As wolf is to sheep

Immobilize

Authors note

This story combines a news article a fellow writer shared with me and a nightmare I had a while ago. I usually write more near-future sci-fi, but I decided to try my hand at medieval fantasy.

Part of the series: Moonbane
Setting: Medieval Fantasy.
Time period: Early modern period (16th century)

Trigger warnings: Dark themes, light gore, strong language

❖

Miles looks over at the northern meadows. He and Dwight are standing on a grassy hill. In the north, they can see the mighty Quanahosa River.

Miles looks at Dwight. Dwight is wearing a brown button-up shirt and pants, a black cape with a hood and dark brown boots. On his back is a folded tent bound to the top of a leather backpack. This is in stark contrast to Miles, who is wearing a green shirt, pants, cloak and boots, blending better in the background. Dwight's bright green eyes scan over the landscape, ignoring Miles' gaze.

"Now we just have to get down the hill and cross the river before nightfall, and then we will be safe."

"Are you sure we will be safe there? I don't see how that river will stop the Moonwolves from attacking."

Dwight rolls his eyes. "I sourced some old documents, and they clearly state that Moonbanes cannot cross rivers."

"Moonbanes?"

"Yes," Dwight answers.

"You know that Moonbanes are a different kind of creature, right? They are a type of vampire. While a Moonwolf is a kind of werewolf that changes from their traditional animal form to a large Wolf-like monster."

"I know what a Moonwolf is, asshole. Anyway, the old manuscript said that a flowing river would stop the moon creatures. The Moonthingies come from the south, and we go north of the river. Hence, we will be safe there."

Miles sighs. "You are lucky I bought an immobiliser from that travelling mage."

Dwight smiles and punches Miles' arm. "I appreciate that you make a backup plan, but trust me. We will be safe. We don't need the magic widget."

❖

After a short walk, Miles and Dwight arrive at the Quanahosa River. The mighty river is about a hundred meters wide. A large stone bridge crosses the river. The stones the bridge is made out of are covered in moss and plants. But it still looks sturdy as ever. Miles looks at the bridge.

"This bridge looks like a Moonwolf can easily cross it."

Dwight rolls his eyes. "It is magic, Miles. Moonthingies are magically stopped by running water. I read it in a magic book. You wouldn't understand."

They cross the bridge, and Dwight sets up the tent just next to the bridge. The metal tent magically rises, creating a triangle-like structure studded with metal bars. Green cloth covers the tent, making it almost invisible in the green bushes that grow on the riverbanks.

Miles and Dwight enter the tent. Miles reveals the immobiliser from his pockets. It looks like a lantern, but instead of a flame in the middle, there is a large purple crystal. Miles flicks the level on the bottom of the crystal, and the purple crystal emits a faint purple glow.

"What are you doing," Dwight asks.

"Oh, the crystal needs half an hour to warm up, and it is about half an hour to sundown, so this is the perfect timing to light it."

Dwight crosses his arms. "I told you we were safe on the north of the river."

Miles sighs. "It can't hurt to be extra careful. I don't wanna take any chances."

Dwight curses. "Fuck you, Miles, you always do that!"

"Do what?"

"Act like you know better than me. Because you actually studied these Moonwhateveres."

"Moonwolves," Miles interrupts him.

"Whatever they are called. Well, let me tell you. You might be better at book smarts, but that won't do you well in the wilderness. Maybe you should trust someone with street smarts for once."

Miles is confused. "You literally got the idea of crossing the river from an ancient book."

Dwight stamps on the ground. "It is literally impossible to speak with you. I am going to sleep."

He picks up his sleeping bag from his backpack and unfurls it on the tent's floor. He lies down, but his face is away from Miles.

Miles shrugs. He hangs the lantern on the pole of the tent, illuminating the tent with a faint purple glow.

He takes his own bedroll and unfurls it next to Dwight. He then falls into a deep, deep sleep.

❖

Miles wakes up in the middle of the night from a strange sound. It sounds like someone is scraping metal over stone. He pops his head out of the tent. On the bridge, he sees a giant creature. It is about two meters tall and has blue fur that glitters in the moonlight. Its giant paws end with claws that look like knives scraping over the stone structure of the bridge. A giant wolflike creature stands before him. Its giant snout is sniffing at the bridge. Miles is sure it picked up their trail. Miles wonders how it stays mobile so close to the immobiliser. He looks back in the tent, and he realises. The immobiliser is entirely black. 

Miles wakes up Dwight. He sleep-drunkenly opens his eyes.

"What is wrong."

Miles puts his finger on his mouth and shushes him.

"A Moonwolf is coming here."

Dwight shrugs. "It's ok. It cannot cross the bridge. Running water, remember."

"We can't take that chance. It is already in the middle of the bridge," Miles whispers. He shakes the immobiliser. Why doesn't the damn thing work? Then he spots the lever on the bottom. It is in the off position. He turns it back on.

"Did you turn off the immobiliser?" Miles asks.

Dwight yells at Miles between his teeth. "Yes, I did. That way, when we wake up totally fine tomorrow, I can tell you that we are fine without the immobile thingy, and then you will have to admit once in your life that I sometimes know things too."

Miles covers his face in his hands. He turns on the lever on the immobiliser and pops his head back out of the tent. The Moonwolf has crossed most of the bridge and is sniffing a few loose rocks on their side of the river. It is only about ten meters away from the tent. 

"Ok," he whispers to Dwight. "If we leave now, and travel north, and don't make a sound, and stay out of sight, we might stay ahead long enough for the immobiliser to kick in. Then it will stop in its tracks and not attack us anymore."

He exits the tent, followed by Dwight. "Ok, be very silent," Miles whispers.

"I have a better idea," Dwight grabs one of the metal poles of the tent and pulls. The tent collapses with a bunch of loud metal clangs, and Dwight is holding a short metal pole.

The Moonwolf looks up at them, his deep red eyes focused on them. It growls, revealing its enormous silver teeth. Saliva drips on the ground.

"What the hell. Do you plan to fight the wolf with that tiny stick?" Miles asks.

"Not the wolf," Dwight says. With those words, he smashes Miles' knee with the metal rod. Miles screams in pain and falls over. Dwight picks up the immobiliser. "I am sure it will spend over half an hour eating you."

Dwight returns to the tent while the Moonwolf gets ready to jump. In a single leap, it jumps at Miles and destroys his throat with a single leap of his claws. Then everything goes black.