Such people know not fate. Fate does not knock on one’s door. She glides through the bedroom window and crawls across the ceiling unseen. And then, when they’re weary of holding they’re breath and slip into sweet unconsciousness, only then, does fate deliver her deathly touch.

-Fate’s Beloved

Alice weaved through the trees, searching for any sign of the beast. Though, Davin could not see her, he felt her a couple of hundred feet ahead. He walked briskly through the forest brush, trying to avoid making any loud noise. He was a seasoned forrester, yet he’d occasionally stumble. He looked up only to be met with darkness. Despite being a full moon not a single strand of light pierced through the thick canopy.

He was practically blind as he made his way through the forest, he wish he had brought a lantern. As he began debating the value of this venture he tripped on an oversized root, his arms flailed as he slammed to the ground. He dropped the bag of meat, and quickly checked to see if his bow had sustained any damage. The string had snapped.

He cursed, the sound echoing throughout the forest. Davin cursed once more, albeit silently this time. That was what worried him the most. The silence. It was too quiet, his each and every move creating an echo, throughout the usual bustling forest.

“Are you alright?” Alice asked, a hint of concern in her voice.

“No.” Davin spoke, his voice transmitting to Alice through their bond.

“Suck it up, you’re pain doesn’t feel that bad. I bet you just tripped over your own feet. Remember the goal. Just think of all the money we’ll make when we catch that dog,” said Alice.

“It’s a wolf. I think. Besides that’s not the problem. I just broke my bowstring, and I forgot to bring a replacement. As it stands I rather head back to the Fyre Convoy and try again in the morning.” He wanted to the gold, but something felt off. And throughout his short life he had learned to trust his gut.

“Ah, dammit Davin. Can’t we kill it without the bow?” Alice could feel his emotional state, but she didn’t care.

“Once you found the wolf, the plan was to lure the wolf with the bait, then I’d shoot it from atop one of these tree branches. How, am I supposed to shoot it without my bow? Not to mention, even with your ‘amazing eyesight’ you haven’t even found it yet.” Davin went over the plan one more time.

“Don’t blame this on me. You didn’t even bring another bow string.” Alice cawed in retaliation.

“That’s because this almost never happen. Not to mention, I didn’t expect it to be so dark, I’m not used to this part of the forest.” He began to turn back the way he came.

Alice sensed her bonded was moving away. “Oh, stop making excuses, you sorry excuse for a man. But, not to worry, you still got the greatest bird of the sky on your side, me.”

Davin was proud of his marksmanship, and he once was proud of his blade skills as well. That is until he had been foolish or drunk enough, he was too drunk to remember, to challenge Gaius to a dagger brawl. Davin grimaced as he rubbed the scar on his chest. “Can you confidently say you could kill a wolf by yourself? Because, I’m not gonna get close to a wolf with just my dagger.”

“Well, um…” For once, Alice was at a loss for words.

“And there is my point.” Davin stated.

“But! I could distract while you kill it with that dagger.” She spoke with inspiration.

“Did you not just hear what I said?” He threw his hands up.

“Oh come on, we can still finish this, just give me a few more minutes. I know I’ll find that wolf, I can feel it. That savory steak will be mine!”Alice beat her wings faster.

“I understand, I’d like nothing more than to get the rest of that gold myself. But, I’m not an idiot either. We can’t go into this without a plan.” He shrugged.

“Please, Davin. Just five more minutes.”

“Sorry, love.”

“Davin, wait, I think I found something!” Excitement clear in her voice.

“What? You found the wolf? Where is it?” Davin spun around.

“No, not the wolf.” Her voice grew hollow, “ ... It’s something worse.”

“What do you mean?” Davin could feel her fear. “Alice, what do you see?”

“Davin, you need to get over here, now.”

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

After running half an hour through the dark woods Davin finally caught up to Alice. He panted heavily as he looked around for her. It was too dark to see anything. But, he felt she was near. “Alice,” he whispered.

“I’m here.” She cawed in relief.

Davin heard the fluttering of wings and felt a warm weight settle on his head. She was shivering. Davin raised a hand and stroked her feathers, “Are you alright, love? What happened?”

“Over there, pass those trees.” She pointed. Davin couldn’t see where she was pointing to, but at this close of a proximity he could sense where she wanted him to go.

“Are you gonna tell me what this is? You, know, before I head over?” Davin whispered as he pulled out his dagger and began creeping over nonetheless.

“Blood.” Alice said slowly.

Davin didn’t understand, until he walked through the trees into an open clearing. The moonlight gleamed across the scene. The grass was streaked with it. It soaked into the ground like water. It was splattered and drying on the flaps of the collapsed tents. It was dripping off the wheels of the broken carriage. The air reeked of the scent. It was pervasive, unnatural, like an act of defiance towards nature itself. Blood was everywhere, except within the bodies of those that had given it so unwillingly. The corpses were strewn all around the clearing.

“What in all twin hells?” Davin took a step back, his dagger rattled within his clammy palm. He felt a chill run down his spine as his eyes stared at the carnage. He had never seen anything like it. What was this. What happened? Davin’s eyes were pulled towards the corpses. Men in armor, or what was left of them lay twisted in all strange shapes over the grass. Some were missing limbs, others torsos, and a few their heads. The smell of blood, feces, and smoke mixed through the air in a pungent scent. It was too much. Davin felt the dagger slipped out of his hand, as his legs gave from under him. He bent over and wretched. Alice flew a few paces above.

“Davin?” Alice asked with worry.

He couldn’t speak for the fear of vomiting again.

“Can you stand?” asked Alice.

After a few unbearable long moments Davin nodded shakily. He grabbed his dagger and slowly stood. All these people had been killed. This place was still dangerous, a small part of his mind warned him. He needed to try and regain his wits. He looked around, trying to ignore the bodies, searching for any potential threats. His eyes widened in surprise as he noticed a dirt road only a stone’s throw from where he stood. They were near a public road. This was the outer edge of the forest. Who would of had the gall to murder such a large amount of people so near civilization?

“Who did this?” Davin whispered. He could feel the tremble in his voice.

“Not a who, Davin.” Alice flew towards the ruined carriage.

“What?” Davin asked in confusion.

“Exactly.” She landed above the carriage. “A what, Davin.”

Davin slowly walked through the encampment. He noticed a woman’s body lying face down. Her blood-stained silk dressed was the final assurance Davin needed. This was a noble entourage. The armored men had been guards. He found himself slowly walking towards the noblewoman’s corpse. Her back was wide open her flesh, spine, ripped away. At first Davin thought it had been cut open, but he soon realized her back had been shredded apart. The horror of what had done this began to dawn as he stared at the large claw marks covering her body.

“A werewolf,” his voice quivered in horror. He hadn’t known. He had no idea of what kind of beast a werewolf was. How could he have known. Sheer panic began to rise within him as he realized the beast could still be nearby.

Sensing his fear, Alice spoke up, “I checked, it isn’t nearby.”

Davin’s fear was only slightly abated. He nodded a small thanks to Alice. He glanced back at the woman, he couldn’t leave her like this. He couldn’t leave any of them like this, they had to bury them. He turned the woman’s body over and gave a small shout. Her hands were still tightly wrapped around a little girl. The girl’s green dress was splattered with blood. The woman had died protecting her daughter. He pried the woman’s arms away and turned the pale girl over, confirming his worst suspicions. Her back had a large gaping hole. The monster had torn his way through the mother’s back and then the child’s.

“No,” he whispered. He stood up and backed off. He tripped and fell backwards. Looking up he saw he had tripped over a body, or what was left of the upper half. He quickly moved away. As he stared at the corpse’s rich clothes he guessed this had been the father. The man’s eyes were glazed over, but were still staring at his deceased family.

“Davin we have to leave. This place isn’t safe. I’m not sure if the werewolf will return,” Alice warned.

“Then why did you bring me here!? To look at this! This horror?” Davin lashed in anger.

“Davin focus,” urged Alice.

“They’re all dead. Killed. There’s blood everywhere. We can’t… W-we can’t just leave them here.” Davin walked back and forth as he spoke, his hands waved about.

“Davin focus, please. I need you.” Alice cried out, her high crest feathers falling low.

He stopped and gazed at her, “Why did you bring me here, Alice?”

“For him.” Alice flew over and behind the carriage.

Davin stood unsure.

“Get over here, Davin, now!”she shouted.

Davin forced his legs to move to her voice. When he turned by the corner of the carriage he saw him. A young man, bloody like the rest. But his chest moved. Alice stood to the side, walking back and forth impatiently.

“He’s alive!” Davin ran to the boy and looked him over.

“He’s the only one.” Alice said grimly.

Davin noted the boy had several claws marks, though they weren’t too deep. But the bite on his shoulder looked severe. He wouldn’t last long like this. “We need to get him to doctor Clover, immediately.” Davin turned towards Alice, “Why didn’t you tell me there was a survivor?”

“Because how you reacted to it all. Your strong emotions, at this close of a distance, make it hard to…” Alice struggled to express herself, “to be myself.”

The bond, of course. Davin hadn’t thought about it. “I’m sorry Alice.” He took a deep breath, he needed to stay calm, for her sake. He looked at the young man and gingerly picked him up, “We need to get to the Fyre Convoy, now, for his sake.”

Alice responded by flying up into the night sky.