The night passed to an uneventful dawn. I saw as I came down the look of tension on the others in the company. As the others got ready to finish moving towards town, I took my horse and went out to the places I saw the lights and movement in the dark. I saw the tracks on the ground places where creatures had moved or stood. I knew that they had been there, but it was still disturbing to see such signs that they had been. I rejoined the others and told Garrett about what I seen in the night and just found. He considered what I had told him while the company began to travel. It took our group 2 hours or so to make our way to the town. As we got close, I could truly see what was wrong with the forest. I began with a growing miasma. A stench of death, decay, and corruption that grew stronger as we got closer to the forest. Then we could see the forest the trees on the edge looked diseased the bark becoming discolored and showing black veins of corruption. The leaves showing shades of blood red or black. The forest stood silent and lifeless not even the smallest sounds of life. We saw nothing as we approached the forest and the town. It was as we approached the town's main gate that we I saw movement near the edge of the forest. I looked but did not see any creatures just the signs of movement.

  When we arrived at the town, we feared me may be too late to help the people. The town's main gates were wide open, and we could see signs of violence and stains of blood in the area near the gate. Garrett quickly issued orders to investigate and find a location to set up an initial base. He also asked the hunters and I to investigate further in town to see if anyone was still alive. Asher led the other hunters into the town, and I began investigating alone into the town. I wandered through the streets I was at an intersection when a bolt landed at my feet. I looked in the direction the bolt came from, and I saw a boy holding a crossbow. He could not have been more than 15. “Who are you and what are you doing here?” asked the boy. “My name is Seth; I am here at the request of the king to investigate what happened to this town and provide help if possible.” I responded. The boy had an expression of mixed hope and disbelief. He came closer and I could see elvish feature that made me think he was of mixed blood. “How do I know you can be trusted. You could be lying and only want to cause us more trouble.” He asked. I knew I had no letter or orders with the royal seal to prove my intentions, but I thought I might have another way. I recalled a sign taught to me by some elves that I had befriended, and I repeated it to the boy. The boy's disbelief melted away as he saw the sign. “You have met elves before” He asked. Before I could answer we heard shouts from nearby. We looked at each other with apprehension and sped in the direction of the shouting.

  We came on a scene of confusion. I saw the other hunters near Asher as he picked himself off the ground. Standing in front of them were two boys. One had features like the boy I met but he was much younger only 9 and he was standing behind the older boy. The older boy was closer to my age he stood with an aura of power, and he had his hand extended out. From his hand was a ball of bright energy. I was not sure what was going on until I saw Asher he was angry and not thinking rationally. He charged at the boys and before I could step in the older guy let loose with the energy. It hit Asher and threw him backward into the air he landed on the ground insensate and did not rise. “What is going on?” I asked the hunters. They began to tell me a story of how they saw the younger boy and tried to speak to him. How he ran and the older guy attacked them out of nowhere when they tried to pursue. I knew I could not fully believe them since i was more likely they tried to pursue the boy and freighted him and the older stepped in to protect him. ‘Okay you take Asher back to the others and asked Alethea to look at him, and report to Garrett that we found some survivor, make sure you tell him that due to misunderstandings I will not be dragging them back to the camp ask if he can come here and lead him if necessary.” I told them. One of the hunters gave me a look and said, “You don’t give us orders”. I looked at him and responded “Yes, I can, Garrett maybe the leader of the group, but I am still a Slayer just like Asher and like him I have the authority of the master hunter. I am telling you follow my orders, or you will risk never advancing in or being banished from the Order or worse” The threat worked, and the hunter gathered up their ringleader and fled back to the others. I turned around and saw the survivors staring at me but there were only two. The boy around my age came forward and introduced them both "My name is Jay, and you have already met Rowan the other boy is Sky, and I have sent him to tell grandfather that we have new people.” I introduced myself “I am Seth, and I am sorry you had the misfortune of meeting Asher and the other hunters.” It was not long after our introductions that the Sky reappeared leading an old man “I am Merin the leader of the remaining people in this town.” I introduced myself to him and told him the mission of our company I said, “I am sure our leader Garrett will be on his way before long”. Merin smiled at me and said we should head that way, and we might meet him on the way. We began to walk as I led them to our camp at the gate. As we arrived, I noticed that the company had secured the square in front of the gate. The cargo had been unloaded, and it seemed that they were securing stabling for the horses. I managed to find out where Garrett was and that the other hunters had failed to tell him what had happened. I led Merin and the others to Garrett and they began to talk. We did not get much past the introduction when we began to hear a commotion. We went to the gate where the commotion was occurring. Orders were shouted for all men to come inside and to secure and close the gates. Garrett stopped a frantic soldier and demanded a report. The soldier said that they had left the horses outside the gate to graze as they secured stabling for them. As they were bringing the horses in a few at a time and there were only 5 packhorses to bring inside. When out of the forest came one of the creatures. It seemed to stare at the town and when it spotted the horses it charged at them. The horses broke there leads and bolted in terror at the presents of the creature. Now there were multiple creatures emerging from the forest to pursue the horses and some were heading towards the gates.

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  At hearing this news, we all made for the nearest stair and went up on the wall. I saw dozens of the creatures and the horses out in front of the town. Some of the creatures were approaching the gate. I and a few soldiers began to shoot arrows at the creatures and managed to bring the creatures near the gates down. We could not save the horses, however. The creatures pursued the horses, and we watched them bringing each horse down. I do not think there are word to describe what happened next. It was like watching starved wolves eat. The horses screamed as the creatures ripped into them. It was horrible to hear the horses screaming and then go silent as the things ate. Jay had been standing near me when we came on the wall and as we watched what was happening. Jay slipped a hand into mine and came closer as if seeking comfort form me. I admit it felt right at that time. It did not take long for the creatures to finish the horses and then they charged and began to eat the creature that we had shot at from the walls. By the time the creatures had finished, and we saw them make back for the forest. Some even sporting distended and deformed bellies from there gorging. We could look out from the wall and could see nothing was left of the bodies they had eaten everything including the bones. Only blood stains were left where the bodies had laid. I looked around and saw that many of the others who were watching had gone pale and a few had even been sick. Rowan and Sky I saw had their eyes shut and ears covered and were being comforted by Merin and Jay had his hand in mine and even put his head on my shoulder. The only one who did not seem to be affected by the carnage we had experience was Asher. Asher was looking in my direction a look of rage and Jealousy on his face. I was thinking that something would have to be done with Asher before something else happened when my thought was derailed by Garrett. “Okay Merin I think it's time we heard the story about what is going on here”