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Part I
Chapter 7:
A small venture
Stumbling out of the pub, Marcus had quite the time staying focused on where he was going, and trying so hard to remember Old Man Owens’ directions. He said something about just beyond the woods, and…staying on the path…?
“Who does he think he’s fooling? I won’t get lost”, Marcus thought to himself as he looked around and stumbled once again. “Now, where are the woods?”
Marcus finally found the edge of the woods, and the path leading in. It was getting colder as the evening set upon the village. A thick fog was rolling in slowly and ominously off the mountains. He could hear some sort of rustling noises, off in the distance as he entered.
Marcus kneeled down and opened the sack he was carrying to find his lantern. As he fumbled about he heard the rustling noise again, this time accompanied by what sounded like an animal whimpering and whining. Marcus looked around the darkening woods, but saw nothing.
“Ah. Here it is.”
He pulled out a small lantern and a match. Striking the match on the side of the lantern, the smell, once again penetrated his nostrils, causing his eyes to tear up. There was something about that sulfur smell. Marcus shook it off as he ignited the lantern and stood up to get a better look around. He didn’t see anything, but he could still hear the whimpering coming from… over… there!
Marcus followed the sound. It got louder as he approached, and moved around trees and bushes, and prickery plants. When he got in site of the noise, it stopped. The whimpering turned into a low guttural growl.
There standing before him was a black and gray timber wolf, with teeth bared. Marcus stopped short and almost lost his balance. Marcus moved left. The beast followed still growling. Marcus moved right. The wolf followed suit, however, it seemed limited in movement, as if chained or otherwise. Marcus stood still. The beast lowered its head, and began to whimper again.
Marcus moved slowly toward the wolf, holding his lantern high as to see what was wrong. He noticed that the wolf was caught… in a hunter’s trap. It was hurt, and bleeding. Marcus attempted to free the beast but quickly withdrew when it snapped at him.
“Now listen, hear!” Marcus said shaking a still slightly inebriated finger at the wolf.
“If you want out, you’ll let me help you.”
Snap! Bark! Growwwwwwl!
“Fine! If that’s the way you want it, stay here. When that hunter comes back, you’re his next meal, and your pelt will fetch him a nice price in the market.”
Marcus turns to walk away.
Whimper whimper….
Marcus attempted one more time. This time he succeeded. He unlatched the hinge and forced open the trap. As it opened, the wolf staggered aside, stopped, and licked his damaged hind leg. Marcus began to stand up and the wolf growled again.
“Well, that’s just a great thank you. Not even a lick for the man that just saved you, no just a growl and a stare down. Well, you’re welcome, nonetheless. Go on. Off with you, then.”
Marcus shooed the wolf away with a hand the wolf more than willingly trotted off into the darkness. Marcus looked around.
“Oh great…. Where’s the bloody path gone?”
He stumbled over a few branches and bushes and come out to the clearing. There it was the house of the Oracle.
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