The ground was getting steeper, and often they crossed sections of bare rock. But still the forest was deep and gloomy. When they occasionally passed a clearing, they were surprised to feel how much the sudden full sunlight blinded them, and soon they started to avoid those places. It was an eerie and mirthless location.
"I really don't like it here", Remus said as midday was drawing near. "It feels just odd, somehow. Really weird."
"I'm so sick of it all", Sirius stated behind him. "I don't trust these trees. And I'm sure they shelter something even more nasty. Just listen. I've seen many forests recently, and that silence just can't be natural."
Severus, who was last in their line, turned around and scanned their surroundings suspiciously, "Weird, that's right, but I think you're imagining things, Black", he finally said. "Two years on the run certainly makes you paranoid."
"Oh, shut up, Greasehead!" Sirius shot back. "I simply have some experience with forests and all that stuff."
"Then maybe the Dementors affected your mind nonetheless."
Sirius was just about to tell Severus something really rude when he was suddenly knocked off his feet as a big, furry creature collided with him. Remus threw himself at it, grabbed it and pulled it off with some difficulty, although he felt a slight touch of indistinctive fear as he touched it.
It was the ugliest dog he had ever seen. Its somewhat colourless fur was thick and knotty, it was extremely thin and had unproportionally long legs, its paws looked much like a camel's and its tail was much too thin, short and twisted to really look like a dog's and not a pig's. But the worst thing about it was its overlarge head, with its bulging eyes gaping at Remus in pure hatred, partially broken teeth and heavy jaw all wet with slaver. Around its neck was a rather thin leather cord with a small bundle dangling from it.
"Oh man, what's that?" Sirius gasped. "I've never seen anything looking alike." He bore a slightly frightened expression, and his eyes darted from tree to tree to see if there were some more of these monsters near.
"Neither have I", Remus breathed, still holding the creature down.
"Hey!" Severus said, kneeling down beside him. "That's interesting." He started fingering the bundle. The creature didn't like that; it howled and fidgeted and tried to bite its captors, but Sirius now also held it while Severus produced a very small piece of parchment. "Look what that big ugly bloke's been carrying around", he told the others. "Might be fascinating." Quickly he unfolded it and read aloud: "To Witch Shudderstone the Great. They are coming. Three warriors in black. Take care. Your faithful servant Sue." He looked at the others. "Sounds like that Sue's spying on us, doesn't it?"
"Sounds like we're being expected", Sirius said. "But sending that beast certainly was a bad move."
"I do hope it was. Shall we let it go?" Remus gave a little yelp of pain as the ugly creature dug its paw into his stomach. "I don't want to keep it any longer."
"Maybe we should kill it", Severus suggested. "Shame a thing like that ever survived its first year."
"But its disappearance might arouse suspicions", Remus pointed out. "Let's write another message and then kick that monster's backside and let it run, what about that?"
"Dear Shudderstone the Great, I'm really sorry, but I'm not working for you anymore. Your once faithful servant Sue", suggested Sirius, grinning.
"Alright, let's do it!" Remus meant.
But they never were able to. Right then, the thing that should be resembling a dog jerked violently, got hold of Remus's wrist and hacked its broken teeth into it. "Aargh!" the light-haired Duellist gargled, struggling to get free, while Sirius tried to tear apart the beast's slavering jaws. But only when Severus started to kick its side with his heavy dragon-hide boots it let go of Remus and look for a way to escape. Remus threw himself at it again, but this time the ugly animal jumped into him with all its power and sent him sprawling, and before the two others could stop it it dashed deeper into the forest and disappeared.
Muttering a curse, Remus tried to get up again, but he soon found his left leg wouldn't carry him. "What now?" he finally said, leaning onto Sirius's shoulder exhaustedly.
"We can't carry you", sighed Sirius. "To hell with that creature!"
Remus forced a brave smile. "I'll have to walk then."
No, Remus. Come back. Return to the others. You can't go on. Come back, Remus.
"Sure I can't?" Remus asked out loud. His comrades seemed to stiffen a tiny little bit and to listen intently.
Sure, Remus. Quite sure.
The wounded Duellist sighed heavily. "Right. I'm going, then. Boys - good luck. I'll be back as soon as I can, trust me." He greeted them with their casual salute, then he Disapparated.
Sirius and Severus looked at each other. "Only two of us left now", Sirius commented sarcastically. "Just imagine that Sue person's next letter. What is she going to write, eh?"
"One down, two more to go", Severus answered darkly. "But they shall have a hard time with us."
Sirius nodded grimly. "We're Duellists. No surrender."
"No surrender."
And don't forget me.
"It's hard to forget you, hissing voice", Sirius murmured as he took up his backpack once more. "Believe me."