NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: This story is very dark, but I hesitate to call it horror.  I'd put it more in the thriller or suspense genre, but the genre list doesn't support those.  Think Dexter the tv series or the Frankenstein movies.  

I have written up to chapter 4 but I want to include more perspectives than what I've covered in this chapter, so I am adding in content where possible.  I'll try and release those chapters fast, but no promises.  I'm a quality over quantity type of writer.  

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In the peaceful forest of Elfundel, you’d expect to hear nothing but animals trodding across the meadow, birds chirping, and the occasional wolf ripping out a deer’s throat.  Oh, how the animals wished for the return of the simple, comforting sounds of wolves tearing apart deer.  

In a clearing, where the animals usually came to drink water, a stone cottage had materialized over night.  

The cottage aroused interest and intrigue in the local inhabitants; animals who came to sniff and do their business.  Before long, they realized the cottage belonged to a human, something many had learned to fear. Humans had often made hunting game of deer and rabbits. They distanced themselves from the cabin upon that discovery.  

However, humans didn’t scare the more unsavory animals.  The local predators welcomed the additional prey. They continued using the stream as if daring the human to come out.  

In response to this aggression, the human inside left food scraps outside for the animals to find. Delighted with the free meal, the predators ate without care.  They amassed outside the cabin only hours before they dropped dead from an array of illnesses.  

At night the human came out, seemingly in a daze.  His receding hairline and messy shoulder-length gray hair gave him a wild look. he had a jutting brow with long and messy eyebrows and a beard, cut-off just below his chin.

He howled into the night, and if any predator thought to challenge him, he ripped them apart with his bare hands. Within an hour, he wore the still bloody hides of all the animals who’d attacked him. When no more animals dared, he fell asleep on the mound of gore using the pelts as a blanket.

More predators found the pile of meat, and they carelessly munched on the fresh food surrounding the still sleeping human. Each of them fell asleep soon after only to wake up hours later with new features added to their bodies. Some wolves awoke with an extra leg or tail.

***

Soon enough, the cottage caught the attention of an elf, Ilidia Falwyn. She had a regal appearance, given by her crisp complexion and flowing blond hair held in place by a headband made from twined roots. A beauty only hindered by her plain green form-fitting pants and long-sleeved shirt that left too little to the imagination while lacking any form of feminine appeal.  The only frill or accessory other than her hair band consisted of a necklace of wooden ornaments decorating her modest bust.  

She looked down on the cabin with wide-eyed annoyance. The house shared a design favored by the humans; of all the races in Lent’wyn, she found the human’s the most difficult to live with.

Their hierarchy of government bore the least effective results of any race. Their short life-spans made them prone to stabbing each other in the back. If a human committed a crime on elven lands, they alone could be punished, and their governments denied any responsibility.  

Of course, if even a single elf made an appearance in a human kingdom, the elven council received human messengers demanding an explanation for the next month.  

She had to investigate the human; her ranger duties helped maintain elven boundaries against foreign invasion. Humans knew who ruled these woods. The situation struck her as odd. Why build a home on elven land without telling anybody? Elves allowed humans to live amongst them, but there were guidelines for that sort of thing.

The stones used to build the house showed traces of magic proving that a powerful mage had built the house—whom on the surface, followed elven law. The law stated that you cannot cut down trees or skin animals without council approval. Wood served it’s purpose, but elves would go to the trouble of avoiding its use where possible.  Trouble that more than a few humans had difficulty accepting.

Regardless, she found the occupant suspicious at worst and troublesome at best.  He chose to live in a clearing that nobody really cared about.  She only came here to fetch water before going home. They would have found him eventually, but not until the patrol routes shifted next Farsa.

She should report him and wait for a response.  A tedious and boring day of watching the house awaited her. She grit her teeth in frustration. Remembering her daughters scheduled archery competition, Ilidia wanted to finish with the cabin as quickly as possible.

She weighed her options and decided against breaking elven protocol—mostly. She’d notify command of the intruders presence using a messenger familiar.

Many found the imagination required in elven magic to be near impossible to master—Ilidia among them. In response to this challenge, elves developed talismans that could store the detailed imagery needed.

She recited the incantation and shattered one of her wooden ornaments calling up the image of a small pigeon flying through the sky. Her hands glowed green for a moment, and a small pigeon flew out.  “Go to Feitla.” With a sweep of her hands, the bird flew to the south—the direction of the elven settlement.

Even if she sent a message, she had no intention of waiting around all day. If she found an excuse, she would break into the house and kick the man out herself—thus, letting her go home to watch her daughter.

The image of a proud wolf stalking its prey, providing food for the pack’s young entered her mind as she shattered another ornament. She summoned a wolf who leapt to the ground below and began approaching the house. The wolf made a single lap around the house while keeping its distance.  Taking a sip of water from the river, the wolf wandered into the forest. Better to play it safe, she thought. She kept the powerful wolf familiar hidden in the bush as backup.  

a third ornament broken, and the image of an owl watching for mice from the branches entered her mind. This time she sent the bird to the small ledge over the doorway. From there, she listened telepathically through the familiar from which she heard scraping noises.  

“Gotcha.” She smiled. She’d imagined the man inside had trapped one of the animals as humans so often do.  A barbaric practice where humans captured animals to sell as pets.

Worse yet, he could be a poacher.  Humans often trespassed on elven lands, hunting animals to extinction for sport and entertainment. Either one would give her reason to arrest the human removing the troublesome house from her patrol; thus, allowing her to go home.

Poaching especially would give her license to kill the human. She leapt to the ground and strung a set of claws over her hands. She’d take two-inch claws over a steel longsword anyday. Made from dragon scales—lesser dragon scales—they could deflect and even damage a steel sword.

Elven craftsmen made the gloves from whatever leather was handy—recycled from dead animal hydes of course. several scales were stitched on allowing the wearer to catch a sword with their bare hands.  

As she approached the door to knock, the door opened by itself.  “Welcome! Welcome!”  A well-rounded middle-aged man came out.  His height didn’t lose out to the elves and he wore a fine brown cloak.  He had long shaggy gray hair and a messy beard.  

The elf raised her claws to the man’s neck. “Who are you, and why have you entered elven territory?”

The man raised his hands to shield himself, and carefully pushed the claw away from his throat. “Ah.  Apologies.  My name is Sergo, a wandering mage.  I had been traveling for months, and I was so moved by the beauty of the forest here that I hoped to live here for a few days.  Just in time too as my travel provisions were running low.  May I ask what your name is?”

“Ilidia Falwyn,” she glared a hole into his skull as she said it, “forest ranger.”

This man built a house through magic, that required an enormous amount of skill for a human, she thought. Normally, she wouldn’t go anywhere near such a powerful mage, but in a forest, her nature magic should win out. “Why do I hear animals inside.” She kept her questions short and to the point to avoid feeding him an answer.  

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He peeked over his shoulder.  “Oh that, I’m so sorry. I found a rabbit, but,” he patted his stomach, “I’m not quite hungry yet.”

Elven law allowed hunting of animals for food as long as it stayed within set guidelines approved by the elven council. The elves believed in the circle of life just like humans did.  Even she enjoyed a bit of meat every now and then.  She couldn’t throw the man out for hunting.  

More importantly, the man’s calmness unnerved her.  He had an elven ranger’s claws around his throat, and he maintained a cool-and-collected smile.  She decided to dispose of this conversation.  “Then release it or kill it,” she said.

Putting on a big toothy smile that showed off his various yellowed and missing teeth. He said,  “Right right, I’ll kill it then.  I just wanted to keep it for awhile longer.  You don’t see rabbits with long tails like that in the country.”  He turned around and started retreating into the other room.  

“Wait.  You said this rabbit had a long tail?” She recalled a certain long tailed ‘brusk rabbit’ from the endangered list.  

Sergo returned to the doorway with the same smile that he’d left with. “Why yes.” He gave her a questioning glare. “I found it outside next to my door. It had broken its leg and couldn’t get away.”

Unsettled by the discovery, she decided to proceed with caution. “The animal is on the no hunt list. You aren’t allowed to kill it.  I will return with a healer tomorrow, you are to keep it alive until then.”

Just as good, she thought.  She had an excuse to go back to the elven settlement telling them to bring a healer and an armed guard. By the time I get there, they can grab another ranger to stand guard, she smiled at the thought.

“Ah, but it might be too late by then.  The animal doesn’t look too healthy.  I’m not sure it will last the night.”

Frustrated over the situation, she balled her fists.  “Clearly you know magic. do you not have a healing spell?”

“I’m afraid that healing magic has eluded me over the years.  I was never good at it so I always kept a supply of healing droughts on hand.  Although it might be a little expensive, perhaps the rabbit would like some. It’s the Halsner Recipe.”

“No!” She said recalling the strength of the potion would knock out a grown human.  A nearly dead brusk rabbit would die from the concoction. “Can you bring the animal here?”

She had some rudimentary healing abilities. ‘A few seconds, it’ll be stable and I can hurry home.’

He turned around again, then turned right back. “Ah. I’m not sure it’s safe to move anymore.  I believe she’s pregnant and the wound looks quite severe.”

Ilidia’s wanted to hit something. ‘Is the world conspiring against me going to see my daughter.’

“Take me to it.  I’ll treat its injury myself,” she said.

The man stood aside. “Straight through that door over there.” He pointed to the door on the right.

As she entered, a strange feeling shocked her mind, her connection with her familiars vanished.  She stood there frozen from the shock.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I forgot to tell you about the wards. Basic things, any mage would place at the entrance of their homes.”  He said as he closed the door behind her and started motioning her forward.

She understood his explanation, but she didn’t know how to respond to it. Had she been thinking properly, she’d have turned around and run away, but if he intended her any harm could she really just walk away?

In the next room, she saw the brusk rabbit with the broken paw. A simple bandage covered the wound.

She wanted to tell the man to leave the house while she worked.  Heck, she wanted an armed guard of four soldiers to watch Sergo, he’d created a house on her patrol route without her knowing and that scared her. He’d already severed her telepathic links with her familiars, the wolf and owl would sit there forever until they ran out of mana.  The pigeon would fly to its destination, but then what?

She decided to just get the job done with. ‘I’ll get in and get out fast.’ Upon closer examination, the bandages had hidden a very red and swollen leg.  After setting the leg, she ran some nature magic through the wound by whispering a small prayer to the nature goddess, and the wound closed.  “It still needs some additional treatment, but it should hold until a proper healer can have a look.”

Weak prayer healing relied on an areas connection to a goddess.  Anyone could do it in Efundel if they had an affinity with nature.  

“Thank heavens. You are so talented.  Oh how I wish I had someone as talented as you to keep me company on my journeys.” The man grabbed her arm and started pulling her along into the other room.  “Come. Come.  We have much to discuss. I will have you over for dinner.  I haven’t entertained someone in a long time.” She tried to resist, but the man had a grip and a lot of pull.  

“I’m sorry, but I really should be going now.” She said while digging her heels into the floor leaving long streaks as he pulled her.  

He suddenly stopped.  “Ah, I have kept you too long.  I just got so excited at the prospect of finally having some company.  The road of a traveler is long and lonely.” He released her arm. “You probably have all sorts of things planned.  I’m sorry for burdening you with keeping this old man company.”

She’d walked halfway to the door, when he released her arm and she had a change of heart. If he wanted to hurt her, he’d have done it five times over and she still had some time before her daughter’s contest.  Probably just some lonely old man, she thought.  

Ilidia tried to relax. “No. I can stay for tea, but I really have to be going after that.” She didn’t turn around, his speech told her all she’d needed to know.  

“Oh, that’s wonderful. I have some exotic tea straight from the gnomes themselves.”  He left only a minute before he returned with a steaming kettle and two filled cups of tea.

She reached over taking the cup from his outstretched hand.  All tea tasted the same to her, she cared about the temperature more than the taste.  Too hot and you burn your tongue, too cold and it leaves a bad taste in your mouth.  “The tea is really good,” she said honestly.

“Oh I’m so glad to hear that.  You know, I had to fight tooth and nail with a northern Wispman to get it. I called him a

She started rubbing her head as she felt light headed.  Why now? she thought as her vision started to blur.  

“I’m sorry, I think I’m not feeling too well.”  She said as she began massaging her cranium with both hands.

“Ah that’s quite alright, that’s just the drugs kicking in.”

Finally panic struck her as she tried to break her last ornament while mumbling the incantation, but nothing happened.  

“The drug also messes with your ability to use magic, so I’d recommend you try the claws,” he said in a calm and composed manner.

She tried lunging at him, but her consciousness waned and her vision grew dark.  She tried to walk, but fell over.  “You bastard...  Why?” She said as she crumbled to her knees.  

“I may have lied a teensy bit about my medical background.  You see, I need an elf for a certain something, and you fit the bill nicely.  It would be problematic if I damaged you, so here we are.”

With what little vision she still had, she took one last look at the doctor who sat in his armchair—sipping tea.  

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