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The mob was how Burgolf was beginning to think of the tribe meeting. The tribe boasted close to eighty people, but the number was slowly decreasing. The death of Hubert seamed to have been only the beginning. In fact the dead toll had risen so high no child, or unwell persons were allowed out of their homes unaccompanied.
The tribe elder, Geric, had been pressured by the tribe to find out what was going on. None of the tribe was offering any help to stop these killings. Geric glanced nervously about the increasingly frightened tribe members. They wanted him, Geric, to solve all of their fears, but none wanted to risk themselves or their families. The tribe did seam to be growing wilder as families repeatedly told of their missing members.
The tribe was a small farming community with no real fighters, their closest claim was the small game hunters. But even they were a small few.
Geric began to visibly stress, as the tribe continued to demand action.
Burgolf had had enough, �Good people lets us return home to our families for now. The sun will be setting soon, and I have no desire to remain away from my wife. Tomorrow when the sun first rises let all of the town men gather, to hunt down these vile beast that plague are tribe. All of the tribe�s men shall gather here tomorrow, and will set off together. No one will be left alone.�
With that said Burgolf headed home, well he ha one stop on the way. Ascric had not gone to the tribe meeting, nor did he answer Burgolf�s greeting. Ascric had become very sullen in the last few months since he buried his son. He spent most of his time helping his wife in her garden. Ada gave Burgolf a small nod then moved on into the house taking her two remaining children with her.
�Ascric the tribe will be hunting tomorrow. I expect you to be there.� Burgolf didn�t wait for a response, his family was still waiting for him.
The mist hung low and thick to the ground as the first tribesmen began to gather. The Eneric�s family had lost Mrs. Eneric last night. The tribe would start their hunt by the Eneric�s homestead. Mr. Eneric refused to join the hunt, instead he locked himself, and his children in their home.
The hunt had gathered close to twenty men, and Ascric was the last one to join. The hunt could not find any signs of the beasts at the Eneric home. They couldn�t even figure out how Mrs. Eneric had been taken. It seamed as if she had left the building of her own accord.
The hunt circled out from the house, always staying together, looking for any tracks. For hours the hunt searched with little to show for it. They searched house to house, farm, and field. They began to enter the surrounding woods as the noonday sun rose. Burgolf called a break when they reached the small stream. He hung his head, and watched the men drop. �I just don�t get it Ascric,� he whispered, �How could these beasts leave no trail?�
Ascric sat looking at the water remembering how he found his son. �There were no tracks in the blood then, why would there be some now? Mayhap these are just some daemons come to torment us.�
�I think you are wrong my friend,� Burgolf comforted, �I think these beasts are very real, and we will find them.�
Ascric raised his eyes to his friend, �Why do you think there are more then one of these things?�
�I am a hunter. I know that no animal in this area would feed or kill, as much as these things do, if they there was only one of them. Come let us continue.� Burgolf pulled his friend to his feet, and gathered the men again for the hunt.
Ascric scanned the group of men and asked, �Burgolf why did Geric chose not to join us today?�
Burgolf seamed to be taken back a little by this and chuckled, �I would assume that it is because of his health. He did seam as if he was about to have a fit of the vapors last eve.�
�Mayhap we should stop by his home, and make sure he is alright? We are nearly there now.� Pointed to the slightly larger tribe elder�s home.
�Alright I see no harm in this. I will tell the others.� Burgolf set off to gather the rest of the hunting party.
The hunters gathered eagerly at the home, with thoughts of being out of the sun. Ascric and Burgolf looked a little confused as no one greeted them. They were considered in a large group of people, and easily seen. Ascric went up to the door and knocked. There was no answer. Burgolf went up to the door and knocked a little harder. There was still no answer. This began to worry the hunting party.
�Geric if you do not answer this door, we will assume the beasts have gotten you to, and we will break door the door.� Burgolf yelled into the home.
Slowly the door began to inch open, with a very nervous Geric standing behind it. �I am sorry Burgolf. My wife is not feeling well, and honestly I don�t think we are up to visitors. Please can you come back at a later time.� Geric begged.
Burgolf started taking deeper breaths and his eyes seamed to dilate a little. �I think I would like to see your wife Geric. Maybe there is something we can do for her.�
�I really don�t think that right now would be a good time. Maybe you should come back tomorrow.� Geric began to close the door, but Burgolf with a small growl wedged his body into the door, knocking Geric back.
Ascric followed his friend into the home, and stopped as the small trigger of a memory began to stir. �Burgolf what is that smell? I know it.�
�I think we should be asking Geric that. So, Geric where is your wife again? Asleep? So that means she would be over in this next room.� Burgolf began to push his way past Geric, when Geric reached out a hand, and grabed Burgolf�s arm.
�I really want you to leave now. Please do not make this become any worse then it already is.� Geric stated as he slowly seamed to change. No longer did Geric stand there stressing, shaking, or sweating. He almost seamed as if he were someone else. His hand on Burgolf�s arm was quit firm.
Burgolf tried to shake off Geric�s hand, but to no avail.
�Geric what is wrong?� Ascric beseeched.
�Ascric please go out to the hunting party and have them start heading home.� Burgolf lowly issued the command.
Ascric turned around with no questions asked and headed back to the hunting party.
�What are you?� Burgolf asked as soon as Ascric was out of earshot. �You almost smell of them.� He stated.
�I don�t know what you are talking about. Please leave now.� Geric held firm.
�Geric do not interfere in this, or I will have to stop you.� Burgolf growled low in his throat.
�I don�t know what you are talking about. Please leave now.� Geric repeated almost mindlessly.
Ascric had finished informing the hunting party that something strange was going on and that they needed to be ready for anything. He started back to the home when he saw Geric slouched over against the door. Just as Ascric reached out to Geric, Burgolf was blocking him. �I think there are some things that you need to see.� Burgolf beckoned Ascric.
Burgolf picked up the unresponsive form of Geric and carried him back into the house. The house was comprised of a large living area and two small rooms. In the first room there was not much but a bunch of boxes, and crates. They walked past that room into the next room. On the bed in the second room lay Geric�s wife, she looked as if she had died in her sleep many nights before. Except for the small brownish stain on the neck of her gown there was no sign that she had not died in her sleep.
�I-is-s Geric the one responsible.� Ascric asked.
�No. I do not think so. But I do believe that we will need to burn this home down.� Burgolf tossed Geric�s unresponsive form onto the ground. �This place is full of an evil that most be destroyed. Send the men back to be with their families. In fact you should return to yours now to. I will finish up here.�
Ascric ran back to the waiting men, and started telling them that whatever happened here was finished, and that they should return home. The hunting party was only to happy to return home to their waiting families. Ascric only looked back once to the house, and small trace amount of smoke start to rise.
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