Chapter Six: The Little Cottage

I dropped behind a rock. My heart was beating hard. I was anxious. This wolf-beast had captivated my fear and feed upon it, devouring what courage I had previously been proud of.

I knotched my bow.

I turned. Nothing.

I rose and paced backwards, moving my torso from side to side. Occassionally I glanced behind me to check my footing.

Nothing. My mind had been my foe this time. I relaxed and placed the arrow in my quiver.

It was late into the night when I caught sent of a fire and saw the trail of smoke.

THe smoke billowed upwards, as if funneled. No doubt it's origin came from within a cottage. I had found my sage.

THe house seemed a bit run down. Someone was still inside, evident by the smoke. Roses and weeds grew violently outside. Vines ran amok the walls.

I opened the door. The home was small, three rooms.

The main room, was empty. The fire was going, and didn't show a sign of letting up. It was fresh. THe old man must have retired to his room to fetch something.

I decided to wait would be most appropriate given my o'erhasty entrance.

Instead of an aged man, a young woman came out of the side room.

She walked about halfway through the room before she notcied my shadow form the corner.

She balked and froze.

"Who are ye?"

She wasn't scared, as I first thought. She 'froze' in defiance should I have attempted to move further.

I raised my hands.

"Kinningson. I must speak to the Sage. Does he still live here?"

She looked me over, taking certainly far too long to size me up.

I grew exasperated.

"Child, I'm being followed. Is he-"

"Quiet. He's here. He's resting." Her eyes ran to the window. "How dare you enter this house uninvited."

I finally moved forward.

She grabbed the nearest object, the fire poker and brandished it.

"Don't move."

I did anyway. She swatted at me. My hand caught the poker, it stung, but I now had control.

"The sage? I will talk to him. Please show me to his room."

She tried to yank free. I held tight.

A howl pierced the air. Both of us looked up frightened.

Our eyes met.

She nodded.

I followed her to a small room.

It had been nearly twenty years since I had come here as an apprenctice to my old master.

The great sage I rememberd was nothing more than a small frail man, bundled in bed. His eyes were shut and the slight movement of the blankets were the only telltale sign that he lived.

The room was filled with bookshelves though. This was indeed the Sage.

She went to a chair in the corner and sat, apprehensive.

"Sir?"

He stirred a bit.

"Sir?" I questioned again, a bit more forceful.

Her eyes were set on me. i could tell she was discomforted by my appearance and nature. Social niceities could wait. I need to discover this cure.

His eyes slowly blinked open.

His voice was raspy and barely audible. i realized my figure would seem imposing, so I knelt.

His head was facing the wrong direction.

"Sir?"

It followed my voice.

The old man had gone blind.

I ventured the question.

"Have you heard of a man changing forms into a wolf?"

He coughed a bit, and seemed to wet his mouth.

His hand raised and point at the bookshelf closest to the girl.

She rose and inquired.

"Which shelf?"

He showed three fingers.

Third shelf.

"What color?"

He raised his thumb.

Green. Genius.

I realized why she was here now. He was losing his powers of speak. She was his interpreter.

She pulled out three different books.

The Myths and Lore of Davenborough.

The Life and Times of King Georg II.

Poly form: A Wizards Manual to Shape Changing.

The first and last book might have some clues.

She carried them to the bed and allowed him to feel the covers and the binding. It was no less spectacular to see him still be able to exert his wisdom in profound ways.

He fumbled his wrinkled and bony fingers through the third book. He ran his fingers over the pages, as if feeling the very ink of each letter.

I caught her biting her lips glancing at the pages.

Her eyes lifted up into mine. Her eyebrows raised.

I rose. He was blind. My terrible frame would not daunt him.

His hands rested upon a page.

The girl whispered a thanks into his ear and took the book to me.

I read feverishly.

It was a spell to change a wizards form into that of an animal. But this was controlled and required reagnents. The man had changed involuntary.

I shook my head and closed the book.

"Forgive my intrusion." I handed her the book.

"Thank you for the aid, but this is not what i had hoped it to be."

She replaced the book, cautiously keeping her eyes on me.

I realized to her I must have looked like the very creature I spoke of. A man covered in fur, my beard and long hair unkempt. My bow and ax were threatening enough.

Another howl. i had overstayed my welcome. THe beast would come.

If nothing else, I would wait outisde in hopes of finding it and luring it away from the pair.

I closed the door behind me.

The moon was out, slowly becoming a sliver.

I glanced all about nothing. I sniffed the air. Nothing unusual. I knelt down.i scanned the underbrush. Again, nothing.

A third howl, nearly upon me.

I rose and paced forward, swallowing down my fear. i reached for an arrow, closing my eyes and listening for anything. I heard faint breathing.

it was here, behind me.

I had led the monster to this house.

I had hoped to find a cure to the man, but now, I had to choose to kill it and save these people, and no doubt many more.

THe arrow was fitted on the string. I snapped around and pulled the string to my ear.

On instinct did the arrow fly. The beast had been perched on the roof. I had been careless.

The arrow, however, ripped into its flesh, grazing the side of its jowl.

It bound down. My bow dropped, so much like before. My ax was out. Its claws grabbed around my bicpes. The weight brought us both down to the ground, tangled. Its jaws snapped viciously at my face. It squirmed and wiggled. I dropped the ax and grabbed its waist. With all my strength I squeezed, digging my thumbs into its sides. I pushed up, just enough to get my knees between my and the wolfman.

Its breath stank of death. I pushed. THe claws shredded my clothes, ripping the skin from my upper arms. Four scratches on both sides bled freely. They were deper than I had thought.

The beast was on its feet in an instant, whereas I was struggling to get on mine.

It rushed at me, diving again. I rolled to the side, unloosing my cloak. The beast tore into the fur lined cape, biting at whree my head should have been. I had tricked it.

I stooped to pick up my ax and got a good glimps of my surroundings. There was a cliff not to far to the north. If i could lead it there, perhaps then I could ensure, one way or the other, it would end tonight.

I had no such luck.

The door opened and the girl let out a scream.

The beast turned about and barked. I dove after it, catching one of its feet in my face. THe curved nails dug into my cheek.

I pushed off the ground. i would make it in time. i pulled back my ax and threw it.

The beast jumped to the girl. THe ax smote its back. she had been smart to duck. It flew over her into the house, my ax wedged neatly in its back. I got up and ran after it. I leapt over her and into the house. It was rising.

"Girl, run."

The beast leapt at me. My hands met its and for a time it seemed to stand on two legs. It was forcing me back, to the outisde.

In the small moonlight, it seemed to over power me. I toppled once again, beneath the beast. It bite at my head. I twisted to one side, then jerked my face into the wolf's head. I felt its hot saliva burn my skin. A tooth definately fell out, followed by a yelp.

Momentarily free of its concentration. I rolled over, now the warrior on top. I rose my fist and plowed it into its face.

Another satisfying yelp.

It head lurched forward. My reactions were fast enough, but I was still to close. Its teeth sank into my left shoulder, just above my clavicle. it was too indirect a hit to break my bones, but the pain was overwhelming. I felt myself swoon. It would not release its grip. It jerked its head from side to side, rending my flesh.

I couldn't even cry out.

A single arrow ripped through the beasts arm and all was over. I fell to the ground, watching the wolf man, dash off, bipedal, clutching an arm bearing half an arrow shaft.

As my eyes closed, the girl's face appeared, brow furrowed in fear.