The Wild Hunt

To some it was like music to their ears, to others nothing more then the mundanity of two tennis players who grunted with every swing they threw at the small yellow ball. And for some the screams of agony that tainted the forest were the harbingers of an imminent and gruesome death. 

One thing was sure though, the screams didn't belong to the calm middle aged man clothed in a velvet red suit. A man, who watched proudly with a gleaming smile, while in between the trees in front of him several people were being cut down. Ravaged by the large hound like beasts that carried the name known as Garm.
This man was no one else than the guild master of the darkest of guilds, the infamous and equally cunning Harrigan Crawford. The lord and master of Savage Skull.

'Isn't this just the perfect way to pass some time' he said to a girl standing behind him, but without even turning his head towards her. A young girl, who would have been irresistibly cute if it wasn't for the crazy filled eyes that peered at him through the thick layer of blood that dripped down her face.
'Not only is this more entertaining then the occasional fool who tries to desert from our ranks, but also it also gives us the chance to stretch our own legs for a bit'


Harrigan was off course referring to the wild hunt that occurred in front of him, only instead of scanning the ground for a trail that would lead them to some sort of animal. The prey were innocent human beings. Fools who had been venturing to far into the Spooky Forest, only to find themselves locked into some dungeon. And those were the ones that were lucky enough to stay alive. Elderly, teenagers, parents it didn't matter. There were probably even some Knights from the council between the prey. They were all nothing more then fodder, a means for the dark mages of Savage Skull to have some fun.

She had not had any fun for a long while however she was shocked when Harrigan asked her to go on a hunt with him. It was not the typical kind of hunt, oh no this was much more fun hunting the prey that had been stupid enough to walk into the forest. The hounds were already hard at work chasing down and devouring fools but she had a few plans of her on as the pair approached a family it seemed. They were cuddled up and shaking as the hounds circled around them. She had good plans for this family.

"Well you have one of two choices you wither can all die here watching yourselves be killed slowly and painfully one by one or one of you can be chosen to reach a certain goal in the forest if you win you get to have meals with your family again."

It was a fair offer at least in the way it was worded she never said they would eat dinner with the family alive of course. They began to mingle and talk among themselves as the father stepped up it seemed he would be the one to decide the fate of his loved ones.

"Very well the goal is simple near the middle of the forest there is a shrine if you can meet us there before the hounds can catch you you will have a meal with your family again, if not I think you know what will happen."

She smiled as she paused this was so fun she was glad Harrigan realized how much she needed something to do. She was so bored she had certainly contemplated killing some Savage Skull members to end her Borden but that's changed now. The man began to race off of course Rekka never had plans to have the hounds really chase him much as he would never see his family alive again.

"Well now that he has ran off let us get to the shrine and set up the meal for our guest Harrigan I think you will find this very amusing."

She ordered the family to move as two hounds moved after the father ordered however quietly by her to just be close to make him feel as if he was being chased. The others made sure the family stuck with the two as they took a magic path that lead straight to the shrine. She turned and smiled at Harrigan this would be way to fun.

"Now we promised your father to give him a meal with his family however we have no food to offer so unfortunately you will have to be the main course."

She quickly moved slicing the throats of all the family as they began to gasp for air unable to breathe or speak the blood seeping into the ground as she began to laugh.

"So, shall we prepare the feast I think Organ soup would be best for the father. the best part of the plan is we will keep them at a distance piked and offer him the soup first for him to taste and eat and than show him he is eating his own family's organs. What do you think of my little plan my master."

Where most people would scream or fall in shock, Harrigan just smiled. A conceited smile that showed that he as well didn't felt any remorse, for the poor family whose red crimson liquid known as blood sprayed all around the once so serene shrine. Cladding it's broken walls and pillars.
His underling however, Rekka Lawless, seemed to be almost squeal with joy the moment she cut their throats, forcing the blood the pump up into the air. But not as if she was some sort of child, now her reaction was more of the adult variety. A mix of genuine excitement and feminine ecstasy. Surely even for a Savage Skull mage, Rekka was an oddity.

Sure he would never genuinely fall for a woman any more, or even like them as a person. But as a man of flesh and blood, even he had to admit to the attractiveness of a perfectly aligned female body, especially when it belonged to such an extraordinary creature as her. And maybe that was just what Harrigan was truly like, a collector of rare and beautiful exquisites, instead of someone who would pursue a woman in name of the game.

'Quite gruesome, even for Savage Skull standards.' replied Harrigan knowing full well, that this woman had done far worse then stuffing the organs of a mans family down his throat. 'As always, your fondness for the gore and bloodshed never seizes to amaze me. Don't play to long however, there are far more interesting prey in these woods, and it would be an utter shame if they don't get the same chance we are offering this family here.'

Hearing Harrigan's words pulled her mind back into reality as she smiled looking toward him they did have plenty of prey to finish off. She began to whistle quite a creepy song Whistle as she began to put the organs into a pot. She began over the next hour to cook the meat to the perfect tenderness the man would likely be here soon as she set the table for him. His family now piked at a distance to look like they were standing together, however with the darkness in the forest until light was shined on them he would not be able to tell they were piked. As the man showed up she clapped excitedly for him as he was out of breath several wounds on his body from falls and hitting branches along the way.

"Now please enjoy the food once you try the food your family tried their best to add their own special flavor to it I will let them come to you."

Her words having a very serious double meaning as the man sat down his hand shaking as he took the soup into his mouth and began to eat it. He was surprised it actually tasted good his wife was a bad cook so he felt like something could be wrong.

"So can I see my family now... I did what you said I promise we will leave and never come back..."

Rekka sighed well she did promise as she lit up the area near his family the mans face would go into total shock his family completely torn apart and their inside removed as he took a look inside the soup seeing one of their eyes floating causing him to knock the pot over and begin to screaming. The scream of misery as he realized he just ate his family causing Rekka to burst into laughter she quickly moved behind the man her sword quickly drawing across his neck. He felt a cold as ice cut as he went to turn and look at her his head would fall off his body causing her to laugh even more.

"Well that was far to fun, let us find some other fun prey while we are here my master, ugh I feel so good now I need to kill more to feel more to reach my peak."

Her face a tint of red it was clear she was getting off on this, her mind was certainly twisted and not normal but she fit in Savage Skull very well.

They say that a man could go on living for another thirty seconds, the moment his head was being severed from the rest of its body. Or was it twenty, either way it didn't really matter. As the man's head rolled down the steps all the way until it came to an halt, against the black leathery shoes of Harrigan, it was already to late. But if he truly still was conscious, or at least could perceive images the man could look straight into Harrigan's face. As the Savage Skull guild master slowly picked up the head, by its hair. And held it in front of him.

'Oh don't worry about that Rekka dear' he replied casually, while throwing the head away as if it was just a mere object. 'There are far more suitable prey in these woods, of which I am sure that they will be more then sufficient enough to quench your rather peculiar... womanly needs'

Off course, Harrigan meant with the more 'suitable prey' the captured Rune Knights that have been kept captive in the Savage Skull dungeons for weeks. Fools who had been trying their luck to find the guild only so that they could increase their own stature within their ranks. Only to find themselves prisoners for one of the worst guilds in Fiore's history.

And if those knights would prove themselves not so easy to find, then the Savage Skull mages could always kill some time with the normal civilians, the farmers, merchants and other simple folk. Or as Rekka would probably call them, appetizers.

Rekka laughed as Harrigan tossed the head off to the side she quickly moved to him licking the blood off his arm that had dripped onto it. Her tongue sliding along his arm as she looked up her face filled with glee as she could only wait in delight for more play things. She jumped around him like a kid waiting for candy when she heard the sound of a man rushing them, she looked over him and sighed he wasn't strong at all.

"This is not the ones you spoke of this guy is pathetic I guess I will end this quickly."

She smiled as she rushed the man her sword held out as she would dodge the mans sword attack before gripping his head with her other hand and slamming the sword through his throat. She took her other hand off his head and pulled the blade upward splitting the mans head in two as his twitching body hit the ground. She moved back toward Harrigan sighing.

"He was no fun at all... So, do you know where those more fun play toys are, that guy was just some sad robber that thought he was going to rob a girl."

She waited for his response as she looked around and listened for any sign of someone she could kill. Anyone in this forest not part of her guild were nothing but mere fodder for her cause they should not have entered such a place.

Her tongue, slowly sliding up the sleeve of his coat send a thrill of excitement through Harrigans body. A slight peak of arousal as he started to get enthralled with the woman. Or better yet, her bloodlust that clearly resided in the sparkles of joy that were here eyes.

Then out of nowhere, a man rushed out of the nearest bushes, interrupting the brief moment of feminine suggestion. He was out of himself, as his eyes were filled with fear. And just as Rekka said, this man wasn't anyone of the more stronger ones Harrigan talked about. He knew that, just by judging at the mans clothes, which were nothing more then ravaged rags.

Surprisingly enough Rekka, was the one that deal with the man immediately. Faster but not less cruel as her previous attempt. By thrusting her sword through his throat, and moved it upwards, slicing his entire head in half. And he couldn't even do anything about except make a gurgling sound, right before his life ended.

'I don't' Harrigan eventually responded 'but those do'

The moment he uttered the last words of his sentence, two large hound like creatures walked from out the shadow and into the light of day. Their eyes piercing red, while from their maw a tar like substance dropped onto the ground. These were the Primordial Garm, Harrigan personally chosen pets. Foul creatures that when angered, would set them self aflame with the fires of hell itself.

'We just have to follow them, as they surely can track anyone that ins't a member of the Savages'

Rekka listened as he mentioned the hounds she laughed a bit she completely forgot about them as she moved and rubbed her hand along one of the heads. She lowered her head down as she went to speak into their ears.

"Find me some fun magic council or rune knights can you... if you do we can share the wonderful and savory taste of their meet together."

They both seemed happy with that prospect as they began to sniff the air and began to run off toward the prey. She smiled at Harrigan as she rushed off with the pair her maniacal laughter filling the air in the woods. That frightening laugh many had heard the laugh of death as many called it, everyone knew when that laugh rang through the forest it was time to flee.

Several hundred meters away from where Harrigan and Rekka were located, a small band of survivors cowered in fear, the moment Rekka's insane laughter along with the eerie howling of the Garm filled the air. Except three strong looking men, who were luckily enough to find some of their former gear back. Well luck hadn't anything to do with it, these men along with the others were purely released for the joy of the wild hunt. And to make it more interesting, it was only natural to arm these Rune Knights with their own weaponry.

'Do not fear men! If we band together we can surely survive this ordeal' said the largest of them, with a voice that could only belong to an ever optimistic hero. Who despite all the cruelty in the forest still firmly believed in the delusion that justice will prevail above all else. 

'He's right! So grab anything you can find to arm yourselves with! We will fight back an get out of here.' A young stout voice, shouted out of the mouth of a blond woman. Who was areas bearing the colors of the Rune Knights. That despite her rather muscular build was still rather attractive looking.

Slowly but steady, the other survivors. Who were nothing more then normal civilians. Farmer, merchants even young teenagers. Stood up, grabbing everything they can find to defend themselves with. Large sticks and even stones. And even though some of them were still shivering, they did seem to have found new courage from their momentarily leaders.

So imagine their fear, the moment one of the Garm jumped out of the darkness of the woods. And into their little group, immediately shredding a young girl to pieces with its maw. Shattering any form of courage they'd just had.
From behind the Garm, who now had nothing more then one half of a dead body bungling from between its jaws, was Harrigan. Along with the maniacal woman, Rekka Lawless.

Rekka watched the Garm rip apart the girl causing her to manically laugh, those poor souls thought they were safe but they were far from it. She also had a great idea as she would move toward a nearby tree and cut the branch off using her sword to sharpen the end of it before tossing in between all of those that remained.

"You have two options, you can pick that up and whoever survives will get to live or you all will die with me peeling your skin off while you live. Now I want you to fight with each other and whoever is the last survivor will get to live."

She waited as one of them grabbed the stick rushing her making her sigh, that was not one of the options as she quickly lowered her body before slicing up with her sword cutting the mans throat in half, the blood spraying across the other people there causing them to scream in terror.

"That was not one of the options, I will say this again kill each other the survivor will get to live the rest of you will die no matter what, so you better move quickly before my garms get bored of this game."

Much to Harrigan's suprise, the merry band of momentarily survivors decided to fight against them. Instead of among themselves. And Harrigan knew why, the three Rune Knights that were with them gave them courage and hope. Gave them the false illusion that when the worked together they had a shot of getting out of here alive.

Taking the lead the two Rune Knights that had inspired the survivors, charged straight at Harrigan. One, the man wielding a sword while the other one, the woman used a large axe. Which she swung at him from above. However they weren't fast enough for Harrigan to not anticipated their attacks.

The axe that came crashing down him, he simply defended against by gripping the hilt and stop the swing in its tracks. While the sword that came from him from the side was simple interrupted by his aiming his hand the blade and focus his own magic on it. His rapture, that gave Harrigan the ability to sense magic even in objects and make it explode by concentrating that magic till it bursted out.

The blade would shatter in a thousand pieces, leaving the man dumbfounded. While the womans eyes grew big as she saw that he easily halted her attack by just grabbing her axe.