Chapter 22 The Beast in the Woods (1/2)

Rassa did not know it then, but he'd taken too much. The Stag had died from blood loss. Despite the fact that Rassa had not drained it dry, by leaving the wound on the Stag's neck open, the Stag had bled out whilst the immobilising toxin was still in its system. An immobilising toxin that also prevented the blood from clotting.

The Hunters had found it the next day, lying in a pool of blood. At first they'd been confused as to how it had died. There were no apparent wounds on it. Then they'd found the two, thin puncture's in the Stag's neck, and been dumbfounded as to what could have caused it. It was a free kill, that much was clear, but the Hunters were cautious. What beast could have caused this? Wolves and bears were far more violent in their kills, and they wouldn't have left a beast whole. There were few other carnivorous beasts in the forest, and it was doubtful the elves had made the kill as they were vegetarian. With limited knowledge, the Hunters carried the Stag back and communicated their concerns to the Doctor, asking for him to examine the body to see if he had any insight.

Sir Carter was also called in, as was Baron Peters. Eventually, in the evening when many had left, Phillip was also called over. Sir Carter rarely called on Phillip as Phillip had insisted he had long left his knighthood and family behind. Considering the lack of contact Cordon had had with the Kildare family since Phillip and Anna had arrived as a wedded couple, Carter was inclined to believe him.

Still, Phillip was more knowledgeable and more well-travelled than the rest of them.

So, when Phillip arrived late at night to find the Hunter Marcus, Sir Carter, Baron Peters and the Doctor surrounding the body of a dead Stag, he felt a sense of foreboding. He knew Rassa had already left for the night to hunt, and he was terrified of what might be conveyed unintentionally during this meeting.

”What's wrong?” Phillip asked.

”We came across the Stag this afternoon, dead in a pool of its own blood with only two thin punctures on its neck. Doc insists it bled out, but from such a small wound? And why didn't it clot? It concerns us as we have no idea what did it, and we were wondering if you have any insight?” asked Marcus.

Phillip looked thoughtful for a moment, ”Can you tell me anything else about the wound Doctor?”

”All I can tell is that it was not done by any animal in those woods, and it is very unlikely it was an elf kill as well. In fact, no creatuer I know of could have done this,” the Doctor stated, ”What's most alarming...and I feel quite hesitant to bring this up...the brusie marks around the two puncture wounds suggest a mouth similar to ours”.

”A human did this?” asked Sir Carter, the Doctor had not brought this us before.

”I can't be certain, all I know is the line of teeth marks would suggest these two puncture wounds were fangs on the upper jaw of a human-like creature,” the Doctor supplied.

”It certainly does not sound like a beast I know of,” Baron Peters admitted, ”We don't even know what it wanted? Did it simply make the Stag bleed out? Why bite it and not take the flesh to eat?”

”Oh it was not after flesh, my Lord,” the Doctor cut in, ”Judging from the lack of blood left in the stag, and the description the Hunter gave me, it was likely that whatever this thing was...it drank blood”.

”What kind of foul beast would do such a thing, even wolves take the meat to feed themselves, why only take blood?” asked Sir Carter.

”It is certainly a mystery,” the Doctor admitted, ”Can you offer us any insight, Phillip?”