The ground trembled beneath the feet of the villagers, a soft rumble at first, but growing in strength, shaking loose dirt and stones, causing homes to creak and groan. The villagers, already tense and on edge, held their breath, their gazes fixed on the distant line of trees just beyond the village. The Blood Moon, now fully risen, bathed everything in an unnatural crimson light, casting long, dark shadows that danced across the square. The howling had stopped, replaced by an eerie silence that only heightened the villagers' dread.
Nicolas' mother tightened her grip on him, her fingers clutching the blanket that swaddled him as if her very life depended on it. The air was thick with fear, so heavy it felt like it was pressing down on everyone, suffocating them. The villagers whispered prayers under their breath, some muttering to gods long forgotten, while others simply gripped their weapons tighter, their knuckles white with tension.
Then, from the darkness of the forest, a massive shape began to emerge. At first, it was just a shadow, looming and formless, but as it stepped into the moonlight, the villagers' hearts collectively skipped a beat. It was a bear, but not like any bear they had ever seen. Towering, impossibly tall, its hulking frame was so large that even the tallest man in the village would barely reach its waist. Its fur was thick and matted, streaked with blood and dirt, its eyes glowing a sickly yellow as they scanned the village with a predatory gleam. Every step it took sent vibrations through the earth, each footfall like the strike of a hammer.
The bear Wesen was monstrous, its massive jaws filled with teeth sharp enough to tear through bone. Long claws extended from its paws, glinting in the crimson light like blades. Its muscles rippled beneath its fur, thick and corded, as though it was a creature built for nothing but destruction. It let out a low growl, a deep, rumbling sound that echoed through the village, making the windows rattle and the villagers freeze in terror.
Nicolas' father stood at the front of the group, his hand gripping his sword so tightly that his knuckles were pale. His heart pounded in his chest, the sound of it loud in his ears, but his expression remained steady, focused. His eyes narrowed as he stared down the beast, but even he, a seasoned hunter, felt the icy fingers of fear clawing at him. This is no ordinary fight, he thought, this... this is something beyond us.
Around him, the other villagers trembled. Some whispered, others prayed silently, but all of them had the same look in their eyes: pure, unfiltered fear. They had faced beasts before—wolves, mountain lions, even the occasional rogue Wesen—but nothing like this. This creature was something out of their darkest nightmares.
But it didn't end there. As the bear Wesen moved closer, the ground shaking beneath its massive weight, two more figures emerged from the forest. They were smaller than the first, but still far larger than any normal bear, their forms hulking and twisted. The three bears, now fully in view, stood together at the edge of the village, their breath visible in the cold night air, their eyes gleaming with malevolence.
One of the hunters, a young man barely old enough to wield a sword, felt his legs shaking beneath him. His breath came in quick, shallow bursts as he stared at the monstrous creatures. His mind raced with a single thought: We're not going to survive this.
Another villager, an older woman who had seen her fair share of battles, gripped her spear tighter, trying to steady her trembling hands. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest, and she fought to keep the rising panic at bay. She had fought Wesen before, but these creatures... they were different. Bigger. Stronger. More dangerous. Is this the end? she wondered, her thoughts a mix of fear and grim resignation.
The atmosphere in the village was suffocating. The air seemed to thrum with the collective fear of the people, as if the very earth beneath them could feel their terror. Every breath was a struggle, every heartbeat a reminder of the dread that had taken hold of them. Even the animals—the horses, the dogs—had gone silent, their instincts telling them to flee, to run as far away from this evil as they could.
Nicolas' mother clutched him even tighter, her body trembling as she whispered a prayer under her breath. Her eyes, wide and filled with fear, darted between the monstrous bears and her husband, who stood at the ready with the other hunters. She wanted to call out to him, to tell him to run, but she knew it was useless. There was nowhere to run.
The lead bear Wesen took another step forward, its massive paw leaving deep impressions in the dirt. It raised its head, letting out a deafening roar that reverberated through the village, shaking the very foundations of their homes. The villagers flinched, some stumbling back, their weapons shaking in their hands. The roar was a declaration of dominance, a warning of the carnage that was about to come.
The smaller bears flanked the larger one, their eyes locked on the villagers with a predatory hunger. They snarled and growled, their sharp claws digging into the earth as they prepared to attack. The villagers, outnumbered and outmatched, exchanged nervous glances, their faces pale and drenched in sweat. We can't win this, one of them thought, despair washing over him like a tidal wave.
Nicolas' father, though terrified, stood his ground. His jaw was set, his muscles tensed, but inside, he felt the crushing weight of helplessness. He glanced back at his wife and son, his heart aching with the knowledge that he might not return to them. But he had to try. He had to protect them.
As the Blood Moon bathed the village in its eerie red light, the villagers stood frozen, their weapons at the ready, their hearts pounding in their chests. The bears, now poised to strike, let out one final roar, and in that moment, time seemed to stand still.
And then, the attack began.