Prayers of the Lycanthrope

The Unwelcome Guests

We had packed all our supplies and were slowly making our way over unknown terrain. Julian never seemed to be sure of where he was taking us, and I began to worry that this might be a fruitless endeavor. We stumbled across a rather shady roadside path earlier today. Julian, Anthony and I all had a gut feeling about the route, but decided that we'd press on regardless of that. We had been walking for some time, with no sight of civilization.

I could smell something cooking in the distance and my stomach yearned for it. Why couldn't Julian and Anthony smell it? Something felt off... as if this was a realm not ready to be entered by mortals like us. As tiny beads of sweat ran down our faces from exhaustion, all three of us simultaneously became aware that we weren't alone on this path.

We continued moving deeper into the unknown, our path illuminated only by the soft light of a faint sun. My mind raced with questions and doubt as I tried to make sense of where we were headed; all I could do was hope that it would lead us to safety. As my thoughts distracted me from reality, I suddenly noticed a strange smell in the air, an unmistakable mix of spices and smoke. As we walked for what felt like hours, a small village started to come into view. The sun was setting and an ominous feeling hung in the air; clouds rolled over us like a blanket of dread. Yet amidst it all, there was still the mouthwatering aroma of cooking coming from ahead.

We entered the village cautiously, wary of any inhabitants that might be lurking about. Even in the stillness of dusk there was a palpable degree of darkness in the air that made us both uneasy. Everything seemed quiet and still, like a ghost town. As we got closer, though, subtle clues of life started to become apparent, an aroma in the air that I could not identify; clusters of makeshift houses scattered about with smoke coming from their chimneys. Then, suddenly, we spotted the silhouette of a woman near a fire and heard her faint humming. It was then that I realized this place hadn't been completely abandoned after all. She seemed immune to our presence, her gaze focused deep within its smoldering flames.

We crept closer to the woman, our senses heightened with each step in the darkness. She had her back towards us as she stirred a pot over a small fire outside one of the houses that seemed thrown together from whatever scraps and pieces were available. When we got close enough for her to catch our scent, she whirled around with an expression of surprise on her face and exclaimed, "Oh! You are human!" he paused for a moment before continuing equally as soft yet still demanding; "What are you doing here?

All around her hut were pieces of broken furniture, discarded items, and gutted animals strung up from roof beams. Julian said that we had accidentally ended up here and were in need of directions. The old woman narrowed her emerald eyes at us cautiously before speaking, "It would be best if you stayed the night."

There are creatures lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce on anyone foolish enough to wander outside." She paused, lowering her voice. "I've heard of people disappearing without a trace after being attacked by these horrible beasts."

"My husband disappeared a few days ago when he went out at night to gather water." Her eyes filled with tears as she recalled the events of that fateful evening. I exchanged glances with my friends; we all knew the possibility of what had befallen him.

Julian asked the woman "What do these creatures look like?". She shuddered and recounted what a single villager had told her. The villagers were attacked by some ungodly looking beings, clothed with hair from head to toe. Their faces were rather beast-like, strikingly pale in complexion, eyes deep black and menacing as they watched silently from the shadows of night. One survivor muttered that he swore he was staring at hellish monsters more than human spirits before them. Julian felt a chill course down his spine as we exchanged glances; something about this story was hauntingly familiar to him although he couldn't quite place it.

Anthony had a serious look on his face as he looked at us. "I think it's best if Julian and you stay here in the village overnight, I will go searching for this creature nearby." I looked over to Julian, who was deathly pale, his eyes wide with fear. Anthony must have felt our hesitation, for he sternly commanded us to stay put overnight while he went out into the depths of this infested forest to investigate further.

"It must be werewolves," he said with a confident voice. "And it looks like they made a home out of a nearby cave." We all looked at each other, unsure if this was really happening or not, but Anthony seemed certain.

Julian nodded at Anthony's suggestion. He then looked around cautiously; he had a feeling that something was watching them. His apprehension seemingly confirmed when his gaze finally landed on Anthony's pale face and narrowed eyes, the young man seemed to have picked up on it too. "I do not think these woods are safe," he warned, making sure to keep his voice low so as to not give away their position.

Julian refused to take no for an answer, convincing Anthony that he was well-equipped to travel with him and handle any obstacles they might encounter. He promised more than a few times that he could wield magical forces at his disposal if need be.

The old woman offered us bowls of steaming vegetable soup. We accepted, hungrily slurping the thick broth in silence.

Anthony stepped in and extended an offer to investigate the forest for her missing husband. She started off by declining but eventually softened up when she saw how adamant we were about helping her out. A flicker of hope lit up in her eyes as Anthony promised that he would search the far reaches of the woods for any trace of her beloved husband.

The old woman silently watched while Anthony and Julian gathered their equipment. She walked towards me, holding an armful of blankets and a change of clothes. I accepted them gratefully, eying the darkness beyond the door apprehensively. After spreading out the mattress, she explained to us in grave detail what could be lurking in the forest. She warned us to stay safe before handing over two silver daggers to Anthony and Julian for protection.

Anthony and Julian donned their cloaks, daggers at the ready as they ventured into the eerie forest. I watched in nervous trepidation as they disappeared into the darkness to search for werewolves. Hours passed as I lay awake in bed, shivering with fear of who or what else might be lurking amongst the patches of trees.