Lorin had an arrow nocked the moment his neck hair stood up. He had grown up in the woods, knew them well; the only time he felt the air grow brittle was when something was stalking around.
"Sarah," Lorin kept his voice calm, just above a whisper, "get inside with Sam now."
Sarah snapped out of her daze and yelped. The sound was shrill and made the moment stand on a knife's edge.
"Dad," she said. "You scared me. What's going on?"
"Get your brother and yourself inside now." He sounded angrier than he wanted to. Sarah looked around a little panicked, but seemed to understand Lorin’s seriousness and scooped her little brother up.
A rustle of grass snapped Lorin's body toward movement near the tree line as he drew his bow. Lorin's forearms twitched with tension and he narrowed his eyes. He forced slow breaths and could feel his heartbeat as clear as a war drum. His children took one step toward home, and then the silence in the clearing ended, shattered by a wailing shriek so loud the noise felt like a physical punch. In the time it took for an arrow to fly, Lorin could already feel a warm trickle coming from his ears. Then, the clearing fell silent again, the arrow's tail feathers waving in tall grass. Lorin nocked another arrow as he looked for any sign of more danger to him and his children.
"What was that?" Jessica called from the cabin's now open door.
"A howler I think. Help the kids inside," Lorin said, not looking back to her. His kids passed him as Lorin stalked toward the shot arrow. Keeping his head up to survey around him, he squatted down beside the corpse. It seemed safe now, and Lorin took time to look at the body. A lithe three-legged creature with smooth black skin slick with tar, and the size of a starved cat, was pinned to the ground in a growing puddle of black bile. The arrow had pierced through its face, exiting under its dog-like rear legs. Its jaw twitched, moving one fang that had shattered from the arrow, and another that was intact and longer than Lorin's fingers.
Lorin looked up again to scan the area and relaxed the tension from his bow, but still held the arrow in place. He reached with his right hand down to his ankle, then drew a knife. He thrust the blade into the thickest part of the creature's body, releasing a putrid odor. After wiping the blade clean on the grass, he returned it and stood looking for movement. Then with slow backward steps, he moved toward his family.
A flash of black moving in the corner of his vision caught his eye, and he turned ready to fire. But the blur of movement was fast and much closer to his family than himself. Lorin released his arrow and he knew it would miss, could feel it through his bow as he shot. He readied another arrow and aimed when the blur leapt into the air. This time, everything in his body told him to hold the arrow. He did and watched the blur hurtle, fangs bared, toward Sarah's back. His arrow would've hit her. However, before the little beast reached his daughter, Jessica smacked it out of the air. She cut down with the garden hoe she wielded and severed the stunned creature's head. Then, like a mother hen, she reached around the kids to shield them with her body.
Lorin's sigh of relief was cut short when another streak turned the corner around his cabin. By instinct, he let off two shots in quick succession. Both arrows dug into the log wall as the blur dodged and launched itself airborne behind Jessica. Time slowed, and Lorin could see the oily beast extend its fangs midair. His hands flashed in a cold sweat and he tensed to bring the bow on target, but was too slow.
The creature landed on Jessica's upper back, sinking its fangs just below the top of her shoulder. She gasped from the pain and looked back to see splashes of blood coloring the darkness of the creature. Her exclamation turned to a deep growl and, taking one arm away from huddling over the children, she reached back. Lorin looked on, ready to fire as she palmed the monster’s face. Whether it was a mother's love or adrenaline-fueled strength, it didn't matter, Jessica closed her hand on the beast's head, crushing its skull. Without a second of hesitation, she returned to huddling her children to the cabin. The fangs were still deep in her shoulder, and the creature dangled from her back for a few steps before the last ligaments gave way, dropping the corpse to the ground. At the same time another beast launched itself toward the group.
This time, Lorin was ready the moment it was visible. He loosed his arrow at the darkest part of the blurred movement and its tip cut through the beast’s rear half. The body was forced down and pinned. It writhed in pain, and its three-clawed feet kicked up grass and dirt in an effort to free itself. Then, it instantly stopped thrashing. Lorin was a dozen paces away, but even from that distance he saw the creature take in a large breath, and scream.
The high-pitched wail cut into the center of his skull and spread through his chest. The pain was crippling, forcing him to a knee without being able to cover his ears. He hung his head low, staring wide-eyed at the dirt now darkening from the blood dripping out of his ears and nose. He tensed his mind, trying to focus on blocking out the overbearing noise and chest-tearing pain. He stole a look at his family, a step away from the screaming black mass. They were curled on the ground, grasping their heads and rocking back and forth, their mouths wide in cries of pain overpowered by the howler's scream. Jessica made no motion of reaching for her children, she only grasped her head as if she was trying to stop it from bursting. Lorin's eyes started watering, but he could see tall grass shifting toward his family. More howlers stalked up, heads low, savoring the hunt.
The danger to his family invigorated Lorin. Through his pain, and still on one knee, he raised his bow, drew back the string, and aimed for the mass pinned to the ground. His vision blurred, his hands shook, and his strength was quickly draining from his arms. Forcing his mind past his pain, he focused on the one pinhole he had to hit. The arrow flew, and he hunched over his knees.
The scream was silenced, but, though much quieter than the wail, his family’s cries continued. Ears still ringing, Lorin stood and slung the bow across his chest. With an intensity that surprised himself, he sprinted on wobbly legs and reached his family. Lorin made sure he crushed underfoot two of the howlers stalking closer, then he opened the door to the cabin. He shoved Sam in first, and though Lorin tried to be gentle, the speed necessary made the boy tumble inside. Sarah was almost standing when Lorin shoved her through the door as he ran to Jessica.
She was still dazed and crawling in circles with her long red hair cascading to the ground. Lorin was beside her, trying to help her stand, when he looked around at the howlers in the grass. He could see eight of them poised to strike, frozen in place and watching. Lorin knelt beside his wife and, moving his hand slowly and smoothly, grabbed the knife strapped to his ankle. One of the impatient howlers sprang at him and the blade flashed. More thanks to luck than skill, the now-lifeless body tumbled behind Lorin as the severed head hit his chest harmlessly. Lorin noticed a few of the remaining howlers take a step back while he helped Jessica up. Brandishing the knife, he half-carried her hunched body. Jessica was murmuring something under her breath while they backed toward the door, but she was too quiet for Lorin to hear. The howlers held their places as the couple entered the cabin and Sarah slammed the door shut the moment they crossed the threshold.
CHAPTER TEN
Lorin set his wife down on the chair she had been sitting on only a few minutes before. With her balanced so as not to fall, Lorin spun on his heel to the door. Sarah had her back against it, her chest rising and falling, and she was visibly shaking. Her hair was tangled over her face, blood still streaming from her eyes, nose, and mouth. Terrified was too tame a word to describe her expression. Lorin had never seen that amount of unchained fear before.
Lorin reached the door and held it shut above his daughter. Then, in the gentlest tone he could muster, said, "Sarah, you’re safe now. I'll block the door so that nothing can hurt you. I need you to go sit with your brother." Lorin motioned with his head to the little boy.
After a moment's hesitation, Sarah staggered to her brother and the two collapsed into a hug, crying. Lorin's heart sank and blood draine
d from his extremities. He felt cold and ashamed.
Reaching over to the bench beside the door, he dragged it up and jammed the door shut. A few test pulls assured him it would hold, and he moved to one of the windows of the cabin. He didn't want to close the shutters on the outside, since the howlers might hear and attack, so he settled for drawing the curtains. It would hide their movement, and Lorin figured the creatures wouldn't know to try and break the glass. With the cabin as safe as he knew how to make it, Lorin went to his wife.
"Jess? How are you doing?" Lorin said, shifting the bow onto his back to let him kneel beside her.
She looked up with all the effort she had. Her eyes, ears, and mouth were all as bloody as the children's—but unlike them, she had black veins spidering up her neck and jaw that stood out in her skin. She tried to speak, but only blood and spittle came. Lorin cupped her head in his hand and traced the black veins down around the back of her neck and saw where they disappeared under her shirt. Lorin shifted to her side, his left hand across her chest, and tipped her forward to keep her from falling ahead. Where the howler had latched on, the cloth was wet with blood and tar, making the fabric stick to her skin. The broken ends of two fangs protruded from her shoulder, the last remnants of the creature she had crushed. Lorin pulled the top of her shirt down to follow the veins further. The black lines spread down her body, but originated from the two fangs.
Lorin rested Jessica against the back of the chair again, then stood. He walked to the counter, where a basin of clear water sat next to a pile of dirty dishes. He grabbed a hand towel, some fabric for bandages, and the basin. Then, he set them all on the floor beside Jessica. Back at the counter, Lorin reached for a small glass bottle with a green powder inside. He set that next to Jessica as well. Walking to the door, he picked up the knife he’d dropped when he got inside and wiped the blade clean on his pant leg. Then he swung his bow from across his chest and set it near the door. He looked at the knife, and it shook along with his hand. A moment passed before he put the knife beside the basin as well. Before he knelt down to work, he went to his children. Sam pulled himself tight against Sarah, muffling his cries in her chest. Sarah, her face smeared from wiping away tears and blood, followed Lorin with her eyes.
"Sarah," Lorin said as he sat down beside her, "I'm going to make Mommy feel better."
Sarah nodded with big sad eyes.
"You need to know that I don't want to hurt her, but to make her better… it will hurt her very much." Lorin faked a smile. "After, though, she will be just fine. Okay?"
She nodded again.
"You're a very strong girl, and we both are very proud of you." He hugged them both. "I'm here and will make sure you’re safe. I'll protect you, okay?"
Lorin gently pushed off and held Sarah by her shoulders at arm’s length. Sarah nodded again with new tears welling up, but a strength sparkled behind her eyes. Lorin then stood and walked over to Jessica.
He knelt down and uncorked the glass bottle. He had bought it when he had still been with his father. It was over a decade old, but the stuff never went bad. It was called Addle Bark. Made from a variety of herbs and bones, it was sold as a cure-all. That was false advertising at best; it was also claimed to be good for indigestion if added to food, and a cure for nausea. It could help with fertility and birth pains, and even mending broken bones was within its power. None of that was true, but it was useful for numbing cuts and stopping bleeding. It hurt open wounds worse than alcohol, and burned away blood, but the wound would never get infected afterward.
He measured out some of the powder into his hand, and then stirred it into the basin. When the water turned a pale green, Lorin stopped stirring and flicked his hands dry. He stood with his knife in hand above Jessica. From the corner of his eye he saw movement, and as he turned he saw Sarah pick up Sam and carry him over to her bed. She laid her little brother down under the blankets, and with care not to wake him crawled in to hold him close. Lorin opened his mouth to say something, but his heart, swollen with pride, stole his voice in that moment. He wanted to thank Sarah for being a good sister and tell her of how proud he was of her. But Jessica's groan snapped him back to the task at hand.
Using the knife, he cut away the soiled fabric clinging to her back. The cloth sliced smoothly, and as soon as he started he knew the shirt would be forfeit, so he cut it all off. He leaned her forward again and tried to slide his hand from under her chest, but she folded under her own weight and gasped for breath. That wasn’t going to work, so he sat her back up and ran to their bed to grab a pillow. Back at his wife’s side, he gently leaned her forward to rest on the pillow—she seemed stable and comfortable now, so Lorin assessed her back.
A spiderweb of black veins contrasted against pale skin and was spreading as he watched. Without help it would cover over her whole body in minutes. The blackness started thickest at the broken fangs, so Lorin started there. Leaning over his wife, he got his fingertips on the broken fang sticking farthest out of her skin. He wiggled it, which made Jessica tense up and whimper. He laid his hand on her shoulder so the fang was in the nook between his thumb and index finger. Then, he pressed around the fang, drawing some of the black blood up. The acidic smell burned through his nose like vomit had filled it. He held back a gag, but a second wave of the smell forced out a dry heave. Panting now, he returned to the fang and grabbed it while holding his breath. In a smooth, quick motion he pulled the fang from her shoulder with a small geyser of viscera chasing it. Jessica's limbs stretched out in pain, and one foot hit the table leg so hard the whole thing moved. Lorin saw every muscle fiber in her back twitch and relax over the course of a second. Quick as it happened, it ended, and she went back to her normal, albeit labored, breathing.
Lorin let out his held breath and gagged once more as the putrid smell grew heavier. After convincing himself not to throw up, Lorin stood straight and looked at the fang between his fingers. Its smooth white outside looked freshly washed and polished. Lorin's fingertips were still covered in black blood, but the tooth stood out clean with a black liquid, thin as water, dripping from the tip.
Lorin set the fang on the table and returned to his wife. The hole from the first fang was dribbling black still, but the web of veins was getting lighter around the puncture. The next fang had broken off flush to the skin, but when Lorin pushed on the flesh around the fang, enough of the tooth became exposed so that he could pinch it between his fingers. After a few spastic wiggles and whimpers from his wife, Lorin braced and pulled. Like the last one, it came out clean and smooth. Jessica tensed again, and this time let out a cry. Lorin couldn't tell if it was from pain or relief, but it made his heart sink. He set that fang down beside the other and looked at the two bleeding punctures. Instead of the intense black, a lighter gray made up the web surrounding the wound. Black blood was still dribbling from the holes with that unpleasant smell.
Lorin sighed, letting his shoulders slump. He looked at the towel in his hand and threw it away. It landed with a wet smack, and Lorin felt the ground shudder with a dull, solid thump that reverberated through the ground as if a tree had fallen nearby. Lorin chalked it up to exhaustion setting in and wrung out the second towel that had been soaking in the basin.
"Jess," Lorin said in a low, pained voice. "Can you hear me still?"
Jessica's back twitched like she was trying to sit up, but the tension released and she rested against the table again.
"I have some Addle Bark."
Jessica breathed in steady rhythm, then murmured something Lorin couldn't he
ar.
She wasn’t going to reply much more, and Lorin didn’t know if he had time to waste. So he placed his left arm across her chest and the heel of his palm pressed against the front of her shoulder. With his free hand he began to wipe some of the blood away from the outside of the wound. When the blood made contact with the cloth, it sounded like water droplets dancing on a skillet, and a wisp of smoke trailed upward. The room began to fill with the smoke’s pleasant cedarwood scent.
Jessica's whole body quivered as beads of perspiration appeared and poured down her skin. Her breath sped up, and each exhale was accompanied by a pitiful whimper.
Lorin wiped all around the wounds with loving care. When the cloth hit the remnants of blackened blood more smoke billowed and the smell changed to burning tar. The more blood he wiped away the more the cloth cooled, and as he worked it got cold enough for frost to collect at the edges of the fabric. The moments felt excruciatingly long, but in time her skin was clean, leaving only the puncture marks bloody. Lorin wrung the cloth over the floor and frost crumbled down along with clear water. The rag, still a little damp, didn't have a trace of blood, black or otherwise. Lorin soaked the rag again in the pale green water, swirling it around until he was satisfied. Then, he pulled Jessica tighter, restricting her breathing somewhat. He could feel, past her clammy skin, a steady heartbeat slowing in time to match his. He gave her a kiss on the side of her neck and rested his forehead on her shoulder. They stayed there, enjoying each other’s intimate closeness. Their breaths became synced, while both bodies warmed each other. It was as if they were made to fit together like that, designed to ease into each other's arms. It would have been a beautiful moment if it wasn't procrastination from what had to be done.
Lorin's courage had almost built to action, when he felt another impact. That same dull thud—the sound of a tree falling to the ground. He looked down to see the liquid in the basin rippling along its edge. He wasn't imagining it, something was happening outside. Lorin looked at his children on the bed; Sam's head was under the covers while Sarah had the blanket pulled up just past her nose. Sarah's eyes were wide, full of fear, and they stared at Lorin asking for protection. Lorin knew he had to keep his family safe, but the cabin was locked up and they all were safe in it.