Chapter 1

         A scream broke through the night, awakening the quiet house. The man sat up panting, dark visions still floating in his mind. He looked around and found himself on a mattress underneath white sheets. It was only a dream. He covered his face with his hands, and his breath began to steady.

         “Are you ok, love?” asked a voice beside him. He lowered his hands and turned his head to the woman lying beside him. She sat up slowly, a light blue hand reaching for her lover. She took his hand and gave it a soft squeeze.

         “I just had a terrible nightmare,” he said, his voice still a bit shaken. The woman embraced him tightly and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. She settled back against the wooden headboard of the bed and smiled. The man admired her in the pale moonlight that came through the window above their bed. She tucked a lock of bright pink hair behind her ear and then moved back beside him, wrapping her arms around his waist and laying her head on his bare chest. She sighed contentedly and snuggled into his arms.

         He held her close with both arms and laid his head back. He gazed across the room at a painting that hung on the wall over a desk. On a background painted gray stood the couple, standing in one another’s arms. She stood at his chest, her hair flowing about wildly, clashing with the blue dress that she wore. Sparkling purple eyes gazed lovingly back into his own dark pair. Written at the bottom were the words, “Muntjack and Sarry, lovers for eternity.”

         “Each time I look at it, it seems more and more beautiful. You are a wonderful artist, love. I wish that I could create something like that,” Munt said with a broadening smile.

         “I’m not that good of an artist,” Sarry said, her face turning a deep purple, “I just paint whatever I envision. Is it really as good as you say?”

         Munt turned his eyes from the painting and back to his wife. He smiled and looked down on her, nodding his head. “Of course. It’s a masterpiece. You are one of the best artists I’ve ever known. Don’t let anyone ever tell you different.”

         Her face returned to its normal shade of blue. She tightened her grip around his waist and sighed, “You’re too good to me. I love you so much.”

         “I love you too,” he replied and kissed her lips gently.

         “Let’s rest. Our friends are coming over tomorrow for dinner, so we have much to prepare,” Sarry said.

         “Who all did you invite?” Munt asked.

         “Well, let’s see. Azure, of course, shall be coming,” Sarry said.

         “Of course he’ll be here,” Munt said with a chuckle, “He’d never pass up the chance for a free meal.”

         “I also invited Sean, Tamara, and Katt,” she said, watching his reaction.

         “It looks like we’ll be having quite the party tomorrow. We should try and sleep then. That’s a lot of mouths to feed,” Munt said to his wife. He kissed the top of her head as she closed her eyes and lay against him. Sarry soon fell into slumber, yet Munt remained awake. He stared at the ceiling, a thousand thoughts running through his mind. Thoughts of his nightmare began to surface once again. He could hear the cry of the wolves, feel the tingling chill that ran through his body, and see those piercing eyes. He forced his eyes shut and drifted off into a restless sleep.

*                    *                    *

         Munt squinted as the morning sunlight came through the window. He rolled over to find himself alone in bed. He threw back his sheets and swung his legs over the side and onto the floor. He crossed the room to a chair where a pair of brown pants and white shirt sat folded. He threw them on and stepped through the open bedroom door and into the hallway. He stopped and raised his head, sniffing at the air. The aroma of frying bacon caught his attention. He smiled and followed the scent down the hall and into the small kitchen. Sarry stood over their stove, turning over a few pieces of bacon that fried alongside two eggs.

         Munt moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Sarry leaned back into his comforting grasp and smiled up at him.

         “That smells good,” Munt said.

         “I figured a nice, big meal would help us get through the day. Don’t you agree?” she asked him.

         “Couldn’t hurt,” Munt said, “How could it not? I can taste that bacon, and I haven’t even had a bite of it yet.”

         “I also figured that with me making breakfast, that leaves you to help me with our dinner tonight,” Sarry said with a giggle.

         “Of course, love. I’ll make one of my famous dinners, one that the guests will never forget,” Munt said, sneaking a quick kiss.

         “Now go sit down! I don’t want to burn these eggs,” she said and playfully pushed him back. She turned back to the food and hummed to herself.

         Munt stepped over to the table and pulled out a chair. He slumped down into it, the old wood creaking beneath the pressure. He looked around at their small kitchen. Everything, save for their stove and a large metal box beside it, was made from wood. The counters and cabinets were white and smooth. The table and chairs were a darker colored and visibly worn from use and age. He had built the entire house himself, a project that took him quite a long time, almost a year to be exact. For the most part things held up and both Munt and Sarry lived happily there for the last few years.

         “Breakfast is ready!” Sarry chimed, setting a huge plate of food in front of Munt. He gazed at the eggs, bacon, ham, pancakes, and toast that barely all fit on the plate. She then set down a mug that steamed with the sweet smell of coffee. He grabbed a fork and dug into the meal fit for a king. As he was about to start on his second fried egg, he noticed that Sarry sat across from him with only a small glass of juice resting in her delicate hands.

         “Why not have something more to eat? I have plenty here to share,” Munt said.

         “I’m not hungry,” Sarry responded softly.

         “Are you sure?” Munt asked. He set his fork down and pushed his plate toward her. She shook her head and quickly pushed it back on his side of the table.

         “Quit worrying about me. I’m just not hungry. I’ll eat something later if I get hungry,” she said, agitated.

         “I’m sorry. You know I hate it when you don’t eat. That’s all,” he said, lifting his fork again, albeit a bit tentatively.

         Nothing more was said until Munt finished his meal. He leaned back and let out a groan.

         “How was it?” Sarry asked.

         “Very good!” Munt said with another groan. He pushed back his chair and covered his mouth just in time to cover a loud burp.

         “Since I made breakfast, you can do the dishes,” Sarry said, giggling and smiling.

         Munt groaned again and pulled himself out of his chair. Sarry smiled at him and slipped past him down the hallway. Munt lifted his plate and moved over to pick up Sarry’s glass. He moved over to a tub built into the counter where they washed their plates. He set down his plate and looked out the window before him. Nothing could ruin such a beautiful day.

*                    *                    *

         Time had flown and the preparations were still being made. Sarry spent her time tidying up and setting a white lace cloth over the old table. She then moved into the living room area and made sure that the pillows were just in the right spot on their gray couch. She set candles of different colors and sizes throughout the room, lighting each of them with the flame of the last.

         While Sarry ran about the entire house, Munt darted through the confined area of the kitchen. He moved back and forth from the counters to the table, setting down plate after shimmering silver plate, each filled with mouth-watering dishes and hors d’oeuvres. There was a plate filled with crisp green lettuce, bright orange carrots, and many other vegetables. Sitting next to it was a plate of sliced fruits, such as juicy pears, luscious peaches, and sticky oranges. Munt set down a much larger plate covered with a tall domed lid. He lifted the lid slowly and the fragrance of a cooked ham entered his nostrils. Before he could lift the lid any further, Sarry stepped beside him and touched his shoulder. He set the lid back down and turned with an innocent smile.

         “What are you doing?” she asked, placing her hands on her hips.

         “I’m just taking a look at the main course,” Munt said with a grin.

         “You had better keep the lid on. We don’t want to serve a cold ham to our guests,” Sarry said. She moved to the counter and lifted a basket of bread and rolls, walking over and setting it along with the other plates. She turned again to a large pot sitting on the stove. Finding two towels, she grabbed its handles and pulled it down with a grunt from the flame.

         “They’d better make room for desert, too! I’m sure they’ll love the strawberry shortcake that I’ve made,” Munt boasted out loud. His eyes shimmered as he continued, “Three years ago I made it for the annual fair. There was a lot of stiff competition that day, but...”

         “Your dish was so well prepared that the judges almost fainted at the taste,” came a voice from the door, “How many times do we have to hear that old story? It’s about time you gave it a rest.”

         “Azure!” Sarry yelled in excitement. She dropped all she was doing, which included the pot of stew, and raced over to hug him. He grunted, a bit surprised by her burst of enthusiasm. She looked up at him, which was quite the feat in its own right. Azure stood taller than Munt by at least a head and was of a much bigger build. As Sarry released her grip around his waist, he straightened out the sleeves of his dark blue buttoned shirt. He pulled off a long silver cape and draped it on a wooden hook on the wall. Underneath his cape, he pulled a silver-bladed sword from a strap on his back. The blade was thick and heavy, curved in the shape of a crescent moon. He propped it up with care near the door.

         “Looks like I’m the first to arrive,” Azure spoke as his light blue eyes scanned over the table, “The food looks great. But tell me Sarry, are we supposed to eat that potato soup off the floor?”

         “Huh?” she spun around on her heels and her eyes widened at the mess she had made. Her face turned a deep shade of purple, and she rushed across the room, fumbling around a few drawers for towels.

         Munt couldn’t help but to laugh at Sarry’s misfortune. He stepped around the table and toward Azure. He held out his hand, which was graciously accepted in a firm handshake. Munt grinned and joked up at Azure, “Don’t you know how to knock? Did all your training make you forget your manners?”

         “At least I’m out putting my skills to use, my friend. I’d rather not be cooped up at home all day,” Azure shot back with a grin of his own.

         “Well, I have a reason to be at home,” Munt said, glancing back at his lovely wife, who was still cleaning her sizable mess.

         Sarry looked up and noticed both of them staring at her. She turned her deep colored face away out of embarrassment. She huffed and ran another towel over the puddle of broth, “I didn’t see you rush to help me clean the mess up.”

         “I’m not the one who dropped two gallons of potato soup on the floor,” Munt said plainly.

         Sarry’s lips twisted into a frown–an expression he did not like seeing what-so-ever.

         “Uh oh! Looks like you made her mad!” Azure piped in with a snicker. He always had to stir the pot, even when its contents were spilled all over the floor.

         “Az...” Munt growled and moved toward Sarry, kneeling down next to her and helping her clean the rest of the mess. He tossed the towels into the once full pot and moved it over to the sink.

         Sarry stood and walked toward the living room, motioning for Azure to follow. When he wouldn’t move from the doorway, she walked over and pulled his arm. “Please, come sit down. I’m sure your legs are tired from the journey here.” Sarry lead Azure into the living room and they both sat on the couch, chatting about his journey and other things.

         As they conversed, Munt rinsed out the stew pot, filled it with fresh water, and began to dice up potatoes once again. He tossed the taters into the water and put the pot on to boil. He watched the water bubble, and he began to stir in the needed ingredients. He reached for a container of some spice, but realized with a shake that it was empty.

         “Uh oh...we’re out,” he mumbled to himself. The wooden container was indeed empty. Munt sighed softly and set it down on the counter. He glanced again out the window and saw the sun moving down across the sky. He didn’t have long before the rest of the guests would arrive. Needing to improvise, he whispered a few soft words and wiggled his fingers over the boiling pot. At first nothing happened, but then a sparkle appeared at his fingertips and fell silently into the mixture. He chuckled softly at his own cheating, but drastic times called for drastic measures. He glanced over his shoulder at his wife and best friend. The last thing he wanted was for them to see his use of magic for cooking. Thankfully, they were paying no attention to him. He wiped his brow and continued with the preparations.

         While Munt slaved in the kitchen, Sarry smiled and nodded to her much larger companion. “So are you still single? Perhaps you’ve finally found yourself the right woman?”

         “Bah, I’m still single and I plan on staying that way for a while,” Azure responded with a light grunt. He shook his head and continued, “If I managed to find someone, she’d probably disagree with the way I live my life. She’d also kill me for having to get the bloodstains out of my clothes.”

         “You’re still the same ol’ Azure. You are always getting yourself into trouble. Hopefully you haven’t been in too much trouble as of late,” Sarry said with a hint of concern shadowing her voice.

         “Just the usual training, though I did want to ask you about the rumors flying around as of late,” Azure started slowly.

         “What rumors would that be?” Sarry asked.

         “There have been some disturbances in some of the most populated cities,” Azure said.

         “What sort of disturbances?” Sarry asked, her blue skin beginning to pale.

         A knock at the door prevented Azure from answering. Sarry began to rise, but Azure pulled himself up, “Allow me.” Azure walked through the living room and toward the front door. He pulled back on the handle and opened the door wide.

         Standing on Munt’s front step was a young girl. She pursed her lips and looked up at Azure with a pair of big green eyes. Snow white hair fell to her hips, which she placed both hands upon and tapped her foot on the ground. “Are you gonna get out of my way? I smell food!”

         Azure crossed his arms over his chest and stood right in the doorway. The girl tried to squeeze past him, but it was no use.

         “Meanie! I’m a guest here just like you! You could at least let me in the place,” she complained loudly.

         “You gotta say the password, Katt,” Azure said with a grin.

         “Password?” Katt asked, now becoming annoyed, “I may be younger than you, but that doesn’t mean I like stupid games.”

         “Azure, will you behave yourself?” came the voice of Sarry, who had stepped up behind him. She touched his back gently and he laughed, stepping away from the door. Sarry stepped forward and gave Katt a gentle hug. “I’m glad that you could make it.”

         “I wouldn’t pass up the opportunity of free food!” Katt said, looking past Sarry into the kitchen where Munt had turned away from his cooking, “And to see my good friends, too, of course!”

         “I’m sure you would have come anyway had we not invited you,” Munt said as he pulled off a thick cooking glove.

         “What are you saying, Munt?” Katt asked.

         “That you have a nose that smells food from miles away,” Munt said, grinning.

         Katt harrumphed and made her way into the house. She walked past Azure and elbowed him in the gut. He groaned and rubbed his stomach as Katt sat down on the wooden floor of the living room. She pulled at the shoulder strap of her black sleeveless top, which hung loosely on her small frame.

         “What’d I do to deserve that?” Azure asked. He walked into the living room and plopped down on the couch again. Katt shook her head slowly and ignored him.

         “Munt, you might want to watch the soup,” Sarry said, motioning to the stove. He turned and watched as bits of potato and broth flowed over the top of the metal container. He rushed toward the kitchen and grabbed the pot from the flame. Sarry giggled and stepped into the kitchen to help him clean the new mess.

         “C’mon, why won’t you talk to me?” Azure asked. He slipped down on the floor next to Katt and began poking her, “What have you been up to these days?”

         “Ugh, will you stop poking me?” Katt asked, which he obliged. She sighed softly. “I haven’t been up to a lot. I’ve been exploring the forests. There is so much more to this land than you would ever expect!”

         “You shouldn’t be wandering about all alone. There are wild beasts and who knows what else around. You should stay around the towns with people where it is safe, Katt,” Azure responded gruffly.

         “You’re not my father, ya know,” Katt said, “I’ll have you know that I’m tough and can take care of myself. I don’t need others fighting my battles for me.”

         Azure sighed and stood once again. He walked to the door, which still stood wide open. Azure reached for the handle, but stopped and stared out into the wooded areas that surrounded the modest home.

         “What in the…” Azure said to himself. He turned his head and yelled toward the others, “Munt, come quickly!”

         Munt looked up as Azure burst from the doorway. Munt dropped a towel and ran out after him. Both Sarry and Katt moved toward the doorway, but were ushered back as Azure came back in, carrying a woman in his arms. Munt followed, helping a man in gold and black plated armor limp inside the house. Azure moved to the living room and laid the golden haired woman on the couch. She wore a silver dress that was full of rips and cuts. Her face and arms were bruised and lacerated.

         “Please, help her,” the man in the armor said through broken breaths. He fell unconscious and slipped from Munt’s grasp, falling to the floor.

Chapter 2  (13+) Munt's party falls to pieces as a darkness slips ever closer. #906437 by The Lemon