Cry Of The Carniave
When the rays of the sun's last light,
And the man-in-the-moon shineth at night,
Beware of the Carniave with wings so white,
As it glideth in earthbound flight,
It howls throughout the frosty winter night,
And always, it beginneth your plight…18th Century England, Glade Forest…
Laura stared out of the attic window as she watched the silent snowflakes drift down slowly upon the gloomy forest. The forest was normally full of animals and green trees, but today it was bare and not a deer to be seen. It was so peaceful in the dusty, worn attic watching the snow that she wanted to watch it for timeless eternity. The sun was about to give into night, sinking slowly into the horizon of the mountains. It looked so serene and peaceful.
Even though the attic was supposed to be the oldest part of the mansion, Laura often sneaked into it when she needed a break from her annoying brother Dave. The attic was also the cosiest room in the manor, not surprising since heat rose up from the fireplaces downstairs. Hearing the regular clip-clop of the milkman's horse, Jerry, as it trotted past Manescu Mansion, she saw a distant figure of a fierce hunter and his foxhounds on the edge of the dark, wintry forest… Dave was probably playing chess downstairs with Dad. Dad always lost to Dave, seeing that Dave was the better player of the two. A cream coloured carriage passed the house.
Although she would have loved to join her friends Ella, Georgia, Julie and Steph in the forest today, her mother wouldn't hear about it. She always lectured Laura on the dangers of going into Glade forest, becoming prey to one of those wild wolves and being frostbitten by the cold icy blizzards. What a wonderful day it is, thought Laura, I wish my friends and I could have played ice hockey though. I wonder if they're playing it now? Probably not, cause it's cold outside. Poor Steph couldn't even balance, toppling over the ice when she tries to hit the puck!
Just as the last ray of the sunset dimmed in the darkened bare forest, a spine-chilling wail echoed in the heart of it, the very sound of it sent a thrill across Laura's back. For it was the chilling cry of the Carniave.
The legend of Glade Forest was repeated across countless generations of the Manescu family. The legend was that a wolf-bird beast inhabited Glade forest, terrorizing Glade Village for as long as anyone could remember.
The creature called itself the Carniave. It had the sleek, shaggy body of a human-sized wolf, dangerous magical powers and the pearly wings of a dove. This bloodthirsty creature roamed the forest at night and killed animals as large as stags. Nobody had ever seen it more than once, and it only inhabited this particular forest.
To see this monster was to encounter terrible luck for 13 years or more. The Carniave howled in the moonless nights, hungering for fresh blood, for it longed for the taste of spilled blood. The Carniave always mysteriously disappeared at the break of dawn, waiting for the night to swoop down and engulf the sun.
Laura remembered the legend with a shiver. She had never believed
the legends- until now. And even now she was beginning to doubt herself. Don't be silly, they're only stories told to children like Dave. And even if I heard the howl, it might have been an ordinary wolf, not a Carniave creature. She felt relieved in correcting herself. A second later, her mother popped upstairs, holding a shopping basket in her pale hands. Laura sighed; her often-stern mother always wanted her to shop for bread or milk. Why can't she just get her servants to do it?! She has heaps of them!
"Laura dear, I was just wondering, can you just pop over to the shops to buy some peppermint please? And also some flour, butter and sugar for the fair tomorrow…" Laura stared. In this weather?! It's freezing outside and -4!
"But Mum! There's going to be blizzard outside! Aren't you coming with me?"
"I'm so sorry, Laurie, to send you out in this weather, but it's such short notice and I'm so busy organizing with the fair… I don't think I can come with you today."
Laura was outside in the cold, dark forest, struggling alone against the elements of the weather. The icy, cold winds tore at her with their stinging frostbitten claws, stripping her of her cosy fur-lined hat (the one she begged her mum to buy) and her orange coat. Clutching her wooden basket to her sides, she managed with great difficulty to falter a few steps onwards. Her brown bangs flew wildly in the wind like airborne kites. At last she couldn't walk any longer, her aching legs screaming for a little rest.
I'm alone in the forest with no one to help me, not even Mum. Laura
realized with a jolt of sudden fear. And loneliness surrounded the forest. She collapsed to her weary knees, praying for someone to help her, anyone. Soon she blacked out completely, but before she did, she thought she saw the Carniave with its dazzling white wings lift her up and take her home, its grey as soot fur warm and comforting…
I was running like the wind, the joy of the chase still on my mind, I dragged the dead deer, which was still warm in my strong jaws, towards my night den. I prowled the dark forest of night, hunting for more stags. My sharp eyes scanned the Glade, seeing nothing.
The stags were probably asleep by now. The forest was mine and I allowed no intruders to enter it. I howled to the moon for the fun of it, feeling the blizzard's cold stinging me. Not did it matter. All that mattered was that I was free! No hunters to hunt me!
I passed by a tree. There was someone there! I watched behind the tree waiting for it to reappear. Maybe it's another deer, I thought. It was totally unexpected. Instead of a doe, I saw a beautiful girl with brown hair in the middle of the forest, she was as pale as sheet.
What is she doing in my territory? She was obviously suffering from hypothermia of the cold winter. Suddenly she collapsed. I felt pity for her, even if it wasn't my nature. I flipped her onto her back and stared into her closed eyes. She was BEAUTIFUL! Her brown curls reminded me of my mum's chocolate hair before she… It's too painful to talk about my mum. Her face was a ripe peach. Talking about her makes me feel so… So… I can't describe it! I fell in love with her immediately. I then decided to help the poor girl - even if it meant someone might see me. I spread my white angel wings. I thought to myself that I might see her again…
When she woke up the next morning Laura found, to her utter amazement, to be at home safe and sound, her basket overflowing with groceries her mum ordered. Laura immediately looked around her bedroom with joy in her heart. She was home! She could hardly believe that she was finally home with her entire family!
"Mum! Dave! Dad! Oh, I thought I'd never see you again! I'm so glad to see you guys, even annoying Dave!" she grinned, hugging the trio simultaneously. Dave looked disgusted as she hugged them, pushing Laura away.
"Yuck! Don't get your nasty girl germs on me!" he cried. Mum scolded him gently. Then she turned to Laura, her face concerned like a mum.
"I'm really sorry, Laura, about last night. It was really stupid and I should have stopped you from going out there." Mother paused, as if she wanted to say more, but too afraid to say the words. The seconds seemed to drag on for hours. Until Dave suggested they go to the village fair later in the day. Father laughed, messing Dave's hair like he always did when Dave made a ridiculous comment.
"We can go in four weeks time. Laura must rest for now since she had a big shock," explained Dad. Dave groaned; he really wanted to go to the fair today. He had been pestering his parents for AGES to go to the village fair. Laura could only smile, resting her head against the flower-patterned pillow. She could hardly wait for the festival to start.
What an interesting start! Just WHO is the Carniave? Will Laura meet it again? All this and more in the next romantic chapter: A Date With Destiny! I love reviews from my doting fans, so click that review button!
