Hunting wolves



The sun had set long ago and the night had swallowed any light that would dare to brighten up the darkness of the woods. The wind had settled, the leaves hung still on the their branches and cold that late autumn brings had made the leaves crisp as they dangled from the tree tops. The forests of the Shire was dead silent, save for the howling of wolves and the beating footsteps of their prey. 

 

 

Two southerners unfamiliar with the layout of the Shire-forests running to survive, from the stalking pack of wolves behind them. The brigands had run from the shelter of the encampment, they could still see their campfire lit in the distance, for it was the only source of light that had not been swallowed by the darkness of the night.  The howling of wolves and the sound of their rapid light footsteps on the fallen leaves and frozen moss was the only thing they could think about.as the brigands attempted to escape their Hunters. They ran and they ran, soon the light of their distant campfire was visible no more. The howling of wolves had all but disappeared when one of the brigands turned their heads while still sprinting. Total silence had fallen.  SWOOSH and THUD, both brigands fell to the ground. They remained on the ground, certain that they had successfully outrun the wolves, or perhaps gotten far away enough to hide. They both remained silent as the grave, all that could be heard was exhausted breath of the brigands, their breaths created a chilly mist as they exhaled from exhaustion. The faster brigand was laying completely still and the second brigand rested on his feet.

"I think they're gone, let's hurry back."

His friend did not reply, they remained still as they looked about the grove where they had collapsed. The slower brigand shook his comrade to signal that it was time to move on. He looked forward towards his friend, it was not until now that he noticed, the arrow notched into the back of his head.  

A chill ran up his spine, paralyzed. He forced himself to look behind him, the light footsteps or their Hunter had come to a stop behind him. He looked up on the shadowy figure behind him, not a wolf, not a wolf at all.