'I told you to mind that fire!'� Caddy scolded Simon, who immediately added dry brush to the fire. Caddy scanned the ground within the perimeter of the firelight for more fuel. 'And start heating up the ale while you're at it.'�

Having just completed the final leg of a sixteen-day hunt deep into the Axe Mountains, Caddy looked forward to his ale this night more than most. The fact that he and his eldest nephew, Simon, had to constantly watch the two younger nephews, Barnn and Eric, only added to his fatigue. Caddy stretched out his long legs out in front of him and ran his dirty hands through his red, thinning hair. The twins were annoyingly eager, constantly assaulting both him and Simon with a barrage of questions about their first hunt. But Caddy could hardly blame them. After all, they had only seen twelve winters and Simon, just eight winters older, was the know-it-all big brother.

However, tonight he would relax. Tonight he would revel in the peaceful solitude of the forest and take comfort in the unusually warm air.

* * * * * *

Caddy awoke to an ear-piercing shriek. His three nephews were immediately awake, upright, and disoriented.

'It sounded like it was far off in the distance.'� Caddy shook the sleep from his eyes and peered into the darkness between the trees. 'Did you hear the way it echoed?'�

Simon, half-dressed, appeared at his uncle's side at the edge of the firelight, but said nothing.

'Why don't the two of you move in closer to the fire,'� Caddy told Barnn and Eric. He reached out and held Simon tight at his side.

'You ever heard anything like that before?'� Simon whispered as he followed his uncle's lead and scanned the surrounding darkness at the edge of the dying firelight.

'No.'� Caddy continued to scan the darkness between the trees. 'It seemed to come from all around us.'�

'Maybe we should''�

'Listen!'� Caddy raised his hand.

'I don't hear anything.'� An edge of panic crept into Simon's voice.

'Yes. The forest, it's completely still.'�

Without warning, a gush of foul smelling wind and a thunderous clap slammed into them. Caddy flew backward amidst a flurry of red embers as the campfire exploded. The impact hurled Simon into the surrounding trees.

Caddy shook off the blow and immediately noticed something else, something amiss.

'Eric! Barnn!'�

Caddy frantically looked through the darkness. He heard a thump where the fire had been. Caddy rushed toward the source of the sound and leaned ahead in a desperate attempt to see. After a couple of steps, he froze. The glowing light caused by the dying embers revealed the broken and torn body of Eric.

Suppressing his horror, Caddy rushed to examine the body. What was only seconds ago his nephew had become a mangled, bloody mass of flesh and bone.

'Run!'� Caddy aimed his scream where Simon had just been. He Forced himself to breathe and then tore his eyes away from the bloody scene. After a long, horrifying moment, Simon didn't respond. Caddy dared to believe that he escaped, but he knew that was not the case.

Before Caddy could formulate his next thought, two more thumping sounds came from directly behind him. Caddy snapped his head around with his sword held out protectively in front of him.

'NO!'� he roared. The remains of Barnn and Simon thudded to the ground in front of him, as if the sky itself had been holding them high in the night.

Caddy struggled for breath. He tried to run, but his legs wouldn't respond to his will. He stood there, paralyzed and confused, his sword hanging uselessly at his side. His eyes fixed on the bodies of his nephews.

Caddy's mind swirled in disbelief and horror. In a detached way, he tried to force his will to regain control over his body.

Caddy grunted through clenched teeth and realized that something stronger than fear was holding his body fast.

* * * * * *

After releasing the third body from its giant canine maw, the creature folded its wings and landed near the clearing. Taking a moment to test its weight on two legs, it walked steadily toward the last remaining human. It marveled at the ease with which it captured and held the man's will and reveled in the smells and emotions that emanated from its prey. Through mere force of will, the creature held the man still, as if his legs were rooted deep into the ground.

The creature lurched its way forward, pausing occasionally to raise its thick neck and sniff the air. Its whole body shuddered at the euphoric scent of the man's fear. The smell made the whole experience more satisfying; the remnants of flesh and blood in its mouth tasted sweeter.

The creature left the tormented human alive to watch while it feasted on the remains of the other three. It now knew, and would again crave, the scent of fear. But this moment, the creature would feed, and it would relish.


Copyright © 2006 by Jeffrey A Brooker

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