'Wolves' (chapter 7)

  Guflan was found in the streets of Gluma, his face contorted with the pain he had felt. There were no outward marks on his body that might have shown why he died. The cities guards collected around his corpse, staring and shaking their heads.

  The wizard stood at the arched window of his living quarters, watching the guards and their gruesome discovery with a slight smile. He had already replaced his dead apprentice with another young man. A mute he had found begging in the market place. He had been easy to manipulate. The wizard smiled a little wider. Everything was going to plan.

  “It has begun.” he murmured, turning to face his new ‘apprentice’, who cringed under the wizards gaze.

  Away from the dangers of any cities, in the fading sunlight, LA sat. Buster sat near-by, watching as Abban ate. LA cocked her head to one side, amazed that Abban could even eat with those teeth. She picked at the little food she had brought with her, but had lost her appetite. She looked around, they had passed through the woods not long ago and ahead of them lay meadows and rivers, crisscrossing like the blankets her mother used to knit. Buster looked over to her, his face a picture of disgust. LA smiled at him and turned to Abban.

  “How can you eat like that?”  he glanced at her, the blood from the rabbit covered his jaws.

  “Well, I cant eat like you can I? I’m bound to get messy.”

  “Its disgusting.” grimaced Buster as he squirmed on the rock he used as a chair.

  “yes, well. I cant help it.”

  “When are we travelling again?” LA asked, drumming her fingers on the soft ground.

  “Soon. Oh, wait, you’ll want to sleep, right? Sleep now and we’ll continue when you’ve rested.”

  “Good, I’m exhausted.” Buster said, finally smiling. He curled up on the rock and closed his eyes.

  “I’m not,” sighed LA to Abban, “cant you tell me more about what’s going on?”

  “When you’ve rested. If you don’t sleep now I wont stop later.” Abban replied stretching out by the carcass of his rabbit and licking his teeth. LA rolled her eyes and stared at the setting sun. She really wanted to keep going, she had dreamt of big adventures, but so far this was boring.

  She glanced over to Buster, who had quickly fallen asleep, then to Abban. He lay in the tall grass of the meadow, the contrast between its beauty and his hideous form was enormous. He did not close his eyes as he stared out to the distance. LA found that she had looked up, just to see if he had spotted anything, but he hadn’t. With another sigh she turned and glanced at the forest, which was quiet. She crossed her arms in front of herself 

and huffed. But it wasn’t long before she was lying down, fast asleep with Abban still staring at the distant horizon.