Chapter 3

         Swirling colors and dancing lights flashed in intricate patterns in a sky of dark shadows. Pairs of red dots raced from side to side like insects buzzing around in an endless game of tag. The overpowering stench of blood and decay lingered in the air, which stood still and frigid as a sea before a storm.

         Munt floated in the eerie silence of nothingness and wondered whether his eyes were open or closed. The colors flew overhead, exploding like fireworks into tiny, twinkling lights. He half expected loud crashes of thunder to accompany the raining hues, but the unmoving shadows remained free of sound. Munt opened his mouth to shout, but he could not pierce the dark shroud of silence. Fear crept over him and mixed with the overwhelming feeling of dread.

         When all hope slipped away, he heard the echoing sound of a voice in the distance. He strained to understand what the source could be and where it came from, but his senses were numbed by the closing confines of the void. He swung his arms and legs in an attempt to escape toward the sound, but he remained fixed.

         The darting red lights broke forth and stopped before his eyes. Munt’s mouth fell open and every muscle in his body tensed. He knew then that the fiery dots belonged to the pale man that walked the forest and lurked in his nightmares. The two orbs stared with the soul purpose of destroying Muntjack’s mind, and no matter how hard he tried, Munt could not turn away or close his eyes. The beast held a firm grasp on his fate.

         A pale face emerged from the dark and with it came a sinister laugh that only existed in the deepest realms of dreams and unknown reality. Munt fought again to close his eyes and wake from this terror, but the gaze proved too strong.

         The laughter ceased and the pale-skinned face faded back into the bleakness. The same voice he heard before returned, but it rang through loud and clear.

         “Wake up! You have to get up now!”

         Munt gathered the last of his strength and forced his eyes shut. When he opened them again, he found himself staring up at the big green eyes of Katt. Her tiny hands grasped Munt’s arm, and she shook him frantically to rouse him.

         “Munt, you’re ok! You have to get up right now! Sean, Azure, and that drunk left to see what’s going on outside and haven’t returned! I think they might be in trouble,” Katt cried, tugging and clawing at Munt to get him to move.

         A clattering and crashing from outside forced Katt to shift back into a small fox and dart behind the couch. Munt pulled himself up and looked around his living room. Tamara lay on the couch, eyes closed and resting. Everyone else had in fact gone, leaving a quiet house and a cold dinner. Another crash echoed from outside the front door, and Munt scrambled to a shaky stand. The handle of the door turned; Munt tensed and waited for the pale-skinned horror to enter.

         “There’s no need to worry,” came Sean’s voice as he pushed his way inside. Azure and Dicey followed behind with slight smiled on their faces.

         “What do you mean?” Munt asked, taking a step toward them.

         “We found the wolf that attacked both you and Tamara,” Sean said.

         “He wasn’t much of a problem for all three of us,” Azure quickly added.

         “I’m starving! Say, you wouldn’t mind if I went ahead and grabbed something to eat, right?” Dice asked, but neglected to even wait for an answer. He helped himself to a roll and bit a large chunk out of it.

         Munt opened his mouth to say something, but he could only stand in silence and watch the activity around him. Sean went right to Tamara’s side and brushed a lock of hair from her forehead, while Azure pointed and laughed at the trembling Katt. She shifted back into a human girl and stuck her tongue out at him. Dice ignored them all and began stuffing his mouth with apple slices.

         “Sit down and relax, Munt. I’m sure you’re still not well, and now you have nothing to worry about,” Azure said. He placed his sizeable hand on Munt’s shoulder and tried to lead him to a chair.

         “Where’s Sarry?” Munt blurted out. He pulled away from Azure and staggered down the hallway toward their bedroom. His legs lacked the energy to support his weight as he fell against the wall several times along the way. Azure tried to help him, but Munt pushed his friend away and came to the door at the end of the hall. He pushed it open and fell onto all fours inside. Azure grabbed hold of him and dragged him to the bed. Sarry still rested in peaceful slumber, unwaken by the commotion around her.

         “See, I told you she was all right,” Azure reassured him.

         “Oh my love,” Munt whispered and clasped her hand in his. He looked down upon her pale blue skin and then closed his eyes. For a single moment, he saw the red glowing lights staring at him. He opened his eyes, and they disappeared.

         “Um, I don’t mean to interrupt,” Katt said from the doorway, “That drunk threw up on your kitchen floor and passed out. What do you want to do with him?”

         “Don’t worry, Munt. I’ll drag him into the living room,” Azure said, turning toward the door. He slipped past Katt and went back down the hall.

         “Are you doing to be all right?” Katt asked, leaning against the doorframe. Worry sparkled in her bright, green eyes.

         “We’ll be ok,” Munt said, not taking his eyes off Sarry. “I’m sorry that dinner was ruined. Maybe you all should head back home.”

         “Munt,” Katt whispered. She stepped into the room beside the bed. Munt turned toward her and saw the concern that shown on her face. She placed her hand on his arm. “What happened? There’s something you’re not telling everyone.”

         “Quit worrying, Katt. I think you should get going. Azure can go with to make sure you are all right,” Munt replied.

         “What about Tamara and Sean? I think we need to figure out why these wolves are attacking so no one else gets hurt,” Katt pleaded, squeezing his arm.

         “It’s nothing more than wild animals out searching for something to eat! Please, go with Azure and get home,” Munt said, straightening up and pulling his arm away from her grasp.

         Katt jumped and stepped back. She lowered her head and slipped into the hallway.

         Munt crawled beside Sarry and held her hand as she slept. He dared not close his eyes for fear that another dark nightmare would invade his mind.

         He listened to the voices of his friends in the other room, but they soon faded, followed by the sound of the front door opening and clattering shut. Munt sighed and lay with both eyes open, watching over his beloved. He fought against sleep, but the weight on his eyelids proved too much for him to handle. Against his will, he drifted off to an uneasy sleep.

*                    *                    *

         Munt awoke the next morning feeling somewhat relaxed. The dark dreams had not visited him again, and for that he was thankful. Perhaps the disposal of the wolf creature scared the shadowy figure away, or the evil being, whoever he was, still had other plans in mind.

         “Sarry?” Munt uttered. While he lay in thought, he realized that Sarry no longer rested beside him. He threw back the covers and scrambled out of bed and into the hall. He stopped at the end and stared ahead of him.

         Sarry stood in the doorway, staring out into the front yard of the house. She resembled a statue, remaining perfectly still. Even the slight morning breeze couldn’t seem to rustle even the tiniest strand of hair.

         “You had me worried, hun,” Munt said, hoping to stir her. When she still refused to turn, Munt stepped toward her. “What’s wrong?”

         “Is…is this what attacked Tamara?” Sarry whispered. She turned and wrapped her arms around Munt’s waist, refusing to let go.

         Munt peered out through the open door and set his eyes upon the body of a monstrous wolf-like creature. Heavy gashes lined its face and belly, marks administered by Azure, Sean, and Dice. The beast had indeed been slain, which lifted some of the worry that held hold on his heart and mind.

         “Yes, but you need not worry. All is taken care of now,” Munt reassured her, running his fingers through her hair. “Come away from here, and I’ll make us both a bite to eat. After that I can dispose of the wolf.”

         Munt began to turn away, but his gaze came upon a single black crow that swooped down from the air and landed on the wolf’s front leg. Like all scavengers, the crow snapped its beak into one of the open wounds and tore a bit of muscle and flesh free. Munt stared at the crow -- not at his ravenous actions, but where it perched. Unlike the beast’s torso, its legs remained free of cuts and gashes. He remembered the fiery arc of Azure’s dagger as it raced through the air before cutting deep into the wolf’s front leg.

         “I take my coffee with a shot of whiskey. And can I get a couple eggs sunny-side-up?” came a raspy voice from inside the house. Munt spun around to see the ragged-looking drunk, Dice, lying on his couch. Dice sat up and began coughing and wheezing. He cleared his throat and spit into his hand, wiping the mess of phlegm across his pant leg.

         “What the hell are you still doing here? I thought you left with everyone else last night,” Munt said, making a face at Dice’s rude and disgusting behavior.

         “That big lug with the silver hair dragged me over to the sofa, and that’s the last thing I remember,” Dice explained, clearing his throat again. “And is that any way to treat the guy who saved your life?”

         “What’s he talking about? Who is he, Munt?” Sarry asked, tugging at his sleeve.

         “It’s nothing, just the ramblings of a sobering drunk,” Munt said, brushing his hand against her cheek.

         “I see how it is,” Dice began, “I’m going to be unappreciated as always. If that’s how I’m going to be treated, then I’ll make things easier on you and just leave.”

         Dice rose from the couch, but Sarry pulled herself away from Munt’s side and placed her hands on his chest. “Please, stop this useless bickering! Now, I don’t know what happened exactly, but if you saved Munt’s life, then you are most welcome here. Please, don’t leave.”

         “That’s very kind of you miss,” Dice said, smiling down at her.

         Munt frowned. He took another look out the door at the rotting beast. The feasting crow lifted its head and stared at Munt with its beady black eyes. After a moment of examining one another, the crow cawed and took off into the air.

         “How about that bite to eat?” Sarry asked. Her words passed over Munt like a whispering wind, he could hear the words, but his mind couldn’t find the meaning. “Munt?”

         He felt the soft touch of her fingers against his arms and nodded. He looked up at Dice, who continued to stare at him. The more he saw the drunken fool, the more he pitied him. His face was covered in dirt, and a shaggy layer of thick stubble coated his chin and neck. His clothing appeared unwashed and tattered, and his boots needed patching and a good shine. Despite his appearance and the stale stench of rum and vomit on his breath, Dice’s spirit and kindness continued to shine.

         “You said sunny-side-up, right?” Munt asked.

         Dice smiled and nodded.

         Munt went about clearing the table of the food from the night before. He gathered the stale bread and dried-out sliced of fruit and tossed them in a sack to dispose of later. Both Dice and Sarry helped discard the cold meat, potatoes, and stew that took up the rest of the area. Munt sighed to himself -- he hated seeing a large meal go to waste. All the cooking and planning were for nothing, and with it went a hefty sum of gold coins spent on the feast.

         With the table cleared, Munt went about preparing a pot of coffee and frying up a few eggs. He used the last three and made a mental note to pick up some more at the market during his next visit. Before long, they all sat at the table with a small plate of an egg and a piece of toast with a cup of coffee for both Munt and Dice.

         “This isn’t too bad,” Dice said, sipping his coffee. “It’s a real shame your dinner got interrupted. I’d have liked to have had a plate of fresh food for once.”

         “If you don’t mind me asking, Dice,” Munt said, pushing away an empty plate. “Where are you from? I’ve never met you before, and you were wandering the forests at a strange time.”

         “I don’t really have a home,” Dice said, putting down his cup. He stared longingly at his own reflection for several moments before raising his head. “I’ve been traveling around for the last few years. I stumbled upon RhyDin and have been doing odd jobs here and there. A man’s gotta make enough to support himself, you know.”

         “That’s so sad!” Sarry exclaimed. She reached out and touched Dice’s hand as an offer of comfort, which elicited a small smile in return.

         “You’re the first people that have been really nice to me as of late. I spend most of my time at taverns, and they just throw me out when I stay too late or don’t have enough money to cover my bill,” Dice said, lifting his mug for another sip.

         Sarry glanced up at Munt, and he knew instantly what she planned to say next. He tried to stop her, but he acted too late.

         “If you need a place to stay, we have a guest room. It’s not much, but at least it’s a warm place where you can have a roof over your head,” Sarry said with her ever sweet and welcoming smile.

         “You’d really let me stay?” Dice asked.

         “Of course! Right, Munt?” Sarry asked, turning her shimmering violet orbs toward her love.

         “Yeah, that’s no problem at all.” The words rolled off his tongue almost as if he meant them.

         “That’s great!” Dice shouted, leaping up from his chair. He circled the table and threw an arm over each of their shoulders, giving them a tight squeeze. “You guys are the best!”

         “Don’t mention it,” Munt groaned. He gagged and held his breath, having caught a whiff of Dice’s horrid-smelling words of gratitude.

         “Feel free to clean yourself up. The bathroom is down the hall, and I’m sure Munt can find you a change of clothing,” Sarry offered with another bright smile.

         Dice stood from the table and bowed his head before disappearing down the hall.

         “He’s such a nice man,” Sarry said.

         “I suppose,” Munt replied. He rose and stretched across the table for Dice’s empty plate, stacking it atop his own. Sarry still had most of her egg and half a piece of toast left on her plate. Rather than argue with her, he left the plate in hopes that she would finish her meal. Munt placed the two plates with the mound of soiled cookware and utensils, grumbling under his breath about the mess. He walked to the front door and pushed it wide open.

         “Where are you going?” Sarry asked.

         “I’m dragging the wolf carcass out into the woods. If it’s going to be a meal, I’d rather the worms and crows do it away from the house,” Munt said.

         He stepped outside and wrinkled his nose. The dead beast already began to reek of death and decay. Taking slow breaths through his mouth, Munt leaned over the wolf and grabbed it by its back legs. He tugged and pulled, guiding the wolf along the ground away from the house. He stopped to rest every few minutes, but after an hour of dragging, he could go no further. Satisfied with his work, Munt sat upon a rotting tree stump and dusted off his hands.

         “Don’t hunters drag their prey to their home instead of away from it?”

         Munt glanced around him, startled by the voice. A young woman peered around the trunk of a tall oak, watching him with intense amber eyes. Munt stood and took a cautious step forward. The woman neither advanced nor recoiled, and she never once blinked or broke her stare.

         “Who are you?” Munt asked. He tensed, but showed no sign of fear.

         “I don’t give my name to strangers,” the woman spoke, stepping out from behind the tree. Her overall size and appearance reminded Munt of Katt. One major difference was the color and length of her hair. Auburn locks cascaded down to her shoulders, which were bare of clothing. Her complexion was much darker than the fair-skinned Tamara or Katt. She wore a light-colored linen dress that covered from her chest to halfway down her thighs and hugged each and every womanly curve of her body. “What are you doing out in these woods alone? Don’t you know it’s dangerous?”

         “I should ask you the same question,” Munt said. He noticed a white bandage around her left arm and nodded his head. “What happened to you?”

         “Oh this?” the woman asked. She touched her bandaged arm and winced. “I was attacked by a nasty wolf. I barely escaped with little more than a scratch, and for that I’m thankful.”

         “Would you like me to take a look at it? I know a few things about healing wounds,” Munt said, taking a few steps toward her. Her body trembled, but she stood her ground. He offered his hand to her, and she held out her injured arm. Munt untied the bandage and carefully unraveled the brittle, blood-stained cloth. She whimpered and tried to pull away, but Munt offered her a warm smile that calmed her again.

         “This is much more than a scratch!” Munt said, staring down at the exposed gash. He held her arm with his left hand and raised his right over the wound. Silver light cascaded from his fingertips like the first drops of falling rain before a storm. The raining energy collected inside and around the wound, sparkling and sealing the cut closed.

         “That was amazing,” the woman whispered. She looked up from her arm to Munt and, without warning, threw her arms around his neck and rested her head beside his. Munt didn’t know what to say, so he patted her back a few times. “How can I ever repay you?”

         “There’s no need to thank me. I would have done the same thing for anyone in need,” Munt said, pulling her arms from around him.

         “I insist that I thank you,” the woman said with a slight change in her voice. A slight smile crept across her lips, and she reached forward and brushed the back of her hand against the side of his face. Munt shuddered at the soft touch of her thin fingers and closed his eyes. As he did, an image of Sarry’s glowing face appeared in his mind.

         “I must be going now,” Munt said, stepping away from her.

         “Please don’t leave me out here all alone,” the woman pleaded, stepping toward him again.

         “Munt? Where the hell are you?” shouted a voice from somewhere behind him. Munt turned his head and saw Dice stumble through a bush toward them. He stopped in front of Munt and placed both his hands on his knees, huffing and puffing for air. “Where the hell have you been? Sarry was worried sick about you. She said you left over an hour ago! What’s taking you so long?”

         “I’m sorry, Dice. I was just talking to this girl over here. Say, I never did figure out your name,” Munt said, turning around toward the young woman, but she was no where to be seen. Munt scratched his head and looked from side to side, but he could not see her. The only proof that remained were the soiled bandages resting at his feet. “Where did she go? She was right here a moment ago!”

         “I think you’re losing it, buddy,” Dice said, standing up straight again, “C’mon, we need to get back. Sarry said that she feels uncomfortable staying at the house and wants to go visit Sean and Tamara’s castle.

         “That might not be a bad idea. These woods have become unsafe,” Munt said, kneeling down to lift the bandages. He looked them over and placed them in the pocket of his pants. “What are you going to do?”

         “What do you think? I’m coming with you guys! I want to know what’s going on as much as the rest of you,” Dice said, turning back the way he came. He stopped and looked over his shoulder, grinning at Munt. “Besides, I’ve got nothing better to do, and I’m sure this Sean guy has some booze. He looks like a refined gentleman like myself.”

         Munt shook his head and followed after Dice. He turned his head behind him one last time and thought he saw a glint of amber in the distance. Reaching into his pocket to feel the rough material of the bandage, Munt journeyed back through the woods with Dice to gather his things and prepare for their travel to Sean’s castle in the hills.

ID: 1148085   (Rated: 13+) Chapter 4  Munt, Sarry, and Dice travel to Sean's castle to seek answers to the attacks. by The Lemon