Witch Hunt

Prologue

            The full moon's light snaked through the dense canopy of trees and into the forest. The gentle breeze caused the wildlife to quietly sing the night's song and the shadows slow danced to the melody. A young buck sniffed around a bubbling creek in search of a tasty treat, so far, the night had not been fruitful. As though sympathetic with the peaceful creature, an owl cooed from above to the buck. The buck lifted its head making eye contact with the beautiful bird, then returned its attention to the damp ground.

Suddenly, a hooded figure bolted through the forest. Twigs snapped beneath his feet, leaves tore from bushes as he brushed into them, the creek splashed beneath his heavy boot, and the nocturnal animals scurried from the disruption. Three men on horses hollered after the mysterious runner and were close on his tail. The dark character paused in a beam of moonlight and gasped for breath while looking around frantically. Piercing green eyes locked with the startled buck and the figure extended a pale hand towards the young creature.

"Forvandle!" hissed the stranger. What resembled green flames shot from the open palm and pierced the frozen buck.

The small antlers began to grow rapidly into deadly projections. Muscles rippled under the tough flesh and the joints dislocated and relocated as the creature tripled in size. Boney spikes protruded from the spine and the hooves had grown disproportionately massive in comparison with the body. Its flat teeth dropped one by one onto the moss, replacing them were fangs glistening with blood. Pained moans and grunts escaped the monster as the final bolts of magic completed the transformation. The "buck" looked at the cloaked magician with illuminated emerald eyes as if awaiting an order.

The riders caught up and their horses whinnied nervously at the sight of the master and their creation. Cautiously, one man raised his lantern toward the monster, while another directed his attention toward the victim of the chase.

", surrender yourself in the name of King Geri or face certain death." With trembling words, one man ushered his horse towards the shadowy man referred to as Wyborn.

His jade eyes locked with the monstrous buck, "Beskytte!" he growled.

At the demand the atmosphere turned an eerie green and the buck hollered before charging the king's men. The horses reared up in fear, sending a couple men to the ground to be trampled. The buck swung its antlers wildly, which collided with the ribs of a horse, sending it crashing into a nearby boulder. One man attempted to drive its sword into the buck's side, only to have his blade shatter against the impenetrable hide. In response, the buck spun toward the attacker and gnashed its slobbery fangs at the man. To the sounds of their screams, Wyborn turned and sprinted into the shadows of the woods.

The moonlight broke through the tree tops, a gentle breeze caused the shadows to dance about while the owl cooed the melody, and the bubbling creek ran red.