Chapter 91

The beast poked its nose out of the warmth of the snow cave and looked around, blinking at the bright sunlight reflected off the pristine blanket on the ground. Its belly was still full, its lust still sated from the fresh kill three days ago. But the warning signs were there. The signals in its brain were telling it that the time was approaching for the next prey to be selected.

The beast loved the openness of the landscape and the isolation of the inhabitants. It made hunting so much easier. Today it would find a small inhabitant of the wooded area to take the edge off its appetite. They were so easy to kill, there was almost no pleasure in it. But for the devil beast, it was as much about amusement as it was about eating, and drinking the blood so essential to existence.

It lifted its misshapen snout into the wind, sniffing. A scent drifted on the air.

Human!

Here? Now?

No. Far away. And more than one. Not a target for hunting.