The Demonic Creature

Beneath the shifting shadows of the gnarled branches, three children pressed forward, frail silhouettes against a darkness far older than themselves: the irony of quarry stalking its hunter.

The wind had fallen silent. Only the hesitant crunch of leaves beneath their steps broke the stillness, yet even that rang false, out of place, like an intruding noise within a forbidden sanctuary.
Pally walked at the head, his sword slung across his back, his thoughts tangling one into the other.
Was it this deep incomprehension he had felt ever since his dream? A strange sorrow, mingled with a dull, unwarranted anger? Or that devouring emptiness demanding answers? He himself did not know. But he pressed on, as though some invisible force were guiding him, a mute call drawing him toward the shadows he sought to confront.

Behind him, Merwinn and Ellendia followed, their gazes sweeping every pocket of shadow around them. Merwinn, short of breath, cast nervous glances at Pally, his eyes reflecting a mixture of worry and disbelief. What was he truly seeking?
As for Ellendia, her bow held firmly in hand, she advanced with taut resolve, but her fingers trembled faintly on the string, betraying the fear she refused to show.

Ellendia broke the silence, her voice low, nearly a whisper: "Do you know where to look, Pally?"
Pally did not turn around. His eyes stayed fixed straight ahead, as though searching for an invisible destination within the dark. "Not really... But I'll know once we've found a trail."
Merwinn, despite his efforts to tread in silence, snapped a branch beneath his foot. He furrowed his brow, his voice betraying his unease. "Pally, this is madness. We don't even know what we're dealing with. What if it's... a monster?"
Pally stopped dead, forcing the other two to halt as well. He turned his head slightly, his profile lit by a stray moonbeam filtering through the branches. "It is. A monster. A demonic creature. And that's why we're here."
He remembered his dream, that entity drawing near to him as though to strike before he had awoken.
Merwinn and Ellendia exchanged a stunned glance. Pally's cold, direct answer froze them where they stood.
"What? How can you say that? How can you be sure?!" Merwinn shot back, his voice barely more than a whisper, yet laced with panic. Then, with an uncertain smile, he added: "And quit looking so serious, you're freaking me out!"
Pally clenched his fists, his voice steeped in a troubling conviction. "I just know it. Don't you find it strange that Paladins came all the way to Sleepinwood for this threat? You think they ride out for bandits or wolves? No. Something far worse is here."
Ellendia tightened her grip on her bow, her fingers trembling despite herself. "But... what if it's something we can't fight? Something completely beyond us... Have you thought of that, Pally?"
Pally turned fully around this time, his eyes plunging into Ellendia's. "If we can't, then who will? Braum? The Paladins? They're here, yes, but they've done nothing so far. Nothing concrete. And us... we've always known how to protect this village. So maybe we can still do something."

Merwinn, his jaw clenched, lifted his eyes to Pally, searching for his words. His voice wavered, but at last he spoke, his gaze fixed on his friend. "Pally... I mean... we're just kids. This creature, it's not like the challenges we've had up till now. This is something else, so why do you think we can handle it? The Paladins are here to deal with it, aren't they? We've got nothing to prove."
He clenched his fists, his eyes reflecting his concern.

A heavy silence settled. Even the rustle of leaves seemed to have hushed. Suddenly, a distant sound tore through the night: birds bursting into flight in a clatter of beating wings. The three children flinched, tensing instinctively.
Pally drew a deep breath to steady himself, his shoulders easing slightly. He looked away and answered, his tone lower but heavy with emotion: "It's not about proving anything. I... I need to know." He was trying to find the words.
"There's something here, this creature, and... and I feel like it concerns me. I can't explain it, but... I sense it."
Merwinn studied his friend, noting the rare gravity in his gaze, but also something deeper, almost imperceptible. A tension, a trouble he could not fathom. Pally seemed shaken, but Merwinn did not dare press him, not now. He sighed, resigned, and nodded slowly.
"All right. But if we run into this monster and it's too strong, we flee. You hear me, Pally? No heroics. We run."
Pally raised his eyes gently to him, and for an instant, Merwinn thought he saw a flicker of gratitude mingled with worry in his gaze.
"All right," Pally murmured, his voice steadier, almost soothed by his friend's promise.

Ellendia, silent until now, slid a furtive glance at Merwinn and Pally, ready to say something. But suddenly, Pally narrowed his eyes, fixing on a point behind them. A faint light was dancing between the trees.
"Take cover!" he whispered, his voice urgent.
Without waiting, they dove into a nearby bush. Hearts pounding, they peered through the branches. Ellendia instantly drew her bow, her fingers taut on the string. Pally and Merwinn unsheathed their swords, the blades barely visible in the gloom. They held their breath, their eyes scouring every corner, every movement.

The light flickered, drawing slowly nearer, accompanied by uneven footsteps. A silhouette took shape in the darkness, advancing with an easy gait.
"Is that Braum?" Merwinn whispered, barely audible.
Ellendia shook her head, her bow still drawn. "No. Too small."

Pally stared at the silhouette, his muscles tensed, ready to act. But as it drew closer, an unexpected detail revealed itself.
"No need to hide, I can see you..." said a voice, awkward but familiar.
Pally lowered his sword slightly, stunned. From behind the light emerged William, a lantern wavering in his hand. He stopped just in front of their bush, his expression a blend of discomfort and sarcasm.
"Seriously... You really thought you could shake me?" he said, shrugging with a sigh.
"What are you doing here, William?" Pally shot back, a hint of irritation in his voice.
William shrugged, plainly unimpressed by Pally's attitude. "Don't worry, Pally, I didn't come for you; I'd rather see you lost in these woods forever. But I know you're hiding something. You know what's going on in the forest, don't you?" He narrowed his eyes, his gaze piercing. "I saw you slip away, and I want to know what it's about."

Merwinn, sensing the tension building between the two, stepped in and quickly explained the situation. His words were measured, but the tone of his voice betrayed a certain nervousness. William listened intently, his expression hardening as the details were laid bare.
"I knew it," William said at last, his voice low and charged with a strange certainty. "It's surely a demonic creature."
Merwinn and Ellendia traded a glance, stunned to hear William voice the very theory they all dreaded. "A demonic creature?" they repeated almost in unison, the surprise plain in their voices.
Pally, for his part, allowed himself a slight smile, and gave a small shrug that seemed to say: "See, I told you so!"
Ellendia, however, could not contain her curiosity.
"But what is this whole demonic creature business?" she asked, a hint of irritation in her voice, as though to convince herself it was all nothing more than a grim tale.
William drew a deep breath, his gaze suddenly darkening. "I've heard stories..." His voice dropped lower, almost a murmur, and the air seemed to grow heavier around them. "Stories of human beings who were turned into monsters against their will. Bloodthirsty creatures, ravenous for fresh flesh. Their conscience leaves them, and all that remains is an insatiable thirst for blood and violence."

His words echoed strangely in the darkness, and even the wind caressing the trees seemed to die away, leaving a weighty silence in its wake.

"These creatures," he went on, "are far more dangerous than one can imagine. A single bite is enough, just one..." he paused, "and you become one of them."

Merwinn and Ellendia swallowed in unison, their eyes meeting briefly as though seeking comfort. Even Pally, normally so mischievous and provoking, had let his smile fade, his expression hardening as he listened intently to William's dark account.

William clenched his fists, his gaze losing itself in the void. "It's a curse. Many people, out of fear or ignorance, have accused innocents of being tainted. They handed them over to the mob... executed in the public square, often without proof."

At those words, his gaze darkened further still. His eyes, damp and glistening, seemed to mirror memories he would sooner have forgotten. A glimmer of anger burned there, but also a deep sorrow.

Ellendia and Merwinn stayed silent, struck still by the intensity of his account. Pally, despite his endless mockery and his usual contempt for William, felt a strange tightness in his chest at seeing him so. He had never seen this boy, ordinarily so detached, show such depth of feeling. There was in his words a brutal truth, something that went beyond a mere story.

Pally realised that William had likely lost his parents that way...

William drew a deep breath, briefly looking away before gathering himself. "But... maybe it isn't this creature," he said, his voice a little calmer. "Precisely. That's why I'm here. To make sure."
Pally, still watching him, narrowed his eyes slightly. "And if it is?" he asked, his voice low but firm.
William lifted his head, locking his eyes onto Pally's. A grave, resolute glint crossed his gaze. "Then I'll destroy it." His words were like a honed blade, cleaving the silence with a chilling certainty.
Pally looked at him for a moment, a spark of respect mingled with a shared resolve in his eyes. An almost imperceptible smile curled at the corner of his lips. "We're agreed, then."

William broke the silence, glancing in turn at Pally, Merwinn, and Ellendia, before asking in a pragmatic tone: "All right, so now what? Do you have a heading?"
A faint unease settled over them. Pally merely shrugged, his eyes fixed ahead. "Not really..." he answered honestly.
Ellendia furrowed her brow and crossed her arms. "You must be joking, Pally. You drag us out into the woods, in the middle of the night, without the faintest idea of where we're going?"
"Well, we're looking for the creature, aren't we?" Pally retorted, his tone a little more defensive.
William sighed, slowly folding his arms, his gaze sliding over each member of the group as though weighing their usefulness. "Looking for a demonic creature in a vast forest with no plan... we might as well plant a flag so it finds us more easily." He broke off for a moment, visibly calculating his next words. "We need an objective. A destination."
Pally, a mischievous smile lighting his face despite the strained air, tossed out: "I propose we tie William to a tree and use him as bait for the creature."
Merwinn burst into a nervous laugh, but his eyes betrayed his uncertainty. "Pally, stop, this really isn't the time!"
William rolled his eyes and crossed his arms with a mock-weary air. "Ha... ha... ha... Very funny. I think you're a better candidate for the role of damsel in distress, Goldilocks."
Pally furrowed his brow; he hated that nickname, inherited from a tale Titis had once told them about a mischievous blonde girl called Goldilocks, whom, to his great regret, he resembled a little too closely.
Behind him, Merwinn turned his head slightly, struggling to stifle a laugh, unable to deny that the comparison was not entirely unjustified.
Ellendia, arms folded and looking thoroughly unimpressed, let out a deep sigh before rolling her eyes. "Seriously, boys? Are you done with your nonsense? If we could focus a little, maybe it would keep us from being devoured by a demonic creature, don't you think?"

Pally pulled himself together, lifted his eyes, thoughtful, searching for an answer in the silent gloom of the woods.
His gaze came to rest on the moon. It shone high in the sky, full, white, and perfectly round, bathing the forest in a cold but radiant light. There was something captivating in its perfection, like a celestial eye watching their every move. An eye that sees all, that knows all... Like that of a seer. A crystal ball. Of course.
He lifted his head sharply, an obvious but bold idea taking shape within him. "The witch."
Ellendia arched an eyebrow, drawing her bow a touch tighter by reflex. "What witch?"
"The one who lives deeper in the woods," Pally answered, his tone resolute. "She knows the forest better than anyone. If anyone knows what's happening here, it's her."
Merwinn stiffened, his eyes widening in apprehension. "No. No, no, no. Why did I follow Pally..." He shook his head, muttering to himself, visibly shaken.
Ellendia, uneasy, studied him. "Merwinn, is this serious? A real witch?"
Merwinn swallowed hard, casting a glance at Pally, hesitating to speak. "Yes, she exists. And believe me, she's not someone you want to meet, least of all in the middle of the night."
Then he remembered he saw himself as Ellendia's protector. She meant so much to him, and if there was ever a moment to prove his courage, it was now. Breathing in deeply, he squared his shoulders as though preparing to face a dragon, then turned to Ellendia with a slightly trembling but sincere smile. His cheeks flushed in spite of himself, but he tried to stay confident.
"I mean, well, yes, she's dangerous, but... uh... don't worry. I'm here and I'd never let her hurt you..."
Ellendia stared at him, taken aback, before a small, tender smile curved her lips. "Really, Merwinn?" she murmured, half-amused, half-intrigued.
Merwinn, rubbing his neck nervously and letting his eyes wander in every direction as if to avoid Ellendia's, added: "Yeah, I mean... of course, it's only natural, right? We're together... I mean we make a team, the two of us... uh... the four of us."
Pally, who had been listening in silence, could not hold back a half-smile. "Good old Merwinn..."
Merwinn flushed to the tips of his ears, mumbling something unintelligible, while Ellendia, moved despite herself, bowed her head slightly to hide her growing smile.

William watched the group in silence, his eyes narrowed, as though weighing every word, every expression.
Then, with a calculated motion, he unhooked his lantern from his belt and held it out to Pally.
"You, up front," he said calmly. "You know our heading; you'll light the way."
Pally took the lantern, his brow furrowing slightly. "And you, what will you do?"
William sketched a barely visible smile, his eyes already fixed on the dark woods surrounding them. "I'll cover the rear."
He gave a flick of the hand, indicating a formation he had plainly already thought through. "We move in a one-two-one. You up front, with the lantern to light the path. Merwinn and Ellendia, you take the left and right flanks. Merwinn, you protect Ellendia while she scans the surroundings, her bow always at the ready. Stay close, and stay alert. I'll cover our rear."

Merwinn pressed his lips together, but in the end nodded. "It makes sense..."
Ellendia glanced at William, her bow still in hand. "And if we're attacked?"

William answered calmly. "I'll cover you. If you follow my instructions, no one will be caught off guard."

As he said it, he drew two daggers in a single fluid motion. The blades glinted for an instant beneath the moon's light, and in a deft movement he spun them between his fingers, tracing a swift figure in the air – a perfect cross that seemed to hang there a moment before he gripped each hilt firmly.

Pally held the lantern out before his face, its wavering light casting unsettling shadows across the gnarled trees around them. He drew a deep breath and motioned for the group to follow. "Let's go, then."

They pressed on through the forest, keeping to their formation. The silence was broken only by the crunch of dead leaves beneath their steps and the occasional creak of branches above. Pally's lantern cast a trembling halo, creating a reassuring bubble of light amid the darkness.
Suddenly, Pally slowed his pace. Something had shifted in the air of the forest. The sounds of the night – the hooting of owls, the rustle of small creatures – had fallen silent. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
"Wait," he murmured, raising the lantern slightly. "Do you hear that?"
A weighty silence answered him. Then, far off, almost imperceptible, the snap of a branch. Different from the ones they made. Heavier. More... deliberate.
Ellendia drew her bow in a fluid motion. "Something's watching us."
Merwinn's hand tightened on the hilt of his sword. His gaze went from Ellendia to the menacing shadows, torn between his instinct to protect and his growing fear. William, at the rear, had drawn his daggers without a sound, his precise, measured movements betraying a contained tension.
That was when they saw them. Eyes. Pairs of eyes glowing with an unnatural green sheen, appearing one by one in the darkness. They were surrounding them.
Pally raised the lantern, revealing their assailants. Wolves, but no ordinary ones. Their dark pelts were veined with phosphorescent symbols that pulsed faintly, like living runes. Their massive bodies moved with a lethal grace, their drawn-back lips baring gleaming fangs.
"Stay together," Pally ordered, his voice calm but firm. "Back to back. Don't let them separate us."
The first wolf leapt. Merwinn drove it back with a precise stroke of his sword, his desire to protect Ellendia overriding his fear. She loosed an arrow that lodged in the beast's shoulder, tearing a yelp of pain from it.
"Watch out!" cried Ellendia, as a second wolf surged from the shadows.
Pally spun, swinging the lantern before him. The bright light blinded the creature for an instant, letting his sword trace a deadly arc. The wolf reeled back, a trickle of blood running from its flank, where the greenish symbols pulsed with greater intensity.
A stealthy movement in the dark drew William's attention. While everyone was focused on the wolves in front of them, a shadow slipped silently along their flank. A wolf smaller and more agile than the others, its symbols barely visible, was readying to pounce.
William's heart raced. His damp hands tightened on the handles of his daggers. He had spent hours training alone, repeating the same movements over and over, but this was different. This was real.
The wolf sprang. William did not think. His body moved on instinct, his daggers clumsily raised before him. The first blade glanced off the beast's fangs in a burst of sparks, the shock numbing his arm. But that unexpected contact threw the wolf off enough for his second dagger, more by luck than skill, to gash its flank.
The beast dropped sideways, its greenish marks pulsing with pain. Its hackles up, it fixed William with its glowing eyes, as though astonished that a boy so young could have wounded it. Then it vanished into the darkness with a furious whimper.
William caught his breath, his hands trembling on his daggers. It had not been as elegant as in his solitary drills, but he had done it.
"Ellendia, to your right!" Merwinn warned, rushing to intercept a wolf that was trying to take her from behind.
Pally, realising that the light was their greatest asset, angled the lantern's beam toward the ground, creating a circle of light around them. The wolves' shadows stretched long, revealing their positions. In that sudden brightness, Ellendia could aim with precision. Her arrow found the throat of the alpha wolf.
The beast, already badly wounded, collapsed, its greenish marks flickering before dying out like fading embers. The other wolves drew back into the dark, but their growls did not cease. On the contrary, their howls rang out in the distance, echoing between the trees, impossible to pinpoint. A call that sounded more like a promise than a retreat.
Silence fell again upon the forest, haunted by the echo of those cries. Merwinn, realising he had kept himself planted in front of Ellendia throughout the fight, awkwardly lowered his sword, his cheeks flushing faintly.
Ellendia laid a hand on his shoulder, her other hand still firm on her bow. "Thank you," she murmured, a soft smile on her lips.
Pally stepped closer to the fallen wolf, shining the lantern on its body. The symbols on its pelt had vanished entirely, leaving only marks barely visible. "These marks... The witch is expecting us."
Distant howls punctuated his words, as if to confirm them. He lifted the lantern, his gaze resolute, fixed on the path ahead. "We go on. She wants to test us? Then let's meet her."