The small settlement nearby seemed as though deserted. All that could be heard were the sounds of doors and shutters being slammed shut and locked, followed by the faint sounds of an impending storm. The moon and the stars were barely visible, hidden behind a dark coat of eerie clouds allowing only the faintest of light to shine through. That feeling was back again…there's going to be another attack. If the monsters truly exist, tonight would be the night they would choose to return.
The village in question is in a rural area, quite a few miles away from the next one, but they get caravans coming in every now and then for trading and supplies. It's a big enough village that I can usually hear the daily hustle and bustle from where I live. The area surrounding the village is mostly open plains and grasslands where farms and such can be found. Except for one side, where the village is met by the woods. That's where I live; I have a small cabin there. I chose to make my home in the woods rather than inside the village because I'm a hunter by trade. I make my living hunting and selling the pelts I gather, or selling the useful things I can craft from the hunted animals. My neighbors know of me and they allow me to come into the village every now and then for shopping and making deliveries. They leave me be and know I'm no one to be concerned about. They've had other much more pressing matters on their minds anyway.
Recently there have been murders and kidnappings in the village. Only in the village. For some reason, perhaps because I'm so far out of sight, I haven't been targeted. I should be counting my lucky stars but I can't help but feel a little guilty. The assailants are unknown and have left no evidence. Well…no traceable evidence anyway, they leave plenty of carnage in their wake. They come at night, targeting men and women alike, they break into homes and snatch people from their beds, people seen walking down the street late at night are never heard from again, even children have been lost. As far as the residents know, they show no mercy or remorse. It's why people have started believing that these attacks are the work of monsters. No man could cause this amount of grief, even with help. The attacks don't follow any sort of pattern. Sometimes we don't get an attack for years. Sometimes they happen often enough that I'm sure it'll be the end of the village. It's only been a few months since the last attack but…the sky…the clouds…I'm sure they will return today.