The thunder gave off an agonising crack in the distance. I'd say I could only see about 30 feet ahead of me before the world in front of me was consumed by the putrid fog bellowing out from the swamp beneath me. Along with the thunder my hearing was obscured by the pitter patter of the rain falling around me. While my own senses where failing me it seemed my horse could sense something I couldn't as the further we travelled into the swamp the great unease he was showing. Witch was worrying giving he's was the warhorse plated in sheets of steel while I was stuck with my leathers for defence. I didn't know whether it was the horse making me uneasy or something else beyond my perception but I laid my hand on my sword either way. I keep repeating in my head "just a few more miles and I can rest, get a room in some inn and rest in the safety of the town walls". It helped little to calm my nerves. While being well travelled this was my first expedition into this part of the world and it has been ridden with bad luck from the start. The first town I visited ignited into flames shortly after I arrived. I heard that the local silver smith's had caught fire but I feel like it was my hexed luck that was the true cause. I can still feel the smoke in my lungs and smell it clinging to my cloths. Suddenly I hear a noise. If that wasn't a bad omen I don't know what is but a soldiered on either way like a fool. It took me a moment to place it but it sounded like the moaning of an injured deer coming from ahead of me. I feel the adrenalin of fear permeate my body as my sense scramble to find anything tangible in reach other than the fog. Blinding a flash of lighting streaks down in front of me about a good 80 feet. The moaning stopped. Poor bastard I thought, must of hit the deer. As the charred remains of the ... the I'm not even sure. It doesn't look like any deer I've ever seen even in its charred state. If I was to take a guess it looks like a person but horrible disfigured. I dismount from my horse holding onto its saddle if it decides that are steady pace should become a sprint. As I get closer and closer to the corpse it looks like its twitching. Is it still alive it, it can't be. There's a pool of blood surrounding it. In what little light there is I can make out the tones of deep crimsons and almost purples in colour. It's been cut deep by something. A massive chunk was taken out of its neck. This isn't the work of just lightning. I hear a crack coming from the side of what you could consider the path but how the sludgy mess is a path I can't discern. I raise my sword with fast to the area. I approach the area witch the sound emanated with great care. My horse wont going anywhere near that side of the road. I try to pull its leash but he won't budge. Reluctantly I let go of it. This is a really bad idea. There's nothing there but broken twigs. But how the hell. They didn't break them self-did they? They, they couldn't of. As I stood there pondering this I heard from behind me my horse rear. Turning around me I see a tall figure clad in black standing in front of it with a knife. Instinctual I swing my sword at the figure but to no avail. My sword past through the fiend like it was smoke. What little I saw of its face and skin during the furious slashing was as white as the pale moon, that hung above use peering through the shroud. It slashed at me with claws that jutted from its slender fingers. I felt as it cut into my flesh like a hot knife through butter. The fiend grabbed the sword in mid swing stopping it dead in its tracks. In that moment I felt the world slow down to a crawl. As I got a good long look into its eye's. They were jet black with rings of crimson that sent a chill down my spine. Filled with I grabbed at my chain grabbing the cross that adorned my neck. Holding it up to the unholy creature it chuckled and swatted it out of my hand. I was frozen with fear unable to move it this beast's peril. Ripping the sword from my grasp with ease and toughing it forward the creature began to approach. I felon the ground trying to back away from the creature but behind me without my notice had gathered a pack of wolfs. Probably waiting till it's done with me to feast on the scraps. There was nowhere to run. I was doomed lighting flashed from behind the beast. Its shadow blocking all light and all hope. It picked me up effortlessly with one and. The last thing I saw before the onslaught of pain was the hunger, the terrifying hunger in its eye's. In one swift motion it went for my neck. My skin felt like fire as its teeth pierced my neck. I was frozen with fear and pain unable to move from its tyrannical hold on me. Suddenly another flash came from right behind us. Shrapnel from the explosive reaction between the tree and Thors smite scared the back of my face. I felt the beasts grasp loosen as it reeled back in pain. Large chunks of sacred oak pierced its back. If I wasn't lightheaded from blood lose and in immense pain I could almost chuckle. I almost became wolf chow as I struggled out of his grasp. I jumped onto my horse. For a few seconds I thought I was safe as we galloped towards freedom. Then another bolt of pain shot through my leg. One of the wolfs had latched onto my leg and was contemped on staying there. It had that same hungry look on its face as the monster before. Deninign the wolf its dinner I kick the ground as hard as I could as the wolf lost grip on me and tumbled down into the swamp. Commanding my horse to increase its paces' I glanced behind me. The beast was still there where I left it. Ha the toothy bastard deserved what he got I thought. The wolfs tailed me for about a mile until they seemed to be summoned back to their master. The next few miles to town where a mix of pain excitement ad anguish as thoughts raced through my head. What was that thing. I'm lucky to be alive. Will I ever see home again. These thoughts where interrupted by the sight of wooden walls and guards men. The thought changed to basic survival food, shelters, and to lick my wounds. As the horse galloped up to the gate I was met with the anxious steel of the guard's pikes. I slowed my pace and they saw the trade supplies on the back and sides of my horse. They couldn't care less what state I was in only if I had coin to trade. Somethings never change I thought as they ushered me into the safe haven of the walls. I tied up my horse outside the inn and grabbed my things. As I headed inside I gently petted the horse on the head. You saved my life tonight. I continued inside got my room for the night and gave and extra few coin to the inn keeper to ensure that my horse is treated well. The old girl deserves it. As I lug my thing upstairs to my room I listen to the soothing sounds of the bar below hearing people again after such an ordeal was soothing and made me feel safer. As I collapse on my bead I see a stable boy go out with a bowl of carrots and started to feed them to the horse. As I stared at my sealing the adrenaline started to fade. I realised that I'm gonna have a painful night. Although the bleeding has seemed to stop faster than I expected. Blowing out the candles in a futile attempt of getting sleep tonight I fell my neck still burning. The internal fire still raging I fell it spreading gaining more and more of me with each passing moment. I thought it was agonising. But then the hunger set in.
