Prologue
The wooden stake spun through the air in a perfect flip. It came to stunning stop in a rough, weathered hand. Another stake flew into the air only to land in another weathered hand. Yet another stake joined its companions in flight and land by the first stake. Soon there was a flock of stakes flying into the air. A cheer erupted into the air joining the flurry of stakes. The stakes frenzy slowed down and soon settled to rest in the two hands. The cheers grew louder and louder, eventually claps and whistle joined.
The man, to whom the hands were attached, was not as weathered as his hand led people to believe. He was a young age around 16, just barely old enough to be a man. He lifted his arms into the air and brought them down for a dramatic bow. He waltzed out of the room with a bravado stagger and proceeded out of the crowded tent. The rambunctious crowd still cheered at his exploits in stake juggling. He smiled at this thinking to himself that he was the best act of the night. He headed to the performers lounge tent to enjoy his rest from his exhausting show. Apparently juggling stakes was not as easy as it looked. He pushed back the canvas tent flap and peered inside to see if anyone else was taking his break in the tent. He didn't see any see anyone else and went to the fire in the middle of the tent and pulled something out of his pocket. It smelled of blood, and to closer inspection it was a slab of some sort of meat. He took the meat from its leaf wrapping and grabbed a roasting stick from the fireside. He began cooking his meal and warming his hands on the fireside.
When his meat was beginning to simmer he took a bag of spices from a woven basket by the fireside. He grabbed a pinch and dashed it onto the meat and replaced the bag to the basket. Soon the smell became so appetizing he couldn't stand it. He ravenously set upon the still rare meat and wolfed the slab down as fast as he could. Within seconds he was done and let out a loud, crass belch. He looked down at his hands and quickly wiped them on his pants.
While he sat back enjoying his short, yet refreshing break he heard a loud crack outside of the tent.
"Who's there?" he inquired. He stepped out the tent to see who was there.
A horrendous sound shattered the air, somewhere between a roar and a scream. Soon more humanly screams and sounds filled the air. Sounds of running could be heard and amidst the chaos crunches and squelches filled the air. Soon the screams were joined by moans and cries. He stepped out and was quickly swept off of his feet. As his skull slammed into the table he slipped into the blissful embrace of unconsciousness.