The Call of the Wolf

The howl of the wolf breaks the silence of the cold winter night.

The townsfolk of Latvenria awake and shutter to the low, deep howl. Many get warmer clothes on and rush outside and all gather at the gate looking out into Nefildin. A large pine nettle forest which curls around the town like a large smile. The forest is thick and dark, nothing can be seen from inside.

The howl emerges again making the townsfolk shutter back in fear. Older men take their bows and spears and walk out of the gates forming a rough wall of bodies to defend the town and its people.

They wait in the cold, shin high snow. Their breath forming as they wait in silence, alert for any attack.

None comes and eventually they walk back and bring their families back inside and board up the windows and doors.

Thomas stays on guard. A long grey scarf tightly wrapped around his ears and face. His brown curly hair slightly keeps his head warm, but he is too alert to notice its bite. The thick brown jacket tightly wrapped around would keep his body warm, along with knitted gloves and fur lined boots, but his body feels cold. He stands on guard in the only watchtower which faces the forest beside the front gate. The only man to carry a musket, and the only one who knows how to use one. Loaded and ready to fire.

He stares off into the forest with his deep brown eyes. He rubs at the scar above his left brow and recalls the memory of its creation. Thomas waits and watches, no family to go home to. No friends to check up on. He is alone and prefers it that way. Sole duty is to protect the town and its people. Made leader of the small community of 300 villagers. The only man to encounter the beast and live.

Thomas eventually goes back to his hut when he is satisfied nothing is coming and before he goes to bed he sends a crow with a message to the capital, informing them the White Hunt has begun.

*

"Are we ready yet?" Kayla drones out for the 5th time to Dimitriv.

Dimitriv roles his eyes and looks to her. Dark grey hair with a short beard. Sunken light blue eyes with pointed eyebrows. Leather hardened armor with his right shoulder spiked. A longsword and bow strapped to his back.

"Kayla. Enough!" he turns and continues setting up the wagon.

Kayla now sits quietly and makes sure her bag is ready to go. A smaller girl but very lean and fit. Dark red hair tied into two pigtails. A mole below her left eye and her chin has an old scar. Wears pants and a leather jacket which rises just above the stomach. Boyish nature but she has a beauty which catches every boys’ eyes.

Dalin approaches with a large sack which he tosses on the back of the wagon. Young man and very muscular and broad shouldered. Shaggy brown hair kept out of the face by a leather band. Long brown tunic with a black vest accompanied by dark black pants. A short sword strapped t o the back of his waist. He looks to Kayla and gives her a wink, but she smiles and roles her eyes.

Ivan punches his shoulder and motions for him to grab another bag. The elder of the two brothers. Not as muscular as his brother but is taller by a foot. Dark brown hair kept short and out of the way. Dark green shirt under a black jacket. His right hand is covered in a dark brown binding. His ears are small, and his nose arched slightly to the left. He watches as people pass by, many glancing over to the group but notice Ivan’s gaze and quickly look away.

Dimitriv puts a hand on his shoulder and nods to him. Ivan nods back and goes back inside to grab the last of the things. The older man watches the people walking past him and looks out towards the grey clouded sky. The direction they must head to.

"All ready to go!" Ivan calls out and makes his way to the wagon. Kayla sits shotgun, eagerly watching the many people walk by. Dalin locks the door and gives the key to Dimitriv who sits in driver seat and takes the reigns. With one whip of the reigns the team of four sets off North, heading to embark on the White Hunt in Latvenria.

Thomas watches the few camps being assembled outside the dark forest. Even in the day the forest and its black trees resemble ink spilled over a black parchment. The trees all twisted and broken, they watch as the White Hunt is closing to begin.

Thomas watches as the men and some women assemble their tents and prepare themselves for the coming hunt. Three campsites so far.

One has the banner of a black helmet with dark red, curved horns. The people in the camp all wear these black helmets, but all have different styles of curved horns. They have crossbows and jagged ugly weapons.

The middle camps banner is of a green turtle shell with a hammer placed over it. This camp has the most people counting 20 and all with basic weapons like spears, swords, and bows.

The final banner is of an orange sword over a dark blue shield with a crest of a wolfs face, dark grey fur snarling out with dark yellow eyes. The people there wear dark black clothes, and all have muskets strapped to their back with longswords to accompany.

Thomas watches with his spyglass and breathes in deeply, letting it out in an old sigh. The hunt will never stop but there will always be people coming to try and take the prize.

The sound of horses and wagon wheels turning in the snow gets Thomas' attention. He looks to the south road and sees another wagon heading towards the town. One single wagon with an off-white canopy slowly makes its way around the town. A smaller banner compared to the other three camps flaps in the wind. Thomas looks and sees a dark grey banner with a darker highlighted grey circle in the centre. A black gauntlet balled in a fist is turned to the right with the knuckles facing left. Thomas watches Dimitrivs' cart slowly pass by and he finds Dimitriv driving the cart but looking right at Thomas. No exchange of gesture, just a stare off between the two old men. Dimitriv breaks the stare and turns his head back to the trail ahead.

Thomas lowers the spyglass and watches the cart push threw the snow. Eventually he climbs down the tower and makes his way to the small crowd of people waiting by the old tavern.

“Stay in your homes, gather all the supplies you can and board up every window and door. The hunt is soon to begin.” Thomas calls out and the crowd immeadietly disperses and gets ready for the long days ahead.

Thomas walks back towards the gate and stands in small opening. He watches Dimitriv arrive next to the other hunters tents and set up his own. Thomas watches a few minutes but eventually closes the gates and makes his way back home to also shelter for the coming storm.

*

"There are so many hunters." Kayla looks out at the other camps, entranced by the different people.

"Kayla don't worry about them, help me with this tent." Dalin says.

Dimitriv looks to the other groups and stares directly at the banner with the wolf on the shield. A man slowly walks over to him, and he walks to them to meet them halfway.

"Dimitriv you old ghost! Still on the hunt?" Vaskev calls out to him.

"I should be asking you the same thing." They join hands and turn to look out to the forest.

Vlad looks to Dimitriv. Vlad stands 6'0, wearing a thick fur coat. Bracers with hidden daggers in them and thick pants with some metal armor around the thighs. His eyes are a deep brown and his face covered in a thick black beard. He also wears a thick fur black cap to cover most of his head.

"She calls out to her hunters; she is testing us." Vlad speaks slowly, his breath visible in the light.

"She always does." Dimitriv stands watching the black forest. Never able to fully leave.

"I see you have a couple new boys, relatives?" Vlad asks nodding to Ivan and Dalin.

"No relation, eager young hunters who have proved their capabilities. I see you forgoes silence for firepower."

"Ha! the world is changing Dimitriv. The old ways of bow and sling are fading like snow in the summer. They may not be quiet, but they pack a punch a bow can never match.” Vlad holds out a pistol to Dimitriv.

He shakes his head and turns to walk back to camp, “Good luck Vlad. May Dimorta watch over you.”

Vlad doesn’t respond but the respect is still there. Dimitriv thinks on what Vlad said. The old ways are fading like snow in the summer. The new ways scare him more than she does.

*

Night approaches. The hunters gather their weapons and supplies and all meet at the forest ridgeline. Ivan and Dalin look to one another and nod. Kayla looks out to the forest. Scared but determined. he grips her crossbow tightly and waits like everyone else. Dimitriv looks over to Vlad who is already staring at him. They both nod and wait for the moon. Minutes feel like hours. The cold night itches through the bones, but everyone waits.

The moon slowly begins to rise above the forest and as it reaches past the tree tops a thin red line begins to slowly form. With that the hunters all raise their totems of Dimorta and break off into the forest. The White Hunt begins.

*

Dimitriv stops and scans the trees. He can hear the other hunters trying to be quiet but failing. They will get picked off first.

Kayla walks slowly behind with Ivan and Dalin at the rear. Ivan has his marksman bolt launcher aimed ahead and Dalin has his short sword in hand and eyes watching behind them. The group slowly moves forward with Dimitriv following tracks that he found an hour ago.

"Hold up." Dimitriv speaks softly and raises a hand. Everyone stops and waits, nervous and alert.

Dimitriv takes a few steps forward and reaches down into the red stained snow. Takes a finger and dabs into the wet blood. He eyes it and lightly tastes it then spits immeadietly.

Vampire.

Loud snaps and the trees to the groups right break and a large body breaks the small group apart. Ivan and Dalin get pushed to the left while Kayla gets thrown into Dimitriv. The shape stands at the ready arms outstretched with sharpened nails pointed at both groups.

“Foolish to bring children Dimitriv.” A cold and deep voice speaks out.

Dimitriv moves infront of Kayla and aims his bow towards the now visible man. Ivan raises his gun as well and Dalin crouches low in between the two.

The unknown man stands up and stares at Dimitriv with blood red eyes. His hands are covered in dry blood. His nails long and sharp. He wears an old long tailed suit with a dark blue vest. Several holes and slashes have ruined the vest, but it adds an age of history to the man. He has long greasy slicked back black hair with a defined jaw line and a crows beak nose. His eyes are a deep red colour and fangs shine white in his blood-stained mouth.

“You know they are all going to die.” He chuckles and motions to the young hunters.

“Not if we kill you first.” Dalin growls and gets ready to leap but Ivan moves his leg to stop his adrenaline filled younger brother.

The Vampire smiles and stares deep into Dalins eyes, “Have you ever tasted your own flesh boy. I can make that happen.”

“Your fights with me Duke.” Dimitriv speaks slow and calm.

Duke looks over to the man and eyes him up and down, “Not getting any younger my friend. The years catching up to you.” He slowly paces back and forth watching them all.

“Indeed, but I will still outlive you.” Dimitriv releases his arrow but Duke dodges it and catches it in a flash. He holds the arrow and twirls it in his hand chuckling.

“You’re getting slow old man.” Duke throws the arrow at Ivan without warning, and it connects with his arm, and he cries out in pain. Dalin takes the opportunity to dive at Duke and lunge with his sword, but Duke knew it was coming and grabs the sword and twirls the boy around. Dalin is grappled, his body a shield infront of Duke and his sword held at his own throat, still held in his hand.

“Such anger, hahaha. I bet it tastes delicious.” Duke plunges his fangs into Dalins throat and begins to feed. Dimitriv however is already at Dukes back side, using the fight as a distraction, and grabs Dukes head and pulls it back from Dalins neck. A flow of blood gushes out of Dalins neck and Duke lets go to try and leap away but Kayla already has Dukes legs in shackles and staked to the ground. Ivan rushes up and attaches the body cage on Duke and the three jump back as the cage does its work.

The cage opens and closes on Dukes arms. Before he can do anything, his body is shut in silver, and it burns his visible skin making him cry out in pain. He then falls backwards from a loss of balance, legs still shackled, and is left squirming trying to break free.

The three rush to Dalin and Ivan immediately presses a cloth to Dalins neck. Dimitriv opens his satchel to find medicine and Kayla tries to give him water. Dalin, eyes bloodshot and sweating profoundly, feels the venomous poison running through his body. He tries to fight it off but feels to weak and begins to panic. Dimitriv sees this and shoves a bottle into Dalins mouth and forces him to drink. The antidote starts to neutralize the venom, but Dalin passes out from the pain.

“Bring your brother back to camp Ivan.” Dimitriv says and walks over to Duke.

“But you cant go alone!” Ivan exclaims in protest while removing the arrow from his arm.

“He wont be alone.” Kayla interjects and wraps a bandage around Ivan’s arm, “You have to take care of your brother.”

Ivan looks at her then to his brother and nods and begins to pick him up after Kayla finishes the binding.

Dimitriv walks over to Duke and looks down at him. The vampires neckline is a deep red and blistering. Duke stares back at Dimitriv knowing he cannot escape.

“You like looking down on the things you kill. Makes you feel tough?” Duke spits out at Dimitriv.

Dimitriv responds by slowly pulling out his sword and places the blade to his foes neck. He raises it and brings it down on Duke.

“I never knew she had a child.”

Dimitriv stops just when the sword was about to end the vampires life. His hands slightly shake but he stops and looks down at Duke.

“You can see the resemblance. Its in the eyes.”

“What’s he talking about?” Kayla asks walking up beside Dimitriv.

Dimitriv looks over to Kayla and back to Duke. Duke smiles and starts to chuckle but then turns into a maniacal laugh. His laughter stops as Dimitriv cuts his head off.

“What did he mean Dimitriv?” Kayla asks.

Dimitriv looks to her with warm eyes and a small smile and puts his hand to her arm, “He was just trying to get under our skins. Don’t worry about it. Focus on the hunt.” He walks away and his warm presence turns cold as the words play over in his head.

You can see the resemblance in the eyes…

Ivan has Dalin on his back and looks to Dimitriv, “I will come back once he has recovered. I promise.”

Dimitriv puts a hand to Ivan’s shoulder and squeezes it tight, “be quick and stay safe.”

Ivan looks to Kayla and nods, and he sets off, brother unconscious on his back, and retraces his steps back to camp.

Dimitriv stares after them praying they make a safe return. He turns and sets off with Kayla as his side. The hunt still goes on. The two leave the dead Vampire to rot and get eaten by the wildlife.

Kayla’s mind is now filled with questions which she wants answers but doesn’t want to bother Dimitriv right now. Especially not during the hunt. She puts them aside and focuses on the task ahead.

The two push onwards into the snow-covered forest, alert and eyes watching. Surveying the dark forest ahead.

I never knew she had a child…