Dear Reader,

Things have been muted this month. Two children disappeared a week ago, and before that, one of the older fishermen from the village. It is not just our village either, a conclave was held a few nights ago, all the villages along the coast and the shore of the great lake met here. Dozens of villages spoke of disappearances, children, women, men, young and old. It did not matter, whatever was abducting them was not human.

The corpse of the old fisherman washed onto the shore of a neighboring village just before the conclave. From what we were able to see, it was as if he was torn apart, honestly there was very little left of the body. Even the bones had been crushed, the ones we were able to recognize, whatever was left had been ravaged by bottom feeders, cleaning up what scraps remained.

A thick haze hangs over the village these days, no one has seen the killer. Fear has started to affect the other villagers, I am also not immune from this, even with Lukka by my side I hesitate to enter the water. No one is sure whether it is a creature of the sea, or one from land. However, we are certain the victims show no signs of attack from beasts that we are familiar with.

Although it is possible that an exotic beast merchant may have lost their cargo on our shores, it is also likely that whatever it is came here on its own. Almost all the victims disappeared while at sea, or close to the river or lake, yet there were few who were taken from further away. Unless it was a sea creature which was magically able to walk upon the earth, something we had never once seen before. A possibility was that there were two different creatures, or that it was a person and a beast, possibly a pet, one to capture the victims, and the other to consume them.

A theory that made it obvious where the ire of the villagers would turn, an old recluse, living away from others, treated as an outcast and with a beast at his beck and call. Obviously, this is a false assumption, but given the situation and the simple logic, the villagers clung to it almost immediately.

At first it was just the families of the victims who stoked the flames, soon enough those who had long since wanted me gone added their voice. The ostracization came first, like a leper I was turned away from every craftsman. My ability to survive was solely based on the hunting trips to the reef, without Lukka I was not sure what I may have done.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

For now, we could still eat, fish was plentiful and there were still some reserves of vegetables in the hut. The first big change occurred two nights ago, yet another villager disappeared, just my luck it had to be from out village and during a time when I was out at sea. They did not catch Lukka that night, but I fear the hunting parties are aiming for her now.

Lukka has remained on alert, she has grown to understand some aspects of what I am saying, at least I believe that to be the case. She has remained hidden avoiding the others, even as they sneak around my hut, waiting to follow me back out to the reef.

Earlier today I had the closest run in with death I believe. One of the younger villagers, a man whose sister recently disappeared threatened me. They are not certain that I am responsible, but they do believe Lukka is, without any evidence they claim her guilt and wish to end her life. I will not have it, Lukka is innocent, anyone with eyes would be able to tell that the wounds upon the victims were caused by rows of teeth. Something that Lukka does not possess, that is why I was certain of their mistake.

However, these men and women were not driven by reason. They were driven by hate, anger, and fear, they did not have an answer thus they would strike out at whatever or whoever was closest to their false beliefs.

I was lucky today others held the youth back, but I could see the smoldering anger in some of their eyes, it was only a matter of time until that last bit of restraint disappeared. If anyone else was to be taken within the next day or two, I fear it is I who will be found floating in the sea.

It is important that I mention that the dreams, nightmares really, well they returned with a vengeance. I recall bits and pieces, a crumbling wall, a fleet of ships, burning sails, and the screams of women and children. After that it is just darkness and pain, whatever it was, I doubt that is the last I will be speaking of it. Ever since the attacks everything has been stressful, it is taking its toll and the nightmares will soon be the least of my worries.

Tomorrow, Lukka and I will be heading to the reef. I am sure some of the villagers will follow me, either the creature will attack someone, or it will attack me. Either way, the hope is to prove that Lukka is not the monster everyone appears to think that she is.

Wish me luck stranger.