Blood Moon

Chapter 12

"Be gone, Satan!" Ibraham bellowed into the beast's snarling face, spittle flying. His only answer was another bestial roar that shook the very rafters of the blacksmith's shop as the wolf lept at him, teeth flashing in the firelight. Claws arched in a deadly strike that Ibraham was barely able to duck, but not before the beast caught the hood of his garment, sending tattered rags across the room. The priest struck blindly, a backhanded swing which scored but a narrow cut along the wolf's deep chest; meat sizzled and smoked as black blood ran from the wound.

The beast's bellow of pain alerted the rest of the villagers, who barred their doors and huddled with their families in earnest, tear filled prayer. They cried out fearfully to God for deliverance. For surely the devil was among them this night.

The battle within the cramped spaces of the blacksmith's shop raged on in thunderous crashes and bestial roars. Wicked claws and the silver blade flashed within the dimly lit room amid blurs of motion. Ibraham's lungs burned within his chest. Sweat stung as it ran into his eyes. It had been many years since he took the king's coin and marched off to war, the life of a priest was not one which promoted vast amounts of physical activity.

Another roar as the beast lunged, claws whistling through the air in an attempt to remove Ibraham's head from his neck. The priest ducked and rolled away, managing to land a shallow cut along the wolf's leg. The beast's yelp of pain presaged a wicked back hand which caught Ibraham in the temple as he stood out of his roll. The heavy blow connected, sending the priest through the air to crash into a wall. The heavy boards splintered beneath the priest's body.

Ibraham slumped to the ground; blood ran from his ears and the corner of his mouth. He could feel the thumping steps of the wolf as it stalked toward where he lay. Dust puffed up from each ponderous step upon the dirt floor. The priest's eyes failed to focus properly and only revealed a large, blurry image that seemed to float towards him. At the last possible moment his vision swam into focus and he looked up; the beast towered over him, clawed hands poised to strike.

Ebony claws sliced the air. Ibraham barely managed to roll away in time. He felt the wind from the blows and heard the thump as they landed on the dirt floor. The priest rolled back, striking out to slice off the remaining fingers on the already wounded hand. The wolf reared back, bellowing its pain to the uncaring sky.

The beast snarled and snapped its mighty jaws, rushing to the attack again. Ibraham screamed and threw a fistful of dirt into the creature's eyes. The wolf, howled in frustration, shaking its head like a bull as it struck out blindly. One blind swing splintered a support beam to the shop's roof. The ominous groaning of the now unbalanced roof went unheard in the heated battle.

The wolf frantically swiped at its face with its fingerless hand as it continued to strike out wildly. Wood splintered as it struck the walls, sending hammers and tongs flying in all directions. Ibraham had used the distraction to catch his breath, seeing an opportunity the priest charged. He bellowed a war cry which he had thought long forgotten.

The priest lowered his shoulder as he ran, ducking another of the wolf's monstrous swipes. He rammed his shoulder into the beast's midriff, shoving the sword's gleaming silver point forward as he connected. Thick fur and muscle parted effortlessly beneath the sword's blessed edge. The blow overbalanced the wolf and Ibraham kept pushing, forcing the creature back."