Liara looked back over her shoulder as she ran. The sun was starting to disappear behind the mountain ridge to the west and she knew she didn't have much time. It was terror that drove her forward, forcing her to ignore the ache of her legs and the burning in her legs. If she stopped, if she even slowed down for a moment, she would die.
Silently she cursed Gregor even as she wept for him openly, hot tears coursing down her cheeks as grief and fear drove her on. He had convinced her to leave the protection of the town when it was so close to nightfall, intent on showing her a hidden grotto deep in the woods. She had known what he wanted and despite her objections, she had been willing to give it to him. Only woodsmen and soldiers from the church ventured that far into the wilderness on their own, but it was the opportunity for them to be alone together that had finally convinced her to go with him. She had left her father's shop early, telling him that she wanted to pick up some things from the market before it closed. She had felt guilty when he had so readily agreed but all of that had been forgotten when she met Gregor at east gate and had ridden out with him.
The grotto he had found was beautiful, filled with wild flowers and heavy tree branches hanging overhead. A small pool of water was fed by a stream that led deeper into the forest. It wasn't long after arriving that their arms were around each other, their hands roaming over each other as they began to undress. They were young and in love. Gregor hadn't asked to marry her yet but she felt like if she gave him this, he finally would.
All of that was gone now. Gregor was gone. They had ignored how far the sun had set in the west and they were so wrapped up in each other that they didn't realize the danger until the horse shrieked in terror. The creatures set upon it first, monsters with dark fur and snarling voices, moving so fast and with such violence that Liara hadn't realized what they were. The horse was torn apart by claw and fang, it's throat ripped upon, it's guts spilled out onto the ground as the werewolves feasted on it. Gregor had risen first, intent on stopping them. But he had no weapon in his hand and he was too late to realize the mistake he had made in drawing their attention. He screamed at her to run, grabbed a fallen branch and charged at them with a yell of fury.
The largest of the monsters towered over Gregor and leapt at him, hitting him hard enough to silence his battle cry and dragging him into the forest with a single bound. The others had followed after him and that was when she heard Gregor screaming in terror. She didn't know what they were doing to him but all she had to do was look at the butchered remains of the horse before she turned and fled the way they had come. Eventually, Gregor's screams were silenced, either because he was dead or because she was far enough away not to hear them. She didn't stop. Branches slapped her in the face as she fled, bramble bushes cut at her clothes and skin. She knew she was bleeding, that they would be able to smell her blood and find her. That was what the stories said. They were just like any animal, hunting by scent. But she couldn't stop and tend to her wounds. All she could do was run.
When she emerged from the forest she found herself on the main road that led back to town. The sun was nearly gone and the cover of nightfall was fast approaching. If she could make it to the town's gates she would be safe behind the wards and weapons that the town guard used to protect them. With nothing between her and home but open ground, she ran as fast as she could. The howling started soon after that.
It wasn't long before the town was within sight. The torches on the walls and at the city gates were a beacon of hope and she could hear the clear ringing of the church bell. They had heard the howling too! The soldiers would be coming, bearing the swords inlaid with holy silver and arrows tipped with the same. All she had to do was make it to the gates before the monsters got her.
The howl sounded again and she heard a snarl near her back. She risked a glance over her shoulder and had only a moment to widen her eyes in shock before the beast pounced upon her and crushed her to the ground. She screamed in terror, trying to push it away from her, but her strength was nothing compared to the beast. The shouts of soldiers coming out of the gate reached her ears before the beast wrapped a massive claw around her waist and dragged her into the woods. It moved with incredible speed and grace, passing through trees like a horse running on an open plain. Liara struggled to escape it's grasp, she screamed so the soldiers would know where she was. She prayed. She prayed to God to save her, to spare her, to forgive her for her sins with Gregor.
There was no one to answer her call. The beast ran on and on, out of sight and sound of the soldiers, until she couldn't even hear the hopeful ringing of the church bell. It carried her deeper into the dark, on into the night until her throat was too ragged to scream anymore and there was only sobs. Only when it came to a clearing in the wood did it throw her to the ground. She looked at the beast in terror as it descended upon her.
She found she had the strength for one last scream.
- - - - - - -
This is something I've had in my head for awhile. I'm having writer's block issues, so I'm going to try and knock out these little random ideas I have in my head in the hopes of clearing some space. Don't expect this to turn into a story or a series. It's just one scene I've been wanting to write. Enjoy!
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