9th Moon of the fifth, 34 HT – Road South of Reinchurch

We woke up at first light and set off again. There was very little talking, the main sound was coming from Joel’s wheezing. I was sure he was getting worse, but his determination seemed to be carrying him through the pain.

The sun was at it’s highest when Joel stopped on the dirt road.

“What is it?” I asked him, wondering what he was looking at.

“See those tracks?” He said to me.

I looked to the ground, I don’t know if it was just me but there was nothing there.

“What?” I asked.

“The grass, there’s a footprint.” He said with a sigh.

I looked again, ever so vaguely the grass was bent but I could not see a footprint.

“It went off road here, into the forest.” He said and pointed to the forest on the side of the road.

The trees were bigger than any I had seen before, they seemed to go into the sky, their wood was dark brown and their leaves were a deathly green.

“Let’s go.” He said and limped into the forest.

I still couldn’t see any tracks on the ground, however I wasn’t about to argue and followed behind.

As soon as we were a few yards into the forest the branches and leaves blocked out a lot of the sun. It felt as though we were in night again, with only a few beams of the sun reaching through.

I could hear the faint sound of small animals running around in the distance, breaking twigs and digging into the hard dirt floor.

After half an hour we found a stream that went through the forest, I was amazed at how quickly the water was flowing and the fact it was as clear as sky.

“This way.” Joel said and started to walk down the stream, “See these branches broken off the trees? Only the beast that attacked the village could do that so easily.” He told me.

We followed this flowing stream for what felt like hours, I was ready to say that Joel had gotten us lost, that was until we came across a cave.

The stream continued through the forest, I looked at Joel and knew straight away what he was thinking, going into that cave was the last thing I wanted to do.

“It must be in there.” Joel said, although I knew he had no way of knowing for sure.

“Oh…. Okay.” I stuttered. The sudden realisation that I could die seemed to hit me and my body filled with fear.

But Joel, he seemed unfazed. He limped across the stream and into the cave, he turned around and saw me standing perfectly still.

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“Are you coming?” He asked.

I knew then that if that monster was in there, then the chances are I was going to die. However, I had come this far.

I grabbed my sword and unsheathed it, then followed Joel into the cave.

There was no light inside of the cave, the only thing giving sight was the slight bit of sun that managed to sneak in.

The stones were jet black and the floor was almost crumbling on each step. As I watched Joel limp ahead I just got a more intense sense of impending doom.

The deeper we got the harder it got to see, eventually I turned around and couldn’t see any light coming from the entrance. Not only was I now afraid of finding this beast, I was afraid of not finding the way out and starving to death.

“Jaymie, look.” Joel whispered. I hadn’t realised how much further ahead he was than me, “Be quiet.”

I crouched down and took slow, silent steps as I approached him. As I got closer I started to see some flickering of a flame in the distance.

When I reached him, I looked around the corner and small fire burning. What caught me off guard was there were three people stood around the fire.

They were all dressed in full length light brown robes with hoods that covered their faces. They appeared to just be stood around the fire, not saying anything.

“What are they doing?” I whispered to Joel.

His eyes shot wide open and I realised what I had done, the three people turned their attention to us. They had heard me.

“Who’s there?!” One of the people called out. His voice is what frightened me the most, it was inhuman. Deeper than any I had heard, yet seemingly having a screech along with it.

The one who spoke moved and seemed to hand something to another, yet I couldn’t see what.

“Who dare wake me from my sleep!” The next person shouted, but his voice was exactly the same as the last.

I felt my hairs stand on edge, my entire body felt as though it was shaking in pure fear. I didn’t know who these men were, my only worry was that they were worse than this beast we were hunting.

“My name is Joel.” I suddenly hear my companion shout. He stood up from the shadows and walked into view of these three men.

“Joel.” One man said and took a step forward.

“We mean you no harm.” Joel shouted back at them.

I remained crouched in the shadows, clutching my blade as my body shook.

“Oh, but you do.” The one man screeched out as he stepped closer again, “I can sense it in you, the anger, the pain, the emotion is delicious.”

“What are you?” Joel shouted, I watched as he gripped onto the handle of his sword but kept it sheathed.

“That is not the question you wish to ask.” This man called back.

The other two remained perfectly still, stood by the fire, their bodies hadn’t moved an inch.

“Go ahead,” The man said, “Ask me.”

“Where is my sister?” Joel shouted to them, his voice was firm and confident. Whereas I was shaking in fear.

“Sister?” The man said, his voice gave a cackling laugh, “You came to save your sister, perfect.”

“Just give her back to me and we will leave, no one has to get hurt here.” Joel said to them, still holding onto his weapon.

“Oh but they do, Joel, son of Keatheon.” The hooded man said.

“How… how do you know my fathers name?” Joel asked, this time his voice broke ever so slightly, he was clearly shaken by them naming his father.

“I know everything about you… and the boy hidden in the shadows, Jaymie.” He cried out.

I couldn’t believe it, how did this person… this thing know who I was?! I had never left the village before, yet this man in a cave knew my name.

“The bravery of men never ceases to amaze me,” The hooded man said, “It will make you even more perfect to break.”

In a heart beat the other two men began to walk closer and closer to Joel. He quickly pulled out his sword and aimed it at the approaching men.

“Get back!” He shouted, “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I don’t want to hurt you!” The main hooded man shouted, his voice mimicking Joel’s and mocking him.

I turned my back, taking a deep breath, I tried to gather all of my courage. I gripped my blade and rose from the shadows. Just as I went to shout back at these mysterious men, I felt a shadow engulf me.

Trembling in fear, I turned my back and looked up at the beast that was in our village. Before I could do anything, everything turned to black.