The wind whispered slowly through the trees, rustling the leaves and caressing the skirts and coats of the witches who stood, waiting, but the river’s banks. Night had fallen silent along the forest outside of the capital city of Kar. There was stillness in the forest. No croak of a frog or hum of a cicada. No sounds of deer or fox or other nightly creature moving about in search of their nightly meals. The animals could feel the uneasiness in the air as the shadows moved towards the river.

Clothed all in black, they stood, eyes shrouded beneath the veils, wide-brimmed hats coming to sharp points that fell backward in their own weight. Ceremonial attire for the coming evening. Ritual was important to the Witch. Everything was done with intent, carefully staged and set to shift the words of the world to their liking. Even for this hunt, a wild and passionate event, there would be order and ritual.

The Circle waited, gathered in small clusters, sitting on fallen trees or standing, boots deep in the tall grace. Living shadows stalked behind some of them, poised for movement at any moment. Young and old, mostly women, they all quietly listened. The river’s hum grew louder as it carried their prey to them.

Edwin stood beside the Left hand, and she beside her wife, the last member of the inner circle. He was anxious, apprehensive, but brimming with excitement. It had been far too long since they had gotten such a chance. The chance to strike their full power, to show that they were far more powerful as a group then any of their worthless attackers could ever hope to be. A chance to show them what happened when they prayed upon the innocent. A pent up aggression that needed a chance to be released. A chance to return the favor to the one who always protected them.

A shadow slithered up to Edwin’s side, whispering to him in a low hiss. “He comes, around the bank the river brings him,” she reported. His heart beat harder as he spread his lips in a grin. “Good,” He said, nodding to Ms. Anya, Ms. Rowena’s wife. She was a beautiful young girl with a sweet disposition. The perfect lure.

She agreed, walking over to the bed of the river. Pebbles shifted softly beneath her delicate steps as she peered down the dark bank. The outlines of a body came into focus, floating on it’s back, bobbing as it was carried downstream. Closer and closer it drew until the water pushed it to the shore several paces from where Ms. Anya stood. Beside her, a hulking shadow lumbered over, dragging the man from the water and up onto the shore. Tattered yellow and white robes, brown hair, an average face, and an average build. What a lackluster prey.

The Shadow laid him on his side before retreating. Ms. Anya crouched down beside the man, placing two fingers between his ribs below his sternum. She slowly dragged them upwards. He spasmed and gurgled as her fingers reached his throat before he leaned over and spit out a lung full of water onto the soft black wool of Ms. Anya’s skirt.

“Oh my,” She said softly, a slender hand resting on the man’s shoulder. “Are you alright sir?” She asked.

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Her voice startled him into reality. He snapped up to look at her. He seemed lost and confused. It was no surprise. From the moment the wind sang to him his thoughts would’ve become fuzzy. It was hard enough for them to ignore the song, none the less the priest it was targeting. He stared at her for a moment as if he couldn't really get a good grasp on what he was seeing. Well, it was dark after all. “What are...you doing out here in the middle of the night Miss?” He asked, trying to get his bearings and get to his feet. She gave a sweet chuckle. “Oh, just a little bit of hunting with my brothers and sisters,” She said, standing up, taking a few steps backward. In return, he took a few steps towards her. “You shouldn’t be in these woods at night Miss, it’s dangerous,” He mumbled out grasping his head as he stumbled to regain his composure. “There are Witches not far from here.”

Gentle laughs echoed from around the two of them as the dazed man looked around, trying to figure out if he had heard them or not. “Oh! You really believe so?” She asked.

“Are you really all that surprised though?” Now behind him came the soft disappointment of the left hand.

“Mmm,” Anya nodded a bit. “That’s true, Elder Brother has said that you’ve been looking for us for quite some time.”

The man shuttered, stumbling away from the two.

“ Searching for you!” He bumped into a third woman who grinned at him. He spun around to face her as well. “Sister I think you scared him! The poor priest thought we really hadn’t noticed him,” The witch said, feigning sympathy. “Poor man of the sun, it must be so hard to see in these shadows,” She said, reaching out to touch his face.

He smacked her hand away.

“Don’t come any nearer! Don’t touch me you hell beast!” There were more chuckles, more laughs. They blended so well into the shadows that all he could see where the flashes of their smiles as they enjoyed his despair. They surrounded him, on all sides. The priest turned with a desperate panic and urge to flee. He only made it a few steps before he tumbled to the ground, caught on the root of a tree. Now the laughter was loud, uninhibited, mocking him and his inevitable misery.

He tried to get up as quickly as he could, but he’d fallen at the feet of the master of the hunt. Edwin crouched down in front of him, hooking his chin and lifting his head.

“Poor, Poor, pitiful priest,” he cooed, leaning down towards him. “You’re terrified, I can feel the quiver in your bones. Your heart is beating quicker, and your mind is screaming to get away. Looks like that spirit you had during the Equinox is all gone. It’s such a shame.” His lips drew near the priest's ear. “You shouldn’t just sit here trembling,” his breath hot as he whispered. “You should probably run.”

The Priest yanked away from him, jumping to his feet. He turned like a top, looking for a break in the circle. Edwin, watching him flail, slowly raised his hand to give a small wave. The circle parted.

The priest took the bait, darting past the witches and into the forest. “Run priest run! It’s hours until morning! Your sun can’t save you here!” He called, laughter flooding behind him. The Right Hand looked over his shoulder. “Snake,” He said. The shadow moved behind him. “Yes, Master.”

“Take the others and follow him, make sure he isn’t able to turn back towards the city. We wouldn’t want him being able to sneak away. Do nothing else though. He’ll pay the blood directly to us,” Edwin ordered. The Shadow, his familiar, nodded before she and the others melted into the forest.

“What do you say, Brothers and Sisters, Has he had enough of a head start?” Edwin asked. He strode deeper into the forest, the rest following suit behind him. “Let’s start.”