Shadowfall

Prologue The hunger was never far away. The creature had fed recently, back in one of the other caves. It had opened the wound and sucked eagerly, taking in as much as it could. Others had been waiting for their turn, and it would have fought them if they approached. But they didn’t interrupt. They knew it needed the energy, for what it was about to do. But the food supply was tainted, the source already weakened. And that was why the creature pushed through the caves, so dark and cold and perfect. That was why the creature explored. They needed more food. The creature moved through the blackness with ease, and even when the tunnel fell away, the creature climbed as fast as it walked. The tunnel opened into a cave. The air was different, rich with the smell of vegetation, and it blew cool against the creature’s hide. The darkness was no longer all-consuming, and the creature hesitated. But it took a step forward anyway. The shadows allowed that much. It sniffed, and turned its attention to the outside. The atmosphere was heavy with moisture, but it sensed life, far below. That would be the large forest creatures. They would do in an emergency, but their blood was sickly, and the energy it gave was short-lived. But there was another trace rising from the forest, and although it was distant, the scent was familiar. It rekindled the hunger, and the creature salivated. A fresh supply of food approached, and that excited the creature almost to distraction. It yearned to sink its fangs into flesh. It craved the sharp, bitter taste hitting the back of its throat. It relished the feeling of power that would cascade through its body. It inched closer to the opening of the cave, and could have climbed down. The clouds were heavy, and the trees were tall enough to provide shelter if they could be reached with speed. But it knew the benefits of patience. It knew about stealth. It wasn’t some dumb animal, like the large forest beasts. And so it retreated, back into the shadows. And it waited.