Pinecrest, Scotland, 1322
Anne's POV
Anne didn't want to stay out hunting after dark. The sun was setting low, casting shadows on the trees that surrounded her. At least the town gates were visible.
She checked her bow, seeing her arrow ready to shoot in case The Beast jumped out in front of her. She only hoped she would have a good reaction time if it did. She would only get one shot.
Were her ears playing tricks on her, or was there a rustling of leaves coming from the trees? She picked up her pace as her heart beated faster. What would happen to Mother if Anne died?
The bushes were shaking. She aimed her bow at the dark trees, still moving towards town.
A figure stepped out.
A child stood staring at Anne. Anne lowered her bow.
A child! How could a child be alone outside the walls of town? Everyone knew The Beast was killing men, women, and children out here.
Anne approached the child. "What are you doing out here?"
The girl's hair was tangled and her face was black with dirt. Her blue eyes stared at Anne's face.
"Mama. I want my mama."
She must be one of the missing children everyone thought was killed by The Beast. Anne wanted to pick up the child and run for the town, but that might frighten her.
She asked, "What's your name?"
"Emma."
"How long have you been out here, Emma?"
Silence.
"Is there anyone else with you?"
Emma shook her head. "I want my mama."
"How old are you?"
"Five."
"Are you from Pinecrest?"
Silence
"What's your father's last name?"
"Kingsley."
"Come on. I'll take you to Pinecrest and we'll find your father and mother." Anne took her hand and started walking towards the gate.
Emma tugged on her hand.
Anne bent down. "What is it, Emma?"
"Don't let him get me." She whispered.
Anne's eyes looked back at the trees. "Don't worry. I won't let The Beast take you."
They started walking again, but Emma kept walking slower and slower.
"Do you want me to carry you?"
Emma looked at Anne and nodded. Anne put her arms around her and picked her up.
As they entered the gate, Anne saw a guard she knew, a friend named Charles.
Charles saw her too and his mouth fell open. He started walking towards her.
"Charles, this is Emma. I found her in the forest. Do you know the Kingsley's?
Charles stared at Emma. "How...?"
"Do you know the family?"
"I know the father. Wait here. I'll go get him.
Charles started to leave, but Anne stopped him. "Wait. Before you go, how long has she been missing?"
"About four months."
Charles started running.
Anne looked at Emma. "Where have you been for the past four months?"
Silence.
As they waited for Charles to return, Emma looked around. Her eyes were examining the building. Was she recognizing them? She was also watching the snakes slithering the streets. The snakes started coming around the same time the killings started. Anne wondered again if these two things were related, but she didn't know how.
So many questions were going through her mind. How had this little girl survived four months in the woods without being killed by The Beast?
Andrew's POV
Andrew was very thankful when he rode into a small village. He was hungry, dirty, and tired. A bed and a warm meal would be a very nice change after sleeping on the hard floor of the forest and eating whatever he killed in the forest.
He spotted an inn and walked inside, even though he didn't have any money for a bed or food.
The innkeeper was very friendly as Andrew explained his situation. "I am very good at playing the flute. I can play for your customers in exchange for a meal."
The innkeeper nodded. "You play for one hour, then I'll give you a soup my wife made, and then you will play a little more. Yes?"
Andrew got out his flute from his bag and started to play.
Everyone in the room turned to him. By the looks on their faces, they didn't hear music that much.
After he played for an hour, the innkeeper's wife gave him water, soup, and bread. He sat down to eat and the innkeeper joined him.
"You're not from around here, are you?"
"I'm originally from Dawnridge, but I haven't been there in over a year."
"You might haven't heard, then."
"Heard what?"
"Of the snakes that have invaded Pinecrest."
Pinecrest was under his father's authority, in the reign of Dawnridge.
"I have heard of the snakes, but I thought it was just a tale."
"Nope. The snakes are real. I have seen it with my own eyes. But there is something else that's terrorizing Pincrest. Something bigger and scarier."
"What is it?" Andrew said as her ate another spoonful of soup.
"People are being killed. Last I heard, over fifty people."
Andrew stared back at the innkeeper. Was he lying? Surely fifty people couldn't have been killed randomly.
"What do you think is happening to them?"
"They say that The Beast is dragging them into the woods and eating them."
"A beast? What kind of beast?"
"No one knows exactly. Some say it's a wolf."
"Wolves rarely kill people, especially in a town. Is there any proof?"
"Would half-eaten bodies be proof to you?"
"Has anyone actually seen the beast and lived to tell people of it?"
"Yes. One or two. One man was taking a walk outside of town and saw an animal that looked like a giant wolf. The Beast got him by the leg, but the man beat him off with his cane until the animal let go. But the wound caused an infection and the man died a couple of weeks later."