Writer - CottonKitten, Character - Avery

The moonlight shone down upon the wooden forest around me, its quietness soothing me as I inhaled the growing scent of dark essence. The ashy smell was getting stronger, a sign that I was closing in on the dark creature I had been hunting for the past couple of days. 

I followed its scent trail whilst keeping a trained eye on my surroundings. As I passed a few oak trees I was met by a tall brick wall, plenty of vines hugging its brick surface as if it had been there for ages. 

Why was there a wall in the middle of the forest? The question sending shivers down my spine as the suspicion rose within me. This unfamiliar place was the only thing keeping me from getting the dark essence, something I couldn’t just walk away from.
I took a few steps back, gathering some speed before I sprinted at the wall, leaping up and over, before landing quietly on the other side. The faint touch of the frosty grass on my fingertips was enough to calm down my nerves as I stood up on my feet. I took a hold of my hood, pulling it over my head once more as it had slid off mid-air due to the sudden jump. 

As I brushed off some dirt from my knees I checked my surroundings once more, I raised a brow in question as the large Victorian mansion-like building was peeking through behind the trees in the distance. 

It all seemed so weird, the big building in the middle of nowhere, the tall wall and the fact that the trail led me here. I took a deep breath before tilting my nose up in the air, giving the cold night breeze a good sniff as the scent flew through it. By the direction I was heading it was clear the dark creature was either around the building or inside.

I was about to get moving but I stopped in my tracks as multiple scents of other creatures reached my nostrils. It didn’t smell like anything dangerous, making me believe it might be the people who own these grounds. Their movement was fast, which made me realize I wouldn’t be able to get away from here without them noticing. Making a quick choice I decided to let them notice me, and it didn’t take them long before they had seen me.

- Hey! You there!

By reflex I pulled my hand up to cover my eyes, as I was met by the blinding light from a flashlight, unable to look at the approaching figures head on.

- Who are you and what are you doing here?

I could only make out the shapes of the people, like shadows standing in the emerging light of dawn that was slowly climbing up across the horizon. I swallowed before answering, trying to keep it subtle before I knew who I was dealing with.

- I’m just passing through.

- On our property, at this hour? That’s hard to believe.

It was hard to concentrate as I was starting to get irritated by the sharp light still being shone into my eyes.

- Could you please stop blinding me and I might feel like telling you more.

I said with a faint grunt escaping my mouth before the person did as I asked, lowering the flashlight to my waist instead. After a few seconds of letting my eyes readjust to my surroundings, I could finally see normally again, looking right at the people who had confronted me. To my surprise they seemed rather young, making them look like less of a threat.

- Look we mean no harm, it’s just not safe to be running around alone like this. We got a room where you can stay and sleep for a few hours before escorting you back to the town.

There was a pause before I said anything, looking over my options before giving them an answer. I knew nothing about these people, their young appearance could be a false assurance. However I couldn’t leave, not when the dark creature were so close. 

With a little hesitation along with a sigh I let them have their way, for now.

- Fine.

I was expecting them to take a hold of me or something but instead they motioned for me to follow along with them as we made our way closer to the building. The weird shaped mansion seemed rather old, parts of nature having their way with the exterior, but not to the point of being out of control. As there were climbing vines and wild flowers surrounding most of the walls. 

We walked through a thick wooden door, leading down a corridor with very few lightbulbs to give light upon the stone floor we walked on. I would have thought these people were humans if it weren’t for their unusual smell. As soon as I was escorted into one of the rooms along the corridor, I knew what they were built for, or rather for whom. I swallowed as I willingly took a seat on the bed in the corner, as one of the men stood in front of me.

- We will come back in a few hours. You can let us know then if you want to get escorted into the town or someplace else.

I didn’t speak, simply nodding in response as I shuffled back on the bed until I was up against the cold brick wall. I watched as they walked out of the room before closing the metal door behind them. I let my eyes trace along the outline of the brick wall room as countless claw-like markings were seen across its surface, and by the thick metal chains on the wall, I had a pretty good hunch what kind of room this was. The mere thought of it sent shivers down my spine, my palms getting sweaty as I tried to piece everything together. But then what were they exactly? 

I should have noticed them by their scent and I’m sure they would have found my scent somewhat alien as well. 

I kept my thoughts at that as I had a prey to catch, not wanting anything to come in the middle of it. I simply wanted to get my hands on the essence, then get the fuck away from here before they could realise my true nature.