Egfor opened his eyes. He felt a call to go to the woods, most likely his grandfather. He rolled over and kissed Dem's cheek, murmuring, "I'm going to see my grandfather." Whether or not Dem was awake enough to understand, he wasn't too sure.
He slipped out from bed, shivering as his feet touched the cold stone floor. He pulled on layers and layers of cloth and wool to venture out into the cold. He dropped onto a bench and laced up his boots tightly. He tossed on a heavy cloak and grabbed his walking staff, adorned with beads, bones, feathers and other little trinkets.
He slipped out silently, glancing up at the sky. Everything was silent, as the snow blanketed the countryside and woods. He leaned on his staff for a moment to let his eyes adjust. He closed his eyes, murmuring, "Where shall I venture this night?"
He opened his eyes and peered at the looming, snow crested forest that lined his property. The snow revealed a little game trail, which he turned to follow. He knew these woods well in day and night and feared little of what beasts could lurk within.
Egfor walked down the winding trail quietly, the farm vanishing behind him, the silent forest enclosing around him. His eyes lifted, marvelling at how the snow clung to each little branch, making each tree look like it was carved out of stark, bleached white bone. The pines and firs reached towards the ground, their boughs heavily laden with snow. Egfor's golden hair soon turned white with frost and snow gathering on his head like a bridal veil.
Egfor stepped on a smooth rock, falling down smartly on his backside with a yelp. He laughed as his staff skittered down the small hill, murmuring to himself, "Bit slippery, I see."
He pulled himself up and slid down the hill carefully on his feet, bending to pick up his staff and carried on.
He noted some tracks, not paying much attention at first. It was likely a stray dog or lone wolf. He was not concerned. He had a big stick, after all.
Egfor took a second glance at the tracks, hesitating now. He faltered his step, but still pressed on in the woods. The prints looked almost like a bear's, but the size of a wolf… And there were only two. Egfor furrowed his brow as he walked, trying to run through all animal tracks he knew as a huntsman. It was too small for a bear, even a cub. It was too big for a weasel. The pads were all wrong for a wolf or dog. Far too small for a mountain lion too. The distance between tracks was far too great for a badger or skunk. He stopped and measured the distance between two tracks with his own stride. It was longer than his natural stride.
Egfor stopped and crouched. How can something with such small paws have a stride longer than his? He ran his fingers lightly over the prints, they were warm and ice was just starting to form on them. They were fresh and not filled in.
Egfor jerked his head up, hearing an odd sound. He wasn't sure if it was a growl, whisper or heavy breathing or… what.
Egfor froze, his heart leaping up into his throat, and for the first time in a very long time in the woods, he felt a deep, primal fear. He saw a dark, shadowy figure, hunched or crouching, he could not tell. It did not look like man or beast, but neither and both. Egfor could feel it was watching him. Egfor murmurs, whether to himself or the creature, he wasn't sure, "I apologize, I meant no offense nor did I mean to trespass. I am leaving right away." Gripping his staff tightly, he rose up slowly and backed down the path. He waited till he turned down a bend in the path to turn around and hurriedly walk back, taking care not to run, but still make a hasty departure.
Egfor was nearly hyperventilating on the hike back.
Dem must have felt the fear, as Egfor found him just stepping outside, ready to search for Egfor.
Egfor roughly grabbed his husband and shoved him inside, barking, "Get inside, get inside! Don't look out and we are not leaving till dawn." Egfor scarcely kicked off his boots before he dove for a bottle of brandy with trembling hands. He barely noticed when Dem dragged him to the hearth and wrapped him in blankets. Egfor had to drink about three glasses of brandy before he stopped shaking and calmed down enough to retell his encounter to Dem.
