Hunters and Monsters

5- The Vampires

929 words

It had been a week since Logan and Virgil's trip to the swamps. Logan's father had reluctantly agreed to listen to Janus's advice to relocate. The impending full moon only prompted the prossess to go faster. The last thing the castle needed was to be attacked by the werewolves and hunters.

Virgil, being the anxious teenager he was, checked everything so many times the others sent him to annoy Logan and Janus instead. So now the three of them were all on Logan's room, going over the list AGAIN.

"How much food do we have for those who need it?" Logan asked.

"Barely enough for the trip. But some of the human women have money, so they said they should be alright if we settle near a food store of some sort. And those satyr brothers promised they'll be alright finding their own food, as well as watching over the medicine and care for the elderly during the journey." Virgil answered instantly.

"How many people do we have volunteering as guard?" Janus asked. He'd been quickly named as the head guard, since Naga were known protectors. 

Virgil sighed, looking up as he counted off on his fingers. "If I remember right, we've got about ten to twenty vampires, that one fairy girl, and a half-troll? I'll go check, be right back." And the young vampire scurried off, a little too fast for comfort.

Janus turned to Logan with a look. "What?"

"What, what?" Logan asked, self-consciously re-adjusting his tie. 

"You've got that look. You're worried about something." The Naga observed. "What is it?"

Logan sighed. "This castle is a refuge for all the locals. What'll happen if someone comes by and everyone is gone? There'll be no protection in this half of Florida."

"There's always the Northern Sanctuary, Logan," Janus reasoned. 

"Yes, but they can't hold as many people as we can. Or, what if when we return, the werewolves have taken over the castle or something?"

"Logan, calm down." Janus said sternly. "You sound like Virgil. Though you do have a point-" Logan groaned, and began pacing around his room in frustration.

Janus remained coiled on Logan's bed, watching the distraught prince pace around, his face calm and impassive.

Virgil came back in the room a few moments later, a paper in his hands. 

"Alright, we've got fifteen vampires with fighting and guard experience, as well as five with basic knowledge for fighting, the fairy with her magic, and the half troll. Plus me and Logan with our magic and day time abilities, and you, Janus, which should leave us okay defense wise. We also have twenty of the humans volunteering for part-time watches and stuff." He read off the paper.

Janus shrugged. "That should be alright, if we avoid major conflicts or hunting groups. Pairs of hunters should be manageable, and they mainly travel in pairs anyway."

"Also, Logan," Virgil asked with a sigh, looking up at from his paper. "Sit down, please? You're giving me nerves."

"You always have the nerves," Janus teased. "The humans have literally known you as Anxiety for the past... what? Few decades? A century?" Virgil did nothing other than simply roll his eyes at his friend.

"So everyone is leaving all together, right?" Logan asked as he settled down next to the Naga. 

Virgil nodded. "I just talked to Valery and one of the cooks, who're working together as organizers. We'll start gathering everyone today and set out once night has fallen, since some of the elders can't go in the sun anyway. Unfortunately some of the humans can't come with us because they have family in the city here, so they're going home until we return."

"The travel rout is all planned out?" Janus cut in. 

This time Logan answered. "Yes. We're taking the evacuation route, going north as quickly as possibly to get out of the forest and underground before the full moon and the werewolves strike in two days. We'll follow the underground trails and resurface in the forests of Georgia, where our brothers in the Georgia Sanctuary will let our group stay. Communications have already been made with them.

"Speaking of communication, Virgil, do you know if someone has informed Thomas and Joan of our migration plans?" Logan asked. Virgil froze, then cursed and ran away again.

"That's a no, by the way," Janus told Logan, who only rolled his eyes.

"Is everybody here?" A voice asked. Everyone was gathered in the dimly lit grand hall, ready to set out. The sun had just fallen, and everyone was restless.

"Section leaders, report!" The King demanded from the very front of the crowd of people.

"All my people are here," Valery reported. Valery was head of the humans on watch, those who'd hunt for food and things.

"Same here," Virgil added. He was watching the kids along with two mother vampires.

"All we're missing is Talyn, but they're making one last round through the kitchen," one of the cooks replied. All the kitchen staff had the food and necessities of the group gathered in bags on their backs.

"Everyone's reported in here, sir!" Janus informed the King from his group of warriors.

"We got everyone here too," Fred and Finn, the satyr brothers reported from their section with the elderly.

"Wait, Talyn just got back! We've got everyone!" The cook cut in.

"I think everyone's here, father," Logan finished from his group of adults.

"Alright, set out! Keep your heads low, and follow the orders of your section leader, they're in charge until we stop for the day!" The king declared. Three of Janus's warriors went out first, followed by the king and each group, the children and elders in the middle of the pack.