Original Fiction for GYWO challenge

[meridian_rose]

Monster in the Woods
567 words
Original fic
For the getyourwordsout prompt Dungeons and Dragons class: ranger, occupation: fisherman

Aramir watched the placid water, practising the relaxed awareness that been instilled in him during his training. His weather-beaten jacket was open, revealing a clean linen shirt beneath. The shirt was a recent gift from the miller's wife, for his help with a troublesome imp.

A squirrel rustled leaves in the branches of a nearby tree and a crow scolded it. A gentle breeze stirred the grass and made the daisies sway. The only scents were of rich earth, leafy plants, and a faint touch of algae from the lake.

He let his eyes half-close, settling himself more comfortably against the tree trunk. Just another fisherman with rods awaiting a catch.

There was the sound of someone running and Aramir was fully alert in an instant, reaching for the knife in his boot and eyeing the bow and quiver settled at his side. As the sound approached he could judge, from the speed, weight, and sound of rapid breathing, that this was a child.

"'Meer," came a plaintive cry. "A-meer!"

He got swiftly to his feet, sheathing the knife and shrugging the quiver onto his back. "Bastian! I'm here."

Bastian came into view, crashing through the shrubbery and heading for the edge of the lake. His dark curly hair was bobbing about his flushed face and he came to a halt, wheezing, and bending over to put his hands on his knees. Aramir put a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Take a breath," he advised.

Bastian nodded, took a few deep lungfuls of air. "Monster," he said at last, gesturing back the way he'd come. "Dead deer at the edge of the village. Bits of it eaten. We heard a noise."

Aramir frowned. "What kind of noise."

Bastian straightened up and made a sort of half-squealing, half-growling sound.

"Are there are tracks?"

The boy nodded. "Prints, like this." He held out his hand, thumb splayed to the side and his fingers out straight in two pairs.

"And there was a smell, like burning cedar?" Aramir guessed.

Bastian nodded. "How did you know?"

"It's my job." One of them. No matter how much Aramir enjoyed being a fisherman he was, first and foremost, a ranger. A skilled tracker and monster hunter sworn to protect the innocent.

Bastian turned deep brown eyes on him. "You'll kill it?"

"Only if I have to. Come on."

"What about your fishing rods?"

"I'll come back for them." Aramir strode off, the boy having to dash along to keep up. There was no time to waste. This particular creature might be eating deer now but it wouldn't be averse to a human snack if it was hungry enough. While he'd try to drive it off it was likely that the silver tipped arrow in his quiver would be needed.

---

After the deed was done, he burnt the body. This wasn't something anyone should be eating. The smoke reeked and he hoped it would discourage any others of its kind from coming closer to the settlement.

When he headed to the village to tell them it was safe again, it was already getting dark. Bastian's father greeted with him thanks and insisted he join them for dinner.

"You didn't get to catch any fish," he pointed out.

"Perhaps tomorrow," Aramir said, accepting the offer. The lake would still be there, just as, now he'd put paid to the danger, so would the village.

---

Notes: I chose Aramir because it was a name Tolkien considered for Aragorn, one of the best known examples of a ranger
I wrote this in one go on Friday and edited it for posting today. This will go in my file for a time when I might have enough pieces to feel ready to start up the ~professional writing blog again. So if there are errors or concrit, let me know :)