Into the Darkness Second Draft

Castle Bound

Doug tossed and turned amidst the blankets Kindrow had brought, his dreams returning to the wolf that was Mr. Baker and the wounds in his arm. He kept feeling something tugging at his arm, but whenever he awoke, the room was black. His companions were still nearby, and nothing other than the black fabric of the blankets had anything to do with him, let alone his arm.

Samantha did not find sleep any easier. She woke what felt like every hour just to stare into the dark for a few minutes before managing to fall back asleep. She spent those few, waking minutes, hoping that the next time she woke up, it would be for real and she would find herself in her own bed.

It was about five hours into the night when Andy woke Carl, and the two traded spots, the gnome sitting with his sword in his lap, across from the door to the room.

Kindrow snored through most of the night, despite Gottfried nudging him continuously.

Doug woke with a start, staring into the face of a dire wolf. "What the?" He jumped, searching for something to defend himself with.

Carl woke with a snort from where he dozed, "Huh? Oh, that?" the gnome waved dismissively.

"I thought he said they couldn't get in!" Doug screamed.

"Maybe they didn't want him as bad as they want you?" Carl offered, before adding, "Let me get rid of it for you." With a grunt, the gnome grabbed the dead wolf be the tail and slowly dragged it across the grey floor.

"Let me help you with that," Kindrow said, taking ahold of the tail and, with their combined strength, pulling it to the far corner of the room. "Only one make it through?"

"Yeah, it appeared over there," Carl pointed to another corner. "Sorry for the mess."

"But how'd it get in?" Doug asked incredulously.

"Not sure, one moment, it was just there," Carl said with a shrug.

"Let's take care of Cain and we'll call it even."

"Done."

It took nearly an hour for all six companions to wake and agree on a course of action. First and foremost being, to open the door and, weapons in hand, make sure that the dire wolves were actually gone.

"Everyone ready?" Kindrow asked, his hand on the doorknob.

Carl and Andy took their places on either side of the doorway, much as Sam and Doug had tried what seemed like forever ago.

With a count of three, the satyr opened the door, and jumped back, ready, but nothing came through.

The High-Borne stepped outside, closely followed by Doug and Samantha. She jumped as the door slammed shut behind her, the wind from the motion stirring her hair. Turning, she gasped as she saw the deep gouges marring the stone door.

"Yeah, they're real all right, they went that way," Carl pointed off to his left.

"And which way are we going?" Sam asked, relieved when the gnome pointed right.

"Ok, let's watch our steps everyone, we should make it to the castle right before sunset if we keep moving," Kindrow said, touching the stone structure for what he hoped was not the last time.

"And if we don't?" Doug dared.

"You saw what the night brought last night, are you willing to give it another chance at you?"

"Let's get going." Doug said, waltzing off in the direction Carl had pointed first.

"Doug, this way," Sam said, calling after her friend, as everyone else marched toward the castle.