TYOV- Experience 3

 Prompt 16: Well armed mortals have banded together to hunt you.

[Created Erol the Mortal Hunter based on the wood carving, and checked off Smell the weather on the wind. Experience added to Memory 3.]

I continued like this awhile. This half existence hiding like a feral beast in my old family home, praying on local livestock and the occasional fool that Cwenhild brought to my door. She has calmed down since, much of that initial fear gone I think since realizing that I, Godwin, am still inside this beastly mess. Bless her but she still wants to help her friend and I appreciate that more than I could describe. I try not to think about what it says that she's willing to sacrifice her neighbours to me.

I find my old knife amongst the things at some point. Start carving again to occupy my time. I feel like my hands move with a much improved grace, even without the light, like my eyes can see every small fleck and grain in the wood. I carve small toys and figures. Some of the people I kill. A few of Cwenhild, some of different animals. I'm not sure how long passes but I fill this house with them. Even give a few to Cwenhild. I think that may have been the start of my mistakes.

Stupid peasants we may be, but they soon piece together the missing people and cattle, Cwenhild vanishing in the evening (to come see me), the mysterious wood carvings she brings home that look a lot like my own work (I was somewhat famous in the village for them, which I still take pride in).

Cwenhild was telling me about things in the village that night. I liked hearing about it, even if I didn't speak much any more I enjoyed feeling...attached to the place still. She helped with things like that often, still best friends. While she spoke I played my old lute, played the tunes she liked most and others beside that just sprang to my hands as music does.

 But I heard the commotion before her. Heard it over my playing. Angry voices. I peak outside of the house and see them. Former friends and neighbours in a mob wielding farming tools and lit lengths of wood. "Burn it down" "She's keeping a monster" "Witch". All sorts of things, I don't think they even knew themselves what they wanted to accuse her/me/us of. 

They stand a few feet away now. Demanding Cwenhild come out to face justice.  I see a man at the front. He empties out a sack of my little carvings. The ones I must have given Cwenhild over the weeks/months/years. I Had she been looking older lately? It's hard to tell. I think the man was...Erol. He was Rowe's brother I think... I ate Rowe didn't I? Damn it. I think mixed in with those carvings are others I had done for people in the village. I recognize a few, even ones I did for Erol and Rowe when they were younger.

Cwenhild moves to leave, telling me to escape. I stop her. She has done much for me and I won't let her do more than this. I fuss and find a flint to light the straw of the bed I've put together. If they wish to bring torches I will help them with lighting the fire. I tear down a wooden board in the back over a window hole, helping Cwenhild out. She flees, think I will follow just behind. The fire is growing, I hear the crowd outside gasp in shock at the flames.

Some of the braver ones begin battering at the door. It caves in as I'm about to crawl out into the night. I really should have replaced it or fixed it, something. I see Erol's eyes widen, as he screams and cusses at this emaciated thing in front of him. I eat better than I did now that before it feels like, but I don't put weight on, and I imagine I look even thinner with my middle missing. He points a farming tool at me, must recognize me. "Godwins a monster" I hear ripple through the crowd. I hiss. Not sure why, just feels right to do. I finish climbing out and hear Erol demanding I come back. Face justice for Rowe. That he'll hunt me. I think he should. Hope he does. 

I flee into the night. Briefly lose Cwenhild then find her again easily. The moonlight seems very bright to me, and she leaves a blazing trail in the grass and bushes behind her. I tell her she can't go back there. I know what I need to do. I push her to keep running, carry her when she slows down. I put as much distance between us and the village as we can. Thankfully I can smell a storm coming (I feel like that is even more literal now, than the old phrase the elders liked to say about me). It should help drown out our traces and slow our pursuers.