Young Writers Society

Ch.4 A nock at the door

Galvan sat in front of the small pen were the hen were held in the small storage area. The room consisted of a rack and a large bench on which held an assortment of tools. There were several crates filled with food and other supplies that would last Galvan the rest of the year.

Galvan was removing the burrs from the hen that had gotten out once more and had found its way into Krampus small medicine garden. Galvan had found it after waking up that morning having a spasm. He had proceeded to free the hen from the prickly trap of a Wacom grabber, and now pulled the prickly grabbers out of the feathers of the bird.

“How in heavens name did you even get up in there, I know you can fly a little but not that well,” the hen clucked annoyingly as another bur was pulled out of its feathers. “And how did you get out that’s what I want to know, hold still or ill pull out a feather.”

It had only been three days since Krampus had left and Galvan was already having a wicked time keeping them inside there pen. The first night Galvan had awakened to them sleeping on him. He had no clue how they got out but it was already very annoying.

Suddenly his hand brushed across a small piece of metal. The hen released a loud screech as the piece fell loose from its skin. Galvan tried to calm the hen and pushed back into the pen.

He turned around to look at the piece of metal. It was small and looked like it was bronze, it had several symbols on it. Galvan had studied many languages with Krampus even a bit of magical symbols but he had never seen these symbols.

He reached out and touched it a faced flashed before him. He screamed and lurched back the face was gone. He looked at the piece that’s symbols were now glowing, but it was still. Hesantly he reached towards it and picked it up nothing happened.

He looked at it turning it in his hands, it was very cold and smooth the symbols seemed to have been carved into it. The symbols flashed suddenly causing him to wince.

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Galvan’s eyes flew open and saw a large lavished with furnisher. A large bed laid before him it was empty except for a sword with symbols that grew brightly. “What are we” Galvan spun around to see three people two large men a short old woman, “murders that’s what by mal.” The men only shook their heads one walked over and picked up the sword it hummed.

He smiled “so be it mother.”

Suddenly the room vanished and he was on a battlefield. Bodies strewn out across the horizon, and in the middle stood a single being bundled in a cloak but something was wrong. His head turned toward Galvan, but what Galvan saw instead of a face he saw only smoke swirling.

Galvan gasped the man laughed and flew at him the sword in hand ready to strike. Galvan tried to run but was stuck in place. He screamed as he learched up from the floor of the store room.

He panted hard, what had he just seen, the piece was in his hand but was no longer ice cold but red hot he yelped as it burned his hand. He cradled it blowing on it when an arm reached around his neck.

He stopped seeing the flash of four sharp talons, “now amigo let’s not try to get away or you may find your vocal cords on the floor, we would prefer you alive but we just need your heart and blood.”

He sat completely still barley breathing as the claws slowly flexed “who are you.”

The person pulled its claws closer to his throat “shush little one my amigo will be here very shortly if he stops dallying at least.”

As if on cue a loud knock went out from the large door of the cave, “speak of the devil, grab his key and go let Lewis in.” Galvan heard something drop the floor next to him and felt a hand reach into his pocket grabbing the key. He heard the sound of something running to the door.

There was silent until the sound of the bars moving sounded through the chamber. He heard footsteps coming their way. He heard the door swing open and someone large walk in.

He heard no one but his captor did speak “what are do you mean I been waiting for you come on is the group waiting outside, good.” He heard something jump down from the work bench “get up now”

Galvan quickly got to his feet the claw still dangerously close to his neck ready to slash. “Follow me quick were on a schedule.” He turned around in front of him the man named Lewis stood a mask covered his face and he wore leather armor. The man was hunched over and his arm was a little bent.

On the ground a small gargoyle with one arm waddled towards the door. Galvan slowly followed. The gargoyle spoke quietly and his arm fell off and waddled over to Galvan’s bed grabbing his bag and began shoving clothes and a book from under his bed.

It dragged it over to Galvan and stopped. He picked it up slowly and the arm went back to the gargoyle. He continued to the door with Lewis following. They walked into the cavern were they found another man almost exactly like Lewis, but with a different mask.

It grabbed Galvan and pulled him towards the tunnel. They walk for a few minutes navigating the tunnels to the entrance they walked to the main entrance. Outside sat a wagon a two figures sat on it another creature like Lewis and a normal man who turned around and smiled.

“Well, well, well, well, well, well about time ya got here by mal ya were supposed to be here five minutes ago Rouen.” He had a sharp eastern accent that caused Galvan to shutter.

The gargoyle leaped up onto the strange man next to the driver “shut up you know why, its these cursed puppets there to easily distracted and I think you lost Boil he was supposed to be with those two and since he’s not with you I guess he ripped on a rock, their two weak see.” He gave a sharp kick to the one he sat on and a small hole opened in its arm.

A loud screech went out as the man seemed to quickly deflate until Rouen was sitting on a deflated body. Galvan stared at the strange show but said nothing. The man sighed “fine but can we get going we are on a schedule here ya know. Lewis, Nelly throw him in back and make sure he doesn’t get out.”

Lewis grabbed him and shoved him towards the cart he climbed in slowly as he saw the arm of Rouen jump of his shoulder and ran to the gargoyle. He sat on the bed of the wagon as the two puppets climbed in and the cart rolled away from Galvan’s home for which he felt he may never return to.

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Krampus ran through the village of Audis running from a guard who carried a large barbed spear. He turned into a dark ally and launched up to a balcony. The guard’s footsteps quickly approached the dead end.

Krampus chuckled the oldest trick and it still worked wonderfully without falter usually. He smiled as the brave guard hoping to slaughter the legendary demon of fear and punishment came charging into the ally sure he had cornered the scared beast but he had fallen into Krampus trap.

He stopped confused looking for were Krampus had gone he walked to the wall and felt along it pushing as Krampus crawled from his hiding place and stood in the entrance. The guard spun seeing the shadow fall upon him. He screamed in pure terror as he realized his mistake. Krampus charged forward a relished his mighty roar causing the guard to faint in fear.

Krampus stood feeling quite proud of his execution. He gathered up his fallen cloak and climbed to the roofs and began walking to the town’s edge. He hopped to get a head start to the next town so he could rest for a bit. But his stride was cut short as he saw the moon be blotted out as the figure of a fury spiraled towards him in a free fall.

Krampus saw could see it was Megaera coming towards him. She crashed into Krampus as he caught her midair. She panted hard speaking quietly “came as fast I could, fates saw it, took him, I’m sorry.”

Krampus rapped her in his cloaked “took who Megaera what are you talking about.”

She grabbed him fear filled her eyes “Del he has him he took Galvan.”