Vuroth's Tear: Even the Gods Cry

Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Aven awoke in the night with a sense of confusion and anxiety. The night was silent and peaceful, Analda's quiet breathing was all he could hear but still, something was weighing on him. He could feel that itch, his instinctual warning that danger was near.

He gently slid his arm out from under Analda and sat up to better hear anything that might give just cause for his worry. Still he grabbed Quicksilver and held it tightly as he stood.

A twig snapping outside made him stare at the door in panic. He silently shook Analda and as she woke, he held a hand over her mouth. Her eyes grew wide with fear but she nodded and he removed his hand.

Aven pointed for her to hide in the far corner of the hut and then slid on his boots. His bare chest heaved with each nervous breath, Vuroth's tear hung around his neck giving off its usual gentle glow. He pulled the scabbard from his sword and leaned against the wall next to the door. He looked to make sure that Analda was hidden and stood ready.

The sheet hanging in the doorway slowly moved to the side and a Husk poked its skeletal head inside. It sniffed the air, making the thin layer of dried flesh where its nose had been vibrate then it stepped inside. Aven sliced the head free and caught the body before it made a sound hitting the floor.

Outside, Aven heard the wolves waking and howls began cutting through the silence, followed by the familiar sound of battle breaking out. Someone ran inside and Aven grabbed them with his sword ready, until he realized it was Donovan.

"That's the second time you've almost killed me," He whispered, "where's Analda?"

Aven looked in the direction that she had hidden, "We need to keep them out of here. I can't protect her outside."

"What the hell are we going to do?" Donovan asked with a tremble of panic in his voice.

Aven pushed the tarp aside just enough to peek outside. In the firelight, there were wolves fighting husks and an enormous creature tackled one of the Lycans and tore its throat out with a deformed, clawed paw. He noticed a man standing in the chaos with a grin as he watched the creature slaughtering the werewolves.

"How many husks are out there?" Aven asked his friend in a quiet tone.

Donovan shook his head, "It didn't look like a whole lot but there are enough and that creature with them is slaughtering everyone."

Aven clenched his teeth and his grip tightened on the leather grip of Quicksilver, "You stay here with her. If anything comes in here, kill it."

Donovan wanted to stop him but he knew that nothing he said would work. Aven rushed out the door and immediately began cutting down husks. They fell fast as he charged towards the creature, it slammed its spiked head into a wolf and crushed him against the ground, the Lycan's howl of death broke through the air before he fell limp. The creature lifted its head and saw Aven.

It charged towards him, its long tail whipped violently from side to side as it rushed towards the Mage. Velana, the dark red furred wolf dove at the creature and was batted away by the sharp spike at the tip of the monster's tail. Aven dove out of the way just in time to miss being impaled by a large curved horn that stuck out of the creature's chin. He jumped to his feet and stabbed hard at the beasts throat, barely making a dent in its thick hide.

"Damn," Aven huffed as he studied the creature for a moment before having to dodge another strike from it. He saw no weak points, its entire body was covered with a thick flesh and spikes.

A husk grabbed Aven from behind and held him while the beast charged towards him, he struggled hard and finally broke free just in time to throw the corpse onto the creature's tusk like spikes. It shook its head and tore the Husk free. Its mouth opened wide and a high pitched screech tore through the village.