Chapter 26. Fenrir.

  “Ye be picking fights with vampires.”

  Well to be fair, Sid thought these bullies were just cowards. Actually, thinking on it. He wasn’t even sure why he attacked them. That is something he didn’t typically do. Sid understood the value of hunting. Providing for a family, contributing to the community. That though. That party, they were not that of noble hunters. Did it justify his actions though? Turned out they were Vampires. Did his actions mark him? Does that make him a player, or token?

  “4. 5. 6.”

  Abram finished counting the piles. That splintered finger bounced upon the call of each number. Landing over a new pile before the next number was called.

  “6. 6. Damned vamps Arieo. Big Sid here tooks it upons himself to find 6. And turn them to steaming piles o-shit.”

  “Haw-Haw.”

  Arieo tried to tell his master to look. That shadow it was getting closer. Oh god’s, ..its injured too. His master says there is nothing more dangerous than a wounded animal. Maybe he should stamp his hooves that might scare it away.

  “Arieo knock it off no ye didn’t.”

  He snapped over his shoulder, not even giving Arieo the decency to a glance.

  Sid held a content look over Abram. The man was rather joyous with the situation at hand. Sid though never got an answer. To be fair, he didn’t answer any of Abram’s questions.

  “Abram. Do the Butcher pack with Vampires?” Sid tried again.

  “Huh. Oh, uhh well it’s complicated. The butcher usually be the guardian to their grounds. Butchers and Vampires are rather hungry tokens. Much like Fannon, god of glutton. Well the Buther be a summoning of a Vampire and—”

  “Abram I don’t need a description of the thing, I need to know if one will be around.”

  “Sid relax big guy the Butcher only hunts when the Vampire can’t.”

  Sid remembered the distorted memory. That man Darren and his goon. They escaped while the others sizzled.

  “I cut down a gnarled tree. Deeper in the woods that way.”

  The fattest god’s damned finger Abram had ever seen in all of his countless journeys pointed. It was a bold point too. That finger was demanding, it practically had a voice of its own. A thick and heavy voice. A voice that shouted. Look!

  “So what Sid there be plenty of tre—”

  “This tree was different Abram!”

  Sid shouted. There was something in the air. Those wide nostrils flared with the scent. He sniffed casually before looking at the voyager.

  “The tree, the Vampires I think they are connected.”

  He added. Using a shred of linen to wipe his blade free.

  “Okay Sid I’ll bite, what did that tree look like?”

  “It was a deep ashy grey. The bark twisted with odd markings. But the branches—”

  “They were bleeding with remains.”

  Abram finished. He had seen this before. It was true that great twisted tree was related to the vampires. The creatures would hunt the lands, stringing their prey over the trees. Bathing in that crimson fluid as it flowed. Tainting the grounds in honor of Fannon. It was an ancient tradition. One that only the darkest vampires would follow. Those nasty creatures would leave their victims strung up to dry, and decay. All in hopes of summoning that foul beast. The Butcher.

  “Yes. And I removed it from the land. The area around was,...”

  Sid stopped. He didn’t want to continue telling this man how he was hearing things. Screaming voices. Chirps of a bell. Some kind of predatory snarl. That inner feeling of correlation. The name the beast along the tree had told him.

  “Was what?” Abram pressed.

  “Hurt. It asked for my help.”

  Sid said in a dull trance. It was an odd answer, and honestly it sounded a little crazy. Would this man think Sid as a mad man? Perhaps even a loon? Maybe even a little sick?

  Abram stared into the deeps of the wood. It was getting dark, and honestly if big Sid here left a scent for those Vampires it would only be a matter of time. The answer didn’t even phase him, it went right over that nappy bun of hair he wore. Well sort of, he did grasp a piece of that response.

  “Sid?”

  Abram asked before looking up into those dark beady eyes.

  “Ye don’t be playin for any legions in particular at the moment does ye.”

  Those swirling eyes flashed with intrigue. While Sid’s eyes miraculously narrowed even more.

  “No. Adventure and faith are a waste of time.”

  The mustache answered. It was a firm answer, one could almost see arms crossing while that mustache wiggle. Abram loved half of that answer. Faith was a waste of time, but adventure. The man lived for it. Relics, prophecies and ancient deities. Fist fights and thick sacks of loot. Dim lit taverns with lovely ladies. Honestly, what’s not to like.

  “Haw-Hee-Hee-Haw!” Arieo thrashed. That silky mane rippled with handsome waves of warning. The charming tail even whipped at those curvy hindquarters.

  Both that round fellow and the weathered voyager turned at that loud commotion. Arieo had a full eye stare, those handsome browns locked in a direction. Nostril flared with each loud whistle of alert.

  “Arieo.”

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  Abram said slowly. His tone calm, hands slightly lifted.

  “Abram?”

  Sid questioned. Looking into the purest white he'd ever seen. Fresh frost wasn’t even that white.

  “Arieo, just relax. That is not no wolf.” Abram said.

  Sid had no idea what that word was, but it felt right. That thing, no .. it was a wolf. Sid just had this gut feeling about it. He had never heard that word before Abram, but that thing was most definitely a wolf. Well, that wolf, it just sat there. There was a familiar sense of luxury that radiate from its composure.

  This was the same exact connection Sid had felt with that massive beast, no it wasn’t a beast anymore it was a wolf. I’m sure one remembers the creature from that noble wolf. The big one that was pressed over the great twisted tree, or shall we recap. No, alright.

  This is wolf, …no this pup. The animal was still of youth. It held that sensation though. The vibration of direction. This is that guided compassion he was feeling. Remembering the name the mother told him. A name received through a parallel stare in connecting simplicity. Sid had heard but only a single name. Or, well he thought he had heard a name, he is very tired.

  The conversation Abram had with his donkey had become mute, and translucent. Sid could only connect eyes with that pup. Pure white orbs, right there behind the snout, just like where one would think to put them. Only these eyes were white, no other color or texture to them, just white.

  Those eyes seemed to glow against that black fur. Odd jagged fur. Soft, but jagged. Just as dark as the shadows. The pup matched with the shadows when the breeze found the leaves. Matched wasn’t right, this fur it blended.. no that’s not it either.

  That pup literally became one with the shadow. When that pup finally walked it dissipate within the shadows. Orbs of white hang like haunting sprites in a graveyard. A jaw of iron clinging to its paw, chittering with such regal. Wait a moment, …that damn trap was still chewing the pups leg.

  A faint rattle trailed behind its limp. That shadowy pup found its way in front of that large bare man. It looked up at the glorious thicket of hair growing under that wide nose. It was a simple stare. A stare that touched Sid. It was a visual lockdown that released an ancient echo. What moved that heavy man though, was the gentle glance that pup gave. A minimal gaze that found those chittering jaws.

  Sid fell to his knees. Thick hands extending for that baleful iron. A slick of crimson glide over iron edging. Fingers curled those razor fangs of cold steel. Sid strained, while muscles in his forearms ripple. The teeth opened just enough, and the pup stepped free.

  -Snap-

  The trap snapped shut with a spinning bite of recoil while Sid released it. Those springs were tight, and strong, even for big Sid’s massive arms. Even while empty, those precise teeth still held a taunting grin. Just the way it lay along the grass like that. Links casually sprawled. The mouth was closed but had it been open. It was nothing more than that of a parasite along the forest floor. It was a sinister creati—

  The subtle chirp of a bell erased all thoughts. It was a gentle chirp like it had always been. It reverberated with a lulling pulse. Sid’s hair began to rise in anticipation. He wasn’t sure what was worse knowing it was coming or how fier—

  There it was that aggressive snarl. God’s, he hated how it just stalked that bell before making its attack. It was so vicious and brutal. The quick rolling snap or crunch it produced, Sid wasn’t sure how to describe a snarl. It was a noise that made him cold though. Yeah, he was bare, but this was an internal chill. Like that of paranoia and guilt, the kind of feeling that just churns the guts when confronted.

  The afterthought was what spooked him. Sure, that sudden snap of predatory bite made him jump, but the lingering sound was worrisome. Every time Sid thought of that snarl, he would look over his surroundings.

  The sounds came and went, like they had before. That glimmer of text even came through too. As one may remember, Sid can’t read. So, he just blinks dramatically after a vivid eye roll. An eye roll that examined those words of mystery.

  That uncomfortable sense of advancement never came. Instead, was a feeling of connection. This creature. This wolf. This pup. There was a bond he could feel. Sid looked down at his kneel in the grass. The animal was curled before him. Well actually Sid wasn’t sure. It felt as if the pup was curled, laying at his knees. Honestly though, it just looked like shadow.

  His heartbeat was vivid and unnatural now. Sid could hardly breathe. That connection he felt. The passion that radiate from this lonely creature. It was a sorrow that ran parallel to his own. He lifted one of those heavy hands. Yes, the missing a finger hand. The pointer if you’d forgotten.

  Sid lifted his hand with a gentle manner. He looked at the shadow, then to his hand. Carefully he closed the gap. A bead of sweat was felt along his forehead as that fat hand crept. He had to turn his head with tight eyes before that touch of contact.

  Those pure whites opened. Looking at that odd fellow in a blue. He wrestles with an erratic donkey. The donkey was upset with him. Not him as in that fellow in blue, him as in the shadow. The donkey had been cursing at him since he noticed him. This big man, Sid. He helped. He is safe like mother was.

  Those pure whites looked up at Sid. The round man had his head turned, eyes tight. A single hand resting on that soft fur. The pup yawned with a rolling lick of its snout, and returned to its laydown. Sid opened one of them beady eyes, glancing at his hand.

  He wasn’t sure what he was expecting to happen. Perhaps the animal would have bitten it off, or something along those lines. No instead it just seemed to lie there. No, actually it felt as if it was nuzzling into his touch. Sid dragged his fat hand over the shadow. It was a poor excuse for a pet, but still, there was a flair of passion that emitted.

  Unaware of it all, a bond had started between the two. There was an unseen twine that would tie these two together. Not just a bond of friendship, but the relation familiar souls would share. There was a flickering force of energy that sparked. Not a literal spark of electricity, but of untold oath. A linking of companionship. A glow that would only grow with patience.

  Sid’s racing heart came to a steady with each petting motion. That odd fur was gentle to the touch. Wispy like smoke. His hand would just pull right through, trails of black something drift over his stroking. He pressed in. There was a body in there somewhere. He could feel the warmth of the pup.

  He wasn’t sure what he assume, perhaps this creature was part smoke. Then again, what would the trap be biting. Odd little creature. Sid remembered the name its mother had told him. Well, he assumed it was the mother. This was all completely new to him, but its what Clayton would have done.

  His petting motions found a graceful rhythm. Well, he found a motion, graceful might not be the correct terminology. It was a bit rough between those sharp ears, but still there was shelter in that touch. Tough on the shoulders, but it was somewhat satisfying.

  “HARRRRR-AHHH”

  Abram, Sid and that pup all investigated the woods. One direction, immediate of instance.

  “HARRRRR!”

  A horrid howl of sorts echoed the woods. Branches snapped in the distance while things ran by. Sid looked over at Abram. The man grip his donkey before a quick lock of eyes with big Sid.

  “Butcher.”

  Honestly Sid kind of assumed. The way Abram answered though. So nonchalant. So relaxed and detached from the moment. Like it was part of his routine. The man said it with such breeze it made Sid uneasy. Not worried about the situation. That feeling had a pocket of its own. No, that nervous sense was steaming from Abram now. It was unsettling how calm the man was about everything. Like he was awaiting the next moment to come.

  “Arieo damn it!”

  Abram shout at his donkey. Arieo thrashed in a panicked frenzy. That big round honker catching Abram on him chin. Down his master went. It wasn’t an out cold kind of connection, but it did put him on his butt. Those big beautiful brown eyes found those mysterious whiter orbs. The small orbs of vision, right there laying at Sid’s knees.

  Arieo charged. That rickity wagon wheel squeaked tightly. That donkey lifted its lips, revealing those blocky teeth. Nostrils wide, flaring with each hot breath. That mahogony menace raced for Sid, stopping with a hoof digging skid.

  Big Sid flinched while that handsome donkey reared up. In a heartbeat Sid anticipated what would happen next. That donkey produced an aggressive noise, and proceed to stamp at the pup. Sid was not going to let that happen.

  Sid jumped up faster than anyone his size had the right too. That big bare man locked arms with that donkey. It was a short grapple, but one of great intimidation. That pup yelped from underneath, and bolted.

  “Fenrir!”

  Sid shout. A shock of adrenaline, pure energy, hell maybe even the shiniest star in strength had been applied. There was a sense of something though. Big Sid flexed and tossed Arieo to the side. Literally tossed that donkey and its speed wagon to the side. Like he was dropping of lumber, he just pushed that little menace over.