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The Lost King—Chapter 5
Not far south of Brecon Beacons, a smalll hamlet dozed under a rising moon. A winter chill clung to the air, sending a few random snowflakes scurrying about the cottages and row houses. It was into this serene valley that the Afanc came, trembling the earth and thundering the sky.
The residents were awoken from their sleep by a rumbling of the earth. Thinking it was some sort of earthquake, many fled from their houses. But it wasn't an earthquake. As they fled, they saw it. Charging toward the town in large powerful strides. A few had brought their mobiles, and they stopped to record the approaching horror. Noticing the tasty morsels who were willingly offering themselves up, the Afanc paused its course. It swung a monstrous, reptilian head over the villagers and widened its grin. In fact, that grin was the last thing they ever saw.
Local PC's were immediately dispatched, readying what weapons they could. They set up a perimeter just off to the center of town. Like the gathering of a storm, the Afanc approached, each step it took cracking the earth.
Chief Penhallow had seen many things in his lifetime, but never like this. What was stalking his town was beyond imagining. Easily fifty meters tall and black as night. It had large, bat-like wings and two horns sprouted from its head. But the worst was its teeth. Razor sharp teeth, each one the size of a man lined its jaws. It followed the people fleeing with intelligent, glowing yellow eyes.
How could they stop it? Their weapons would be of no use. Still, the Chief had a town to protect. "Ready!" He called out, aiming his rifle. The men and women officers behind him shouted in acknowledgement as they likewise raised their weapons.
The Afanc cleared the last house and was now in full view, its black scales glittering in the rising moonlight. It took one look at the pitiful group of gathered people and smiled. "Dear god," The Chief gasped. It took two more steps before the Chief shouted, "FIRE!" Instantly, he was drowned out in a volley of shots.
Roaring in defiance, the Afanc kept approaching. Nothing could stop it. None of the bullets could harm it. Mmm, it thought. More food. Within moments the blockade was decimated. Everyone who hadn't fled had been devoured by the creatures immensely powerful jaws.
Sniffing the cool night air, it continued on its journey. The sorcerer it had been tracking was nearer. And they would be the first to taste the Afanc's vengeance.
-(0)-(0)-(0)-
"Are you certain you've not been drinking tonight, sir?" Billy the dispatcher asked the very upset sounding man on the phone.
"No! Look, I told you what I saw. Why won't you believe me?"
Cracked, Billy thought. Completely nut-gone. Billy listened to the man tell his story again apathetically. He was far too used to these crazy midnight calls at the precinct. However, he did have to hand it to the man, he did at least sound earnestly terrified.
With a small cough, Billy stopped him, "So, I have it that you and you wife were driving down the M4 when an enormous creature flew over your heads, causing you to swerve and narrowly miss the car in the other lane. Is this correct?"
"Yes!" The man cried.
"And when you say 'enormous creature,' you mean this giant lizard with horns and wings and great big teeth, yeah? You called it a... dragon?" He was trying hard not to snicker at the caller.
"Look you!" The caller said angrily. "There was a dragon on the M4. I swear it! It threw a car and all!"
"Alright, sir. Alright. I've got your statement, I'm sure one of our officers will be in touch." Billy said methodically, stifling a yawn with the back of his hand.
The man hissed into the phone and simply hung up. Well, good riddance- Suddenly the board lit up like a firework, lights twinkling and flashing with incoming calls. What was all this?
He picked up the line. "Help!" A very elderly sounding lady was yelling, "My doggie, Gerdie, she was just attacked by a – a fairy!"
"Oh, right." Billy said, slightly miffed. Dragons and fairies. What were they playing at? Had to be some sort of hoaxers.
He simply hung up on the lady and answered the next call. This had better be a murder or a burglary or something...normal. The next call I get about magical creatures, I'm going to go off!
"MeandJoeyandConnieandMalcom,wewusoverbythepub,andthenJoeysaystoConnie 'Lookatthattreewalkinginthero ad,'ya?Andisays'treesdon'twalk,stupid!AndJoeyjust goesrightuptothebloodything,ya?Anditjustpickedhimupintheair , andthenitthrewhimdowntheroad likehewasnuffing!AndI-" Click.
"Dude, I think I just saw a unicorn outside my wind-" Click.
"There's been someone in me yard! All the bins are upside down and I swear I saw these little furry-" Click.
Throwing his headphones on the desk, Billy yelled, "RIGHT! THAT'S IT!" He threw open the door to the street and looked around. All he could see was a perfectly normal street with perfectly normal cars and perfectly normal people -
And then he saw it. Just above the tree line, a head sticking out and lumbering forward. A head of man far too large to be real. A giant. Just like from a fairy tale.
Five seconds later, he flew through the station doors. "Boys, I'm going down the pub! First round's on me!" He then abruptly turned and stormed out.