Phobia

Prologue
Direction: West. The wind was moving towards me in swift motions, signaling a storm. The clouds met in a gray frenzy as large beats of thunder smacked together in the air and my pulse quickened for a moment. I could smell them. They were seeking my body, hoping for my soul. They weren’t going to get it. Tingling and frozen fingers gripped the hilt of my sword. The silky fabric tangled around the handle and blew gently in the wind. A scent slipped under my nose and I was then glad the storm sent the wind in my favor. Within a few moments my body was in the air and perched upon a branch, eyes slanted, searching the horizon for swift movements. My hands gripped the branch for balance. The night had been long and my body could only endure so much, I was aching for sleep.
My mind was reeling as their scents continued to pass under my nostrils but they were nowhere in sight. I stifled my growl and slipped silently to the ground, my drop unnoticed among the howling winds. I would not be defeated, not again. Then, the clouds parted and the soft moon light shown upon the ground, all wind stopped and the storm’s speed slowed greatly, a man upon a large, cliff like rock, held his hands to the sky. “Shit.” Distant howling grew to growling and thrashing. I had controlled my beast. Damn it! He had sent newborns. “Fool.” Thrusting forward, my eyes didn’t leave the man, his tired eyes searching the forest for my being. The thrashing turned to thunderous slams of trees against the ground, and I struggled to train my body not to slack. Without the wind it was easier to move but harder to stay hidden. Then, from behind me a tree split in half and I bolted forward, not taking my eyes off of the man still. He was watching from the hidden depths of fear. Waiting for me. My screams. I wouldn’t hand him the satisfaction. Finally I was below the rock, I pounced. On top of the rock I viewed the man closely. Tattered clothing, rock and slacks, he seemed to be some sort of retired mage. The rings under his eyes signaled long nights, and the wrinkles upon his face showed old age. My fists bawled as I struggled with myself once more. “What do you want?” I growled. Tingling skin made shivers creep across me.
Light nails scratching across a chalk board, the man spoke, “You.”
I stifled laughter and replied with a smirk, “Sorry pal, I’m just not into that kind of stuff. But if you’d like, I’m sure there’s a hobo looking for a good time and is probably too drunk to notice how wrinkly you are.” My arms crossed in defiance as the thrashing trees behind me came to a halt and giant footsteps neared me. I had seemed to have struck a nerve in him because his fists were bawled and his head slanted to make his favor seem menacing, but he was continuously failing.
“You’ll pay for that one.” he whispered his response upon the wind.
Rolling my eyes I circled him. “If I wanted comeback,” I jumped at him, slamming his face with an open palm, breaking his nose and bringing his frail body to its knees. While he struggled to stop it from bleeding I took his head in my hands and swiftly cracked his neck, leaving his limp body to fully sink to the ground, finishing with, “I would’ve just wiped your mouth.”
My footsteps lagged as the wind swayed softly, welcoming the storm once more, but still, just as slowly as it did before. Confusion seeping into my pores and chills crumbled my spine as I heard growling from behind me. Finally my eyes widened in horror and I spun around to see a corpse standing, head tilting off of its shoulder and twitching madly. The eyes pinned on me and the stomach churning voice echoed, “Come and wipe it.”