A Grim Fairy Tale

Chapter Seventy

When Blitzo and Moxxie noticed all the villagers gathering together, meeting at the town hall, it seemed interesting so they decided to spy on them from the edge of the building. And with them being in their animal forms, their hearing would pick up everything. All around they heard the frightened citizens of the village whispering questions and fear among themselves.

"How did this happen?"

"And why so many this time? The beast has never killed that much before."

"How many will it be next time?"

"Who is will it be next time?"

Wallace the local magistrate and pretty much the unofficial leader of this small town was infuriated that a half of its residents had been slaughtered. Not just him though, a good many of people, men and women both, were hungry for revenge. They were speaking of sending out a hunting party.

"The one thing I know is that last night will be the very last massacre!" He spoke up. "For too long we've let this monstrosity terrorize our village every hunter's moon, hiding like cowards while it devours part of our own! But this time it's gone too far! Not it strikes without warning, and it takes more and more! It must be stopped!"

"But sir!" Spoke up one man. "None of us have actually seen the beast and those who have are dead! How can we catch we don't even know what it is?"

"I thought it was a wolf." Another man said.

"I thought it was a bear." Said a woman.

"You're both wrong." A third voice spoke up.

All heads, including Blitzo's and Moxxie's turned to the far corner of the town hall where a man stood in the corner. He was a a little man, broader than he was tall, yet surprisingly thin with a head full of white hair and dressed rather richly.

"This is a creature not of this world." He spoke with a thick Russian accent. "A creature far more powerful than you can imagine."

"Who are you stranger?" Wallace asked. "We've never seen you around here."

"I am a doctor from Russia. I travel from country to country hoping to use my art to cure the sick. When I heard about the tragedy that took place here, I knew I had to come. Not only to aid my healing methods to any injured victims who may still be alive to inform you all that I have seen the creature that plagues this land."

"You have?"

"Indeed. It once plagued my own homeland years ago, only fleeing once it had eaten every member of my village. Save for myself for I was away at my study at the time.  What threatens you is not some mere average predator, it is being that is not only strong and vicious but clever. It has the strength and senses of an animal but it thinks like a man. I've seen it myself, lunging at the weapons pointed at it and breaking them apart with its own teeth then plunging its claws into all those who came near. Tearing off their flesh and eating it while sucking up all their blood quicker than any parasite could."

"What is it, though?"

"It is an abomination. A product of sorcery and witchcraft. An antlered beast as tall as an oak tree, with teeth and claws sharper than any dagger, a hide of crimson fur, skin of a sickly tone, and a smile so hideously frightening, you'd swear the devil himself carved it into his face."

"Alastor!" Moxxie almost gasped out loud.

"Do you know where we can find this creature?" Wallace asked.

"Not yet but I know how we can set a trap for it. This particular creature prefers to hunt at night and it can't resist the call of nature, so I suggest tonight take a group of your strongest men and hide in the forest. Lay in wait for him to arrive to catch his next meal and then attack before he even gets the chance!"