Tuft and Teeth

Chapter 1: Sick

Marok softly hummed to himself as he carved a bear from a piece of wood. He carefully took away bits to give it a nice texture. His blue eyes fixated on the object until the door from outside opened slightly. Marok looked to see who is was, "Lizzy?" A small girl walked in and closed the door behind her, "Marok? There are some wierd people outside in the plaza." Marok smiled softly as the small child walked up to his seating area, "We have some more travelers? Well why don't we go see what their selling hmm?" The girl seemed worried, "They aren't selling anything. They are wearing unusual robes and are claiming to be prophets. They say a sickness has spread the land and are here to cure it and spread the word." Marok frowned, "That is a bit unusual. In this small town? Well if there really is a sickness then we should find out."Marok had arrived at the plaza with Lizzy where many peopled were standing around. By the well on a platform were standing figures talking among themselves. When Marok walked up to the crowd he asked a woman nearby, "Hay Geira? What's with these strangers?" The woman looked concerned, "I don't know. They arrived just an hour ago and are already causing panic." One of the figures stood up and spoke to the crowd, "Dear citizens! We are prophets sent by our King to spread the awareness of a disease that has been plaguing us for years, however recently it has spread much faster then we expected. We are here to find those who are infected and help them. Sadly there is no cure so the sacrifice of healthy men and woman have been kept in memory and forever in the All Mothers arms." Another priests carefully handed him a red gem ball. It was beautiful but Marok didn't like the look of it. The priest held it up, "This gem holds the blood of our All Mother her bled her body to cure our lands of blight and evil many years ago and and the tears of the All Father who wept of his wifes brief death. The crowed was in awe and Lizzy said while holding Maroks hand, "Is it not beautiful brother?" Marok smiled, "It is." The priest held it high with both hands and said aloud, "Please oh great Mother and Father! Please let us use this gift to reveal the hidden sickness that plagues these people! Let us cure yours lands so that you may worry not to die again!" The gem began to shine a bright red that flashed the crowd before disappearing. Maroks breath became heavy as he felt skin burning. He looked at his hands to see his veins glowing a deep red within his body. Lizzy stood there and asked shocked, "Brother?" Marok smiled softly while wincing and reached out, "It's okay. I'm okay." However Geira grabbed Lizzy away and said, "Marok. Marok your sick." Maroks body was burning heavily which made his breath very heavy. The priest pointed towards Marok and said, "Infected! Sacrifice yourself so we may live longer. Do what is right so we may cleanse your soul!" Marok stood there surprised as tears flooded his eyes as he thought, "C-cleanse my soul? I'll be burnt at the stake?!" Marok shook his head with very teary eyes and said to Lizzy before saying, "I'm sorry Lizzy." As Marok ran off Lizzy desperately reached out for him, "MAROK!!!"Marok was running through the forest and he heard the sound of yells of men not far behind him. Maroks glowing veins slowly disappeared as he kept running. Finally a man with a crossbow aimed it at Marok and let the bullet release. It hit Marok in the should to which he knocked right into a tree. Marok looked ahead to see the line of the dark forest then back at the approaching village people. He quickly started to run for the dark tree line and once he entered the village people stopped running. One of the hunters said, "Leave it! He wont survive in there. Not with those beasts around."Marok kept running until he looked behind him and noticed the people weren't chasing him. His sat down with his side by a tree to get a breath of air. His body was still shaking from the adrenaline. He reached behind to his shoulder to feel where the arrow is but his shaking hand knocked it to he pulled his hand away, "Shit. I wont be able to pull it out later." Marok looked at his hand to see a lot of blood. He let out a small sigh of worry as he said, "I'm going to bleed out." He leaned his head back and looked to the sky with his eyes closed and heavy irregular breath and said, "Why? I am not sick? Why would you do this All Mother. Lizzy will be left by herself and I can not do anything about it. Please I beg you to help her. Give her a good life. I-.... I beg you to make my death fast." The sound of slowly and silent footprints approaching was heard. The sound of a soft growling sound is what brought his attention. Marok weakly opened his eyes to see a giant wolf standing close to him. It's teeth bare as it approached closer. Oram smiled, "Thank you All Mother." before he closed his eyes and everything went black.