Hounds of the Night

by Black Fury

The glowing moon’s light shone down on the forest below, throwing frightening shadows across the trees. The twisted tree branches of the forest reached up like prisoners hands from a pit to the starless sky. But he had no time to take in his surroundings. He had no time at all.

Running as fast as his fast tiring legs could carry him, Bracken of Del, pelted through the forest, he knew not were he was or where he was going, all he knew was he had to get away – he had to run.

The dry leaves at the forest floor crunched under his feet, scattering everywhere. His heart pounded painfully in his chest as the harsh night air chilled his skin, but it was the fear, the fear that filled out his entire body, that fueled him on.

He knew it could smell his fear, he knew it was close. In his minds eye he could see the huge hunched figure, as it followed him, that ghastly sneer on its face that he had seen only moments ago, a sneer that told him quite plainly what he hadn’t wanted to hear.


Death will come…


He could hear its horrid panting laugh and the crunching leaves as it thundered closer to him. His only wish now was to never see it again.

A stitch began to form in his chest – never had he run so far and fast. He temporally staggered, grabbing his sweat ridden shirt at the chest. His whole body was shaking with fear and cold.

But he could not stop now.

He had to keep running.


* Run, run as fast as you can…*


Bracken’s eyes widened with fear and he immediately began to run fast again. It was close – close enough to get in his mind, close enough to get to him.


* Are you scared little human?*


The voice in his head broke off into a harsh laugh. He didn’t know how he knew, but he did. It belonged to Agoninpain, first of the eight. The most feared of all the Fritz Hounds.

Bracken gasped for air, running faster, trying to block out the images and words in his head.


Where there is one the others are near…


That had been what that man had told him, but he hoped it wasn’t true.

That had been how the whole thing had started. He had over heard the truth about some Ol named Dain that was traveling with a friend of his, Barda. He had once guarded the palace with him, but now, with the Shadow lord ruling, he had disappeared until only a short while ago when Bracken had met him again, him and his three companions, a wild haired girl with a black bird and two young men, one of which he now knew to be a grade three Ol.

How Bracken now wished he had not come across this piece of information, and how he now wished that had not attempted to pass this information on to his friend. For if he had not then he wouldn’t be here now. He would be safe.

He suddenly became dimly aware that it was blood he tasted in his mouth, but continued to run, forcing himself to ignore the pain in his mouth, in his feet, in his side. Forcing himself to run unlike he had never run before.

He watched tree after tree pass through his line of vision, each one as foreboding as the next, each one reminding him of his situation.

He thought of his wife and two kids, he thought of there smiles and cries of joy and yet, even as he thought of them-he knew they would be dead. The hounds of the Shadow lord kill all in the bloodline to those that resist him. He could image there confused terror as the hounds attacked the house. He could imagine there screams of pain and remorse.


* Your family knew it was your fault *


The voice sniggered.

Bracken felt his heart miss a beat.


* You as good as killed them – and you know it…*


Bracken gasped for air. It was true, he had. If he had not learnt of the information he wouldn’t have tried to pass it on, he would not have been attacked and his family would be alive.

Bracken stumbled forward, into the dead end he had blindly run to. He staggered to stand, back to the rocky side of the dead end, arms spread out gripping the cool surface.

He could run no more.

For a few moments there was silence. All he could hear was the uneven rhythm of his breathing, but not for long.

He felt himself begin to shiver uncontrollably, as he saw it emerge from the bushes.

Its cloak must have ripped off, as it was no longer there to cover the horrible sight before him.

The creature was larger than a wolf, with a ghastly yellow dog-like face, that had large black stripes like scars across its snout. The fur was thick and it spiked away from its face. Its ears were long and had pointed-tuffs of hair coming from the edges.

It had long jet black claws and sharp teeth that were a ghostly blue and lime green drool dangled out of its mouth, but it was the eyes that were most frightening.

They had no pupils and looked like pools of blood. They glowed through the darkness and bored into Bracken’s eyes as its voice had into his head.

It was holding its head high with a slight tilt to the left in it. Its gross tongue lolled out to the side as a smile grew upon his face. The sight was truly sickening.

Bracken felt himself swaying, his eyes watering from pain, blurring his vision. He was going to die and he knew it.

Agoninpain began a sickening chuckle, but he didn’t speak. What could be said was already known in both their minds. Suddenly his head snapped to the right.

Despite his pain, Bracken’s eyes widened in horror. It was a signal.

In a flash a second hound pounced from Bracken’s right, it jumped only inches in front of him, tearing off his shirt and slashing his stomach with his claws, and then it was gone, disappearing into the brushes to his left.

Bracken looked forward at Agoninpain, finally understanding his name.


Agony and pain.


He wasn’t about to let him die quickly, he would play with him first.

Bracken felt sick at the sight and longed to look away – but he couldn’t.

Suddenly Agoninpain’s snapped to the left.

As quick as before the second hound pounced again. The force of the hound’s body slammed Bracken’s right side to the cold rocky wall, this time tearing his left shoulder and slashing his face. It disappeared once more into the brushes.

His head pounding from impact, Bracken sank slowly to the forest floor. He weakly watched as the eight hounds drew in closer ready to fight for his meat. With Agoninpain in it direct line of vision Bracken saw the large jaws of the creature come down to his throat and suddenly knew no more.

He would be with his family again soon.