The Krottorus Fables: Stolen Children Of The Winter

By Luke Cutler

When Rudsek awakes from his slumber after getting caught in a sudden blizzard, found and nursed back to health by a complete stranger. Questioning his motives and eager to leave and carry on his travels. Learns of dark omens plaguing the village, and asked to investigate further into the omens and their causes before a reckoning occurs in the newly acquainted village.

Can Rudsek solve the mystery and figure out the meaning behind the omens before the reckoning comes to the village or destroy the village himself trying to solve it?

Stolen Children Of The Winter is a novella set in The Krottorus Fables Dark-Fantasy series. With fresh mysteries and lore, Gods and their slayers, Magic and all new creatures in an ever-expanding world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9781447725596

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Copyright © 2023 by Luke Cutler

All Rights Reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced by mechanical, electronic, recording or photocopying without prior written consent from the publisher.

ISBN:978-1-4477-2559-6

Stolen Children Of The Winter

Chapter One

The northern continents have always been considered to be the harshest of all the lands throughout Krottorus with its year-round freezing temperature and unique creatures, making it home to only a select few willing to brave these lands and call it home

Wandering atop the frozen lake with nothing in sight but a white haze in every direction obstructing my view. With no shelter or resources for a fire. I have no other choice but to push through the unforgiving blizzard that had fallen upon me as if being tested by the gods as they watch from their skies looking down on my suffering.

As my body slowly starts to lose its colouring over time, becoming a worrying shade of blue as the coldness takes root, becoming the sole thought on my mind.

Each step became more draining than the last, a constant fight against the brisk winds stealing the breath away from my chest, making the feat of a single step enough to make anybody struggle.

Owning nothing but my clothes and my blade on my back and the dozen or so fish that I intend to sell for a small amount of coin.

With each passing step, the snow crunched under my boots, submerging my feet and lower legs and forcing them forward with each step, fighting the constant resistance pushing against me, as if the blizzard was determined to keep me trapped in its vortex, refusing to release me from its grasp. As if testing my strength and my resolve.

Doing my best to push through the pain, covering my face as best as I can, my thick white scarf and my long, grey, furred robe dragging through the snow with each passing step were my only sources of warmth; the only way I had a chance to make it through.

Snowflakes catch on my beard, turning it from a dark black to a frost white as the flakes become trapped, entangling and forming clumps of snow, weighing me down further, freezing the bottom half of my face, my teeth chattering together from the cold.

With each passing second, my body gets colder and colder; with each passing hour, my body would start to develop pneumonia.

My feet and hands were already turning a vibrant blue, developing the early stages of frostbite. I could still move them but it took a vast amount of energy that I didn’t have to spare.

I must have been walking for hours but there is still no sign of civilization, or even the blizzard showing any sign of letting up its unrelenting bombardment.

Distant noises could be heard, though difficult to figure out from which direction as the snow muffled them; with each direction looking the same, I’m becoming slightly more concerned as the distant noises become closer, closing in from what seemed like every direction all at once.

It was hard to make out amongst the roaring of the blizzard, but as the distance between me and those noises gradually shortened inch by inch, one thing became glaringly obvious - it wasn’t another human. Growling continuously piercing through the air between us.

The hairs on my arms stand up on their points as the sounds send a chill down my spine causing my whole body to fill with unnerving angst. A dark silhouette forms amongst the blizzard as the unknown creature draws nearer.

The animal’s outline emerged through the blanket of snowflakes raining down on us both. Slowly reaching for my dagger, I removed it from my belt, grasping it tightly in my right hand, preparing for a fight. My eyes widened at the sight of a single hyokla baring its fangs at me, teeth snarling as saliva ran from its mouth in desperate hunger, on the hunt for its prey. Unfortunately, that was me.

I wiggled my feet in the snow to allow some extra room to pivot my feet, knowing that it would be impossible to fight with the snow confining my movement.

My eyes are fixed solely on the hyokla that stands before me. Stalking me. Observing my movements just as I observe them.

Prowling in circles as I follow it with my eyes all of a sudden one becomes two circling me in opposite directions and two become three.

It wasn’t just one hyokla, it was a pack of them. Each sported a large mane and thick, spotted coats, their light footwork allowing them to walk on top of the snow with ease, each prowling rings around me as I do my best to recover my mobility.

Gritting my teeth at the unsavoury situation I appear to be in, unable to escape and left with no alternative but to stand my ground and face them.

My breathing was already strained from exhaustion. With every inch of my body already tightening from the cold, I was just able to bring my fingers together to grip my dagger's handle as I lowered my hood and brought my blade up towards my chest holding a defensive stance, ready for the fight.

Their footsteps are muffled but not completely silent; there is a subtle crunch when they get ready to attack as they push off the ground with their hind legs for an extra burst of speed to close the distance.

One rushes behind, widening its jaw as it lunges towards me, latching onto my arm as I raise to guard, its fangs sink in, piercing my flesh, drawing blood from my arm.

Building up a muster of energy as the adrenaline kicks in, I lift the beast and toss it over my head, smashing it into the snow behind me.                   Unfortunately, the snow cushions the blow as the other two observe from a distance. The hyoklas soon got back to their feet as if it wasn’t even phased by being flung through the air.

As I stand observing it shaking off the snow stuck to its fur and recovering its lost mobility, blood drains from my arm, dripping down and mixing in with the snow at my feet turning it crimson red.

Dammit, I groan in frustration, holding my wounded arm, agony pulsing in time to my heartbeat as the beast looks on, my blood dripping from its mouth.

Not getting a chance to recover though, as another one rushes at me from the side going straight for my neck, as if the beast is acting purely instinct. I manage to duck just in time narrowly managing to avoid what would've been a lethal strike. Quickly reacting to the beast grabbing my blade swinging it upwards in a desperate attempt to cause any damage that may slow it down.

The edge of my dagger pierces the beast's flesh as if it were slicing a block of cheese. Its body flew above me, ragdolling as it landed through the snow.

The hyokla’s never giving me a chance to worry about the kill I'd just performed. My direction immediately turns to the two that are left prowling from a distance concealing themselves in the blizzard, each waiting for an opportunity to strike me when I'm least expecting it.

Caught off guard, when they both charged me simultaneously, emerging from the sheet of snowflakes that kept them shrouded. They hastily close the distance from opposite directions unsure of how to counter them, all I can do is act on instinct and trust my gut, as they swiftly approach.

My heart pounds faster and