That was a scream. Gudno leapt into the air and allowed his body to do what it wanted to do and flew off into the town. Soaring over the many smoking chimneys, he narrowed his eyes as he spotted an oddly shaped shadow next to the Dunhel's house. Not Effi... she was too brave and innocent to be taken! From his many years in this town, Gudno had taken the time and effort to learn about the residents and what they were like. They were after all his neighbours to a degree, even if they did not know of his existence. Sweeping down and landing gracefully, Gudno flitted swiftly through the air in quick succession to the bottom gate of the Dunhel's cottage. There was a mitten, lying alone in the grass next to a bucket with some black rocks in it. From where he stood, the pale man could see the girl's father pacing in his home, his face covered with a cloth of some kind and his face utterly distraught. Gudno promised him silently and himself that he would do his best to find Effi and return her to her father.
"After all, it can't have gone far." Gudno turned and sniffed the air and watched the shadows carefully with help from his friend, the moon. "Over there... yes. It went that way." Running as fast as he could, the man sped off after his target and hopefully, some new supplies.
Reaching the bridge that led up to the gates of his home, Gudno stopped and smelt the air again for traces of either Effi or the beast. He could smell the innocent child nearby, but there were so many shadows in this part of the town it would be impossible to narrow it down and he was running out of time. If only he had some assistance... But he knew he was alone here, nobody knew he existed. An eerie breeze rushed past him and he spun around following it.
"Its going into the castle!"
Taking flight again, Gudno soared up the long stone staircase and into his makeshift home through an open window, startling his cat who had taken up residence on his bed. Landing on the mattress and stooping to stroke the animal, he softly landed on the floor and continued to hunt the intruder in his home. Sensing her master was hunting something, Maizi leapt off the bed and sniffed around for anything untoward. Smiling to himself as he finally had help in the hunt, Gudno winked at Maizi as she looked at him and stalked his prey. He could smell something wrong in the guest bedroom and then remembered that was one of, if not the darkest room in the house. Gudno had not been in there since...
A loud crash interrupted his thoughts that were getting in the way of his concentration and he turned his attention to the source. It was the guest room... It was in there. Closing his eyes, Gudno listened carefully and smiled when he heard it. A rapid heartbeat, panicked and anxious. Too quiet to be an adult, it had to be Effi. She was still alive... Opening the door as quietly as possible, Gudno entered the room and stared at the sight. Finally, after all these years, I've got you where I want you.
"Beast."
Shadow stopped moving and turned to face his guest. They looked somewhat familiar but it had no idea why. Did they know each other from another time or had it chased him? Gudno too looked upon this creature with full sight for the first time. It was a strange, hog like creature with teeth shaped like knives but sharper if possible. Long, skinny arms covered in fur and those awful unkempt fingernails. Its hair, a shaggy brown mess all over its body, obscured its eyes from full view but they too were ghastly. A strange yellow surround that looked like an infection and the blankness that stared back. It was drooling bloody saliva from its horrible jaws and staring at Gudno with question.
"Effi."
Shadow snorted once, causing mucus to fly out of those cavernous nostrils. Gundo understood why it chose to hide in shadows, where it got its name. Nobody would want to look upon this creature for any length of time. Reaching into his pocket, causing Shadow to shift his head in alert, Gudno pulled out a cigarette and lit it with his fingers.
"Mage."
"No," Gudno shook his head and exhaled some smoke, "worse."
Shadow snorted again and turned back to his meal. Looking over to the corner, Gudno saw the girl. She was unconscious but still breathing and he could hear her heartbeat in his head.
"What worse than Mage?" Shadow spoke slowly, like he was confused at what he was saying. "Mage make fire, Mage danger."
He found himself wanting to converse with this horrible creature, for some morbid reason but he was worried for the little girl in its grip. Walking over towards them, he shook his head again at the alerted panic from Shadow.
"I don't want you," Gudno inhaled more of the cigarette and exhaled through his nose as the creature looked at him with a confused look, "I want her. She's not for you."
Shadow laughed loudly, a proper belly laugh you would hear normally from a drunken man in a pub some place where they still knew how to enjoy life. His claws tightened on his dinner and he shook his monstrous head.
"My dinner." He appeared to grin at Gudno. "Find own dinner, Mage."
Realising he was not going to get anywhere with this simple minded creature, Gudno moved swiftly and appeared beside Effi, removed her from Shadow's grip and was back to where he had stood previously within a matter of seconds. All this happened as Shadow turned his head back to admire his dinner.
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