Foldrin cleaned his knife on the black fur of the Wornger before sliding it back into the sheath. This was the easiest killing of a Wornger he had ever performed. It usually took skill, tenacity, and a bit of luck but all he had to do was walk up and put his knife into its throat as it gorged itself on the food laid out on the front step. Before standing he snatched a roll of bread that was untouched. ‘So this is where all the food is.’ He thought as he packed it into his mouth. He also snatched the bottle of cider. It was looking to be a very profitable night.

“KARRINA!” came a man’s shout ringing through the night. Foldrin sighed, ‘More work.’

He started jogging over to where it seemed the voice was coming from. But the howls of Worngers broke through the night. With the bottle in one hand, he pulled his knife out with the other.

“KARRINA!” the voice seemed further to the right. As he turned down an alley between houses he saw the hind legs of a Wornger slip past, he cursed the dastardly beast they always went after the weak, the lonely, or the sick. He might have been alone but they could feel his fury. Coming out into the open he saw a shadow of a man, “KARRINA!” he screamed into the night. Between Foldrin and the man he saw a shadow lung, “Behind you!” Foldrin shouted trying to alert him to the danger. With a cry, the man fell as the Wornger ripped into his leg. The bottle flew from his hand smashing into the base of the creature’s thick skull with a yelp it let go of the man’s leg. His knife plunged into its heart a moment later.

The man was groaning in pain as he tried to hold his leg together. “Hey, it’s going to be alright what’s your name?” Foldrin said as he ripped a piece of cloth from his already ragged cloak. Pulling the man’s hands away he saw the skin and muscle torn from the broken bone.

“Marv. My daughter, where is my daughter?” the man said through gritted teeth.

“Your daughter is safe, she is at the Cromlin’s place,” Foldrin assured Marv as he bound his leg with a muttered prayer. “Now you need to follow me, the worngers will gather here. They’ve smelt your blood. We need to get you indoors.”

Taking a look around Foldrin decided to risk leaving the man for a moment. Running to the closest building he pounded on the door. “Hey, open up! I have a wounded man here he needs medical attention.” He was met with silence. He tried the door but it was locked. Looking he saw it was a simple latch as he was about to kick it open when he heard a noise. It was a long dragging noise. Too late he realized it must have been a trunk of some sort. Cursing the fear that was plaguing the town he rushed back over to Marv he lifted him.

“Come on Marv I am taking you to your daughter.”

“Karrina, where is she?” Marv muttered.

“She is just down the street, come on we need to go to her,” Foldrin said as he set him on his shoulder, keeping his eyes open he tried to pierce the darkness which grew as the night deepened. Straining his ears he could hear the almost quiet footfalls. Pulling Marv further he tried to get to the intersection of houses he would need space if he wanted them to live tonight. Setting Marv down leaning against the nearest building he pulled his blade out again. It was two feet in length from hilt to tip, single edge made from fine Western steel. Breathing in and out he centered himself on the Truth. The world brought itself into focus, the lines of buildings could be seen as though in a faint light, the sky became a gray blanket, the ground a pale shadow of itself. The worngers stood out as black stains upon the world, a blight that needed to be purged that the night could no longer hide. With the Truth within, he struck out at the Wornger that thought the night hid it from sight. His blade went through its throat with ease as he jumped back not wishing to leave Marv.

Sensing his fury they approached warily. “Come closer you mangy mutts it’s time for payback.” There were three in the intersection with him not counting the one he had killed. He could see that a few were coming from to his left and another from ahead of him. The right seemed to be clear which was a relief. Setting his stance he prepared for their attack. Two of them launched themselves at once, one going for his chest the other for his knees. Twisting he jammed his blade into the higher one and grabbed the lower by the scruff of its neck. Heaving, he let the dead one slide off his knife to sail through the air and slammed the other one into the ground, it yelped as its ribs broke then went quiet as he snapped its neck. Standing he saw the others standing together, there were four of them now, but they were hanging back as they saw their pack get slaughtered. They wouldn’t leave him now, not when they could smell fresh blood and they had a foe who killed some of their own. This was the only reason he loved Worngers, their bestial minds couldn’t assess the danger they were in, they would only see what they wanted to kill usually fighting till there was only one left eventually turning coward and running away. He smiled eagerly to rid the world of more vermin.

He stood there waiting for them to come closer all the while keeping an eye on his surroundings, it wouldn’t do to be attacked from behind. He wanted to finish them off but he couldn’t leave Marv, he spared a glance to look at him. He wasn’t doing well there was a large puddle of blood, and the tourniquet he had tied must have come undone. He turned his focus back on the Worngers not wishing for them to take advantage of his distraction. ‘That’s strange’ he thought as they lined up in the street. On guard, he brought himself closer to the Truth taking comfort in its peaceful embrace. Stretching his sense outward he felt more, than saw, a roiling cloud of Darkness. It rolled across the sky blocking out the gray and replacing it with inky blackness and before it came an oppressive fear, choking in its thickness. The Worngers seemed to draw strength from it, he felt it try to seize him in its grasp. He heard a gasp.

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Looking back he saw black tendrils wrap around Marv, who seemed to be in more pain than he had earlier if that were at all possible. He fought and struggled as he was dragged along. Biting back the fear that threatened to worm its way into his soul he drew even closer to the Truth. Now within the Truth, in its very core, he let himself burn with its fierceness holding up his hand he let it burn forth into the world drawing heat from his body. Holding his hand forward he burned away the Darkness, turning from Marv he was just in time to catch the fangs of a Wornger on his blade. Unbalanced it bore him to the ground blood and saliva dripped on his face as the Wornger tried to force its way past his defense its claws raked against his skin tearing his clothes. Another tried to bite his foot but he sent it away with a kick to the jaw. Getting his hand under the Wornger he let his anger burn into the Holy Fire, with a howl and minus a tongue it fell over its heart smoking. Stumbling to his feet Foldrin leaped to Marv knowing that the Worngers would have taken advantage of his distraction. His knife pierced the lung through the shoulder of the one crouched over Marv. His hand found another, he gripped its throat tight letting the Fire draw heat from its body, as it caught alight it howled in pain, and he threw it into the pack. The Darkness recoiled from the Holy Light rush forward the pack tried to turn around into the narrow path. Two fell to his blade another to the Fire. As the last Wornger succumbed to the flames he felt the Hatred of the Darkness it was like a thick oil that tried to stain his soul with fear. Taking a deep breath he pushed it from his mind. “By virtue of the Truth in Light, you have no power over me. By the power of the One and those who serve, your assignment is over.” He said as he made the sign of the One, three fingers to the forehead and then clenched across his heart with head bowed he made his prayer. At once the Darkness fled, Foldrin smiled, nothing can withstand the power of the Creator.

*****

Karrina held her breath as she heard her father calling her name. She wanted to run to him, to pull him inside, save him from the Darkness. But… she couldn’t, nothing could stand against it. She had seen it, no one had believed her, the Darkness. Everyone eventually had come to believe in the Darkness, after it had taken their loved ones.

She had made her way to the door when she heard the howls. These were not the howls of wolves that she was accustomed to; these were as though someone had taken all the nobility and pride and replaced it with viscous gluttony and fear.

“Oh,” she groaned, not able to force herself to go to her father. She waited there by the door while the howls and screams increased, images of her father trying to crawl away as those beasts ripped him open kept repeating in her mind. Gathering her courage she grabbed an old broken staff. Breathing deeply she recalled the disdain Foldrin seemed to have for the things which she feared. Lifting the latch she prepared to face the Darkness. She screamed as the door burst open. She swung her impromptu weapon before realizing it was Foldrin, he caught it in his bloody hand. He looked terrible drenched in blood but all thoughts of him left her mind as she saw her father draped over his shoulder. Moving quickly and carefully he laid him down on the blanket.

“I am sorry,” Foldrin said as he moved aside for her.

Kneeling next to her father she could see that his skin was cold and clammy, his forehead beaded with sweat. “Oh, Papa?” she kissed his head. Looking she saw his leg or what remained of it.

“I am so sorry. I should have been faster.” Foldrin said with his head bowed. “I don’t know how to heal. I did what I could.”

“No. This is my fault I should have stayed home as he said.” Karrina choked, unable to continue. As a knot formed in her heart.

“Is there a doctor or someone who treats wounds?”

Karrina nodded, “on the other side of town.”

“They won’t even open their doors will they?”

She shook her head knowing how afraid everyone was, how afraid she was.

“He doesn’t have much time left. Let him hear what you have to say, it will bring him peace as he passes.”

Sobbing, she laid her head on his chest, “I am so sorry!” she cried out in the night. “Please, please don’t go! I. I don’t know what to do.” She didn’t know how long she bore her heart out to him. Telling him how much she loved him. Till finally, she felt his once strong hand upon her head. Looking into his eyes she saw a firm resolve.

“Ka Karrina my girl. Don’t be sad.” He said haltingly. “Stay strong. Be brave. The Darkness. Can. Be. Defeated.”

Taking his hand in hers, “Papa I will.”

Nodding his head he turned to Foldrin, “Sir, you. You do not have fear. Protect her.”

With a solemn expression, Foldrin bowed his head, “To the best of my ability I will see her safe.”

With a sigh her father spoke his last, “I love…” his eyes stared off into a spot to the unknown, his once clear gaze gone.

Karrina thought her heart had stopped at that moment, gone were her tears only the stark reality of what had occurred.

“Let him go so that he might rest in peace. It is not good for the living to hold onto the dead.”

Looking at Foldrin she could barely understand his words.

“He desires to protect you still, let him know you will be alright so that he can rest in peace.”

Turning again to her father she whispered as she stroked his hair, “I am going to be alright Papa, you don’t have to worry anymore.” She kissed his head once more.

“May the Creator bless you and guide you. May you see his face as he brings you home. May you be welcomed into the Light and rest in the Truth.” She turned as Foldrin spoke this strange benediction. Placing three of his fingers on her father’s head, closing his eyes as he did so, and laying his palm upon his chest. “And may our sojourn end so that we may join you in the journey to come.” There was a finality to his words that made her accept her father’s death as a fact whereas before she had hoped it was a terrible dream.