Dark Hunger

Cresting the cliff, Caleb could see the snow-crusted labyrinth of caves and ravines and steep slopes of the treacherous Northern Mountains. He looked towards the white slopes, scanning the surroundings to catch a whiff of anything other than mist and snow and trees. 

"Look over there," said Auril as he pointed to a gap in the mountains on the west. There were two sister peaks that flanked the snow-covered pass. It was at least a mile from where they were. 

Caleb narrowed his eyes to see the pass. There was nothing that stood out about it. However, his gaze went to the base of the gap where there were two massive rocky outcrops that weren't covered with the snow. They were naked and looked almost crimson. "That should be the demons' lair!" he said almost certain about it. 

"It is going to take us a day to reach!" said Auril, as he looked at the various peaks and stretches in between. 

"Doesn't matter!" Caleb replied and returned back from the peak of the cliff they were standing on. He started running down the slope, eager to reach the place Auril had pointed, eager to kill Edyrm and then return to his wife. Auril followed him on his heels. 

They kept to the labyrinth of the pines. As they traveled through the maze to reach the gap, the sun started to decline. The sky was a shade of purple, pink, citrine and gray. It was as if the weather was waiting for them to finish their journey to start with its wrath. What looked like a mile now seemed like eternity. Caleb wanted to create a portal, but the location of the gap wasn't accurate. He shifted into his wolf form. Auril mounted him and it became faster for him to traverse the slope. However, when they were in the middle of the journey, Auril stopped him. "Halt!" he said. Caleb halted and all at once he whiffed the familiar smell of demons. "Go to the side," Auril whispered. Caleb led them to a thicket of pines, but despite his natural ability to pad through the snow, each step sounded like a snap. Even the breath they took was loud. 

Thunder grumbled overhead and Caleb used the advantage to move to a batter position. Auril dismounted him and Caleb shifted back, his fangs and claws lengthening. They both hid behind two thick trees and peered around to scan the area. The sun had set down and it had become dark. At this speed, Caleb didn't know when they would reach the lair. Lightning flashed and silhouettes of two demon figures came into view. The rancid smell of demon brew and filth and blood swarmed all around them. He heard their growls coming nearer. He waited for them as quietly as possible. Thunder grumbled again and when the lightning flashed, he didn't see the demon figures. Shocked, they decided to wait for some time till all was clear. However, the next moment Caleb found the two demons standing behind him, growling, their horns straightening and turning black. Their eyes were a fiery pit of red and yellow. Caleb growled back at them, his muscles bulging. 

The demons lunged for Caleb in a flash of horns and claws and scarred bodies. Caleb grunted at the demons pounced on him. Auril crashed into one of them from the side. Caleb ducked when the demon launched himself on him. He twirled with inhuman speed and slashed down his torso with his claws. The demon howled in agony and then spun to attack him, but Caleb was ready, he grabbed the demon from his throat and then stabbed his fangs inside it, ripping off the blood and flesh. With his other hand, he swiveled his neck and his head fell on the ground with a thud. The demon's body fell to the ground. Caleb wiped his mouth with his hand and with a loud and dangerous growl, turned to see Auril. He was struggling with the demon. Caleb launched himself on the second demon and shoved him to the ground. Auril took the opportunity. He used his magic to swing the branches of the pines in his direction. The branches curled and wrapped around the throat of the demon. They pulled him up with it. The demon was now hanging some thirty feet above the ground, his hand over the branches around his neck. He was kicking his legs and trying to shout something but his voice came out warbled. After struggling for a few minutes, the demon became absolutely quiet. He was hanging dead on the tree. 

Caleb looked at Auril and nodded. "We better hurry up!" he said. Saying that once more he leapt in the air and shifted to his wolf form. Auril mounted him and the two resumed their journey upwards towards the gap. Caleb was now convinced that the demons occupied that gap. These two must be guards or they might have followed them. 

They traveled for another four hours before they reached the demon's lair. It had started snowing an hour back and slowly the blizzard was picking up speed. The gap was covered with heavy snow and the cave that they had spotted was at the far end at the top of which was one of the tall peaks of the Northern Mountains. Caleb shifted back to his human form. He was too tired and exhausted but he needed to finish this mission. All he wanted to do was to get to Edyrm, kill him and get out of here. He had no enmity against the rest of the demons. They moved to the sides of the gap and started walking slowly, hoping that their smells were mixed with all the snow that was falling. All of a sudden, the narrow area was filled with the sound of an eagle screeching. 

Caleb froze in his place. He put a hand on Auril's chest and shoved him to the side. "That's fucking Edyrm," he whispered. Sound of wings flapping boomed in the gap's narrow area. The eagle screeched even more loudly, excitedly. 

"Do you think he has seen us?" asked Auril. He looked around the gap to see if there was any activity. Though there was none he could detect, the sound of wings flapping was loud and clear. 

"If the bastard is out, we will just capture him and go back!" said Caleb. He looked up towards the dark skies and even he couldn't see anything. All at once something swooshed down at them and attacked them. "That's him!" Caleb said. The attack was so swift that Caleb couldn't make out where the eagle flew after charging at them. "Fuck!" he cursed. He wanted to use his magic to light an orb only to see where the bird was, but he was wary that other demons would smell his magic and light would just act as a beacon. 

Auril looked around to find one tree to use his magic and slam it in the eagle but the gap was devoid of any vegetation. 

"We have to take advantage of the situation!" said Caleb. Edyrm was alone and in his feral form. He closed his eyes to focus on the sound of the wings beating.