it was nearly midnight when Holo shook Lawrence from his sleep, "Lawrence! lawrence!"

the merchant opened his eyes blearily, "hm? wha?"

she was panicking, her tail bristling, she looked around frantically, "the Plague Doctor...he's HERE!"

Lawrence sighed and sat up, "Listen Holo, he's a doctor, I don't know what you're worried about."

she grabbed him and shook him, "i told you, HE'S NOT A DOCTOR!"

Lawrence sighed and stayed her hands, "ok, ok, lets say he's not a doctor, what is there to worry about?"

there was a scream from across the street from the inn and Lawrence looked out the window, he saw the plague doctor, holding aloft a man that seemed to be dead, the plague doctor's left hand was imbedded it the man's chest, and Doctor Fell was holding the man by his ribcage.

"what the hell?"

Holo whined and her tail tucked between her legs, "we need to leave, NOW!"

Lawrence looked at her, he felt like he was about to vomit, "y-yes...we do...get your things...we'll go to the stable immediatley..."

Holo suddenly had an idea, "why don't we just rouse a rabble? a mob!"

Lawrence's face brightened up, "yea! that will take care of him!" he looked at Holo, who looked absolutely terrified, "well...still pack up...we might have to move..."

the merchant shot down the stairs and ran to the barkeep, "there's a murderer outside!"

the barkeep laughed, "what?"

Lawrence gestured frantically to the door, "we need to get a bit posse together and rush him!"

the barkeep growled, "if you're crying wolf I'll have you hung, but i see from the look on your face that you're not joking..."

"so you'll help?"

the barkeep got a large sword from his mantlepice and began knocking on doors, explaining the situation, soon about 15 able bodied men had assembled and walked out of the door to meet the Doctor.

suddenly a scream was heard, the door slid back open, a large man had been impaled into the door by a long throwing knife, Lawrence looked into the man's dying eyes and knew that they needed to go.

Lawrence ran up the stairs to see Holo holding his backpack, a hopeful look oh her face, he took her hands and kissed her, she blushed as he tugged her down the stairs, "we need to get to the stables."

the exited the building to see the crowd converging on the doctor, he had out two shortswords, Holo pulled her hood over her face and allowed Lawrence to lead her to the cart, suddenly something collided with her, she fell forward with a cry, Lawrence turned to see the lower half of a man, it looked like it had been torn from the rest of it's owner, he pulled Holo to her feet and the two ran for the cart, as they turned the corner, they heard the doctor laughing maniacally as he tore through the crowd.

once they reached the stables, Lawrence hastily lashed the horse to the wooden structure as he hefted Holo into the back, "Stay low."

she obeyed wordlessly as she smelled blood on her cloak, she shuddered and curled into the fetal position.

soon Lawrence lashed the horse with a whip and it took off into the night, they believed they were home free, however, a blade impaled itself in the wooden frame of the cart, Lawrence realized they had stopped, he looked back to see the doctor holding a rope attatched to the blade, "thought you could get away this time?"

suddenly, a rage boiled up in Holo, she stood up in the cart and howled at the doctor, the gale force sending him off his feet, Lawrence whipped the horse and it left the scene at a gallop, leavign the bewildered plague doctor behind.

Doctor Fell stood to his feet and took notes, "a howl...so not fox ears...wolf ears...the man traveling with her...a lover? a slave? a love slave? we shall soon see..."

with that, he walked after them, once more following their tracks, whilst wiping the blood from his uniform.