There was an unnatural calm over the village of Bellumisa tonight with even the wind barely rustling the leaves in the trees. Up above in the sky like a judgmental eye the moon stared down at the world and bathed it in gentle light. The nights were getting colder as autumn had begun, though the cool in the air was nothing compared to the chill of the grave.

Remus had been waiting at home while the warriors were out culling the horrific skeletons in the distant forest. With the report of the demon mage appearing the elders of the village had sent at least twenty of their greatest fighters, something that was unprecedented. The previous culling teams had only been around six strong and had been able to deal with the undead menace easily.

Suddenly the night air was filled with spine chilling howls, the mournful sounds echoing throughout the pines carried by the wind. In response many of the villagers emerged from their homes in confusion, looking towards the woods as in awaiting answers to their questions.

Remus also came out of his house along with his mother and turned to face the forest. Those howls were anything but good and he wanted to be there to hear any developments about the situation. Considering the demon mage's involvement however he didn't think the news would be good.

There at the edge of the treeline large shapes could be seen bounding through the foliage, their forms flickering in and out between shadow and moonlight. They were headed straight for the village, their bulky looking bodies covered in a thick layer of fur. No one seemed the least bit concerned however, after all why should they be?

With a snarl the first of the creatures burst forth from the bushes like a thunderbolt and came to a skidding halt at the edge of the village. It was a monstrous wolf with matted black fur and a huge drooling mouth, its back arched up in a unnatural way as its paws dug into the dirt. Then right behind it came another one, this one with gray fur and a stockier build. Several more came careening out of the trees until there were at least ten of them.

Then the biggest of the group pushed itself backwards and upwards, standing up almost twice as tall as a man on its oddly jointed back legs. Its eyes were filled with fury and determination as its mouth opened with sharp teeth to speak.

"Where are those damn elders?" its low voice demanded.

Remus recognized that voice. It was one of the strongest warriors in the village, a man by the name of Markku Kepple. He was a proud man who was a force to behold both in his human form and while transfigured by his curse. What was he doing back here with these others? Where were the rest of them?

Surely wondering the same thing the villagers had begun to form a gathering at the edge of the buildings, the ruckus and noise waking up anyone who slept during the night. The mere fact alone that the culling team was back at the village this early in the night was cause for concern in itself.

One of the village elders appeared at the forefront of this gathering, a man in his sixties by the name of Eledue Harker. His hair was short and white, his short beard the same. It was almost comical seeing such an old man acting so brazen, though even in his old age he wasn't a weakling.

He walked up to the formidable Markku. The transformed lycanthrope towering above the average man.

"Explain yourself! What are you and these other hunters doing back so early?"

Markku bowed slightly in respect, though it was awkward while a wolf. His voice was both sorrowful and full of underlying rage.

"Elder I regret to inform you we've been defeated..."

The gathered villagers were taken aback with gasps and shrieks cropping up across them as they heard this news. It was unthinkable and some couldn't believe it. One of the men standing by stepped forward and shouted angrily.

"What do you mean defeated? Since when do our warriors see that?"

Eledue had turned to look at the angry onlooker but didn't say anything in either rebuttal or endorsement. Some of the other elders had begun to appear from within the crowd now and were just as eager to hear the explanation as everyone else was.

Markku stood up straight again and took a deep breath. It was clearly difficult for him to speak of such a matter, though he was clearly agitated or even worried.

"The enemy was as weak and pitiful as expected, at least at first. There were more tainted skeletons wandering the field than ever seen before though they were pitiful targets. No it was when the demon mage appeared that things went out of control."

More gasps from the crowd as some were caught up in fear. Others scoffed in disbelief at the notion .

"The demon mage?" Eledue replied questioningly. "What validity do you have to these claims? That is an ancient figure, sealed away for almost a thousand years."

Another of the werewolf warriors approached the two of them and bowed quickly, this one with light brown fur and a gash one of his hind legs.

"You must believe us! We all saw her!"

With the seriousness of the situation clearly driving him to action Markku snarled at the elders before him in a threatening display full of anger.

"This is the anguish we suffer because of your lack of action! The demon mage appeared out of the undead in a whirlwind of death! She was like nothing we've ever seen and was armed with silver weapons. They knew what we were and had prepared in order to ambush us!"

He looked out over the gathered villagers, raising his claws hands as he addressed everyone.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"As I hate to admit it: we should have fled long before now. You've grown lazy in your old age elders and it's cost us dearly! Half of our force was killed tonight, something I thought I'd never see in my life! Even now the foe is on our heels, though it seems the demon is slowed waiting for their skeletal forces to shamble along. We must flee now! Or be wiped out!"

The villagers were filled with panic at hearing this news. All this time they had been sending out their warriors to deal with the living dead so they wouldn't have to leave their homes. There hadn't been a threat before but now they faced destruction because of a single mage. The legendary Demon Mage, a figure from the past that was known to wipe out entire cities with their mastery of magic. They had no hope to survive.

Eledue shouted over the growing din of the crowd.

"Please calm yourselves! The council will have emergency-"

He was cut off by a panicking woman.

"We're in this mess because we waited for the council! You've led us into death!"

The other elders had already gathered and were speaking to each other in hushed tones. One of them walked up to Eledue and whispered in his ear as he addressed the crowed.

"Very well." Eledue replied. He then spoke to the crowd again. "Everyone we flee tonight! Do not panic but conduct yourself with urgent focus! Gather your families and only what belongings you can carry! We make for the southern end of the Teforh Forest. Those that can transform do so if it means you can carry the old or sick! We have half a night of moonlight left so make use of it!"

Markku stood up tall and added to the speech.

"Travel is small groups to avoid detection! Don't stop for anything! Use howls to group together at our destination."

With the order to evacuate given the scene became one of practical madness. There was panic of course regardless of the order for calm. How else could people react to this news? They were being forced to leave their homes and abandon their village. Sure in the past they had moved to avoid the encroaching threat of human civilization, but this was different. This was a threat they couldn't fight even if they wanted to.

There wasn't even anyone they could turn to as allies in this battle. Humans were more likely to attack them while they were vulnerable than help them, even if it was against a common threat. The fey wouldn't be of any help either as the proud elves were safe in their hidden homes. No other races still existed up here in the world leaving the wolves truly alone in the world.

Remus knew these things. His own feelings on the matter were those of frustration and fear. How could such a horrible monster re-appear in the world during his lifetime? The stories of demons and goddesses should have remained stories forever. Now a true threat to the lands he called home was bearing down on them to wipe them out as if they never existed. It was unfair!

These were the thoughts that went through his head as he ran back home. There his family was already gathering up some possessions and food for their journey, his father already in werewolf form. They were talking to each other as they scrambled, their other children assisting with the collection of goods.

"Now we'll have to deal with humans on a daily basis!" his father snarled. "Not to mention our base urges for their blood. We've done so well on the flesh of animals until now. This is the world once again showing its hatred of our kind!"

As Remus approached his mother looked up to him.

"Ah! Quickly quickly! Remus go out back and get the farming tools. Those are very important!"

Remus nodded to his parents.

"Yes maam!"

He dashed back outside and around the back of their house. It was a simple home, little more than a hut really. But it was the place he had lived his entire life until this point and it was difficult to imagine living anywhere else. Indeed this was going to be a difficult time for everyone and he steeled himself for the times ahead. These farming tools would indeed be critical in making a new life for themselves.

As he dove behind the house and began gathering up the tools a sudden chill went down his spine, the hairs on his neck standing on their ends. He felt a presence looming over him and he whirled around to see who it was.

There in the dark shadow of the house a pair of eyes glinted in the scant light of the moon. It was a sensual looking woman with shoulder length curly red hair. She was dressed in a beautiful pair of trousers and frilled shirt, both the color of the earth. Her eyes were gray and as she licked her lips long fangs were exposed.

Remus was at a loss for words, the terror overwhelming him and paralyzing his body. This was the demon mage! This is the woman that killed not only Geminio but many other warriors as well!

"Look at the little lost pup" her voice sneered condescendingly. "The one that got away as his friend was ripped apart."

She approached her prey like a seasoned hunter, her eyes piercing the heart of the young man such to the point he was unable to even make a sound. There was a sword gripped in her right hand that sparkled in the moonlight.

"Don't worry" she continued. "I won't be culling you tonight, though I am a bit thirsty." She walked around to the side of her target and into the moonlight. "I'll wait until you've fled and felt safe again. Then the fear in your eyes will be much more delightful."

The voice of his father snapped Remus out of his stupor. He was calling him from around the front of the house.

"Boy where are you?"

His eyes had moved to look in the direction of the voice but quickly snapped back to the woman beside him. To his great surprise she wasn't there anymore as if she had vanished into the air itself. This wasn't far from the truth as he heard a shriek above him. He looked up quickly and saw a giant bat flapping its wings as it ascended into the night sky.

Was that the woman? Had she transformed into a bat like they did into wolves? He knew there was a word for that kind of creature but his panic kept his brain from functioning correctly. His body was still recovering from his terror as well and he barely managed to choke out a reply to his father.

"I-I'm coming sir!"

The woman was gone for now. That's all that mattered. He was inclined to believe her words, though why he did he had no idea. For some reason it made sense as well. Why would she kill him now when the hunt would be so much more enjoyable? This was a feeling he himself understood well after all. Though he had never been on the receiving end of it.

He clutched the tools closely and ran to the front of the house to join his family standing there. In their arms were all the valuable and important items the family possessed and now they would join the others fleeing into the wilderness.

"Come on then!" his father said firmly. "Let us go!"

On his command they all took off running. The darkness was being lit up now by the many fires starting all over the village. It was better for their homes to be completely destroyed than let their enemies loot them for their own benefit. Orange light basked the trees in flickering glow as the smoke began to blot out the moon and stars above.

Remus look one last look at their little village before he and his family disappeared into the towering pine forest, the glow of the fires fading from view as the darkness once again took hold. Now only the light of moon lit their way as they ran through the trees, though that wasn't a problem for their enhanced sight. For some reason though he couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him.

The keen senses of the young man would have been well vindicated if only he could see the tops of the trees. There standing in the branches of one of the tallest pines stood the devilish woman. She looked down at the fleeing villagers with an expression that combined both disgust and delight in a bizarre display. Her silver sword had been tucked away to avoid catching the light of the moon, though she wasn't particularly trying to conceal herself either.

"Run! Run!" she whispered to herself. "No one can save this kingdom now..."