A Butcher's Tale

Et Ceciderunt: "And They Fell"

Frank never was the most patient of their group. Not even close. The only one that could claim such a title was Sam. Always soft spoken, always aloof and calm. But dear ol' Frankie? Nah. To be completely honest, he had inherited his impatience and brashness from his father. 'Never wait for an occasion. Seize it by the neck or it'll slip out' was what he always repeated, an old saying taught by Frank's grandfather. Well, that and 'Honey, can you give me a beer?'. While he wasn't the most loving father figure of the world, he always treated him and his mother wiht great care. That he could respect. 

Frank eyed the forest behind him with an annoyed glare. "Fuckin' Curt and his shitty ideas. He knows that I don't like the dark and yet here we are, about to venture in the most haunted green shit-hole I've ever seen" he ground out with a bitter tone.

He huffed out a sigh, crossing his strong arms and giving a small kick to his backpack. He carried all the necessary for such an "adventure": tent, flashlight, sleeping bag, fire starter and a med kit. And a gun. Jack made it very clear that he wanted at least 2 others beside him armed. In the beginning Frank thought of it as an unnecessary precaution, but then again better be safe than sorry, right? His father's shotgun leaned from the tree he was sat upon. A used Beretta AL 390, with about about 20 12 gauge shells. He had practiced with it before, but he never actually shot anything alive, though he guessed it would be pretty similar to shooting metal targets, just with a bit more blood, something he was used to thanks to his work. A small shiver broke him out of his torpor and made him look around. The air was strangely still, not even a breeze passing by as the silence of that long night truly encompassed him. Barely out of his field of view Frank saw a small movement. A tree branch moved slowly while its brothers stood as firm as granite. A small buzz came to his ear and his hair stood up, the feeling of being watched becoming evermore present. Frank came down the thick branch he had perched upon and backed away from the sorghum tree, the darkness and the buzzing noise starting to become too much for his taste. He tried to keep his breathing in control, though his heartbeat had spiked, and reached for his rifle. For a moment he saw a glimpse of white at about 12 feet high, a small lump strangely resembling a face. A stifled thud behind him made him jump. Frank turned again, and for the second time in less than 5 minutes, the feeling of an apex predator filled him to the brim. The street lamp standing at his left  had been broken for about 8 months, ever since a drugged up rich idiot slammed into it with his Ford and, thanks to being a small town, it was yet to be repaired. A figure was barely visible in the shadows. It was massive, towering over him by more than 3 feet. It moved with an unnatural grace and movements too precise, too quick for something of such mass. Fluidity was in its breath and force in its meat. Frank saw its eyes and felt death's hand grip his thorat: fiery sapphires covered by liquid glass stared at him, an inferno behind both of them as they continued to grow closer with each heavy step. His rational part had recognized him, but what drove him at that moment was pure survival instinct. A step. Another. Another one again. Finally he saw its face.
A symbol of savagery.
A totem to ferocity.
A friend.

Jack came out of the shade.                        ==================================

He had simply walked to the spot they had decided, being just half a mile away from his apartement. He had picked up John along the way, giving him an helping hand to carry around his backpack. A comfortable silence fell after a while, the singing of cicadas accompanying them as they strode forward. All of the sudden John spoke up.

"Oi, Jack"

Jack looked briefly at him before answering "What, mate?"

"I was just wanderin'...look, I know we've not known each other for THAT long, so ya' can not answer if ya' don't wanna, but..uh, how do I put this?"