|
Part II
Chapter 2:
The First Attack
The band of hungry wolves stormed down the mountainside, through the trees at the northeastern edge of the village, where the slowed their pace to stalk their prey. Kritzia’s eyes fell on their first contact.
Her minions fanned out behind her in a triangular formation, slowly following their leader toward a nervous elderly gentleman appearing to wring his hands together, as if he were about to do something that would further destroy his reputation, something stupid.
“Misssterr Owensss….”, a deep guttural feminine voice whispered.
Startled, the old man turned around with a jump and a frightened yelp.
“Ah! Oh… It… It’s you….”
“Youuu werrrre exsspecting sssomeone elsssse?”
“N-No, no of course not.”
In the distance, Mister Locke, was closing the general store for the night. He looked up and froze in terror, as he saw eight wolf-like beasts surround Mister Owens.
Kritzia noticed Mister Locke and motioned to her minion, immediately on her left, to take out the witness. Her minion gladly took to the assignment, drooling in the process. If Johan didn’t know any better, he would have thought the beast was smiling.
Mister Locke saw his fate break away from the group and rush toward him. He dropped his things and made a run for the door to the general store in hopes of living another day. It was too late. Before he could reach the steps of his safeguard, he felt an abnormally large paw on his shoulder bringing him down. Looking up from the ground, the last image burned into Mister Locke’s mind was that of snarling, drooling jowls coming at his face… and those… those eyes.
Johan witnessed the attack from a distance, and winced at the final killing bite, but noticed the beast did not eat Mister Locke where he lay. Instead the minion grabbed his victim with his powerful jaws and carried it as if it were a rag doll, outside of the village.
Mister Owens slowly turned back to his visitor, with his hands noticeably trembling in fear.
“Misssterrr Owenssss… Youuu oowwe mee sssomething.”
“Y-Yes, yes I do… but…”
“But…”
“Y-you, I mean, we have an arrangement….”
“II’m wellll awarrrre of ourrr arrangggemment.”
“I show you were to find Marg… The Oracle and you let the two of us live. The rest of the village is yours.”
“I will kiiill who I pleasssse. If you don’t hhaand overrr the Oracle, Wee wwill taake the village, kiiill the Orrrcacle and youuu.”
Raising a finger in a ‘follow me’ gesture, Johan blurted, “Right this way…”
*** |
