text: Hi R/shortstories this is my first post on this sub and really my first endeavor on showing anyone my writing. I hope you all like it - attempting to put my creativity into something more concrete. Raucous laughter filled the tavern where oil lamps illuminated the musky inside. Folks from all across the township were lounging and talking - a palpable excitement filled the space and the smell of beer and roasting pork wafted through the air as hoarse voices collided in a cacophony of sound. “They're disgusting is what they are.” “Ray!” Ben’s voice hissed, “Shhh! Don't say things like that! They might hear you!” “I don’t care, he’s the worst.” Ray pulled away from Ben's grasp at her elbow and grabbed their pitcher of dark beer. She refilled her glass and drank deeply out of it, dirty brown eyes flecked with gold peered across the room. It was a good beer, Felwind had brought out an old cask of Grittle Ale for this occasion. She smoothed back down her shirt and tucked it back into her leggings after it had been so unceremoniously groped at. It had been a long time since a Brinkleback Boar of this size was killed in Num’s Bridge township. This one in particular had caused many problems and destroyed crops, maimed horses, killed livestock - and wreaked havoc all through its territory, it’s children populating and destroying the area. Luther, and his men had finally cornered the beast at it’s the den deep in the Brinkle Forest and had burned them out yesterday. The large sow and her ilk had been harried for hours, only to finally erupt, killing two more horses this time before Luther’s long pikes were driven through her. Outside hung the massive sow. It cooked, fat dripping amongst the townsfolk, six dinner plate hooves hung lazily as the beast rolled on a spit - the head had been hung separately already. Tacked up to the make-shift stand someone had fashioned to present the trophy, twelve inch razor like tusks jutted through a slack upper jaw as the beasts tongue lulled out of it’s blood soaked mouth. It's ruddy, wirey hair stood up on the snout between black eyes. Luther's men were in rare form now. Having effectively become heros overnight, slaying the great pig, they were taking any liberty offered to them. Beer and wine had been flowing freely for the hunting party since mid-day. “I can’t take it any more Ben,” She said, pushing back from the table, “ I’m through with it.” “Ray!” Ben breathed, fear washing across his face. In an instant Ray pulled at the cording around wrist, the thin leather zipping free as her eyes focused on the fleshly, drunk man stumbling across the room. He groped out and the woman beside him spun - anger in her eyes as she pushed the drunk hunter away. He stumbled backwards out the door into the night. “Ray no!” But it was too late, Ray had already started to stand, and with a slight snapping sound the oil lamps suddenly went out as crackling energy suffused Ray’s gold flecked eyes - darkness poured into the room as the lights suddenly dropped away and Ray’s spell took effect. The only light now cascading in thin sheets from the bonfires outside. Darkness. A scream rent the air and Ben heard a stiff grunt come from the doorway, then the same tell-tale snapping sound he had grown more and more accustomed to. A crash broke into Ben’s focus as someone yelled out to get the lamps lit. The crowd roared in surprise and confusion. The only evidence of any change in the last few moments was a now wet leather cord tied securely around Ray’s wrist. It felt like only seconds, when the lights returned Ray was back just as she was before, but with a slight shiver and goosebumps on her arms. She looked sidelong at Ben, giving no indication that anything had changed for her - feigning confusion with the rest of tavern. Gad had felt a sort of pulling feeling, like falling and spinning all at once. Then a cold seizing pain was at his throat. A thin red line spread across his neck in a new grisly smile - he lay dumbly feeling his neck. Confused by the wet, hot liquid he felt on his hands. His eyes became cloudy, and he thought he saw stars above him. Had he tripped? Where was the tavern, why was it so quiet? What was that snapping sound he had heard? He had drank too much - he felt sleep now taking him.