Another cool night had dawned upon the land of Darkwood, yet despite the cold weather the lakeside town was quite active. Many people were gathering in the plaza, where a large stage had been set up for an impending show. Word had gotten around about a traveling performance and Darkwood's townsfolk were eager to get in on the entertainment. Benches and chairs had been set before the stage and many people took seats, gossiping and sharing concessions as they awaited the show. One young boy and his father sat near the front, the father looking about for his wife. Once the stage music started, everyone had cheered as the curtains on the stage opened, revealing what looked like a human puppet. It was a faceless puppet wearing what looked like a circus master's outfit complete with a top hat and cane. A blue flame appeared on the puppet's head where one of its eyes would be, and it bowed to the watching crowd. It spoke with a soothing, kind voice befitting of a storyteller.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. I thank all of you for joining me on this night.I have traveled across many lands to bring the tales of adventure, legends, tragedies and heroic turmoils. Tonight, I bring to this land the tale of the famed Wolf Prince and his guardians, and their battle against the evil Witch of the Sun. The Wolf Prince and his people were sworn servants of the lovely Lady of the Moon, who has forever blessed them with their vitality, peace and prosperity. The servants of the Moon, the wolves, served as the guardians and peacekeepers of the night, as thanks to the Lady of the Moon for her blessing. By day, the Witch of the Sun brings her hunters to seek out the wolves, who are seen as her sworn enemies and protectors of her rival of the eternal sky."
During his introduction, the puppet storyteller was lifted into the curtains above the stage out of sight, and in his place was a scene of a forest with various puppets depicting wolves and beautiful maidens that represented the Lady of the Moon and the Witch of the Sun.
As this host presented his introduction to the story, the crowd was silent, leaning forward in their seats as they became enraptured in the tale.
"That one looks like mommy..."
The young boy with his father whispered, pointing towards the red-haired puppet that represented the Witch of the Sun. The father patted him on the head and nodded, while still glancing about for his wife and the boy's mother. The puppet storyteller's voice continued.
"It had been long told that the Witch of the Sun and the Lady of the Moon once fought against each other for 100 years, with the Lady of the Moon being ultimately victorious. She did not choose to destroy the Witch immediately, and instead chose to banish the Witch from the sky to take on a mortal form, to teach her a lesson. The Witch, hateful towards the Lady and spiteful for being cast from the sky, sought revenge by creating a cult that worshipped the sun and led hunts against the Moon's most loyal servants, the wolves. These hunts went on for many decades, until at last the Wolf Prince, the Lady's most loyal servant, led his most valiant comrades to find and hunt down the Witch to free his people....."
Deep within a forest, where only a few beams of moonlight had leaked through the overhanging branches and leaves, a group of young men and a red-haired woman ran frantically through the forest. Far behind them, the sound of a group of wolves howling echoed through the forest. This howl carried to the lakeside town, where many of the listeners noticed in awe. To them, they believed it was part of some magic of the show, as before them the puppets that depicted the 'Wolf Prince' and his wolves were dashing through the deep forests, chasing down the fleeing Witch and her hunters.
"The Witch had a great number of hunters at her beck and call, but even she had not anticipated the strength and power of the noble Wolf Prince. Many of her hunters fell to their vengeance, and with a great fear of her life, the Witch and her few remaining hunters sought to escape the forest domain of the wolves. The Wolf Prince would not allow this witch, who had slaughtered many of his loved ones, to escape. They chased their quarry through the night, with their watchful Lady of the Moon guiding their hunt with her brilliant silver gaze. The Witch's time was near!"
One of the men following the red-haired woman had tripped over a root, and the others had only a moment to look before seeing the pack of wolves appear from the darkness of the forest. The fallen man was left to his death of tearing and rending fangs as the others continued their escape. The group continued through the forest, hoping to reach its edge yet it almost seemed like the light of their path, which came from the moonlight, was leading them astray. Another howl came from behind them as the wolf pack drew closer. Two of the four remaining men drew their swords and volunteered to stay back while the two other men and the woman continued onward. Several of the wolves quickly took down the two men while the rest of the pack continued their pursuit. The wolves flanked around the trees on the outside of the moonlit path until they managed to reach an area just ahead of the fleeing group of people.
"Having outsmarted the Witch, the Wolf Prince stared down his prey, yet the Witch of the Sun was not ready to go down without a fight. Her bravest and strongest hunters stood before her, wielding blade and arrow to slay the mighty Wolf Prince. One stray arrow had almost made its target in the beast's heart, yet one of his comrades had dove forth and taken the arrow, saving his prince and honoring the Lady of the Moon. With a howl of grief, the Wolf Prince charged forth with newfound fury and quickly struck down the evil hunters. The Witch, now without her escort, was left to face the justice of the Moon and her servants!"
The two remaining men that had escorted the woman were now lifeless, their throats torn out while the remaining wolves, including one particularly large one, converged on the helpless woman. She cried out for help, but none would hear her in the depths of the woods. The large wolf looked down at its side, seeing one of its dead comrades with an arrow buried in its chest. This sight caused it to growl loudly and glare at the woman with a snarl.
"With vengeance and sorrow in his heart, the Wolf Prince had brought down the fury of the Moon upon the evil Witch!"
The crowd gasped as the wolf puppet had lunged upon the red-haired witch puppet, which immediately burst into flames. As it burned, the wolf puppet lifted its snout to imitate the motion of a wolf howling. This was accompanied by the sound of a distant howl within Shadowfang forest. The crowd applauded, and the puppet storyteller descended upon the stage once more with a bow. The young boy with his father looked about as he clapped.
"I wonder where mommy is......."
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