Moonlit Blood

A fierce chill that prickled the skin had settled in the night air. A pale white full moon watched over the clear night sky. Forty men from the town of Yderstrahn scoured the massive expanse of the Blackwood Forest for their prey - a massive wolf who had slaughtered countless livestock and its most recent victim a small boy who had only just seen the start of his eighth winter. The denizens of Yderstrahn had driven away countless wolves yet their target had remained despite all attempts to kill or chase it out of the area. Poisoned bait had no effect, and where the use of traps failed, so too did the word of God. Now the only option that remained was to hunt.

Alexei Drustalf, clad in a thick fur coat and with his bolt-action rifle in hand, patrolled the icy woods alongside his longtime friends, Butoni Raldsin and Saltrank Zalskata. Alexei’s pale blue eyes darted from the massive trunk of one ebony tree to the next.

“Alexei,” Saltrank began, breaking the silence, “where is your son? He should be out here with the rest of us!”

“Kreni’s in bed, he needs more practice with a rifle before I would think of bringing him out for such a task.” Alexei said. Though I wish he were here, my gut tells me it was the right decision.

A small chuckle came from Butoni as he scratched at jaw which was hidden beneath a thick carpet of unkempt brown hairs. “Kreni’s a good kid, but I’d hate to be shot by a boy who doesn’t know how to aim.”

“You’re one to talk about aiming, I’ve seen you miss more than a dozen elk,” Saltrank said.

Butoni shrugged, “It can take a while before an elk crosses your path, can’t blame a man for having a few drinks to pass the time.”

“I hope you won’t be drinking tonight.”

Shaking his head, Butoni said, “no. There can be no mistakes when hunting a predator; I have no intention of becoming some mangy mutt’s dinner.”

The cold of the night settled into the men’s bones as they continued their patrol through the desolate forest with Butoni’s words still echoing in their minds. Alexei turned his thoughts to when he left home for this hunt and Kreni had all but demanded to join him and the others.

“Father, I want to go!” Kreni’s light green eyes burned with an intensity that took Alexei by surprise.

“Were it any other hunt, I would take you with me,” Alexei said as he reached down to lace his boots.

“I know how to shoot, I can hunt.”

Rising from his seat, Alexei placed his calloused hands on his son’s shoulders. “I know you can, but this is no beaver or elk. The beast we hunt has a taste for human flesh. I would never pit you against such a creature.”

Kreni lowered his gaze, “I saw what was left of Ydi. I watched what it did to his parent, how it broke them. Ydi’s mother, the way she shrieked and cried… They were always good neighbors to us, I want to do this, for them.”

Pride had swelled in Alexei; the boy had his will and his mother’s heart. He took his son in a tight embrace. “You will grow to become a good man, Kreni. But you will not be coming with me tonight.”

Butoni laughed, pulling Alexei into the middle of a conversation that he had missed the start of. There was a flash of Butoni’s yellow teeth as he patted the large blade at his waist, “I’ll be taking this beasts head and hanging it on my wall.”

“I can’t let you do that,” Saltrank said, “that head is mine, it’ll keep that nag I call a wife quiet for quite a while.”

“She’d never let you keep anything so frightening in her home,” Alexei said.

Saltrank crossed his arms, “it’s my home and I’ll put what I want in it.”

“Maybe if you didn’t make the mistake of marrying her then you could say that,” Butoni teased, “but now she’s got final say on everything in your life.”

With a roll from his eyes, Saltrank sighed. “More advice from the oldest bachelor in Yderstrahn.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing!”

“It’s unbecoming of a man our age to have not started a family.”

Butoni scoffed. “And who says that? The multitudes of miserable men who see me living a happier life than them?”

“There’s joy to be found in family,” Alexei said.

“I didn’t say there wasn’t, but it’s easier to live a happier life when you’ve only got to worry about yourself.”

Saltrank shrugged, “sounds lonely to me.”

“That’s what I’ve got you two for,” Butoni paused for a moment. “Well, that and nagging me like your wives nag you.”

A roar tore through the air interrupting the three men as a pale brown blur sped from tree to tree. The trio aimed their rifles but were unable to find their target.

Alexei felt an uneasy tingle as the hairs on the back of his neck stick up. Whatever manner of beast we’re faced with is toying with us. This is no wolf. Alexei cleared his throat. “We were wrong about what was out in these woods. One of us needs to make it back to the city.”

“What do you mean, one of us?” Saltrank said.

“He means at least one of us isn’t going to make it,” Butoni said, dropping his rifle to draw his blade and revolver as he stepped forward.

There was a silence among the three men as they realized the gravity of their situation.

“Go on you two, get word to Yderstrahn that I’ll get this mutt’s head back before breakfast is over.”

“Butoni-” Saltrank began.

Alexei grasped his friend’s shoulder, “come, Saltrank.” He took one last look at his friend. “Butoni, thank you.”

Remaining silent, Butoni raised his pistol and aimed it in the direction of the creature that stalked them. Alexei crept back, pulling Saltrank with him. The two men turned and bolted into the dark night, the sound of their footfalls was drowned out by a bestial roar followed by several gunshots. Alexei’s heart pounded with such a viscous fervor that it threatened to burst from his chest. The forest faded from his vision, all that mattered was the path in front of him. The sound of gnashing teeth closed in on him. A large root caught Alexei by the ankle and sent him hurtling into the cold dirt. Alexei took a sharp breath and prepared for his pursuer to fall upon him. When no such assault occurred, he rolled to his back and found that he was alone.

Eyes darting from left to right, Alexei’s mind raced. What happened to Buttoni? Where is Saltrank?

A heavy pitter patter pulled Alexei back to his situation. By the moon’s light, Alexei spied dark droplets falling to the ground. His eyes followed to the top of the trees and from the darkness Butoni’s severed head fell to the ground and after a short roll, rested at Alexei’s feet. Alexei screamed at the sight of what remained of his friend.

Butoni’s head was followed by a large wolf who stood as a man. The wolf’s thick, brown fur hung in matted, blood-soaked clumps. Alexei was stunned by the sight of the creature whose green eyes held an unspeakable fury that was aimed at him. The monster stalked its way towards Alexei, drawing out the moment.

A piercing crack shattered the silence, the werewolf recoiled, shuddered then turned with a roar that shook the trees. Alexei followed the sound and found Saltrank peering from behind a tree, aiming his rifle at the monster whose ire he had just earned.

“Saltrank? What are you doing?”

Brass went through the air and into the dirt as Saltrank cycled the next round in his rifle. “Run!” Saltrank fired once more, the round whizzed past his target.

As the wolf sprung towards Saltrank, Alexei scrambled to his feet. Watching his friend flee, Alexei slipped the rifle from his shoulder and took aim. Drawing several uneasy breathes, he fought with his trembling body to steady his aim as best he could. A hunter’s instinct guided the barrel of the rifle from the werewolf to one of the trees along its path. Alexei pulled the trigger. The crack of ignited gunpowder was followed by the rupture of bark and wood. Splinters and debris sprayed into the air just as the werewolf passed, blinding the creature. A howl of pain pierced Alexei’s ears.

A small, confident smile pulled at the corners of Alexei’s mouth. His grin was soon replaced by a look of grim horror as he watched the frustrated monster begin to tear at its face and eyes, blood and shredded flesh fell to the ground in thick heaps. The beast turned; hints of skull were illuminated by moonlight as it sniffed the air.

Shit. Alexei scowled and bolted towards the city.

A horrific cacophony of heavy collisions and inhuman screams pursued Alexei through the night. Ignoring the ache in his legs and the fire burning in his lungs, Alexei ran on, even when the sound of his pursuer grew distant and then vanished, he ran until he was clear of the forest and collapsed to the ground with Yderstrahn in view just a few short miles away.

Grateful for his escape, Alexei began to laugh. Tears came to his eyes. I’ll be able to see Kreni again. “Thank you, Buttoni.” Alexei took a moment to drink in the cool night air and scanned the tree line for any sign of Saltrank. He’s likely already made it back to the city by now. Yderstrahn will know what we’re really dealing with.

The snap of a twig pulled Alexei from his mind back to the world. Saltrank stepped out from the trees covered in blood and with his entrails in his hands.

Alexei grew silent at the sight.

“A-lexei,” Saltrank managed to say before collapsing.

A familiar, terrifying figure stepped over Saltrank’s body and stopped in front of Alexei. Turning his gaze from his fallen friend to the werewolf above him Alexei found that the werewolf’s self-inflicted wounds had healed.

Anger overtook Alexei. He grasped his knife and stabbed at the creature; the blade glanced from the wolf’s hide several times before snapping. Alexei stared at the broken blade; a bitter laugh escaped him. He stared into the bloodshot, light green eyes of the werewolf and screamed as razor sharp fangs and claws tore into his flesh.