In The Dark - Chapter 5

Chapter 5 – A Bedtime Story (also titled as Maximillion Longwater)

"Daddy, daddy, tell me another story about 'wearwhirls'," Dia said as she tucked herself under the blanket. Max smiled her little Tessa, seeing her, not afraid of such stories.

"Once there was this boy, who disobeyed his elders and strolled outside the village when it was dark and the forest was surrounded by mist. He carried with him a stash with which he would put the medicine for his sick mother that he wished to gather," Max narrated.

"Daddy, what happened to his mommy?" Tessa asked curiously.

"His mother was sick and dying, and the only way she could recover is by drinking the nectar of the Star Lily. It has five petals that when it's fully bloomed, it forms the shape of the star. A plant that grows in the Crooked River just outside his village, the Village of the Mist.

The young boy wanted to help his dying mother, that he had disobeyed the village elders' instructions, 'Do not go out of the village if the Silver Sentinels' eyes are glowing in white,'" Max said as he held his hand like a mask for his eyes.

"Silverstanimerrs?" Tessa asked.

"Silver Sentinels, my dear," Max said as he laughed, "the silver statues that draws infinite arrows from their quiver. The silver statues were said to guard the Village of the Mist from the creatures of the dark. Their eyes glowed like the moon when the fullmoon's light shines upon them. The spirits of the ancestors who have protected the Village of the Mist for centuries was said to live in these Sentinels.

However, whatever the elders have said, the young boy had still disobeyed. He looked up the statues with their eyes as white as the moon as he sneaked out of the village. His heart was pounding very fast because he was afraid, afraid of what might find him in the forests' deep shades, but still he had the courage to go on, for his beloved mother. He looked back one last time at the village he had never left alone. He treaded the dark shades of the forest, as it was covered by a thick fog. The moon was barely seen under the trees that there was no light to guide him. He took out from his stash a clear bottle that he gently shook. The bottle then, little by little, had been filled with light from fireflies that were inside the bottle. Alas, he could see now where he was going. He knew where to go but he wasn't really sure because he's usually accompanied by an older person.

The forest was quiet and it felt like someone was eyeing him. Again, he reached inside his stash to get a crucifix forged in silver that he wore around his neck. Minutes more of his stroll in the dark forest, he finally reached the Crooked River which divides the land. Everdark and some other neighbouring towns were found just right across the Crooked River.

The young boy searched the riverbanks for the Star Lilies until he heard from a distance screaming of men, crying in what seemed to be hurting, crying that then sounded like yelping. He knew that he was close to danger then that he quickly grabbed a couple of the Star Lilies and put it in an extra bottle. The yelping had stopped and the growling of fierce dog-like creatures he began to hear. Hurriedly, he placed the bottled Star Lilies in his bag and noticed there was a pack of meat inside. Worried that the creatures might track the meat's aroma, he threw it out from the bag and onto the ground. He ran so quick and careless that he stepped on a twig that cracked and seemed to catch the creatures' attention. Howls from afar were heard, and the boy just ran towards the village.

Moments later, he heard from the direction of the river, growling of what seemed to be a hunting pack. They seemed to have track down the stench of meat. The boy thought he was safe at last. But he forgot he held the meat in his hands that the smell of meat sticked onto his hands and his clothes. With all his endurance, he ran to the village with tears in his eyes. The rustling of the leaves from the trees and the heavy feet that followed him, he heard. It seemed that the hunting pack had tracked him down. They were gaining on him and he thought it was the end for him.

Until another werewolf, in silver and grey fur, jumped at them and seemed like to fight over the boy. It was his chance to get away far from them when he heard yelping of the a pack of werewolves behind. Only a few feet until the village gates that the boy had tripped and injuring gravely himself on his leg. He was scarred by a sharp rock pointing out from the ground. He looked back and the silver-grey werewolf was standing on its hind legs, walking towards him, hungrily. He looked it in the eye and noticed that its left eye was blind, and its body was full of scars. Blood was dripping down from its jaws. Upon this sight, he learned that this wolf that he had encountered was the living legend-- the wolf which was most feared by all.

He pulled himself away from the hungry monster, just a little more where the village gates were when suddenly, he heard the silver arrows singing. The Silver Sentinels had seen the werewolf and started shooting at the silver werewolf. Elder villagers had come out and helped the poor boy as the sentinels were busy protecting the village. The boy, still shocked of all that's happened, stared outside the gate as he was being carried by the elder villagers. He saw the werewolf, just dodge the million arrows that flew by as it was making its way far from the village. The young boy was safe, the mother had recovered, the village was protected, and the silver wolf had escaped and had still lurked in the dark forests." Max finished.

"Where's the boy now, daddy?" asked Tessa.

"Alas, the boy had a family of his own. A wife, a little daughter, and a home across the Crooked River, and tells tales of his experience to whoever wants to hear," Max smiled and kissed Tessa on the forehead, "Goodnight dear."

"Goodnight daddy," Tessa said as she closed her eyes.

Max looked out the window of the basement of the Marshwoods Inn and saw the moon as it was years before he had encountered the silver werewolf. Then he looked down at his left leg, scarred.