1 prologue

14th Century Scotland

"Remember lads, we don't know what our enemy is, man or beast so stay aware!" Keagan shouted to the group of armed warriors.

He looked to his side were a pale and angry Angus, had his battle-ax held tightly in his rough, aged hands, his salt and pepper bearded face sweating and red with rage, Keagan placed his hand on his shoulder "Don't worry my old friend we will find her and kill any that bring any more harm to the clan."

"Aye chief. I just can't understand why my sister would wonder around the forest when she knows several have been found dead… makes no since," he said roughly, shaking his head.

"We will find her. Do not give up hope. This is our sister after all she is stubborn as a bull and will fight to stay alive."

Angus looked up into the chief... his old friends brown eyes and even with his strong jaw and cheek bones, that were covered with thick, long, braded, white and silver hair, both on his face and head, he sow worry and sweat on him just like himself.

He also felt the chief told him the truth "Aye, my laird."

Keagan nodded and looked to the rest of the men, then to the edge of the dark forest. The warm night casting a dark shadow on the trees, the moon shining through a few, as a thin layer of fog covered the ground. It seemed peaceful, but with already four deaths, he knew it was far from it.

He raised his claymore to the air "OK MEN! LET'S GO HUNTING!" They all shouted and raised their swords, bows and torches and followed there chief forward.

Suddenly a massive shape came walking out of the forest carrying what appeared to be a large animal head. The shape seemed human, seven feet or more in height, its body cloaked in darkness, as it headed straight for them.    

Keagan held up his hand as his men halted alongside him.

"What in Thor is that?" Angus whispered.

"To big to be a man" one of the man said from behind them.

"It's the killer demon. he is here to kill us all" he herd one of the young warriors say in a shaky voice.

Keagan scuffed "Devil or not THESE KILLINGS STOP TONIGHT! We have had the Black Death take enough from us! My wife is… dead, 50 of our clan… dead, my daughter… sent away for her own safty… so much loss… and now four deaths and one of our own is missing. WE WILL END THIS! If this monster is responsible, WE WILL FALL HIM!" he shouted and walked forward his claymore at the ready.

The figure stopped half a mile from them and held up the head and suddenly a smaller figure emerged from behind the shape and started running towards them.

"SHERRY!" he herd Angus yell, as he ran pass Keagan to his sister.

"Angus! Keagan!" she shouted as she stumbled and tripped on the grassy valley, running to them, with open arms.

Keagan wasted no time to ran to her, as Angus picked her up and hugged her "oh my wee lass! I thought ye dead!"

"Are ye hurt?" Keagan sow that her garments were torn and her skirts ripped, small cuts all over her arms and a head wound that had bleed down over one side of her beautiful oval face.

He then looked pass them at the man. He could see he indeed seemed human even if he was massive. The stranger dressed in all black trows, tunic and boots, his face half in shadow due to the dark cloak that hung down to his ankles.

"Is that man the one who took you?" he asked gruffly as he took a threatening step toward the stranger.

Sherry pushed away from her brother to stand in front of the chief " No! He saved me! I was walking home when something hit me on the head, next thing I know, I was being dragged into the forest by that… thing. I kicked at it with my foot, it stopped and started tearing at my skirt with its claws…" he watched her as she rubbed her hand down her arm and shivered, as tears started to form in her eyes " …it roared at me… It was going to kill me… if Alastair hadn't…"

Keagan looked at the man in the distance "Alastair?"

The giant man banged his chest with his fist and nodded his head.

Sherry looked back at the man then back at Keagan, "he said he has slain the beast that has been killing our kin and he wishes to speak to you, my laird."

Keagan looked at the stranger and nodded. As the man moved forward, the men drew their swords "weapons down men" he shouted.

Alastair came forward, got down on one knee and placed the giant animal head before the chief, the chief grimaced at the head "Thank you for rescuing Sheri from this… beast. She says you wish to speak with me?"

Alastair nodded "My name is Alastair Lore, I am chief of the DarkLore clan and I have come unarmed to speak to you about this forest and to offer a proposition."

Angus scuffed "DarkLore? Never heard of such a clan."

"We are a young clan but rising in numbers and strength. I have slain the creature that has been tormenting your clan as a peace offering."

Keagan looked down at the beasts enormous head. It strongly resembled a wolfs head but the eyes were strongly human, the ears also were bigger then a average wolf and it appeared to have two sliver, round earrings on its right ear, such as some of the Vikings of old would wear.

"What is this beast? A over large wolf?" he asked.

Alastair shook his head at him "Nay, my laird, it is a lore creature called werewolf."

Angus used his boot toe to turn the massive head to the side "werewolf?"

He looked back up at the chief "please, allow us to speak in private and I will explain."

Keagan looked to sherry and ran a finger down her face "are ye sure ye're ok lass?"

She smiled as she leaned into his hand "aye my loard, he seems strange but he fought hard for my life."

Keagan looked back to the stranger "come with me, we will talk in my solar" As the stranger rose to his feet, Keagan walked to Angus and spoke low in his ear "have the men remain ready but take your sister to the healer for her to assure me she is well."

He nodded reluctantly "Aye Chief."

Angus watched them walk away toward the keep, the men quickly getting out of the large strangers way, some tripping over there feet and falling.

He rolled his eyes at the warriors then turned back to his sister to put his arm around her and lead her back to the village "come my flower, lets get ye to the healer. The chief will deal with this."

Angus sow his sister to the healer, and then he went to the great hall to watch the chief's solar door, waiting for them to emerge. After what felt like hours, the stranger and the chief came out the door and the stranger walked alone down between the tables of the great hall, and out into the night towards the forest.

Angus walked up to the chief who still watched the giant stranger leave "My Loard? What happened?"

"Gather the clan together in the great hall so I may tell them that the forest is now forbidden to all," he said in a hard tone.

"Forbidden?! Our own forest is forbidden?"

"The forest is no longer part of Mckay clan. It is now home to the Darklore clan, and yes I forbid any to enter and so does the Darklore chief" He said.

Angus shook his head "why? If the Forest is saved from that thin..."

"IT'S NOT SAFE!" he shouted, causing Anguses eyes to grow wide "Now obey me! And get our men together to round up the clan"

Angus bowed "aye. Right away" he said in a shaky voice and went to gather some men to help him.

Keagan walked to the keeps towering wooden front doors to gaze at the dark forests direction. Suddenly a bright red band of light shoots along the forests tree border. As if someone is tying a red rope around the forests edge, then as if it was just an illusion, it disappears into the ground. Thank Thor his wee daughter was safe in Ireland, as for himself…

"Not safe" he coughed.