(A/N): This is inspired in the Middle Ages where the town's people were poor as rats, so yeah. I do not pretend to criticize or make fun of any religion, everyone can do what they want, but always respecting others. :) Comments and constructive criticism are very welcome. Please do not hesitate to say what you think and if there is any mistake, tell me, in order to improve. Thank you for reading.

An old cathedral almost in ruins. High and pointy. Uninhabited for centuries. In the middle of an abandoned small town surrounded by a dark forest of tall fir trees. Separated from the world by high steep mountains in which the fog has made its permanent home, blocking the sun rays that never reach the valley town.

Only one path led to this place. A path between the mountains, that follows the river of calm cold waters. A path that no human had crossed in generations. A path that should have stayed like that. But it is intrinsic in the human being the desire to disturb what must remain calm, to despise and ignore the wisdom of the ancients, to turn a deaf ear to the warnings of the nature, and the want to subjugate powers that are not within reach. That's why in the 12th morning of the second month of the year, when the snow is fresh in the ground after the night snowstorm, sounds of many feet, hooves and carriage wheels could have been heard across the narrow bushy path.

-"Are we close? My feet are hurting..." whimpered the little five years old. Her nude feet dirtied and littered with small bleeding cuts, sore for being forced to walk large distances.

-"Sush! Don't protest. The monks will hear you" Reprimand her mother, bringing the child close to her in fear to upset the group of monks that have been traveling with them.

-"Don't worry madam, she's just a child and we have walked for days. It's normal for her to be tired" smiled warmly a young white-haired monk. "Come here little one, I'll carry you"

-"Please, don't. We don't want to bother you, all of you are already doing so much for our group, helping to rebuild that town for us." Said the mother, looking at all the people walking past them.

-"It's not a bother. All the monks wanted to help your people when we heard that your past village was burned down by the bandits. We are here to help you, so don't hesitate to ask us for anything you need." Explained the gentle monk. "And I love children so she won't be a bother to me. C'mon pretty lady, will you tell me what's your name?"

-"My name's Maria" whispered shyly the girl looking up to the smiling tall monk.

-"Such a pretty name, mine's Bepo. Nice to meet you" With that the monk put Maria on his back and continued down the path.

The day passed and the night came, but the group didn't stop to rest. Not that any of them wanted to, they were deep in the forest, and none of them wanted to spend a night out with any form of protection. Those woods weren't exactly welcoming. They walked all the night through the wild only illuminated by the oil lamps held by the monks. Even being tired and worn out, the people moved quickly. The old ones, the kids and the pregnant women took turns to sit on the wagons, but the group did not stop at any time due to the fear of what could have been lurking in the shadows. The fear brought unrest to their hearts and strength to their legs.

The first houses of the abandoned town started to show up just before the dawn. Their sight brought hope to the group. The people cheered and many sighs of relief could be heard. Even with the houses being in an uninhabitable state, their new owners were filled with happiness and new ideas to restore them with what little they had.

Walking through the old stone and grass-covered streets, past collapsed houses, they reached the town's main square. It was in a very poor condition, littered with grass, vines and stones that fell from the houses. In the middle of it was a big stone cross that seemed to be the only thing that was in a good shape.

The people gathered around it and the First Monk climbed the steps and turned to the group of people with tattered clothes. He was a big man, the one that led the monks when the priest was busy. He was always smiling but everyone was wary around him, because when angered his strength was almost inhuman.

-" My sons, we are finally here!" he shouted spreading his arms in the air "As you know my name is Urouge, and I'm the First Monk. I want to give you some indications before we go to rest. This town has been abandoned for centuries and it is in need of a big restoration and we barely have for feeding our children, but tomorrow we will start with the work. For now, one person of each family has to come here and our two brothers, will assign to each one a house to live with their family" Urouge said, signaling to two smaller monks that had their hoods up. One with auburn hair sticking out of it, and the other with the word 'Penguin' embroidered on it.

-"Many of these houses are in a condition that makes them dangerous to live in. If your house is one of them, please, tell it to the brother Hawkins and he will relocate you in a house with another family for the time being. Also..."

While the monk continued talking, all the people were getting louder and louder. They were all excited about finally being in their new home after a week of journey. There were all excited, but one. The priest was away from the crowd. Leaning against the wall of an old smithy, his cold and keen eyes scanned the village, resting in the shady and empty cathedral in the middle of the town. However, the grey eyes seemed to catch a small movement in one of the colored glass windows.

He knew that it wasn't his imagination or an optical effect. He knew that it wasn't the case because he knew the truth of the group of villagers and monks coming here. They weren't there to repopulate the town, as they thought. No, they were there to be bait. To be the prey that would make the predator came out of its den for him to kill it. And they didn't know, not even the monks knew. Only him. On his shoulders lay the heavy burden of knowing the future that awaited those people if he failed, those people that was full of hope for a better life for their innocent children in those lands forgotten by the human being so many years ago. The deaths of the adult villagers were not a problem for him. But the sight of the mutilated corpses of his close monk friends and the lifeless eyes of dead children would be something that he could not bear with, since it would bring him too many painful and traumatic memories from his childhood. Laying his gaze once more in the cathedral that was going to be the new home for him and the monks, he walked towards it followed by the monks in charge of the baggage and the animals for the monastery's little farm.

Once they reached it they entered the big side-building destined to the kitchen and the dorms. It was in a way better shape than the rest of the town, it was almost as if the cathedral had been stealing the vital energy from the town, leaving it to rotten while the cathedral stood tall and proud on its ground. It was like a monster stretching its tentacles along the narrow streets and draining the strength from its surroundings.

Withoutlosing more time than the necessary, the monks organized their belongings anddistributed the rooms, before heading to sleep.

To be continued....