We had been on the road for four days. The monotony of our travel was beginning to wear on my mind. Not being able to see the outside world was brutal. Not to mention never being able to walk around and stretch made me feel stir-crazy. Then there was the bathroom situation. A simple bucket I hadn't noticed in the back of the wagon. It thankfully had a lid, though privacy was a thing of the past I suppose. Robert was less affected stating that patience was key in situations like these. I asked how many times he had been kidnapped to know that, and he only laughed in response.

That night the same woman brought our gruel as usual with the same indifference as always. On the second day, I attempted to speak with her. I received no response besides a quirked eyebrow and an even swifter departure. This time I was determined to get at least some sort of response.

“Wait please, can you at least tell us how far we are from our destination?” I knew based on her previous response that asking too much would lead to nothing gained. This question was harmless enough that it might garner an answer.

She looked me up and down once again before pinching her eyebrows. After what felt like an eternity she spoke. ‘On the morrow, we will arrive. Now eat.” Walking off quickly after, I called out a thank you though I doubt she heard. An anxious excitement ran through my body. One more day and we would know our fate.

“That's quite a surprise. She has never so much as opened her mouth to any of my inquiries.” Robert supplied as I handed him and Melisa their respective bowls.

“Maybe you wore her down enough with enough chatter that she was more susceptible than before.” I quipped helpfully, while avoiding the slap he swung towards me.

“Keep that up and we'll see who ends up sleeping next to the latrine, or maybe in it.” He threatened.

"Please good sir have mercy.” I chuckled while lowering my head in forgiveness.

That is when the howls wove through the night air. Their pitch was deeper than any animal I knew. The camp had fallen completely silent. Everyone held their breaths through the long note dancing across the breeze. Finally, a burst of activity started. Voices shouting orders with a note of panic that I had not heard before from any of the Northmen. That was not a good sign.

I quickly rushed towards the door and tried peering around the wagon to see what was going on. From what little was visible a defensive position was being held by the Northmen. I had counted around eight total kidnappers including the woman who fed us. Not overly large and based upon the number of howls that filled the chilly night air, it felt far too small. I knew there was one other wagon that I assumed held this group's supplies in front of our own. I noticed most of the defensive was oriented around that wagon rather than our own. Another bad sign.

I yipped in surprise as a face popped up in the opening I was looking through. Those perceptive blue eyes I had grown used to peering into my own.

“If you don't wish to die you must fight. Prepare.'' Suddenly the back door was pulled open and she stood motioning with her hand for us to get out quickly. Robert was quick to help Melisa upwards and towards the door whispering comforting words to the despondent woman. I hopped out immediately. Taking in the lush greenery surrounding us. The fading light cast ominous shadows over what was a beautiful mountain forest. Turning around, I helped Robert lower Melisa and himself down off the high wagon. The Northwoman ushered us towards the forward wagon the next moment. Wooden defenses had already been thrown up with obvious efficiency. Utilizing the wagon's bulk to create a defensive position that the Northmen held. Spears facing outwards into the looming forest. Three on the backside heads on a swivel and four holding the opening. We rushed through before they pulled a shoddy wooden caltrop-looking construction forward. Enclosing the group and sealing us in.

After the shuffle complete silence rained down upon the camp once more. I was already panting more from nervousness rather than the short walk. We ended up huddled close to the center with Robert standing protectively next to Melisa.

A stick was shoved into my face stopping me from gazing into the ever-darkening forest.

“You will need this. The pack is large. If you hint at betrayal, your lives are forfeit." Her voice was quiet but steely as we locked eyes. I gulped before giving a nod and taking the bone spear into my hands. I have no experience with spears as a weapon, though that would be true for almost all weapons so I didn't complain.

Put the pointed end towards the monster. Simple. I can do that.

A similar transaction happened with Robert as he accepted his spear. Noticeably she offered nothing to Melisa though I couldn't fault her for it. Melisa was still primarily unresponsive. I had asked Robert about her during our lengthy conversation. He said she had already been captured when he arrived, never offering so much as a syllable to speak of. He also added that it was not uncommon to run into people like her in these trying times. No one can avoid tragedy these days.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

The next set of howls rocked through the air again. The group waited with bated breath. The sun glided past the western mountain peaks, with us in their massive shadow. The surroundings soon transformed into its nocturnal state.

Soon the crunch of leaves could be heard out of sight in the woods all around us. They were getting closer.

Circling us.

“What are they?” I whispered to Robert. The answer came from another voice.

“They are Carcals. Large predatory beasts, most packs are small. Not enough to hunt groups such as ours. This one seems to have grown. Seven of them it seems.” The Northwoman offered her response in a full voice. Seeming uncaring about concealing their location.

“Large?” I spoke still quieter than normal. I was not as confident as she seemed.

“Large.” The word hit me with physical force.

“Are they monsters or animals?”

The question seemed to surprise her, and she glanced at me with a quirked eyebrow.

“Does it matter?”

The response was fair and not helpful at all. I opened my mouth to defend my question when the growls began. The noise shook my very rib cage causing my heart rate to spike. 'Large' might have been an understatement.

The Northmen noticeably stiffened and grabbed their weapons tighter.

My first sighting of the creature was a darting shadow past the barricade ahead of us. Its padded feet make its steps far quieter than they should be. It then squared off in the open ground, confidence visible under the full moon. The Northmen had extinguished the torches they usually had glowing during the night. Thank god the moon was lighting up the surroundings enough to see. Though after taking in the beast I almost wished it wouldn't.

Standing about chest height at the shoulder muscle rippling underneath thick skin. They looked like a monstrous mixture of a hyena on steroids and a lizard baked in an oven for too long. Its skin had a rocky cracked texture with the coloration of charcoal. A hideous smashed face held far too many sharp fangs barred in a smile below glowing yellow eyes.

“Fuck me.”

I'm not sure if it understood, but after my whisper, it charged straight at the wooden fence. Filled with reckless abandon howling out into the night sky. Frothing spittle flying out of its mouth.

“Calm, it's a false charge. Watch the rear.” The words came from the Northman who had bludgeoned me not so long ago. I had never heard any of them exchange names though they were abnormally quiet people. Based on my short experience with them that is.

He was alarmingly accurate in his deduction. At the last moment, the Carcal pumped its back legs into the ground and stopped its charge at the barricade. Displaying that these creatures had an abnormal amount of intelligence.

No wonder they had seemed so worried about a large pack of them.

The lead monster trotted mere meters in front of us glaring with its devilish eyes. I heard the sound of movement to our rear. Whipping my head around in time to witness two of the beasts rushing at the defensive wooden spikes. Using their hind legs to propel themselves up and over.

Unfortunately for them, they had very angry Northmen to contend with. Their bone spears lashed out with alarming speed and accuracy. Catching both beasts mid-flight. The one to the right was speared by two men. Their combined strength was enough to push back and impale the monster upon their wooden fortification. With a horrendous crash and yelp of pain, it was ravaged by the defenders. The second beast was only faced with a single Northman who had placed an accurate spear strike on its neck, spilling blood. Yet the weight of the creature allowed it to fly over the stakes and land among the rearguard alive.

"Eyes ahead, trust our brothers!” The lead Northman called out. I hesitantly pulled my gaze back. The vulnerable feeling of having monsters twenty feet behind me was horrifying. I clenched my hands before releasing them. Deep breaths through the nose and out through the mouth settled my nerves slightly. Tonight was not going to be my end.

"Here they come. Ancients watch us now!” In unison, the rest of the Northmen responded with a resounding cry that sent shivers all across my body.

“Harden our spirits, steady our hands. Let them taste death!” The vicious snarl that he threw in the final syllable of his cry sent a physical wave through the air. Seeming to stun the Carcals for a moment. The rest of our group hadn't noticed or were used to such an occurrence.

The brief war cry allowed the rear guard to finish off both Carcals that had attempted to break through. The Northmen's spears dripped with their dark blood with sickening thickness.

Two down and five left. No one is dead. We can do this.

The lead Carcal snarled in response to its lost companions before howling in return. Suddenly shadows emerged as one out of the woods as the remaining Carcals sprang forward. There were five now trailing after the leading beast. The thundering of their clawed limbs was deafening. It seemed the Northwoman had unfortunately miscounted. If only she had overestimated instead.

There was no time for the rear guard to reach us before the first wave leaped at the front line. Their gaping maws promised a painful death. The Northmen met the first with spears ready. Pushing them into the stakes with practiced movements.

Unfortunately, that was the last semblance of control. The remaining four trampled over the now-destroyed stakes and their bleeding comrades. Weaving themselves into our midst. I kept close to Robert and Melisa leveling my spear at the approaching predators.

The Northwoman had charged forward and was currently jabbing towards the beasts. Employing the use of quick efficient strikes. Allowing the front line of Northmen to move backward in some semblance of order. This prevented the new arrivals from surrounding them.

One Northman was not so lucky, he had pinned down one beast to the stakes but was landed upon by the next immediately. His cries could barely be heard over the rest of the roars and yelps. My body tensed wanting to charge forward to assist, but I knew it was already too late.

Our backs were now pressed against the wagon. The final four Carcals stayed out of reach. A sense of weariness for the spear-wielding Northmen grew in their body language.

The leading monster was somehow able to snag the cuff of one of the Northmen out of the blue. he'd launched an over-eager lunging strike at it. The beast capitalized by pulling him into the waiting maws of its brethren. The cries lasted for too long. Almost as though they knew how to make his death slow and painful. These were no animals. Even the word ‘monster’ was generous for these abominations