Free B006T5JMRC EBOK by Aya Knight Page A

from the small square opening she had tried to squeeze through. His muscles ached as he battled his fatigue. The deceased body inched forward, until the woman’s feet slipped down from the window frame. Kale released his grip around the torso as her body crumpled to the ground in an abnormally grotesque position. Her neck bent to the side, and Kale could see that beneath her auburn locks was a hole where her face had been eaten away from the skull. He cringed. Even for a dragon who devoured animals whole, this was disgusting. A single eyeball remained, sagging loosely in globs of thick, oozy blood.
    Thomas peeked around the corner of the caravan, “How long must an old man wait?” As he saw the woman, he choked back the vomit that slid up his throat like a scorching volcano about to erupt.
    In a poor attempt to cover the bloody remnants of what once was a face, Kale picked up as many pine needles as he could fit within his grasp and tossed them onto the woman’s head.
    Thomas smacked his palm to his forehead in disbelief at his friend’s shameful method of hiding the corpse. He wrinkled his nose as he eyed Kale’s blood-smudged arms.
    “You are sleeping on the opposite side of the caravan, young man.” He waved a finger as he spoke. “Tomorrow we will need to find a clean source of water to hydrate and wash.” Although friends, Thomas often behaved as the adult and father figure of their relationship. Kale had lived longer than most humans; however, he was a juvenile among his kind with a great amount of immaturity and reckless behavior.
    Kale paid no attention to his sticky hands as he walked back toward Thomas. “Why do you think the monsloths ate only portions of these people? From the story you once told me, and from what I’ve seen tonight, I would think there would be nothing left of them.”
    “Well, I’ve never encountered their kind prior to tonight—I’ve only heard stories as well. I would assume they rummaged through the caravan and found that between the chunks of meat they indulged upon already and the stocked food within the vehicle, it was enough to satisfy their temporary needs.”
    Kale then explained to Thomas about the one who stalked him as he slept.
    “I’m sure they were returning to recover the bodies and bring them back. Then to their surprise, fresh meat had arrived.” Thomas shook his head, attempting to remain awake.
    Kale limped his way over to the caravan, planting his bottom onto the wood as he scooted toward the far end. He was completely exhausted.
    “Jumping balt toads, Kale, why didn’t you tell me you were wounded?! How did this happen?” Thomas earlier assumed Kale’s stagger to be due to the adjustment into a human body. “Let me have a closer look,” he demanded.
    Kale rolled his weary eyes, explaining to Thomas it was just a small wound and he would be fine after a little rest.
    Thomas dismissed Kale’s sorry attempt at pretending to put on a tough exterior. He firmly gripped Kale’s ankle and pulled the leg toward him to better analyze the injury. He pulled out his spectacles, placing them upon his face as he maneuvered himself to allow the light of the camp fire to illuminate his view.
    “My goodness...you hardheaded dragon.” He exhaled, “You were bitten by a monsloth—and don’t you dare try to deny it, boy. I once read a book which spoke of various venoms across Ravondore, and this is most definitely from a monsloth. I can’t tell whether your brain is filled with pride—or stupidity.” He continued to investigate the open wound, gently pressing against the sides as he watched a green pus-like substance squirt down Kale’s calf. The wound, having become infected at an accelerated rate, had already begun to fester and smelled putrid. Thomas increased the pressure on the red swollen tissue of the wound and Kale moaned in pain. “My, my.” He removed his spectacles, returning them to his pocket. “You’re in for a rough night, dear friend.”