[Lady of the Night]

MONSTERS OF THE NIGHT
Chapter Two
Caries

Nardir’s situation does not improve as the nights go on. Mother Moon still screams, white blood still rains from the sky, and the mutilated bodies still appear dumped on the fields. Prey is still scarce, and the smell of rot and decay still remains.

One night, things seem to escalate.

Within the Shenandoah Meadowlands - where the body pieces were first found - stand the last remaining two members of a herd of horses. They rear up onto their back legs and cry out, their movements aimless and aggressive; randomly lashing out to kick at the air with their back legs. White blood is splattered all over them, but what comes out of their eyes, nose and mouth is black. They do not appear to be able to communicate anymore.

Around Moonstone Lake, the screaming never ends.The dark sky seems to be full of shooting stars at a first glance, but the realisation comes quickly, as bats in swarms of thousands circle around the lake. Parts of their body is covered in speckles of white blood, and they throw themselves at anything nearby: some crash into trees, others spiral and fall into the lake itself. As more and more bodies fall into the lake, the lake turns darker and darker.

(If it continues, the water will be tainted for a long time)

There are many scurrying little feet at Vaidya’s Garden. Raccoons appear to have snuck in and taken over, tearing herbs up from the ground and fruit from the trees. Some seem to gorge themselves, eating anything they can get their little hands on; others try to make a run for it with what they’ve taken. Their eyes have not yet gone completely black like the other creatures that terrorize the pack, but they still bleed ink from their noses and mouths.

---

There are THREE EVENTS in Nardir:
Corrupted horses
Corrupted bats
Nearly-corrupted raccoons

The monster sighting will occur randomly in one of these events.

Information about the monster sighting and the corrupted creatures can be found in the general thread - HERE

[Mercury]

The Dark Moon Queen of Nardir                 ☿ "Being brave means to know something is scary, difficult, and dangerous, and doing it anyway, because the possibility of winning the fight is worth the chance of losing it. - Emilie Autumn

The signs were all there, but they were unlike any that the pack had ever experienced.  Their initial search turned up nothing.  However, in the days that followed, report after report came in about the slain corpses that were littering the territory.  The white ichor, rancid with the consistency of blood, that marred the landscape.  This wasn't the act of a bear, or even of humans.  Clearly, something dangerous and unknown was out there.

"This Darkness blocks my Sight." Mirai had told her and Arik upon their arrival on the island. "I cannot tell you what is coming. Only what will be lost."

The grave news their Mirror Eye gave them was enough to spur the Dark Moon Queen into action. Without hesitation, Mercury reinstated the curfew and insisted that the entire pack return to the Castle.  Denning them together would keep them safe.  The adults were instructed to travel in pairs when they went scouting, hunting, or otherwise away from the pack.  Whatever this thing was, it wasn't to catch anyone alone.  But nor could they do nothing.  They continued to search, to watch.

The bats were the first thing they noticed. They dove from the skies and bombarded the wolves below.  With their cave living arrangements, they had never before had issues with them.  But when one of the small mammals dive-bombed Kyra at her door one evening, it crashed into the wall instead. The crumpled body seemed infected with the white ichor. Drawing conclusion form the bat's rabid behavior, Mercury ordered the pack built a bonfire in the Castle's "courtyard", burning the corpses.  After that the children were no longer allowed outside after dark.  The entrances to the caves now had fires burning from dusk until dawn. The bats who came to roost in the caves were to be inspected... and culled.

Now, the Queen was assembling a group to head out into the territory.  Buckshot's reports on the animal activity were becoming increasingly more disturbing.  Wanting to be prepared, Hakan had made the request for additional herbs be gathered.  Considering the impending conflict, Mercury agreed.  Those not heading out to either the Garden or the Meadowlands would remain to defend the Castle.  All parties were to attempt to be back before sundown.

"Night Mother watch over us." Mercury whispered.

☿

[Kimster]

Jase scowled at the scary night, and adjusted his bag of herbs. At least he knew that with Hakan at the castle, the pack would be seen to. He would go out there and - find things out. Hopefully. He glanced down at little Shimmer standing behind Mercury, noting how brave she was trying to look but failing. He gave her an encouraging smile, which she returned faintly. The stink of roasting bats fouled his nostrils, and the screams in the night hurt his ears. He walked towards Mercury and took up position behind her left shoulder. If she glanced at him, he'd wink at her: we got this, babe.