The Story of Ripsnarl
"Daddy!" Emme and Eric flew across the room attached themselves to their father. James Harrington smiled. It was good to see his family again. He crouched and hugged his two children close.
"I'm glad to see you too."
His wife, Clarissa, appeared from the living room and he felt another swell of joy. He managed to untangle himself from the kids and made his way over to her. It still amazed him how beautiful she was. He gave her a kiss on the cheek. "It's so good to see you again," he said
"I'm glad you made it back."
James sat at the kitchen table with his family. The three of them listened while he recounted his latest adventure.
"Thomas called out from crows nest that he had spotted a ship. When I looked through the glass I saw it belonged to the Bloodsail Bucaneers."
"Who are they?" Clarissa asked.
"A group of pirates."
"Pirates? Cool!" Emme and Erik cried.
James took another spoonful of his murloc eye soup his wife had made. "These were not the cool kind of pirates. The buccaneers are very bad people." His children looked disappointed. "I saw that they were going after a merchant ship and we followed them. They turned away when they saw us coming, but I know one day they are going to stay and fight."
"You know I worry about you," Clarissa admitted
"Of course, but that's my job."
Later James was sitting in the living room watching his children play. Erik had his toy soldiers and Emme had her dolls in their house. Clarissa entered holding a small green linen shirt.
"Erik, I've mended your shirt for you. Do try to take better care of it this time."
"Sure, Mom." Erik replied without looking up from the battle between the Stormwind soldiers and trolls.
Then someone knocked on the door. Clarissa went to go answer it. It was James' friend Marcus. He waved to the kids and gave Clarissa a short bow.
"Could I borrow your husband for a moment, Mrs. Harrington?"
"Of course."
James met Marcus outside. They shook hands.
Marcus spoke first. "It's good to have you back in Duskwood. Did you take care of those pirates yet?"
James shrugged. "Still working on it."
"I see. So how do you like being captain?"
James thought for a moment. "It's different. I have always wanted my own ship, but sometimes I miss doing everything myself." James looked down at his hands that had always been tough with callous from pulling ropes and other physical work at sea that were now starting to soften. Then he looked at Marcus. "How has the militia been going?"
Darkshire was located in Duskhaven, a considerable distance from the Alliance capital of Stormwind, so the people generally had to fend for themselves. Marcus was a member of the local militia that kept the peace and fought off external threats such as trolls, undead, and ogres.
Marcus paused. "That is what I actually wanted to talk to you about."
"What do you mean?"
"Something new has come to the forest. The other day I found a deer corpse. I saw what looked like claw and bite marks, but I know it was not done by a wolf. The deer had not been simply killed. It had been completely mutilated. Pieces of it were everywhere."
"What kind of creature would do that?" James wondered.
"That's the problem," Marcus continued, "No one has any idea. People have been finding livestock and wild animals in similar condition, and no one has any idea who or what could be responsible."
"What are you going to do?" James asked.
"We've been investigating all the incidents, questioning people, and searching the woods. If we don't stop whatever is doing this soon I have a feeling we are going to be finding human victims next."
The two men decided to go for a walk while they continued their conversation. James noted that his friend did not look well. His face was creased with worry and he had dark circles under his eyes. Instead of standing rigidly straight he was hunched over a bit. James had never seen him like this before. Marcus was the strongest person James knew, physically and emotionally.
"This is a crisis situation," Marcus went on, "We have been trying to keep it secret, but you know everyone will find out sooner than later. I'm worried about a panic starting. The militia is going to need all the help it can get on this one. That is why I need to ask something of you."
"I've just returned from months at sea."
Marcus held up a hand. "I know that you have been away from your family and need to be with them, but we really need everyone we can get and you are one of the only people that I trust with my life. I am only asking you to join until this is taken care of. I promise I will find time for you to be with your family. Please James."
James thought about what his friend had said. "I will do anything to protect my family and I'm not going to say no when a friend asks for help. So yes, I will do whatever I can to help you with this."
Marcus looked relieved. "Thank you."
