Pinecrest, Scotland, 1322

Anne's POV

Anne didn't want to stay out hunting after dark. The sun was setting low, casting shadows on the trees that surrounded her. At least the town gates were visible.

She checked her bow, seeing her arrow ready to shoot in case The Beast jumped out in front of her. She only hoped she would have a good reaction time if it did. She would only get one shot.

Were her ears playing tricks on her, or was there a rustling of leaves coming from the trees? She picked up her pace as her heart beated faster. What would happen to Mother if Anne died?

The bushes were shaking. She aimed her bow at the dark trees, still moving towards town.

A figure stepped out.

A child stood staring at Anne. Anne lowered her bow.

A child! How could a child be alone outside the walls of town? Everyone knew The Beast was killing men, women, and children out here.

Anne approached the child. "What are you doing out here?"

The girl's hair was tangled and her face was black with dirt. Her blue eyes stared at Anne's face.

"Mama. I want my mama."

She must be one of the missing children everyone thought was killed by The Beast. Anne wanted to pick up the child and run for the town, but that might frighten her.

She asked, "What's your name?"

"Emma."

"How long have you been out here, Emma?"

Silence.

"Is there anyone else with you?"

Emma shook her head. "I want my mama."

"How old are you?"

"Five."

"Are you from Pinecrest?"

Silence

"What's your father's last name?"

"Kingsley."

"Come on. I'll take you to Pinecrest and we'll find your father and mother." Anne took her hand and started walking towards the gate.

Emma tugged on her hand.

Anne bent down. "What is it, Emma?"

"Don't let him get me." She whispered.

Anne's eyes looked back at the trees. "Don't worry. I won't let The Beast take you."

They started walking again, but Emma kept walking slower and slower.

"Do you want me to carry you?"

Emma looked at Anne and nodded. Anne put her arms around her and picked her up.

As they entered the gate, Anne saw a guard she knew, a friend named Charles.

Charles saw her too and his mouth fell open. He started walking towards her.

"Charles, this is Emma. I found her in the forest. Do you know the Kingsley's?

Charles stared at Emma. "How...?"

"Do you know the family?"

"I know the father. Wait here. I'll go get him.

Charles started to leave, but Anne stopped him. "Wait. Before you go, how long has she been missing?"

"About four months."

Charles started running.

Anne looked at Emma. "Where have you been for the past four months?"

Silence.

As they waited for Charles to return, Emma looked around. Her eyes were examining the building. Was she recognizing them? She was also watching the snakes slithering the streets. The snakes started coming around the same time the killings started. Anne wondered again if these two things were related, but she didn't know how.

So many questions were going through her mind. How had this little girl survived four months in the woods without being killed by The Beast?

Andrew's POV

Andrew was very thankful when he rode into a small village. He was hungry, dirty, and tired. A bed and a warm meal would be a very nice change after sleeping on the hard floor of the forest and eating whatever he killed in the forest.

He spotted an inn and walked inside, even though he didn't have any money for a bed or food.

The innkeeper was very friendly as Andrew explained his situation. "I am very good at playing the flute. I can play for your customers in exchange for a meal."

The innkeeper nodded. "You play for one hour, then I'll give you a soup my wife made, and then you will play a little more. Yes?"

Andrew got out his flute from his bag and started to play.

Everyone in the room turned to him. By the looks on their faces, they didn't hear music that much.

After he played for an hour, the innkeeper's wife gave him water, soup, and bread. He sat down to eat and the innkeeper joined him.

"You're not from around here, are you?"

"I'm originally from Dawnridge, but I haven't been there in over a year."

"You might haven't heard, then."

"Heard what?"

"Of the snakes that have invaded Pinecrest."

Pinecrest was under his father's authority, in the reign of Dawnridge.

"I have heard of the snakes, but I thought it was just a tale."

"Nope. The snakes are real. I have seen it with my own eyes. But there is something else that's terrorizing Pincrest. Something bigger and scarier."

"What is it?" Andrew said as her ate another spoonful of soup.

"People are being killed. Last I heard, over fifty people."

Andrew stared back at the innkeeper. Was he lying? Surely fifty people couldn't have been killed randomly.

"What do you think is happening to them?"

"They say that The Beast is dragging them into the woods and eating them."

"A beast? What kind of beast?"

"No one knows exactly. Some say it's a wolf."

"Wolves rarely kill people, especially in a town. Is there any proof?"

"Would half-eaten bodies be proof to you?"

"Has anyone actually seen the beast and lived to tell people of it?"

"Yes. One or two. One man was taking a walk outside of town and saw an animal that looked like a giant wolf. The Beast got him by the leg, but the man beat him off with his cane until the animal let go. But the wound caused an infection and the man died a couple of weeks later."

"I have been travelling for a while, but I've only heard about the snakes, not a giant wolf."

"The mayor doesn't want the news to spread around."

"Why not? Doesn't he want the beast to be killed or captured?"

"The mayor's lord is the Duke of Dawnride, and the mayor is afraid of being held accountable of allowing the beast to kill so many people. He's offering a reward to anyone who kills it, but no one has been successful."

"A reward?"

"The mayor says he'll give 500 dollars and his daughter's hand in marriage to the man who can kill the beast."

When the innkeeper mentioned the reward, Andrew got excited. The money was a very big reward, though he didn't want to marry the mayor's daughter.

"Has the creature ever entered the town?"

"People say so, since several children have been taken from inside the town's walls. But it's only attacked people outside of the walls."

Andrew must kill the beast.

The story would be told everywhere, then he wouldn't be ashamed to go home and face the disappointment of his father.

If he could succeed this man-eating beast, his father would hear of it. Maybe it would make up for all the bad things he has done. And perhaps Andrew wouldn't feel like the black sheep in the Wilson family tree.

Anne's POV

Anne watched as Charles hurried down the streets with a man by his side. The man's gaze landed on Emma.

He was crying when he reached them. His arms reached out for Emma.

Emma's eyes brightened. "Papa."

Emma's father clutched her to his chest.

"Oh, my little princess."

Tears welled up in Anne's eyes as she watched the reunion.

The father started asking Emma questions. "Are you okay? Are you hungry?"

"Mama."

"She is home. Do you want to see her?"

Emma nodded, her eyes pinned at her father's face like he would disappear if she looked away.

He kissed her cheek then looked at Anne. "Thank you. How did you find her?"

"I was in the forest, she was just walking out the trees."

"But where has she been?"

"I don't know. Charles, will you walk with the Kingsley's back to their house." She leaned closer to him. "Come back and tell me where they live. And tell them I'll visit them tomorrow to ask some questions."

"Yes, Anne."

Anne watched them leave. It was a miracle that Emma was found alive. But Anne wondered again about where she had been and how she avoided The Beast killing her.

As she waited for Charles, she saw an unfamiliar man on a horse riding slowly through the town's gate. There was something about his face that caught her eye. He might be considered handsome, sitting tall in the saddle. When his gaze met her, her expression changed as he smiled. He was probably thinking, You find me handsome, don't you?

How she hated arrogant men.

She gave him her sternest look and turned away from him. He wasn't that handsome, now that she thought of it. She preferred men with brown hair and brown eyes. His hair was blond and his were probably blue or green. She couldn't tell from the distance. Not that she cared. She only hoped that he was smart enough to see that she wasn't interested, but the sound of the horse behind her grew louder. She didn't turn around and looked at him. She didn't want to waste her time on this stranger. Her mind was on Emma and solving the mystery of where she had been the past four months. Tomorrow, she would question her and her parents.

"Excuse me, miss," the man said behind her.

Anne turned to see the arrogant man staring at her.

She glared at him.

"I'm looking for the mayor of Pinecrest."

Anne looked at him. Why did he want to talk with the mayor?

"This is Pinecrest, right?"

"Yes."

"Could you tell me where I might find the mayor." He started frowning.

Good, she annoyed him. "He's probably at his house getting ready for dinner."

"And do you know where his house is?"

"I should. I am going there myself."

Just then she saw Charles walking towards her.

"I am Andrew of Dawnride. Would you take me to his house?"

"Fine."

Charles reached her and told her the location of Emma's house in her ear. She thanked him, and he walked back to his post at the gate.

Anne started walking towards her house. She glanced over her shoulder at Andrew of Dawnridge. The glance was the only invitation he would get, so he better take it.