The Bonecruncher
Dawn came with no incident and the pair woke to the sounds of the small town awakening. After sorting their purchases, the girl strapped the last of their provisions over the back of the horse and wordlessly they continued their journey further north. The morning flew by quickly and the lass was pleased to see her mount shed any remaining unwillingness towards her. A faint ghost of a smile flitted across her face and she opened her mouth to speak for the first time that day…
”We best give ye a name then?” She mused as the path they rode upon, reentered the forest once more. A critical eye roamed the stallion before her, watching as the light dappled through the trees and played upon the silken coat of ebony he wore. ”Bright eyes?” She suggested with a bit of a grimace. ”Dancing feet? Warrior King?”
The girl sighed.
”They all seem rather… lacking don’t they?” She told the horse, watching as his ears twitched backwards towards the sound of her voice. The hour went by uneventful and eventually, the sound of her voice died away as the girl gave up creating names for her horse. We’ll think of something sooner or later, She thought to herself, drawing in a breath and focusing her gaze upon the forest around them.
The air hung heavy and humid around the travelers, making her hair plaster itself uncomfortably against the skin of her nape. Reaching back, she lifted the long strands and froze. As if sensing her tension, the horse, too, slowed his gait before coming to a complete stop; muscles tensed as it’s ears cocked forward towards an unforeseen incident.
The trees whispered as the breeze shifted and brought to her sharp nose, the scent of blood.
A low hum awakened within her stomach and the girl’s eyes gleamed with sudden alacrity. ”Something is ahead,” She informed the rider beside her, doing her best to keep the note of excitement from creeping into her voice. Indeed, if the lass closed her eyes and opened her senses, she could feel the tremble of life before them - just beyond the thick copse of trees.
”Try to keep up Sir’rah,” Her voice was low and directed at Axel, as she tightened her hold upon the reins and bounded off through the forest. Ordinarily, she would confront the creature and quench her curiosity, yet she traveled with the human today - hell knows if the thin-skinned creature could fend for himself in a battle.
Their ride was swift, but not completely silent.
The trees hindering their path, suddenly thinned and they burst free into a odd clearing. The smell of death permeated the area and the girl widened her eyes, her heart hammering within her chest. She could sense movement to one side and t’was with great dread, did the lass slowly turn her head to view at the monstrous creature…
It rested upon its hind legs, not a few paces from where horse and rider froze. From between it’s stained jaws, the girl could clearly see the strips of meat dangling from a sharpened tooth. Upon the ground, it’s body mangled and torn beyond repair, laid a forest deer.
Qtchi didnae move as the breeze shifted once more, bringing to her a heavier dose of excretion and decomposition. From behind her, she could hear the human bound through the forest behind her - and the girl tensed. Almost immediately, the creature pulled back its jaws and released a growl, the bloody flesh swaying obscenely to the head movements.
Mutant Bonecruncher Badger, The lass thought to herself, eying the distinctive white fur that striped across the black animal - as if dividing the creatures' body into two parts. It's wet nose, glistened with the blood of the previous victim, wiggled in the air as it sniffed at her, tasting her scent.
Qtchi hoped Axel was a good rider, as she slowly slid one hand to where her sword rested...
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