Golem of the Crimson Heart

The stars and moon are so bright tonight that no flashlight is needed to light the way. And now with a clear road and no woods to block my view, I can see the whole of the sky. A vast expanse of the galaxy and constellations, enormous clouds of gas from which stars grow.

We've been riding for hours. I stopped a few times for a break for the horse but I forced the whole ordeal. I think I'd better pull over.

Pulling the harness to steer the horse off the road, I stop and pull the brakes next to what looks like a boulder with a tree growing out of it.

Approaching the horse, he seems reluctant to let me near him. I undo the cart's harness and steer the horse back behind it and tie him to the rear of the wagon.

But the horse doesn't make the task that easy. He's still pulling and trying to get away somehow, getting more and more frightened.

And the bear gets up from the wagon. Oh yes, he's scared of him.

The bear stares at the horse. And the horse stares back.

To the best of my ability I growl at both of them, trying to make it clear that I don't want any trouble between them. The bear perceives me and growls back, followed to leave, presumably for food.

We're out in the open, I don't know what he'd find but if he's hungry he's hungry. 

I open the hatch in the back of the wagon and find crop left from the people early today.

Even though I lived with the duke for years, I don't know what these are. Probably for flour. Sam said humans make bread from flour which is made from seeds.

Still, in Nyx's eyes, that seems silly. Before he can try anything, the horse gets up close and starts mulching the straws and a few heads with seeds. 

At least you don't have to go looking for food. You can eat just about anything around here. Grass... ehh... crops... what else is around here..?

A tree of small stature around where the bear took through the tall grass. Compact but with pretty thick branches. I grab the ax and start chopping some firewood.

Maybe I don't need it, but I'm sure this horse would like it. 

Looking back at the horse, I realize his size. Pretty tall on four legs, taller than me but no taller than the bear. Visibly strong. I'm not surprised he dragged me and the bear this far, but he's totally worn out, we're not going anywhere till tomorrow.

I cut a few chips to make it easier for the fire to start, and I lay out the wood a top of it. Snapping a couple of times to make sure it ignites properly, I sit and wait.

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My rest process is the same as always. I sense everything around me, the horse sleeping close to the fire, the soft sweat of the grasses and some sounds of the night, insects, birds...

But the train of thought is reeling back. My eyes pop open and I jump to my feet. I reach for my sword, but it is not at my disposal. I left the sword with the axe and spear in the wagon. So I reach for the two daggers attached to my belt. Still covered by the cloak and hiding my daggers under it, I take a few steps and stand back to the fire to avoid any blinding.

I know for sure I felt something. Everything around was normal but I felt something come out like from nowhere.

Hurrying to the cart to grab one of the larger weapons, the first one I grab is the spear. My movements wake the horse, as I stand next to him. 

What is out there? 

My guard still up, I back slowly away from the horse to the fire to add two more sticks for more light.

Still nothing...Maybe it left? I turn back to the wagon and sit on the wheel to keep on watch.

"Nyyyaaaaaah!!!" neighs the horse loudly, jumping to his feet and pulling the cart. Surprised by the outburst, I get hit by the wagon and stumble to the ground. 

Now there's definitely something around here.

Leaning on one knee to stand up, I feel violent slashes across my neck and over my eyes. In a panic, I swing the spear hard, hoping to hit something but no contact. 

"Nyyyaaaah!!!"

She's in danger. Back to my feet I use the sharp tip to cut the harness tied to the wagon and grab the horse.

Still looking for what's attacking us, I can't find anything around. I pull the horse closer to the fire hoping to see something. Still nothing.

If she keeps freaking out and slips out she's dead. What do I do?

More slashes but this time on my left thigh. As the last attack, I don't feel the pain and so I don't bleed courtesy of my stone muscles. 

"Nyyyaaaah!!!"

But this time it's the horse that gets hurt. A few cuts indicating a claw trail show up on the horse's shoulder, starting to bleed.

But now I see something new, a fast-moving flickering image quickly retreating into the bushes, again rendering itself unseeable. 

It's gone again but I saw it! There's nothing I can do if I have to guard the horse! Looking back toward the trail from where I left the road I see only one solution. Run. We must flee. But they can follow us.

A desperate attempt. I stick my spear in one of the logs on the fire and start heading for the main road. I spin the burning spear back and forth, trying to scare off whatever's following us.

I'll come back for the wagon later, but now I've got to make way.

A moment's attention was all that made the difference to what was to come. Moving the flame back I see it. The reflection of fire in a set of eyes, along with that strange flicker.

Letting go of the horse's harness, I grip the spear with both hands and swing it hard where I saw the set of eyes.

Like the call of a challenge, I see the distortion again, trying to fight back. But the flaming wood and the spear sharp tip strike the creature across the face.

The beast's illusion is shattered, and for the first time I see it in whole. A monster not short but hunched, naked, pale and thin with extremely long hands and equally visible long claws. 

But that face frightens me more. Bald head, pointed ears, slightly long. The ugliest set of teeth visible due to the lack of lips backed up by the lack of a nose, or what must have been the scruff of one.

"Hrrryysssaahhh!!!" the creature shrieked, leaping up to strike again with its claws. But this time knowing that his attacks have no effect I take it for granted. The horse panics and runs back to the campfire. But I stay put.

And true it is. A slash across my belly rips my top, but nothing but a tiny trace like the rest of the tracks left on me.

In mid-air I grab the beast with my free hand. It still tries to get away, clawing and kicking my hand but to no avail. As I lift it into the air, I slam it to the ground and pin it down under my leg, leaving it with no way of escape.

"Hhrrrsssyyyyyaaah!" the monster snarls. 

But to no use as I thrust the spear into skull. Pulling it out I see the face destroyed by iron and fire but I'm startled by something else. The snarling but in a number.

I run back to the horse and take guard. To be on the safe side I throw the rest of the wood on the fire and throw an ignition for quicker burning. This time everything seems clearer. 

The same kind of monster but there are a few more.

One... two... three... 

Getting ready to fight, I break the wood stuck in the spear. Pull a branch from the fire and throw it into the tree on top of the rock. Slowly but surely, it ignites. Shifting my attention back to the monsters, the brighter flames make it easier. The flickering of their cloaking gets erratic but eventually they quit it, showing themselves.

Same things. Just three, no more for now. As I wanted, the tree lights up and the light is already spreading over a good area. 

Before one of them attacks, I kick charcoal and firewood in their way.

A slippery one evades and manages to dodge and charge me for an attack, jumping up and spinning for extra power. He successfully makes contact, but I parry with the spear. The force of the attack, however, causes me to take two steps back, leaving me open for a new attack by another beast.

It manages fruitlessly to shred my legs with 

multiple slashes, but it grabs my spear for one last effort. A restless one clambers on my back and claws at my face. Scratch after scratch already start getting tiresome.

"Nyyyaaaah!!!" the horse cries.

Turning around I see as one of the monsters circles the horse for an attack but the animal won't back down. With hooves and roles still defending its life.

Now both monsters which somehow are stronger than they look are pulling and pushing to throw me off balance. All my clothes ruined, my pants are barely hanging and my top is already a rag leaving me exposed.

I tug to get rid of the one on my back and manage to throw it together with my coat, managing to strap it in.

That leaves me with one ugliness. With my free hand I punch it across the face. The monster groans in pain to the feel of its broken jaw and lets go.

In the second before it tries to flee or anything else I thrust the spear between its ribs. Lifting him up with the tip of the spear, I crush him to the ground in one swift move.

"Hrrsrssyyaaah!"

The monster slips out of my coat and manages to tackle me down by pulling on my leg. At the death of his alleged brother, the harasser jumps in to attack me.

Slowly, however, their exhaustion grows visible as they pull at my rock body.

Wait, wait... now!

I correctly catch a blow meant for my face and squeeze hard enough to crush the monster's claw. The pain stops it from attacking me but as it screams I grab it by the inside of its jaws and pull hard. Tearing its fucking teeth out but losing my grip in process. 

Filled with pain from a broken wrist and lost teeth, that one backs off and leaves his last ally alone with me.

I turn to the last remaining monster and grab it by the throat.

Pulling myself up, it still tries to get away by slashing at my hand and kicking in my chest. 

In a rage I slam it into the ground. Again. And again. I throw myself on top and start to strangle its throat. Still in terror for its life, it hits and kicks but slowly it loses strength, choking on its own breath.

Already tired from all this stupidity, I squeeze harder and pull and twist. With one last push, I wrench its head and neck apart. 

I let go of the mutilated body and fall on all four on ground. I crawl to the one I impaled with my spear. I grab it and pull myself up. 

Ohh...I'm tired...With one foot on the corpse, I pull and yank the spear out of the monster's chest. I think.. I need blood..

I look around and see the horse standing by the wagon, still alarmed but somehow keeping her cool.

I stick the spear in the ground and pull out a dagger. I stab the body in the stomach and cut along the chest for a wound. 

Big enough... I stick a hand through the wound below the ribs and squeeze a lung. Blood starts to flow from the corpse to me. But somehow it has not the same effect. Don't feel so much any different.

Leaving the body behind, I step over to the headless one. Blood already lying on the ground, I bend down on one knee and bury my hand lightly in the dirt.

 Not working. Probably the same thing for the first one.

Leaving the matter at hand, I turn to the wagon and horse. Taking her by the harness, I pull her back and tie her to the side of the wagon.

Hope the runaway doesn't try anything else.

Climbing inside and sitting on my seat, I try to keep watch for the rest of the night. The tree is still burning well and hot.The crackling and popping of wood as it succumbs to the heat fills the air, mingling with the scent of smoke and charred wood. Hope it lasts till morning.