Library: Agreb

Story of Agreb Once upon a time there was a small town of Agreb. As itself there was very little to mention about it. Perhaps few hundred citizens lived there in a self sustaining farming community. Most of the citizens were farmers with the exception of perhaps a dozen of hunters. Not many had even heard of a such village. Most members of the tribe thought this was a good thing. And why wouldn't it be? They could practice their ways and religion with very few outsiders harassing them. Not long ago their peaceful tribe encountered some serious problems. Some people who entered the forests never came back. First they thought it was a karma problem. The tribe of Agreb believes in karma: all bad deeds you have done before shall be paid back - with interest. The problem was even dismissed for a year, as it wasn't too frequent and people shrugged over the matter. "I bet he had done something bad", they said. Until on one night a child had gone missing. Well, he wasn't actually even a child, a mere infant. People were questioning their previous thoughts. What is so evil an infant could do, which would cost him his life? And a more troublesome point was also played on the table. Previous disappearings had happened in the forest to people who had gone there alone. The infant had disappeared from his cradle! Many of the villagers wondered. What could possible be bad enough to lose your life? Especially when the baby is only few weeks old. Some mad men thought the baby was the evil reborn and even preached about it. Luckily, most of the villagers were only terrified when they could have been sharpening their spears for a witch hunt. The villagers cried that something had to be done! There were several gatherings in which people demanded action! Yet, there weren't any heroes who would dare to take point. But there was one person who didn't join the gatherings at all. He had made a decision. He would not stand by, he would do something or die trying. He was the father to the missing child. Stal was his name and he was a hunter, a well respected individual. He had ventured the forests for decades and there weren't too many men who could honestly claim they knew better than old Stal! During the years Stal had seen some pretty weird stuff in the forest. Something people should let be and move to better places without such horrors. He had warned the elders about it. Actually he had been warning them for years, but they never listened: "We know good things will happen if we are good to each other and to the forest." Stal tried to look for his lost child. For days he searched the forests, checked every possible place where the baby would fit. But there weren't any results. Instead, he found something else. He found something most gruesome: a carcass. It was mutilated beyond all recognition. The only conclusion about the carcass was that it was a humanoid. Judging the size, the corpse probably once was a grown man. The discovery was alarming. Something was lurking in the forests. A predator! A predator big enough to kill a human relatively easily. Stal hoped this was just a coincidence, a such thing couldn't possible be interested in infants, they are so small and low in nutritions! But something was throbbing in the back of his head: the instinct of a hunter. His instincts were telling him this was no coincidence. He discussed with other hunters and almost all were convinced something very frightening was going on. Apparently he wasn't the only one seeing weird things in the forest, having weird sensations of not being alone and having an eerie feeling of someone staring at you. The hunters concieved a plan. Each night two hunters would hide themselves in the towers and keep an eye on the village while it sleeps. Also people wouldn't leave the village for any reason alone, at least 4 people was required and one had to be a skilled hunter. The first night came, Stal and his best friend Sim were to have the first watch. Masked and careful they hid themselves in the towers and began observing. The village was dead silent. Only the sudden gust of wind passing through the forest caused a mellow howl. They observed for an hour, two hours, 4 hours and until the sun arose bathing the village in gold. It was a very silent night and nothing had happened. Stal sighed, but yet he was greatful. Secrectly he even hoped his instincts had been mistaken. But deep down, he was certain. Something would happen if he waited long enough. The next night came and Stal couldn't resist standing on guard, albeit it was not his turn. Nothing happened on that night either, or the night after. Weeks passed and nothing happened. It seemed as if the disapperances had come to halt. Elders were glad and danced out of joy. The guarding and other restrictions were called off. It was only 3 nights after the call off. Something was bound to happen. It may have been a stroke of luck, or the instinct of a hunter, but Stal was nervous. He was turning around in his bed and couldn't catch sleep. Finally he stood up and thought he'd go on a walk. Stal grabbed his coat, pulled it over and stood outside his hut. It was a particularly warm night and the moon was illuminating the village with its pale light. Stal circled around the village once. Didn't feel much sleepier and went for another circle. It was then when he saw something. This huge, at least 7 foot tall hairy wolflike creature jumped over the wall with ease. Stal stood still, horrified. What the hell was that thing? It could not have been a wolf! That was certain, it was way too big for a wolf. Stal started running toward the part he saw the creature in. He checked every house nearby, woke every one up to warn them. Didn't take all too long a young woman came out crying, she had delivered a baby a week ago. The baby was missing. Quickly Stal demanded the elders to take proper precautions and start preparing the village for the future. Something had to be done! This monster, this beast had to be slaid before it would take all the newborn. And fast, as there was another baby which was born few weeks ago. Every single hunter would grab his bow and surround the house the baby was in. They would wait until the creature would turn up again to meet its destiny. Even if it would take days, weeks or months. Hunters would not budge. They didn't have to wait for too long. On the second night after the first sight the foul creature came back. It jumped over the wall and sniffed the air. It was a horrific sight. It seemed to be a mixture of a wolf and a man, a werewolf. It was at least 7 feet tall with a pair of nasty canine teeth bulging out from its drooling mouth. Its red eyes gleamed with determination. Its steps were also very determined. Moving carefully, it came closer to the house hunters were guarding. Slowly and soundlessly all hunters drew their bow strings tight. The moment seemed to last forever. The werewolf didn't seem to be in any rush. On every step it sniffed the air once again and thought about the next step carefully, a step which took an eternity every time. Eventually the moment did come and the werewolf was close enough. Stal shouts out loud and let loose his arrow. All other hunters followed his example and several arrows sank deep in to the werewolf. The shrieking was terrible, and almost all other villagers woke up to it. The hunters tightened their bow string again and prepared themselves for another shot. But the werewolf wasn't there anymore. All the hunters looked at the spot werewolf was in. A small puddle of blood had appeared to the place it was standing on. Some hunters even started to panic, but not Stal. He may have been a bit anxious, but he was hiding it well. He stormed out and with a fiery look on his face was looking all around. A scream echoed through the village. A bit more humane one. Few seconds later another one and another one. "Damn it! Come here you flea infested mutt!" Stal thought up to himself. Another scream was heard. Stal dropped his bow and grabbed his spear, turned up to the last known direction and started running towards it. A scream broke up his run, it came from the very opposite direction. "Come on! Fight fair you pooch!" Stal shouted. Not long after the werewolf droped in front of him. Its mouth and claws were covered with blood. Two arrows were still sticking out of its torso and there seemed to be at least three other bleeding wounds. Without any hesitation Stal lunged with his spear. The werewolf deflected the attack with its claws and quickly clawed a gaping wound to Stal's arm. Screaming in pain Stal withdrew a step and struck again, just to get deflected. The werewolf grinned with a nasty look on its face and kicked Stal hard in the stomach. Stal fell down on the ground and his spear flew few meters away from him. The werewolf stood on Stal and grinning with pride it lunged down canines first. As a last resort Stal quickly grabbed an arrow from his quiver and with the remaining strength tried to stab the werewolf. The werewolf didn't even notice the arrow and sank its teeth deep into Stal's chest. Stal's mouth gurgled with blood as his last breath escaped his lips. The werewolf stood up and tried to laugh, but noticed a nasty feeling below its chin. The arrow had pierced its throat and after few steps the werewolf fell down. The menace was dead. But the cost was terrible. Many good hunters, many men and children lost their lives due to this horrendous thing. Years have passed since those days. Stal is still remembered. Villagers believe he has moved on but his spirit will always guard the village and guide the people of the forest. But what happened to those children that, my fellow reader, is a completely different story.

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