1st Vhalar
There had been a time that Drustin had started to grow taller than his female friends. Shooting up into a gangly youth and then up, and up and up until he had to bend to walk through most doors. Still a slender man he wore loose, clothing to add width where it was lacking across his shoulders. He was able to move more quietly than most men his height however and it was a skill that Alys could appreciate. Standing outside her Father’s shop the young woman pushed her hair back over her shoulder and focused on the lock. She’d left her key back in her rooms and was damned if she was going to talk home and collect it. Instead she plied a hair pin to the mechanism. Tongue touching the side of her mouth she concentrated and listened for the soft click.
There was the sound of boots on the cobbles behind her. She watched over her shoulder in the grey gloom of dawn as Drustin approached at a run. Blood streaked down pale features, his shirt was shredded as though form long nails of claws. Surprised she turned to face him.
“Open the door!” He bellowed and she was sure he must have woken the entire street.
Alys turned back to the lock and her fingers trembled a little on the mechanism. Drustin wasn’t one to panic quickly. He wasn’t easy to frighten either. In fact he was one of her best men for muscle because he could use his brain as well as his fists. Well enough to think his way through a situation, but not well enough to think he could take power from the blonde. In fact, he was nearly perfect. His obvious fear as he skid to a stop beside her, caused her to feel afraid.
Without looking away from her task she asked the question and dreaded the answer, “what’s wrong Drustin? What is chasing you?” There was a steady drop of blood form his wounds and she could hear his heart pounding against his ribs.
“Beasts Alys, beasts from the shadows. They cornered Magpie on our drop,” his back was pressed against the cold shop window. A look at the glass told her what she needed to know. Two beasts came tearing around the corner, the scent of blood in their noses.
The mechanism clicked beneath her hands, “they know you’re here,” she whispered and he nodded.
Alys slid the lock free, watching form the corner of her eye as the two beasts stalked forward. They reminded her of overgrown wolves, with a few extra limbs. Black as night against a sky that was slowly turning grey.
“I’m sorry Drustin…” Alys opened the door enough so that she could slide in and pulled it tight shut behind her. Heart hammering she sank down as her childhood friend turned. He beat a fist against the door and begged for her attention. There was a mirror in the shop, on the back wall and she watched as the creatures leapt on the tall man. His screams split the air, until there was only an awful silence. A slow, deep growling as the beast lost interest in a corpse.
Dawn slid over the street and the young woman pressed her face against her knees. She took a deep breath and then another.