Dullahan

2 - A Tragedy - 2

A new sound broke through the noise- a steady rhythm drummed out on bare earth, a pattern that sparked some hope within him. It was hoof beats, he was sure of it, and hoof beats meant that there must be someone there.

"Help!" He cried out, his voice shrill and grating, "Please help me!" He hoped desperately that it was loud enough to be heard over the sound of the dogs, that whoever was passing by would stop and rescue him.

He opened his eyes, staring fixedly at the entrance as another dog thrust itself forward, managing to get just a little closer, one foreleg shoved in beside its head. Its snapping jaws caught at Eldred's coat, and he cried out in fear. The hoof beats were loud, now, and with them came new snarls and barks from the dogs. He heard a thump from outside, followed by a shrill whimper, and he took in a sharp breath as the dog retreated suddenly, teeth bared.

Outside the hollow he couldn't see the other two dogs, and the third darted out of sight quickly as the sounds of continued violence came to him through the newly created space. He heard the quick footfalls of combat, the clink of moving metal, and the wet sound of flesh being opened. Eldred curled up, staring at the circle of light. He heard whimpers and heavy breathing interspersed between the lunging snarls of the dogs. He covered his ears after only a few moments, unable to bear the sounds for very long. This didn't prove very effective, and he could hear the dogs fall silent one by one, the impact of their bodies on the ground causing dirt to fall like dust from the ceiling.

Something large and furred flew past the entrance, a spurt of blood trailing behind, and he shut his eyes as well, trying to ignore what was happening, and trying to ignore the new fear that was starting to swell in his throat. What if he hadn't called in aid? What if he'd instead called in something worse?

It felt like a very long time passed in silence, with no more muffled sounds reaching him through the burrow's walls and his hands. His breathing was still quick and fast, although this was no longer from exhaustion, and the sound of his blood pounding was getting deafeningly loud in the absence of other sound.

He felt something brush past his ankle, and his eyes flew open as he cried out in terror, trying to kick whatever it was away.

"It's alright," came a voice from the other side- a voice he recognised, that matched the armoured forearm that was attached to the gloved hand that had reached into the burrow. "You're safe now," she continued, offering the hand to him.

He stared for a moment, still working through the sudden rush of adrenaline that coursed through him. Gingerly, he took the offered hand, and the armoured figure from his house helped pull him from the hole. He tried very hard not to look at the dark shapes he saw around the tree's trunk, instead locking his eyes on the centre of the figure's breastplate as he tried to get his breathing under control.

"Are you hurt?" she asked, voice as hesitant as he had felt to take her hand.

Unable to speak just yet, he shook his head. He didn't think he was hurt- other than the new cuts and bruises he had from the frantic run and the heavy landing in the burrow, his only injuries were the lingering terror.

"Good," she continued, sounding relieved. There was an awkward pause and the figure stood there. Eldred continued to stare, trying to ignore the vivid red he could see from the corner of his eye, telling himself that it was just leaves, nothing more. "You should head home," she ventured, turning slightly and pointing back in the direction he had run from. Behind her gloved hand Eldred could see a huge paw lying limp on the ground, the rest of the creature obscured behind the figure before him. He stared at it.

She stood there for a moment, and Eldred could feel some of the confusion as she said again, "It's alright, you're safe."

He managed to tear his eyes from the dog, looking up at the eye slit of the armour. "Are they dead?" he asked in a quiet voice, finally looking at the creature off to his right, taking in the blood-matted fur of its side and the tongue that lolled from open jaws.