I was alone with Hilda now, my hand in her unconscious hand, as the void consumed us.
Remorse Of An Adventurer
2021 Remaster
By Daring D.D. Danger
Chapter 5: The Black Hound
Some time had passed since that night in the cemetery. Tonight was the Sparrow Scout year end camping trip. I stood near the entrance to the Sparrow Scout campground (although it barely felt like the woods from the parking lot, street lights in view) as my fellow scouts arrived with their parents. I spotted David among the group and waved him over to me, just as Raven Leader called everyone to attention.
"I see everyone is here, so let's begin! Welcome to the Sparrow Scout year end camping trip! We'll have a few minutes for the parents to say their goodbyes before tent setup and..."
"Are you certain the kids are safe?" My mother interrupted.
"I understand there has been some concerns about the recent wolf attacks and the supposed Black Hound, but once again, this is a secure private campground, and any wolves will have to go through me first!" Raven Leader never failed to inspire confidence.
After calming down several other parents the cars began leaving, and eventually only Raven Leader's was left. Tents were set up and Raven Leader split everyone into teams for a scavenger hunt, which my team completed first. David had brought Alfur with him and Raven was lingering around the trails in his small form.
Evening fell and a bonfire was lit. I sat with David and Alfur, having s'mores, when suddenly one of the girls came over.
"David I've been meaning to ask, What did you do to your hair? Is it for Hilda?"
"I just thought it was a nice color." David stammered.
"I heard that you cuddle with Hilda every night!" The other scouts made mocking sounds at David.
"N-no she's my sister!"
"That doesn't prove you don't."
"It stops her from crying every night, okay! So drop it!" David was puffing out his chest a little. The girl returned to her friends, who all began whispering about who knows what. David sagged back onto the log he had been sitting on.
"Don't worry about them David. They have no clue what we've seen." I assured.
"I agree, you're an excellent brother David!" Alfur added from David's shoulder.
"Thanks guys." David smiled. The rest of the fire was peaceful. Raven even snuck in behind us for a bit of food. Before we knew it Raven Leader sent us to bed.
"Frida!" A whisper came from outside my tent.
"Frida!" It was David's voice. I emerged from from the girls tent to find David with Alfur and Raven.
"What David?"
"I heard a noise in the woods."
"Raven could you check and see if anything is in the woods for him?" As Raven took off I looked towards the woods. I swore I could see a small light deep in the woods. After a few seconds I realized the small green glow was growing. A bright green wisp shot out of the woods and zoomed between myself and David.
"Was that-" Before David could finish another wisp shot by, and then several more came through the air. One of the wisps slowed and took its human form, Kelly the Marra.
"Frida you need to go." Kelly looked like she had seen a ghost.
"Why?"
"Just go!" The girl returned to wisp form and flew off to catch the other Marra.
"What was that..." The ground suddenly began shaking. As the sound grew more campers awoke. The sound had a rhythm like footsteps.
"Everyone back in your tents!" Raven Leader had emerged from her tent. She was brandishing a rifle.
From the woods a creature burst through. It felled two trees, each crashing into the ground, branches snapping off in all directions. The creature was black as the night, save for it's glowing red eyes. The Black Hound.
The Hound broke into a sprint, heading right at the boys tents, and Raven Leader fired her gun. The Hound came to a halt and its eyes burned into Raven Leader's. She cocked her gun to fire once more. She looked at us quickly.
"Run."
The campers began running in a panic toward the parking lot as the Black Hound bared its teeth and dashed at Raven Leader. David grabbed my hand and we sprinted past her, sights set once more on the Hound.
From behind us came a gunshot and a thump. I turned my head back and witnessed the Hound coming back to its feet, Raven Leader lifeless a few meters ahead of it. The Black Hound leaped in between those of us still in the campground and those in the parking lot, inching toward us slowly, snarling and making an unearthly growl.
"Frida! Throw a rock at it!" David yelled.
"I'm sorry?" I returned in disbelief.
"I have a plan! I need you to lure it away from everyone!" I didn't have a plan, so I moved towards a rock, and then towards the Hound, and threw my best throw. The rock bounced off of the Hound, and it turned towards me.
"Now what?" I turned to see David holding Raven Leader's gun. The weapon dwarfed him. "Do you even know how to use that?"
"Maybe! I watched Raven Leader do it!" I began backing away as the Hound grew closer.
Bang! A single gunshot hit the hound in its side. A few meters to my side lay David, the guns' recoil had knocked him to the ground and the gun out of his hand. The hound moved towards David and I sprinted in the same direction.
I slid in and scooped the gun up and held it in front of me as the hound came down with a bite. It's teeth clamped on the gun, just missing my hands. It's head swung to the side, throwing me away from David. I watched in horror as the hound sniffed at a now crawling David, tears were streaming from his eyes.
"Hey!" Raven Leader's voice came from behind me. She threw a rock at the hound, taking its attention. As the hound moved from David I went towards him. He was struggling to get to his feet.
"The gun messed up my shoulder Frida." He sounded like he was in agony, and something was definitely off with his right arm. David and I turned towards the parking lot. All the others were out of sight, and Raven Leader was fighting the hound with her bare hands.
She dodged a swat from the Hound as we hurried past them. The parking lot was mere meters away when we heard two smacks in quick succession. I turned and was immediately hit. The Hound had pinned me with a painful amount of force. It's face was so close I could only see it's pointed teeth, and feel the heat of its breath. I closed my eyes.
Bang! Thunder clapped. I opened my eyes just as the lightning faded from the sky. The Great Raven collided with the Hound, knocking it into the closest tent. I rolled to my side to find David. We both got to kneeling position while the Hound was watching Raven circle. The Hound now had three large gashes on its face, crossing through it's left eye. Raven suddenly moved to gain altitude and it was clear two people were riding him.
Swooping down over the Hound, one of the figures jumped off and came into view. With her blue hair waving behind her, Hilda planted herself on the Hound's back. The Hound began moving erratically in an attempt to shake her as Raven passed over our heads, dropping his other passenger next to us.
"Tontu?"
"I'm here to help." He said in a surprisingly calm voice. Raven dove in again towards the Hound only to be slammed into the ground by the hounds massive paw. Raven slid away from us as he plowed across the ground. Hilda had now clawed her way onto it's head and was taking swings at it's remaining eye. The Hound was now running at us, Hilda in tow. I braced for impact as Raven blindsided the Hound, knocking Hilda off it's head and the Hound into another tent. Raven followed and summoned a near deafening bolt of lightning.
"Are you hurt?" said Hilda, walking over to us, clearly winded.
"Are you mad?!" David limped up and hugged Hilda.
"If saving your butts is mad then yes." Hilda smiled at me.
Suddenly the Raven and Hound rolled back into the camping area, the bird landing limp on the ground. The Hound began coming at us once more.
"Tontu. Plan B!" Hilda announced.
"No! I can't!" I narrowly jumped out of the path of charging Hound. When I looked up only David was left with me. I turned to the parking lot to see the Hound turning, Hilda was hanging out of the Hound's mouth by her sweater, and Tontu holding onto her. The Hound ran towards David and I once more.
"Tontu!" Hilda screamed.
"No! You'll die!" He pleaded back. The hound shook its head and Hilda's sweater gave, sending her and Tontu into the air. They landed separately and the Hound skidded and turned right in front of me. He ran back in Hilda's direction as I dashed forward and went for Tontu.
Hilda let out a piercing scream as I slid to my knees next to Tontu. I looked in horror as half of Hilda hung out of the Hound's mouth. She was pounding against its teeth in vain. David had come up behind, now likely running only on adrenaline. He grabbed Tontu.
"What's plan B!"
"I'm supposed to grab the Hound and take it into the outdoor Nisse space, but..."
"You might not return." I said.
"If Hilda's in that things mouth she'll get sucked in too!"
"She's as good as dead in it's mouth anyway!" David yelled. Just then I noticed the black hound stop. It turned to us. Hilda was still now, blood running down her back and into her hair.
The Hound charged at us.
"Tontu! I'll get Hilda, just do it!" David commanded.
"For Hilda." Tontu said, quiet but firm. David and Tontu edged in front of me. No, I thought. Time for new Frida.
At the last second I pulled David clear and grabbed Hilda. As the entrance to the Nisse space opened the Hound loosened its grip and disappeared into the void.
But it was too late. I was pulled into the portal, the light fading until we were in a black empty space. I was alone with Hilda now, my hand in her unconscious hand, as the void consumed us.
To Be Continued In Part 6: The Bonds That Bind Us
Hilda: Remorse of an Adventurer, written by D.D. Danger, inspired by ghost-buddie