FABLES

Bite Of Winter
By Nicky Barnes



She ran, heart pounding, hot breath pluming in the icy night air, pains in her chest as her last reserves of strength came to an end.

Clutching her flimsy gown to her body, even though it provided minimal warmth, she climbed the steep incline, clawing at the powdery snow in her haste. Glancing back she swept the cold strings of her hair from her eyes, she could not see it, but she could hear it. From not far away came a mournful howl, it sounded so sad she almost paused.

So close.

She fell in her panic, snow blinding her, she tried to push herself up off of the ground. Numb fingers failing her. So tired...so cold.

A heavy weight knocked her deeper into the snow, trying to get breath to scream she twisted her head from side to side. Pain ripped through her as teeth buried themselves in her shoulder.


Sam ran into the big kitchen, banging the oak door back against the wall with a resounding crash.
"Did she come through here?" His eyes wildly scanned the room for her face. The cook came towards him, her face troubled.
"Eliza? My lord? Why no, I have not seen her for many hours." She studied her masters face, his eyes looked sore and red and full of worry. "No she's not been through here sir."

He ran from the kitchen towards the stables noting the uneven snow tracks, which were rapidly filling in, led from the side of the kitchen towards the stable buildings. Racing inside he noted that Breana his wifes mare was missing. He took down his hunting rifle and checked it was loaded. Quickly saddling and tacking up his own horse he rushed back out into the cold wintery night. The full moons light aiding his direction but the winds cold sting causing his eyes to tear and render the light almost useless.

He followed the tracks for many miles, he felt wretched with guilt and remorse. He never should have said those things to her. Now she was out here in this cold, and in her condition too. He had even accused her of that! No he knew she wasn't capable of adultery, the babe was his not another mans. He was so stupid, he knew the drink made him say evil things. He needed to catch up with her quickly. Before........ no, he must not think like that. She would be well, he would find her.

Cresting a hill he saw a large dark shape silhouetted against the whiteness of the snow. He urged the horse towards it, the horse shied away as they neared, the iron smell of blood filled the air, bringing the death stench to the crisp icy newness. Dismounting he approached, he saw no sign of his beloved, but the sight before him made him spew out his stomach contents. He washed the sour bile from his mouth with some snow. It was Eliza's horse, it was dead. It's abdomen torn apart, entrails strewn around making crimson patterns on the frozen ground. Bite marks in the carcass showed him it had been attacked by wolves, it still steamed in the cold air.

Where was Eliza?

He examined the ground, he heard a howl and a womans scream.

He jumped on his horse and drove it towards the sounds. A horrific sight awaited him, a huge wolf had his wife's body in its jaws. He sighted along his rifle, he worried he would hit his love but he didn't even know if she was still alive! He fired, the bullet hitting the animal in the back of the head. The blood sprayed out painting the snow red. The animal was dead.

Sam ran to his wife, she was breathing! She was losing blood from a gaping wound in her shoulder, but she was alive. Sam held her close to him, tears spilling down his cheeks.

The next couple of months went by, Eliza recovered from her ordeal with only a scar to remind them of that terrifying night. She was blooming in her pregnancy and Sam felt so proud, he never drank to excess again. They were happy.

A womans cries filled the house. Pain laiden screams of pure agony. The midwife ran from the room panic stricken, she had blood all down the front of her apron. She looked for Sam.
"Sir! You must come, there's nothing I can do. Its an abomination, it's against God and all things holy." She ran down the stairs shrieking.

Sam charged into the room in time to see his beloved Eliza's eyes close, her hands, which had been clutching the shreds of her skin together, fell to her sides.

Amongst the gore of what was once her stomach, something moved. Small hands reached upwards towards him, each tiny finger tipped with a black talon it's tiny mouth opened, revealing wickedly sharp fangs, it made a small howl and snuffled towards him.