Sword of Stars

Chapter Three. Shadowed Ones.

The next day camp was quickly packed up and they were on their way. They had only just gone over the Andrill-Feldor borderline for their mission and it would take a week at least to get back to the city.

After the surrounding forest passed it revealed a flat land with grass spanning as far as the eye could see, dark hills and mountains made up the backdrop in the distance. ‘The Fields of Blood’ the plain had been called after a great war between the nations long ago. It was said that the grass had changed from green to red during the final battle, looking almost like a sea of blood and gore. They had to traverse the plains quickly as being seen by some rouge Feldorans could be the end of them. Luckily, they managed to find a few dips in the land that they could hide in for the night.

It was the second night in the plains and Garek was at the warming fire with a tankard of meade enjoying the cool night air. The moons shone through a thin layer of cloud and the insects were still chirping at each other when Aeryn dropped down on the long seating log next to Garek. The fire and moonlight reflected in her green eyes making Garek’s breath catch. Her dark brown hair fell around her shoulders, slightly greasy. One didn’t get much of a chance to wash long hair when traversing across the land.

"Garek," she said softly. Her eyes were full of concern and worry, eyebrows furrowing, "you haven’t been getting much sleep, so Ahallan tells me. I have something that may help." She held out a small glass vial with a tiny cork in the top.

Garek eyed it suspiciously before reaching out to take it, "Thanks Ae..."

A scream pierced the silent night which was followed by an inhuman wail of agony. The vial dropped to the ground as Garek shot to his feet, spinning to face the direction the scream had come from. Aeryn’s hands darted to her hair and quickly tied it back with a leather cord, and then she drew her long and curved dagger.

"What in the Stars was that!?" One of the mercenaries who had been around the fire said in panic. They drew swords as one just as another scream sounded from the opposite direction.

“You two,” Garek pointed at two of the mercenaries then pointed in the direction the second scream came from. “You go that way! Come on Aeryn!” He didn’t wait for a response or look back to see if they did as asked, he simply jumped the seats and ran.

As he ran harder than he had ever run before he passed Ahallan’s tent with Ahallan himself stepping out, no shirtsleeve, sword out, and a sneer his face, no doubt from being awaken from his slumber.

“We’ve got this side! You take care of the other!” Garek shouted at Ahallan as he flew past. Garek heard him growl faintly behind him as he broke the outer tents and entered the plain of grass. He quickly climbed the slight rise in the land and as he stumbled over the lip, he froze in shock.

What was standing there in the moonlight was humanoid except it wasn’t a man at all. It stood on two legs but that’s where the similarities ended. It was completely black as if surrounded by shadow and seemed to drain the moonlight from the air around it that attempted to touch it. It had long arms that reached its knees with long claws at the end of lanky fingers, perfect for slashing and tearing. Its legs were horse like; big and powerful, but instead of hooves its feet ended with three long sharp talons.

 It hunched over as it spotted Garek and glared at him with all too human eyes; its beady black iris grew and shrunk at random as if the eye was driven insane by the things it had seen. Garek saw a long tail whipping madly from behind the beast. Teeth suddenly appeared as if it were snarling, its mouth shaped like a humans but teeth pointed; jagged and sharp. Its hair was long and waved with black smokiness despite there being no breeze.