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Meet Tartr You find yourself pacing quietly down a forest path, the crunching of leaves which might have been pleaseant by day now making you jumpy and nervous. The sky is overcast, dark, forbidding. The moon, when it shows, is a just past gibbous dripping light, haloed with hazy blood. You hear a snapping noise, start, remind yourself to breathe. It was only some animal stepping on a twig. Nothing more. You continue, hoping that you will find your destination soon. From out of the pitch black foliage, out of nowhere a shape emerges and leaps for you! You try to escape, but it has grabbed you, one arm holding a knife to your throat. A thief! As you struggle, you hear a harsh whispering in your ear. "Stop moving, now." The knife at your throat presses a little harder, and you obey. The voice, decidedly feminine for all that it grates away at you, begins again, and the knife pulls back just a little. "You have chosen a poor time to walk the woods, friend," the last is near spat, as if in condescention. "You're lucky that it was I who leapt you, and not another. Strange things have been happening in these woods, strange, horrible things. Do not run." She releases you, and you turn quickly, rubbing at your throat to be sure that she hasn't cut you. "What kinds of things?" you ask, loud enough that she cringes. "Not here. Follow me." She disappears off the path again, and you follow. You get the distinct feeling that he could quite easily disappear and leave you amongst the dark, rattling trees. You see a light ahead of you encompassing the woman, silouhetting her with its warm, welcoming glow. It appears to be coming from a log cabin, which seems strange, set back so far in the woods. The woman knocks on the door in a cryptic series, and after a number of grating noises (locks opening?) the door opens outward. A tiny face peers out, obviously a child. "Tartr!" It calls, relief flooding its face. The child turns to see you, and its face pales visibly. "A visitor? Are you sure it's?" The woman, Tartr, nods shortly. "I found this one wandering in the woods like a babe, ready for the picking." She gestures to you, "As I said, lucky that you were found before anything could happen." She steps back so that you might enter the cabin. The inside is lit with many candles, and as you turn to watch Tartr enter, you confirm that there are indeed a number of locks on the door. Quite a few, actually. The child has to use a step ladder to reach them all. You notice that Tartr is wearing a dark cloak, which is not unusual for this part of the world, but the broach which connects it gives off a faint sheen. It must be magic. Her hair, what little of it you can see that spills out from the hood, is a strange mix of browns and greens. Camoflauge? The house smells funny. You crinkle your nose, not sure what exactly is bothering you. And then you see the cots, and the people lying on them. It smells like sickness. Tartr steps up beside you, playing with her knife, avoiding looking at the people. "These are some of the victims that I've managed to save before... before," She stops, turns around so that her back faces them. She stares out of the single, barred window into the night. You turn as well, curious now, and still nervous. "What's been going on?" Tartr takes a deep breath, shakes her head, then finally decides to tell you. "It was over a month ago, at the new moon, when they first came. My father, he was out hunting, when I heard him shouting. By the time I got to him, all that remained was a bloody smear." She shuddered, and you aren't sure if it's from sorrow or rage. "I hunted whatever had taken him out, but couldn't find it. Shortly after, my Uncle was attacked. He escaped, but he didn't survive for long. When he died, my sister and I could do nothing but send him to a better place. For a while, the killing stopped... and then I saw it. "It was night, but the moon was full. It looked much like a wolf, that's the best way I can explain it." She shrugs, her emotions under complete control. "It was like a hairless wolf. It tried to attack me, but I evaded it. The most frightening thing was, I think it was my father." "Werewolf?" You ask. You have heard about such things in movies and fairy-tales, but never in real life. Werewolves are extinct! "No, I have seen werewolves. They don't look like that." Tartr turns back towards you, you notice that the light accents her freckled chin. The rest of her face remains in darkness. You do a double take. "You, you've seen werewolves?" she must be on some kind of drug! She laughs softly. "You could say that they're common around here." Her mouth turns down, and she continues more soberly, "this thing, whatever it is, it is dangerous. It attacks only by night, and so far it has claimed at least three lives. You're very lucky to be here, right now." "So what's wrong with these people?" you ask. "More travellers. One is me elder brother. He and I attempted to hunt the creature, but it wounded him. These others appear to be wounded also, but I only found them after they were attacked." She pivots on her heal and to face the 'patients' again. "I fear for their safety. Silith," she gestures with her chin to the child who is now boiling a kettle of water, looking up from time to time at the bodies on the cots, "Siltith and my friend Bacar and I have been trying to take care of them. We have no way to reach a healer, so we do what we must." She gives you a piercing look. "What are you doing out here, anyways? You look abashed, having stumbled into her problem from something that was meant to be a joyous occasion. "I was actually heading for the Warren. I've heard that they have another clutch of dragons, and I was hoping to bond to one of them." Tartr nods slowly. "I have heard of the dragons also, but have not seen any of them. These dragons, are they strong?" You shrug, having never really seen one yourself. Suddenly, the sounds of scratching at the door cause you to jump, yet again. The sounds are not random, infact, the resemble the knock that Tartr had done a few minutes ago. The child Siltith runs to the door and begins unlocking again. Once the door is open, a black form slips in, all danger and darkness. You feel your hairs rise on the back of your neck, and your teeth set on edge. The creature is a wolf! The wolf spots you and allows a growl to escape its throat. "Don't worry, Bacar, this is another traveller..." She grins, "No harm. I mentioned Bacar earlier to you, did I not?" You nod, dumbfounded. Tartr finally pulls back the hood of her cloak, revealing her freckled face. Her eyes are the same piercing amber as Bacars' and it's then that you realise: she's a werewolf! You feel a shiver run through you, but her smile is nothing but warmth. "You said that there are to be bonded dragons?" You nod briefly, and she appears to grow thoughtful, "Well. Perhaps I will join you. If I were to bond with a dragon, I could perhaps bring it back with me. We could protect our home all the better. You could obviously use some protection, as well. Waltsing in the woods at night is dangerous, you know." The wolf growls, and you suspect that with its words and gestures, it is speaking. "Bacar can protect Siltith. They should be all right if they don't journey by night... and I shan't be gone long." Tartr gives you a look. "Would you mind some company on your trip?" Is there really any other option than yes? You nod one more time, and Tartr allows herself a grin. Her pointed teeth are unnerving, but you know that they will never be directed at you. "Good. We leave by morning." Siltith approaches you with a mug of still hot tea, and you settle in with your new company for the night, wondering what other strange things there are to be learned. |