were sharp claws on the other hand? or a whole set of fangs? There was such a little vampire duck. which doesn't even have the skills of a real vampire duck, just too ridiculous.
The rabbit straightened up, moved his ears in the direction of Vladimir, looked at his canine teeth and jumped away with a leap ... Vladimir sighed.
He was so hungry! Thirst! which was the same with him.
"Stop whining, Vladimir!" he said to himself. "That is of no use to you at all!"
He often spoke to himself in order to hear the sound of spoken words and not to completely unlearn how to speak.
"Just keep going, maybe you will find prey? And then you will come even further on your way ... I'm a Duckula! And a duckula never gives up!"
With these words, Vladimir stepped on.
Then he only heard the noises of nature, the wind that drove through the trees, the cracking of branches, the leaves on the ground, the grass, the birds, the other animals that roamed through the forest.
The beeping of mice ...
... the beeping of mice?
Vladimir paused. slowly he crept closer. Like a cat, he stopped in front of the mouse hole and waited until one came out. Vladimir grabbed it in a flash.
He had to be quick if he didn't want to be bitten himself. It wasn't much, but at least it helped him a little.
Vladimir then waited for the next mouse ... there must be a nest there. He could hear it beeping.
A whole nest? that would satisfy his hunger at first! Should he dig it up?
He was still thinking when he drove together. In the distance he heard Horse's Hoof that it was not alone that was disturbing him, but the clatter of metal dishes, the smell of fur and the smell of a person who was carrying a rifle! Nick had advised him to stay away from mortals.
But his curiosity was also very great. He hadn't seen or heard anyone in a long time.
Vladimir thought for a moment, then snuck away and hid behind a tree. Fortunately it was small enough to be able to hide completely behind its trunk.
The horse kept coming closer. When it finally passed him, it seemed to hesitate for a moment.
Vladimir heard the man talking to his animal and asking him what was going on?
Vladimir held his breath. Surely the horse smelled him and was confused. It shied away for a brief moment and then finally moved on Vladimir watched him go for a while. For a moment he was so distracted, finally he felt someone watching him.
Vladimir followed his feeling and saw an eagle above him, which was watching him lurking.
And growled loudly in threat. Confused, the eagle looked at Vladimir.
Vladimir hissed loudly again. The eagle flew away. "Forget it! I'm not your prey!" Vladimir shouted after him, Vladimir snorted.
He didn't really want to mess with the eagle, he didn't want to mess with the eagle's rake bills and claws.
But had learned to look more dangerous than he really was.
This "more appearance than reality" had often saved his life.
Vladimir went on, the path led him across the forest. Again and again he had to climb over obstacles or fight his way through the undergrowth.
He looked for easier ways, sometimes he found them, sometimes not. Around noon he leaned exhausted against a tree.
He was just a little kid! He was hungry! ... he was just a little duck - with a long way to go. Which he had to go completely alone.
Vladimir sat down on the ground, looked up at the sky, between the trees he could see him.
A blue, clear sky, so wide, so big ... "Father ... I don't know where you are. But I ask you ... help me!"
Vladimir got up again. "What kills you only makes you stronger." he whispered. "And when I'm back home. I'm a very strong vampire duck. And when my father is back he will be proud of me." So Vladimir just went on, on and on ... At a lake he drank some more of the water.
It didn't feed him, but it did quench the dry feeling in his throat. Then he held his fins in the water to relax them and then massage them a little.
It would soon be dark, he had to find somewhere to stay for the night again.
The darkness was no longer his time for a long time, even the twilight was not a good time for him, because predators hunted in it, against which he had no chance.
After this short pause he straightened up again to start looking, when he heard the hooves of a horse again. In no time at all, Vladimir hid himself in the tall grass.
And watched what happened. That man was back. He got off his horse and tied the reins to a branch. And set up a camp.
He fetched water from the lake, filled a pot with it, put something in it that smelled of herbs and dried meat, and lit a fire.
Both for his food and as protection for the night. Vladimir took a cautious step back and stepped on a branch that cracked instantly.
The man jumped up and pointed his rifle where the sound had come from. Vladimir stopped, startled. He dared not move any more.
Not even when it was getting darker, as Vladimir dared to move, the man looked over to where he was.
Then it took care of its campfire again.
Vladimir sighed. It was far too late to find a safe place for the night. His search would make him easy prey. It got dark and cold.
His feathers straightened up to give his body more warmth. In fact, there was only one safe place against predators and the cold - that man's campfire!
Vladimir longed to lie down on the ground near the campfire. To be able to sleep and enjoy the warmth of the fire.
When it was as if the man at least nodded off, the little vampire duck crept closer to the fire.
But the man didn't really sleep, he was immediately startled, also because his horse was getting nervous again.
The man got up and fired a warning shot. Presumably to chase away an avoidable wild animal. Vladimir stopped again.
He hadn't gotten close enough to the flames yet that they could really offer him protection and warmth.
He would have loved to go to the man and ask him to grant him this for tonight, but an inner shyness forbade him.
So Vladimir just ducked into the tall grass and hoped that there would be some solution to the problem for him.
He was shivering from the cold. At some point during the night Vladimir straightened up again.
The campfire was still burning intensely. The man must have added wood, and was he asleep ...?
On all fours, so that he made as little noise as possible, Vladimir crept up to the fire.
But the man wasn't really sleeping, he'd been a hunter for years. Such a mistake wouldn't happen to him.
He was lurking for this being that was out there. Vladimir crept closer, paused, waited, crept on. With one eye watching the man what happened.
Until he saw a yellow beak and large eyes, which soon made the campfire shine.
He frowned. A duck? What…?
Then he saw sharp fangs on the beak!
"Evil spirit! Demon!" Vladimir heard something like a curse, even if he did not understand the language he suspected what it meant.
The man jumped up, crossed himself and pointed the barrel of his rifle at Vladimir in no time at all.
A shot was fired. Vladimir jumped to the side and wanted to run into the dark again, he felt the breeze of the ball pulling past him.
The man followed up and shot again.
Vladimir screamed.
Fortunately it was just a graze shot, so he hobbled away to lick his wound.
He now had no time to pay attention to the man, he had taken a piece of burning wood and was running after Vladimir.
Vladimir was licking his wound when he saw the firelight above him. The man stood over him, mumbled something and pointed his gun at Vladimir again, ready to fire. He looked into Vladimir's wide, wide eyes. He took a closer look at Vladimir, frowned. It seemed to him as if there was a child in front of him.
Whatever this Strange Being was, it wasn't fully grown. As he leaned down further to examine Vladimir more closely, Vladimir began to hiss and growl.
The man immediately pointed his gun at Vladimir's chest.
Vladimir's heart beat faster, but he understood and behaved more calmly.
The man picked up Vladimir's bag with the rifle. "You are not a wild animal ..." he whispered to him.
But Vladimir didn't understand a word. He just stared at the tall man above and then convulsively closed his eyes.
He opened his eyes again when he felt the man's breathing right above him,
Vladimir tried to crawl away, growled loudly and tried to grab the hand. Immediately Vladimir was knocked down ...
When Vladimir came to, the first thing he noticed was that his beak had been tied up and he was tied to his back. Where he didn't go.
A rope led to a tree to which the man had tied him. The man himself sat by the campfire and examined the maps that were in Vladimir's pocket.
He mumbled something, then walked up to Vladimir with the map.
He had noticed something, Nick had circled the words "Transylvanien" with a pen.
This had struck the man. "Transylvania?" said the man and looked at Vladimir. This showed no reaction.
With the rifle again, the man lifted Vladimir's beak and looked at his teeth, then went down on Vladimir's chest and raised the compass.
"You are a vampire? Are you from Transylvania? How do you get here then ?!"
Vladimir didn't answer, if only because he couldn't understand a word. The man growled angrily, looked at the sky, the sun was rising.
Still grumbling, he went to his storage place and threw a fur over Vladimir, probably to protect him from the sun.
Vladimir automatically sagged. He felt how the man lifted him, felt for his legs and tied them together, after which he was freed from the rope on his back. Well, the strange thing, I'll take you with me first ... let's see what my friend thinks of you.
A vampire duck? It's crazy what you can find in the forest!
" Raised on the horse, the man continued talking to Vladimir. For him, however, it was just an incomprehensible murmur.
"He doesn't live far from here, we'll be there quickly ... I'm curious what he thinks ... a little forest demon? A vampire? ... maybe there are people who would pay a lot of money for you? More than the furs bring in?" Vladimir was frozen in his hands.
It took a few hours for the man to stop the horse again. Vladimir smelled the burnt wood of a fireplace.
There must be a hut there. All smells suggest it. The men greeted each other amicably.
In the meantime, Vladimir tried to free himself from the shackles on his legs, but they were too tight.
"Sergej! You were quite successful as I see!"
"You but also Wladimir ... where is your dog?"
"He was caught by a wolf two weeks ago."
"What a shame. Was a good animal."
"Yes, very brave and a good friend ... let us go in and have a drink first."
"Just a moment ... I want to show you something."
"Is it so important that it can't wait, old friend?" Sergei laughed. "It wouldn't be good to wait, believe me ..." With that he went to his horse and lifted the skin that he had thrown on Vladimir a little. "Have you seen anything like this before?"
Vladimir made the sign of the cross.
"Holy Father! NO!"
"I caught the little guy trying to attack me ... what do you mean what that is?"
Vladimir peeked out from under the fur and looked at the men with wide eyes. When he tried to reach for Vladimir,
Vladimir growled in a deep, threatening voice.
The fur slipped down and with it Vladimir fell to the ground, for a moment he lay there, dazed.
Serje swore. "The guy is very snappy!"
"Maybe ... but it's not a vampire!"
"And how do you get that Vladimir?" At the name Vladimir looked up briefly confused, but soon saw that he was not meant.
"Well the sun wouldn't have got him ..." he pondered.
"We wanted to tie him to the doghouse first. The little monster won't come into my house!" Said and done.
Vladimir had the deceased dog's collar tied around his stomach so that he could not grab it with his hands. Now he was tied to a chain, which in turn led to a dog house. When you loosened your leg shackles. Vladimir immediately disappeared into the hut and crouched down there.
"Strange being." The men patted their shoulders and went inside the hut.
Vladimir pulled out a homemade one and poured two glasses as his friend spread Vladimir's maps on the table. He pointed to the part that was outlined. "Transylvania."
"The little guy carried that with him ... does that tell you anything?" Vladimir nodded.
"My grandparents once told me about vampire ducks that are up there. Duckula - Very bad bunch!"
"So you mean that this is one of them?"
"No."
"And how do you come up with it, I mean the canines, the aggressiveness ..."
"Which wild animal is thrilled when you catch it? Think about it yourself, old friend, if this were really a vampire - then you would have been ill! You could never have made it so easy! He would have done you long ago! Small or no. This is not a vampire! "
"And then what?"
"Good question ... let's offer him some food first. Maybe we can then solve the riddle?"
... shortly afterwards Vladimir perked up. He sniffed the raw meat that was brought to him. Vladimir cautiously crawled out of the kennel.
His stomach growled and his thirst was almost unbearable.
He grabbed the meat, pulled it to him and struck the canine teeth in ...
... it was good ... it was so incredibly good! They spoke of him again, but he didn't understand a word.
"He's a vampire."
"No, I'll stick with it ... he's not. If he were ... we'd be dead."
"And what should it be?"
"A bastard ... a creature between the undead and the living." They were watching Vladimir and he was watching them.
"Something like that happens, very rarely ... my grandmother once told me about it. Sometimes a vampire mates with a mortal - and rarely ... very rarely does a new creature come out of it. Something in between." Vladimir looked at Vladimir. "He's a bloody little creature."
His gaze showed compassion for a moment.
"Come on Serje ... let's leave the beast alone."
With that they went back inside.
Vladimir watched them go. When they had disappeared into the hut, he pulled on the chain.
But he achieved nothing and finally gave up, exhausted. He crawled back into the kennel and curled up.
The two men sat down at the table again, Wladimir set the table and got smoked meat and bread and they started to eat first.
Every now and then they looked outside to watch what was happening.
"I'm wondering", Serje finally began, "how this little beast got here? He's carrying a bag with maps with Transylavia marked on it, and he's wearing a compass around his neck. The stuff of having a certain Must have intelligence. "
Wladimir nodded. "My grandmother told me that such beings, among whom the vampires stand. They are not only weaker than these, but must obey them. We are there to serve them."
"What about his parents?"
"If they were around him, you wouldn't be alive anymore!"
"Do you mean a vampire has feelings like parents?"
"I think ... hardly ..." "The little one looks completely neglected." They continued to eat their meal in thought and drink strong tea.
"What do you have with him now in front of Serje?"
"Actually, I was thinking of selling him ..." The person opposite laughed.
"Who wants to buy a little demon? Something like that only brings bad luck! ... I don't want to keep here either. He's got a bloody soul. It would be better if he were dead. "
Serje nodded. "You are right there - can you shoot such a hybrid ?!" It was a good question, they didn't know.
In the meantime it was getting later and colder outside. You took care of the horse and looked after these beings again. Looked into the doghouse.
Vladimir looked at her, he was shivering from the cold.
"Strange little beast you ..." Serje went away, got a heavy blanket from his hut and put it in front of Vladimir.
Vladimir came out cautiously, grabbed the blanket and pulled it to him. "Did you see his fin? The little beast seems to have had a fight already? Vladimir ..."
Since he was standing next to you, Vladimir was confused for a moment and looked at him questioningly. As if someone had spoken to him.
"... Wladimir? ... look at that, he reacts to your name!"
"Maybe he's just not talking because he doesn't understand us? You don't happen to speak Romanian, Serje?"
"Where from?" he laughed.
Vladimir tried to make sense of her words, but when he did begin to understand her.
He had decided not to talk to anyone! slowly he withdrew again, curled up in the blanket and crouched down.
"Which of us will do it?" asked Vladimir finally.
"What to do?"
"Shoot him. It's best for him."
With that in mind, they went back inside.
When the stars were in the sky, Vladimir crept forward a little. And looked out at the sky. He felt lonely, helpless.
And began to whimper and howl softly ... The men in the hut heard this.
"That he just doesn't attract the wolves with me now!"
"Do you think he could?"
"Quite possible!" Wladimir continued to yelp. Serje was losing her nerve. "I'm going out now and shoot him!" with the words he grabbed his rifle and went out ... Outside he looked at a little vampire duck who looked at him helplessly and ... cried. Serje aimed and ... lowered the weapon again.
"Good heavens! I can't!" he knelt down and looked at Vladimir.
"You are really still a child! I can't kill a child! And you are intelligent ... right?" Vladimir looked at him.
"Wladimir?" Vladimir gave a little twitch.
"Wladimir? Transylvania? ... Duckula." Vladimir cocked his head. Dare to come closer to the man. Until he sniffed his hand like a dog.
Serje sighed. "Very well, little one. I'll take you to our hut now so you can rest. I don't want you to call the wolves here.
But keep quiet ... otherwise ... you understand. "
Vladimir didn't understand what he was saying. But very much what he wanted to tell him.
When the man loosened the chain on the doghouse and wanted to pull him with him.
Vladimir growled again. Serje pointed his rifle at him again. Vladimir understood and went quietly after the man.
His buddy groaned when he saw Vladimir being led into the cabin. "Would you prefer a pack of wolves to show up?"
"No."
"Well, I'll tie him up here now and then we'll all try to sleep."
This time Vladimir was tied very briefly to a table leg. They handed him the blanket again and again Vladimir curled up to sleep.
They watched Vladimir close his eyes. And began to breathe evenly. But he couldn't really sleep; rather, all of his senses were awake.
He tried to understand what to think of these men, especially what they were up to.
He didn't understand their language, but there were other senses for him.
The pronounced thing was to pay attention to the sound of the words, to what one could feel, the vibration of their words ... their feelings.
Serje and Wladimir didn't really know what to do. They obviously don't feel comfortable with him in the same hut.
"What should we do with him now?"
"Keep it."
"I've already told you once, in all friendship, that I don't want such a little monster with me. That only brings bad luck! Even if I keep him on a chain like a dog. He's more like a wild animal, and even a wolf can hardly be tamed. A wolf will always be a wolf! It's the same with these beasts here. " "He's more than just a wolf."
"That doesn't make things any better, it just makes things worse. The little beast is intelligent enough to read a map. I think he can speak - he just doesn't. He's way too clever to reveal himself like that. "
"Then there is only one thing left for us ..."
"And that would be?"
"One of us two has to shoot him tomorrow."
Both looked over at Vladimir, were silent. "We don't even know if it would work if he's really a half-vampire."
"We can't say that until we've tried ..." They looked at each other. Then over to Vladimir.
Vladimir got up and quietly walked over to Vladimir kneeling in front of him.
"He seems to be sleeping ..." he reaches out a hand to him. "... he's a damn kid!"
Vladimir growled softly when the man tried to touch him.
"A wild child - full of fear."
Finally Vladimir dawned from exhaustion. When he woke up it was day again.
He opened his eyes and looked up at the two men who were now standing directly over him. Vladimir whined as they grabbed his chain and tried to lead him out. "He knows exactly what's going on ..." Once outside, Vladimir curled up and cried. "Igor ... Emma ..."
Serje, who already had the rifle in his hand, froze. They were the first words they had heard from Vladimir.
"Is that his parents?" Vladimir narrowed his eyes and shivered even more. "Igor ... Emma ..." he whispered.
Serje shook her head. "No ... no I can't! I just can't!" he indicated Vladimir with one hand.
"Whatever he is, look at him. He's a little boy who has parents. Damn it! If he really comes from where we suspect ... then he's away from home and trying all by himself to come back ... a brave little guy. "
He handed the rifle to Wladimir. "I don't want to get my fingers dirty with that!"
His friend shook his head. "Neither do I ... by my soul! I'm not a murderer!"
He put the gun down. "Get his bag Serje ..."
This nodded went back into the hut, got Vladimir's bag and threw it in front of him. Vladimir looked at her confused.
"Take it easy, little one ... take it easy ..." Serje bent down to Vladimir and freed his beak from the rope.
Vladimir looked at him in confusion, sat up and hugged his bag as if it were a shield.
Serje was still with him, very gently, very slowly and carefully, he freed Vladimir from the dog collar around his stomach and thus also from the chain. Vladimir stared at him, confused at first.
Then he straightened up. "Come on now! Get out of here!" he didn't understand her words, but he understood her gestures.
In no time at all he got up and turned into the forest.
The two men watched him go. "We can only hope we did the right thing ..."
Vladimir ran as far as he could. He just wanted to get out of here! just get away! Finally he dropped to the floor.
Nick had told him to stay away from mortals - how right he was! And yet ... they had spared him. Vladimir looked back in their direction.
Why did they spare him? how was it that they let him live? What made you do it? Vladimir thought that he had heard of the word "compassion" before.
Igor didn't think so. But ... if what he had just experienced was merciful. Then Vladimir thought a lot of it! very much!
Mercy was therefore something that could dissuade one from doing something, harming another. What made you do it was compassion.
How could it be bad when it had just saved his life? Vladimir ran a hand over his head.
He hoped that it would experience what it was like to show mercy. So that he could experience this feeling once in a while!
Then he could tell Igor about it later, or his father too. And explain to them what it really was like with the "compassion".
That it was a good thing! Yes, Vladimir decided. He wanted to show mercy in his life.
And give hope to those who had no more. Just like these two men did to him ...
If you think it doesn't go any further ...
Little Vladimir slowly opened his eyes, in the cave in which he had hidden for the night there was no place to stretch.
So he stuck out his beak and sniffed the air first. It all seemed peaceful. No predator nearby, he smelled a deer close by, a hare ... his stomach growled.
He crawled slowly out of the cave. Nearby was a small stream that led to a lake.
Here he wanted to wash himself and then think about how to proceed.
Vladimir went to the stream and hesitantly began to wash, hesitant because the water was freezing.
He went to a stone, sat on it, took the compass from his neck, took the map out of his pocket and unfolded the map.
His goal was still so infinitely far away! His little hand brushed it briefly, but then turned away to stop thinking about it.
He didn't know how long he had been on the way. He had already experienced several winters in packs of wolves, so it must have been years gone by.
Or better, to the countries he had crossed ...
If only he could fly! but he only had his little duck feet, which took him slowly. He shook himself, better not think about it! But align yourself with your next stage. What led him further, nothing else! Vladimir looked at the map, he was still in Russia.
It was such a vast land! Finally he wrapped the card again. A hare had appeared next to him. Vladimir looked around for these. Hares were really worthwhile prey, but unfortunately for him, almost inaccessible.
They were way too big for him, way too fast and had sharp claws which one should not underestimate under any circumstances.
Vampire duck or not! in effect, he was a very small predator with only two canine teeth.
What were sharp claws on the other hand? or a whole set of fangs? There was such a little vampire duck. which doesn't even have the skills of a real vampire duck, just too ridiculous.
The rabbit straightened up, moved his ears in the direction of Vladimir, looked at his canine teeth and jumped away with a leap ... Vladimir sighed.
He was so hungry! Thirst! which was the same with him.
"Stop whining, Vladimir!" he said to himself. "That is of no use to you at all!"
He often spoke to himself in order to hear the sound of spoken words and not to completely unlearn how to speak.
"Just keep going, maybe you will find prey? And then you will come even further on your way ... I'm a Duckula! And a duckula never gives up!"
With these words, Vladimir stepped on.
Then he only heard the noises of nature, the wind that drove through the trees, the cracking of branches, the leaves on the ground, the grass, the birds, the other animals that roamed through the forest.
The beeping of mice ...
... the beeping of mice?
Vladimir paused. slowly he crept closer. Like a cat, he stopped in front of the mouse hole and waited until one came out. Vladimir grabbed it in a flash.
He had to be quick if he didn't want to be bitten himself. It wasn't much, but at least it helped him a little.
Vladimir then waited for the next mouse ... there must be a nest there. He could hear it beeping.
A whole nest? that would satisfy his hunger at first! Should he dig it up?
He was still thinking when he drove together. In the distance he heard Horse's Hoof that it was not alone that was disturbing him, but the clatter of metal dishes, the smell of fur and the smell of a person who was carrying a rifle! Nick had advised him to stay away from mortals.
But his curiosity was also very great. He hadn't seen or heard anyone in a long time.
Vladimir thought for a moment, then snuck away and hid behind a tree. Fortunately it was small enough to be able to hide completely behind its trunk.
The horse kept coming closer. When it finally passed him, it seemed to hesitate for a moment.
Vladimir heard the man talking to his animal and asking him what was going on?
Vladimir held his breath. Surely the horse smelled him and was confused. It shied away for a brief moment and then finally moved on Vladimir watched him go for a while. For a moment he was so distracted, finally he felt someone watching him.
Vladimir followed his feeling and saw an eagle above him, which was watching him lurking.
And growled loudly in threat. Confused, the eagle looked at Vladimir.
Vladimir hissed loudly again. The eagle flew away. "Forget it! I'm not your prey!" Vladimir shouted after him, Vladimir snorted.
He didn't really want to mess with the eagle, he didn't want to mess with the eagle's rake bills and claws.
But had learned to look more dangerous than he really was.
This "more appearance than reality" had often saved his life.
Vladimir went on, the path led him across the forest. Again and again he had to climb over obstacles or fight his way through the undergrowth.
He looked for easier ways, sometimes he found them, sometimes not. Around noon he leaned exhausted against a tree.
He was just a little kid! He was hungry! ... he was just a little duck - with a long way to go. Which he had to go completely alone.
Vladimir sat down on the ground, looked up at the sky, between the trees he could see him.
A blue, clear sky, so wide, so big ... "Father ... I don't know where you are. But I ask you ... help me!"
Vladimir got up again. "What kills you only makes you stronger." he whispered. "And when I'm back home. I'm a very strong vampire duck. And when my father is back he will be proud of me." So Vladimir just went on, on and on ... At a lake he drank some more of the water.
It didn't feed him, but it did quench the dry feeling in his throat. Then he held his fins in the water to relax them and then massage them a little.
It would soon be dark, he had to find somewhere to stay for the night again.
The darkness was no longer his time for a long time, even the twilight was not a good time for him, because predators hunted in it, against which he had no chance.
After this short pause he straightened up again to start looking, when he heard the hooves of a horse again. In no time at all, Vladimir hid himself in the tall grass.
And watched what happened. That man was back. He got off his horse and tied the reins to a branch. And set up a camp.
He fetched water from the lake, filled a pot with it, put something in it that smelled of herbs and dried meat, and lit a fire.
Both for his food and as protection for the night. Vladimir took a cautious step back and stepped on a branch that cracked instantly.
The man jumped up and pointed his rifle where the sound had come from. Vladimir stopped, startled. He dared not move any more.
Not even when it was getting darker, as Vladimir dared to move, the man looked over to where he was.
Then it took care of its campfire again.
Vladimir sighed. It was far too late to find a safe place for the night. His search would make him easy prey. It got dark and cold.
His feathers straightened up to give his body more warmth. In fact, there was only one safe place against predators and the cold - that man's campfire!
Vladimir longed to lie down on the ground near the campfire. To be able to sleep and enjoy the warmth of the fire.
When it was as if the man at least nodded off, the little vampire duck crept closer to the fire.
But the man didn't really sleep, he was immediately startled, also because his horse was getting nervous again.
The man got up and fired a warning shot. Presumably to chase away an avoidable wild animal. Vladimir stopped again.
He hadn't gotten close enough to the flames yet that they could really offer him protection and warmth.
He would have loved to go to the man and ask him to grant him this for tonight, but an inner shyness forbade him.
So Vladimir just ducked into the tall grass and hoped that there would be some solution to the problem for him.
He was shivering from the cold. At some point during the night Vladimir straightened up again.
The campfire was still burning intensely. The man must have added wood, and was he asleep ...?
On all fours, so that he made as little noise as possible, Vladimir crept up to the fire.
But the man wasn't really sleeping, he'd been a hunter for years. Such a mistake wouldn't happen to him.
He was lurking for this being that was out there. Vladimir crept closer, paused, waited, crept on. With one eye watching the man what happened.
Until he saw a yellow beak and large eyes, which soon made the campfire shine.
He frowned. A duck? What…?
Then he saw sharp fangs on the beak!
"Evil spirit! Demon!" Vladimir heard something like a curse, even if he did not understand the language he suspected what it meant.
The man jumped up, crossed himself and pointed the barrel of his rifle at Vladimir in no time at all.
A shot was fired. Vladimir jumped to the side and wanted to run into the dark again, he felt the breeze of the ball pulling past him.
The man followed up and shot again.
Vladimir screamed.
Fortunately it was just a graze shot, so he hobbled away to lick his wound.
He now had no time to pay attention to the man, he had taken a piece of burning wood and was running after Vladimir.
Vladimir was licking his wound when he saw the firelight above him. The man stood over him, mumbled something and pointed his gun at Vladimir again, ready to fire. He looked into Vladimir's wide, wide eyes. He took a closer look at Vladimir, frowned. It seemed to him as if there was a child in front of him.
Whatever this Strange Being was, it wasn't fully grown. As he leaned down further to examine Vladimir more closely, Vladimir began to hiss and growl.
The man immediately pointed his gun at Vladimir's chest.
Vladimir's heart beat faster, but he understood and behaved more calmly.
The man picked up Vladimir's bag with the rifle. "You are not a wild animal ..." he whispered to him.
But Vladimir didn't understand a word. He just stared at the tall man above and then convulsively closed his eyes.
He opened his eyes again when he felt the man's breathing right above him,
Vladimir tried to crawl away, growled loudly and tried to grab the hand. Immediately Vladimir was knocked down ...
When Vladimir came to, the first thing he noticed was that his beak had been tied up and he was tied to his back. Where he didn't go.
A rope led to a tree to which the man had tied him. The man himself sat by the campfire and examined the maps that were in Vladimir's pocket.
He mumbled something, then walked up to Vladimir with the map.
He had noticed something, Nick had circled the words "Transylvanien" with a pen.
This had struck the man. "Transylvania?" said the man and looked at Vladimir. This showed no reaction.
With the rifle again, the man lifted Vladimir's beak and looked at his teeth, then went down on Vladimir's chest and raised the compass.
"You are a vampire? Are you from Transylvania? How do you get here then ?!"
Vladimir didn't answer, if only because he couldn't understand a word. The man growled angrily, looked at the sky, the sun was rising.
Still grumbling, he went to his storage place and threw a fur over Vladimir, probably to protect him from the sun.
Vladimir automatically sagged. He felt how the man lifted him, felt for his legs and tied them together, after which he was freed from the rope on his back. Well, the strange thing, I'll take you with me first ... let's see what my friend thinks of you.
A vampire duck? It's crazy what you can find in the forest!
" Raised on the horse, the man continued talking to Vladimir. For him, however, it was just an incomprehensible murmur.
"He doesn't live far from here, we'll be there quickly ... I'm curious what he thinks ... a little forest demon? A vampire? ... maybe there are people who would pay a lot of money for you? More than the furs bring in?" Vladimir was frozen in his hands.
It took a few hours for the man to stop the horse again. Vladimir smelled the burnt wood of a fireplace.
There must be a hut there. All smells suggest it. The men greeted each other amicably.
In the meantime, Vladimir tried to free himself from the shackles on his legs, but they were too tight.
"Sergej! You were quite successful as I see!"
"You but also Wladimir ... where is your dog?"
"He was caught by a wolf two weeks ago."
"What a shame. Was a good animal."
"Yes, very brave and a good friend ... let us go in and have a drink first."
"Just a moment ... I want to show you something."
"Is it so important that it can't wait, old friend?" Sergei laughed. "It wouldn't be good to wait, believe me ..." With that he went to his horse and lifted the skin that he had thrown on Vladimir a little. "Have you seen anything like this before?"
Vladimir made the sign of the cross.
"Holy Father! NO!"
"I caught the little guy trying to attack me ... what do you mean what that is?"
Vladimir peeked out from under the fur and looked at the men with wide eyes. When he tried to reach for Vladimir,
Vladimir growled in a deep, threatening voice.
The fur slipped down and with it Vladimir fell to the ground, for a moment he lay there, dazed.
Serje swore. "The guy is very snappy!"
"Maybe ... but it's not a vampire!"
"And how do you get that Vladimir?" At the name Vladimir looked up briefly confused, but soon saw that he was not meant.
"Well the sun wouldn't have got him ..." he pondered.
"We wanted to tie him to the doghouse first. The little monster won't come into my house!" Said and done.
Vladimir had the deceased dog's collar tied around his stomach so that he could not grab it with his hands. Now he was tied to a chain, which in turn led to a dog house. When you loosened your leg shackles. Vladimir immediately disappeared into the hut and crouched down there.
"Strange being." The men patted their shoulders and went inside the hut.
Vladimir pulled out a homemade one and poured two glasses as his friend spread Vladimir's maps on the table. He pointed to the part that was outlined. "Transylvania."
"The little guy carried that with him ... does that tell you anything?" Vladimir nodded.
"My grandparents once told me about vampire ducks that are up there. Duckula - Very bad bunch!"
"So you mean that this is one of them?"
"No."
"And how do you come up with it, I mean the canines, the aggressiveness ..."
"Which wild animal is thrilled when you catch it? Think about it yourself, old friend, if this were really a vampire - then you would have been ill! You could never have made it so easy! He would have done you long ago! Small or no. This is not a vampire! "
"And then what?"
"Good question ... let's offer him some food first. Maybe we can then solve the riddle?"
... shortly afterwards Vladimir perked up. He sniffed the raw meat that was brought to him. Vladimir cautiously crawled out of the kennel.
His stomach growled and his thirst was almost unbearable.
He grabbed the meat, pulled it to him and struck the canine teeth in ...
... it was good ... it was so incredibly good! They spoke of him again, but he didn't understand a word.
"He's a vampire."
"No, I'll stick with it ... he's not. If he were ... we'd be dead."
"And what should it be?"
"A bastard ... a creature between the undead and the living." They were watching Vladimir and he was watching them.
"Something like that happens, very rarely ... my grandmother once told me about it. Sometimes a vampire mates with a mortal - and rarely ... very rarely does a new creature come out of it. Something in between." Vladimir looked at Vladimir. "He's a bloody little creature."
His gaze showed compassion for a moment.
"Come on Serje ... let's leave the beast alone."
With that they went back inside.
Vladimir watched them go. When they had disappeared into the hut, he pulled on the chain.
But he achieved nothing and finally gave up, exhausted. He crawled back into the kennel and curled up.
The two men sat down at the table again, Wladimir set the table and got smoked meat and bread and they started to eat first.
Every now and then they looked outside to watch what was happening.
"I'm wondering", Serje finally began, "how this little beast got here? He's carrying a bag with maps with Transylavia marked on it, and he's wearing a compass around his neck. The stuff of having a certain Must have intelligence. "
Wladimir nodded. "My grandmother told me that such beings, among whom the vampires stand. They are not only weaker than these, but must obey them. We are there to serve them."
"What about his parents?"
"If they were around him, you wouldn't be alive anymore!"
"Do you mean a vampire has feelings like parents?"
"I think ... hardly ..." "The little one looks completely neglected." They continued to eat their meal in thought and drink strong tea.
"What do you have with him now in front of Serje?"
"Actually, I was thinking of selling him ..." The person opposite laughed.
"Who wants to buy a little demon? Something like that only brings bad luck! ... I don't want to keep here either. He's got a bloody soul. It would be better if he were dead. "
Serje nodded. "You are right there - can you shoot such a hybrid ?!" It was a good question, they didn't know.
In the meantime it was getting later and colder outside. You took care of the horse and looked after these beings again. Looked into the doghouse.
Vladimir looked at her, he was shivering from the cold.
"Strange little beast you ..." Serje went away, got a heavy blanket from his hut and put it in front of Vladimir.
Vladimir came out cautiously, grabbed the blanket and pulled it to him. "Did you see his fin? The little beast seems to have had a fight already? Vladimir ..."
Since he was standing next to you, Vladimir was confused for a moment and looked at him questioningly. As if someone had spoken to him.
"... Wladimir? ... look at that, he reacts to your name!"
"Maybe he's just not talking because he doesn't understand us? You don't happen to speak Romanian, Serje?"
"Where from?" he laughed.
Vladimir tried to make sense of her words, but when he did begin to understand her.
He had decided not to talk to anyone! slowly he withdrew again, curled up in the blanket and crouched down.
"Which of us will do it?" asked Vladimir finally.
"What to do?"
"Shoot him. It's best for him."
With that in mind, they went back inside.
When the stars were in the sky, Vladimir crept forward a little. And looked out at the sky. He felt lonely, helpless.
And began to whimper and howl softly ... The men in the hut heard this.
"That he just doesn't attract the wolves with me now!"
"Do you think he could?"
"Quite possible!" Wladimir continued to yelp. Serje was losing her nerve. "I'm going out now and shoot him!" with the words he grabbed his rifle and went out ... Outside he looked at a little vampire duck who looked at him helplessly and ... cried. Serje aimed and ... lowered the weapon again.
"Good heavens! I can't!" he knelt down and looked at Vladimir.
"You are really still a child! I can't kill a child! And you are intelligent ... right?" Vladimir looked at him.
"Wladimir?" Vladimir gave a little twitch.
"Wladimir? Transylvania? ... Duckula." Vladimir cocked his head. Dare to come closer to the man. Until he sniffed his hand like a dog.
Serje sighed. "Very well, little one. I'll take you to our hut now so you can rest. I don't want you to call the wolves here.
But keep quiet ... otherwise ... you understand. "
Vladimir didn't understand what he was saying. But very much what he wanted to tell him.
When the man loosened the chain on the doghouse and wanted to pull him with him.
Vladimir growled again. Serje pointed his rifle at him again. Vladimir understood and went quietly after the man.
His buddy groaned when he saw Vladimir being led into the cabin. "Would you prefer a pack of wolves to show up?"
"No."
"Well, I'll tie him up here now and then we'll all try to sleep."
This time Vladimir was tied very briefly to a table leg. They handed him the blanket again and again Vladimir curled up to sleep.
They watched Vladimir close his eyes. And began to breathe evenly. But he couldn't really sleep; rather, all of his senses were awake.
He tried to understand what to think of these men, especially what they were up to.
He didn't understand their language, but there were other senses for him.
The pronounced thing was to pay attention to the sound of the words, to what one could feel, the vibration of their words ... their feelings.
Serje and Wladimir didn't really know what to do. They obviously don't feel comfortable with him in the same hut.
"What should we do with him now?"
"Keep it."
"I've already told you once, in all friendship, that I don't want such a little monster with me. That only brings bad luck! Even if I keep him on a chain like a dog. He's more like a wild animal, and even a wolf can hardly be tamed. A wolf will always be a wolf! It's the same with these beasts here. " "He's more than just a wolf."
"That doesn't make things any better, it just makes things worse. The little beast is intelligent enough to read a map. I think he can speak - he just doesn't. He's way too clever to reveal himself like that. "
"Then there is only one thing left for us ..."
"And that would be?"
"One of us two has to shoot him tomorrow."
Both looked over at Vladimir, were silent. "We don't even know if it would work if he's really a half-vampire."
"We can't say that until we've tried ..." They looked at each other. Then over to Vladimir.
Vladimir got up and quietly walked over to Vladimir kneeling in front of him.
"He seems to be sleeping ..." he reaches out a hand to him. "... he's a damn kid!"
Vladimir growled softly when the man tried to touch him.
"A wild child - full of fear."
Finally Vladimir dawned from exhaustion. When he woke up it was day again.
He opened his eyes and looked up at the two men who were now standing directly over him. Vladimir whined as they grabbed his chain and tried to lead him out. "He knows exactly what's going on ..." Once outside, Vladimir curled up and cried. "Igor ... Emma ..."
Serje, who already had the rifle in his hand, froze. They were the first words they had heard from Vladimir.
"Is that his parents?" Vladimir narrowed his eyes and shivered even more. "Igor ... Emma ..." he whispered.
Serje shook her head. "No ... no I can't! I just can't!" he indicated Vladimir with one hand.
"Whatever he is, look at him. He's a little boy who has parents. Damn it! If he really comes from where we suspect ... then he's away from home and trying all by himself to come back ... a brave little guy. "
He handed the rifle to Wladimir. "I don't want to get my fingers dirty with that!"
His friend shook his head. "Neither do I ... by my soul! I'm not a murderer!"
He put the gun down. "Get his bag Serje ..."
This nodded went back into the hut, got Vladimir's bag and threw it in front of him. Vladimir looked at her confused.
"Take it easy, little one ... take it easy ..." Serje bent down to Vladimir and freed his beak from the rope.
Vladimir looked at him in confusion, sat up and hugged his bag as if it were a shield.
Serje was still with him, very gently, very slowly and carefully, he freed Vladimir from the dog collar around his stomach and thus also from the chain. Vladimir stared at him, confused at first.
Then he straightened up. "Come on now! Get out of here!" he didn't understand her words, but he understood her gestures.
In no time at all he got up and turned into the forest.
The two men watched him go. "We can only hope we did the right thing ..."
Vladimir ran as far as he could. He just wanted to get out of here! just get away! Finally he dropped to the floor.
Nick had told him to stay away from mortals - how right he was! And yet ... they had spared him. Vladimir looked back in their direction.
Why did they spare him? how was it that they let him live? What made you do it? Vladimir thought that he had heard of the word "compassion" before.
Igor didn't think so. But ... if what he had just experienced was merciful. Then Vladimir thought a lot of it! very much!
Mercy was therefore something that could dissuade one from doing something, harming another. What made you do it was compassion.
How could it be bad when it had just saved his life? Vladimir ran a hand over his head.
He hoped that it would experience what it was like to show mercy. So that he could experience this feeling once in a while!
Then he could tell Igor about it later, or his father too. And explain to them what it really was like with the "compassion".
That it was a good thing! Yes, Vladimir decided. He wanted to show mercy in his life.
And give hope to those who had no more. Just like these two men did to him ...