The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart by Jesse Bullington

worse. He still clutched his crossbow but the quarrels were back at camp. The ax had slipped out of its belt
     loop but Mary be praised, the mace had not. He shakily withdrew it, and spun around to face the thing that had creeped behind
     him. Again only the thick forest greeted him, and he went weak in the knees, keeping his feet by leaning against a mossy trunk.
    Manfried had to find his brother. They had played into the Devil’s hands, and if he did not find his brother soon they would
     both be undone. To call out might summon that thing instead of Hegel, though.
    Something splashed in the water, making Manfried hop into the air. He twirled around until he became dizzy, desperate to prevent
     being taken unawares. Only when he felt confident in his solitude did he peer into the stream.
    Squatting, Manfried lifted the metal scrap from the water. His trembling turned into violent spasms as he realized it was
     part of Horse’s bridle. A scratching came from over his shoulder, and slowly turning, he saw it.
    It climbed slowly down the tree he had leaned on moments ago. It went straight down the sheer trunk, digging its talons through
     the bark and into the wood. It took its time, smiling at Manfried.
    Manfried made to run but slipped on the moss and tumbled from the bank. He yelled his loudest, splashing in the water until
     he gained the opposite side. It crouched across the stream from him, tail swaying.
    “Hegel!” echoed through the trees and that Grossbart stopped, trying to determine where it came from. Either his brother lay
     close by or the nature of the wood amplified his voice. When no other sound followed save that of the nearby brook he again
     charged into the underbrush, intuition his only guide.
    It bounded over the water at Manfried. Blabbering prayers to Mary, he swung with his mace and grazed its scalp but it went
     low, knocking his legs out from under him. Fortunately its mouth held human teeth, the bite to his thigh only tearing his
     hose and bruising the skin before it jumped away, avoiding another clumsy swing of the mace.
    Pouncing onto a nearby boulder, it watched Manfried attempt to gain his feet. The bite had not damaged him but when it retreated
     it had kicked his calf with a rear paw. Blood welled out when he tried to stand, but he managed to get to his knees and heft
     his mace. He screamed wordlessly at it, and it descended upon him again.
    His mace smashed into its shoulder, sending it rolling away in a blur of lashing claws. He found the strength to stand but
     knew at his best he could not have outrun it and his left leg throbbed miserably. It scrambled upright and charged but stopped
     short of striking range and then began circling him, growling low in its throat.
    It moved quickly behind him, and with his wound he could not fully turn before it rushed in. It went for his hamstrings but
     Hegel burst from the trees, startling both of them. Manfried tripped over its back but avoided the claws. It dodged Hegel’s
     sword and leaped back across the creek, disappearing into the forest.
    “Get up,” Hegel hissed, helping his brother rise.
    Manfried swallowed, unable to speak.
    “Can you run?”
    Manfried shook his head, gesturing to his bloody leg.
    Hegel cursed, peering around.
    “Wrap it up,” Manfried finally croaked.
    “What?”
    “My leg. Tie it off, and I can run.”
    Hegel gave the wood a final going over and knelt down. Three nasty cuts marred the sullied hose covering his brother’s hairy
     calf and, wiping the blood away, Hegel tore his shirt and bound the wounds. That damnable laughter came again, and to their
     dismay it emanated from the thicket behind them. Hegel felt confident that if they broke the treeline they stood an honest
     chance to get away, depriving it of any cover to ambush them. He scampered along the creek, Manfried close at his heels despite
     the pain each step brought.
    They darted under branches and scrambled through brushwood, but within minutes