Fic: Just a Scratch
Title: Just a Scratch
Author: kaytstarr
Characters: Richard/ Kahlan/Zedd/Cara
Rating: T
Word count: 1558
Genre: fantasy/adventure
Summary: A Lycanthrope roams the area and Richard’s insistence on helping causes problems. (p.s this is a first for me as I never write Richard centered stories)
Richard looked down at the three men laying in the graves. He would never have believed this would have happened when they first met a few days ago.
Richard, Kahlan, Zedd & Cara had been travelling together when they started to hear tales of a cursed village in the Great Forest of Elnor. They said a lycanthrope roamed the great forest that surrounded the village. Zedd explained to them that a lycanthrope was a person that was changed by the full moon into a ferocious wolf, if anyone was bitten or mauled by this wolf and survived the attack, they too would carry the curse.
Some of the people they met said that they traded with the village, others had relatives living there but no one ever ventured near the place during the time of the full moon. They said that even the villagers would warn people away and for three days a month they either left their homes or would barricade themselves in and refuse admittance to anyone regardless of the need or urgency. Richard asked why the villagers didn’t just kill the lycanthrope or move away and was told that they had tried to kill it but, the beast was too strong and they would not move because the villagers made a good living from the forest by catching deer and wild boar, so instead they had learned to live with the problem. Richard was keen to help and insisted they should visit the village. Everyone they spoke to said not to go, Cara had argued that if the villagers did not want their help, why should they interfere, a sentiment that even Zedd and Kahlan agreed with but, as usual Richard got his own way and yet another detour from their quest was made to visit the village.
It was the second day of the full moon, so they waited for morning before approaching the Great Forest of Elnor, as soon as they entered the forest, it felt different, gone was the heat of the day replaced by cool damp air, sunlight filtered through the trees with the occasional burst of sunshine when they passed through a clearing. The forest was so alive with the sound of birds and other wildlife, it was hard to believe that this place was cursed. They walked until late morning and decided to rest for a while in a clearing they found situated close to a stream. As they made their preparations three men walked into the clearing carrying a dead boar, they said they were from the village and introduced themselves, two were brothers called Jonathon and Edgar and the third man was their friend Bren. Richard explained how they had come to help the villagers, the men’s response was cordial but they insisted they did not need any help they were used to their way of life and did not did not want to change and told the group they should leave the forest before nightfall. Cara said nothing, but she had an “I told you so” look on the face.
They spent an hour together resting and sharing food while Jonathan the eldest of the three men explained how many years ago a man came to the village, he was bloodied and delirious saying how he had been attacked by a wolf. He had managed to kill the beast but, had been injured and had wandered lost for many days. The villagers tended to him and he healed remarkably well. He was a likeable fellow and readily accepted into the community but, the villager’s kindness had a cost, at the next full moon the man transformed into a huge wolf. They managed to fend it off but, not before it had attacked two people and killed some of their livestock, it devastated the lives of everyone. The villagers had a big meeting to decide what to do, they could either fight or run. They could not fight as the beast was too powerful and many did not want to leave, this was their home and the forest gave them a good living, so a compromise was made. A large stockade was built around the village to protect themselves and they warned other people to stay away when there was a full moon. Over the years it had just become a way of life, they did not hate lycanthropes, someone afflicted in that way was to be pitied, after all they did not choose that life and they were still someone’s father, husband, son or brother. The forest was large and could be shared and on each day before a full moon, the carcase of a boar or deer would be dragged around the forest well away from the village, this is what the men they had met were planning to do that morning. When the lycanthrope came across the scent, it would follow it and feast on the dead animal, thus keeping the villagers and livestock safe. It was a plan that had worked well for many years. Richard was not happy and still wanted to help them kill the lycanthrope, but the men were adamant, if any of the group were injured while fighting, they too would be cursed and it would leave the villagers in an even worse predicament.
They parted company with the men and as requested headed out of the forest. However, by midday Richard could not take it any longer he knew he had to help, he was convinced that the villagers did not know what was best for them so declared to the others his intention to return to the forest and slay the lycanthrope . They were not happy with his decision, Zedd tried to impress upon him the need to follow their main task. Cara just shouted at him and told him he was being irrational, even Kahlan admitted that as much as they wanted to they could not help everyone. Richard said he was going back anyway with or without them and as usual they followed, albeit reluctantly.
It was almost dark by the time they reached the clearing where they had left the other men. Richard planned to find where the men had left the carcass and lay in wait for the lycanthrope. The trail was easy to follow and after an hour of walking found the bait, it was now dark and the full moon shone so brightly they had no need for torches. In the distance they heard the howl of a wolf, Richard reckoned it was about a mile away, so they had time to plan. Without warning a large wolf leapt out of the forest and slammed into Richard bowling him over. The force of the impact made him drop his sword and he could only use his hands to fend of the animal. The wolf was on top of him pinning him down and plunged for his throat, Richard grabbed the animals throat and held him back, but the weight and strength of the wolf was enormous. In the back of Richard’s mind was the thought ‘why is no one helping me’ then he heard shouts, the whine of an agiel, felt heat and smelt burning hair, but they were not attacking the wolf that held him down and continued to try to kill him. After what seemed a lifetime the wolf yelped and slumped over Richard. Struggling from beneath it’s weight he saw Kahlan with his bloodied sword, she had killed it. He then saw that there were two other dead wolves. A pack of Lycanthropes, no wonder the villages couldn’t kill them. Zedd rushed over to Richard and examined his face and throat, but Richard was free of bites, fortunately, they all were.
“Look” Kahlan pointed to the wolves, as the last breaths left their bodies, the animals transformed back into men, the same three men they had met the day before. “Someone’s father, husband, son or brother.” Zedd repeated Jonathon’s words, they hung heavy in Richard’s heart. Nobody said anything, but he knew this had all been his fault.
It was decided that Kahlan and Zedd would walk to the village and tell them what had happened while Richard and Cara, dug graves for the men. They dug in silence and had just filled in the graves when Kahlan and Zedd returned. They said the villagers thanked them for the news, but would not let them in. Kahlan said that as they walked away, she could hear women and children crying.
While the others packed up their posessions Richard went to wash his hands and face at the stream, when he rolled up his sleeves, he saw it. On the inside of his forearm was a small scratch, about two inches long, it hadn’t been there the day before and he was sure he hadn’t been bitten or scratched when he was attacked. Richard stared for a moment at the scratch then quickly rolled down his sleeve and rejoined the others. He had 28 days before the next full moon, but he was sure nothing would come of it.
After all, it was only a scratch………………..