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Chapter 2
"Henrie! HENRIE!" Franc's shouting woke Rita from her restless sleep.
"What's going on?" she sat upright as she realized it was still dark.
""Henrie went to relieve himself, and hasn't come back . . . " Franc's voice was edging on panic.
"WHAT?! HENRIE!" Rita jumped to her feet, kicking Johzen in her rush.
"Hey . . . what's all the shouting about?" Johzen said sleepily. When Franc relayed the news, she was up on her feet as well, shouting.
Henrie couldn't open his eyes . . . In fact, he found he couldn't move at all. The last thing he could remember clearly was Franc saying something about staying in earshot, then a blur of motion, and then nothing. He tried to move his arm, but something held it to his side, something scratchy and dry. Struggling only seemed to make it tighter, and soon he could barely breathe. There was fresh air on his lips, and his mouth was not bound. Good, he thought, at least I won't suffocate. Every once in a while he would feel a bump, as if something nudging him. Suddenly, there was noise all around him, a kind of dry, leafy sound, but louder, and harsher. Then all he knew was pain, sharp, piercing pain throughout his body as hundreds of tiny pinpricks covered his body. As a darkness he had never known before closed in, he could do nothing but scream.
The creature studied its prey. Not a very large meal, but it would do. There were more like him out there, enough to stave hunger, at least. Not too many creatures ventured into its forest any more . . . not even the four legged beasts dared. There was spirit in this one, though, it struggled against the binding, vainly attempting to free itself. Perhaps it could, but unlikely, none of the others did. Occasionally the creature would give it a warning tap, but its prey just would not take the hint. No sense wasting it's energy, and it was time to feed, after all. The creature opened its mouth and revelled as its food sang.
"How could you let him go alone? How DARE you let him go alone?" Rita was furious.
"What did you want me to do, hold his hand? I told him to call out as he went, so I knew where he was, but as soon as he left my sight, it went silent. That's when I started calling. He couldn't have gone far!" That's when they heard it, far off, but unmistakable, the sound of Henrie's final breath.
"OH MY GODS!" Rita started freaking out, falling to her knees and shaking uncontrollably. Johzen tried to comfort her, but to little use.
"Come on, we're getting out of here." Franc stammered, fear belying his bold statement. Pulling Rita up, and with Johzen's help getting her moving, they started heading in the direction they though was west, back out the way they came.
Feeling motion in the forest, the creature coiled itself and started moving from it's lair. Good, the others are on the move, it's always more entertaining to catch a moving target. As Franc and Johzen struggled to guide the sobbing Rita back out of the forest, the Guardian moved to gather the rest of it's meal.
Chapter 3