Hurrying along past the very concerning shadow, you maintained nonchalance as best as you could. Yep, nothing to see here…
“Ida- Ida.” Feeling like a kid trying to get mom’s attention by tugging on her sleeve, you matched her crunching step. “I saw something by the trees back there… You, uh- y’might wanna check it out.”
Gazing into the distance, she contemplated your call for a moment. A career in monster hunting lends you acutely sympathetic to timid civilians. “Very well.”. Following in her path as she pivoted, the Hounds traveled not ten paces.
Your hunch made itself apparent. Shambling from the brush, this humanoid figure of dangling flesh and ooze groaned some last, rotting breath. Oh my god. It looked like every zombie movie you’d ever seen!
Despite its apparent weakness, the collective leap back the group took led you to believe this was serious. Scared yourself, you followed. The only one who didn’t cower was Ida.
In one swift movement, she pushed her body forward, driving the blade of her dagger up through the creature’s jaw with a sickening crunch. There was so much force in that one strike that its sinewy skull was knocked completely off of its shoulders! Tumbling to the grass with a squelch, the body took a few stumbling steps. It collapsed to the ground.
She sighed, “Well...” Wiping clean the knife on her coat, Ida turned back to the group. “I don’t suppose we found what we came for?”
Uproariously, the Hounds cheered and planned the new trophy’s place behind the bar at the grand edifice of rivalry they charged towards to celebrate their recent kill!
While at the same time, you trailed behind the uproar. You were unsure about this monster hunting business and how much you wanted to be involved. I mean- you’d just seen a real life, flesh and blood zombie get decapitated. It was a lot to process!
“That was a good eye, traveler.”
The voice in the darkness made you jump! Oh, it was Ida… Slipping away from the mess, your guide had joined you at the back of the pack. Trying her best to raise your spirits, she insisted on her comfort. “Please, have the honor…”
In the darkness, you couldn't quite make out what Ida pushed into your still shaky hands. Yellow in the gas lamps you held your prize up to, the head of poor Mr. Whoever squinted from the light. It blinked at you.