1 Howlock

-Howlock-

The villagers were standing in silence holding pitchforks, maces and daggers. Only children with the doctor and his assistant were barricaded in the little temple trembling in fear even if used to that situation. Recently shadows came often to darken the skies and weeping figures emerged from the ground. The members of the Great Masters exposed the truth: the dark creatures were human sins rising against humanity itself. The Earth was growing tired by the evil of mankind too much hatred, too much selfishness so it was the time to decrease the number of living men trampling her ground.

The warning came by the wind who brought black dust while the sky turned a deep shade of gray. The dust meant that a battle was fought not too far from the village. When a sin was successfully annihilated it disappears in the form of dark ashes leaving a scent of smoke.

The air was fraught so Wren supposed they were a lot and the battle was still going on. She even knew that other shadows where rising from the ground just under the villagers feet.

3… 2… 1…

"They're here!" the shout marked the beginning of the nth fight. At this point everyone in the village was capable to fight in order to protect their lives, men and women stood defending themselves. Every man was engaged in battle except the doctor and his assistant, locked in the temple together with the children, because if they were not safe and sound after the combat, for the village would be the end.

The people were struggling and the opponents were too many. Wren was a very good fighter, hardly ran out of stamina, was able to sense danger and very smart too, so was the one working harder trying to win every battle. Unfortunately save everyone every time was impossible and in addition to the wounded, there was a sad loss sometime. The girl sensed something bad so started to fear that this time would bring a loss too. Suddenly she lifted the gaze toward the sky on her head bracing to charge with all her strength.

It appeared from nowhere: a giant shadow covered in burnt feathers threw Wren away. She succeeded to stick the monster with her pitchfork, but still, the impact and the opponent's strength were too much, and in the end she found herself hitting against the temple wall and laying to the ground after that. The wall was damaged and from the inside and the children rose a scream in panic.