20 Sep 2019, 04:27
Caught Red Handed
The castle was stifling. The walls slowly closed in around him, the idle chatter and scuffling of hundreds of students rung in his ears. His mind went in and out of focus as he tried to make it through the day. He could feel it in his guts, he could feel it in his claws and teeth. Like an office worker stuck in their cubicle his urge yearned to stretch it’s legs and be freed from the captivity. Howard did his best to suppress his nature but it nagged away at him like a smoker trapped in an airport. No, tonight he had to go. He had to hunt.
Howard would skip dinner in the Great Hall as the last moments of light slipped away into dusk. He flipped the hood of his robes over his head before tucking his arms into his sleeves and making his way towards the castle entrance. He had timed it well as the herd of students left dinner and made their way back to their common rooms. Although his appearance was striking, it was easy to get lost in the crowd. Few paid him any mind as he turned off into the Entrance Hall and with one last look over his shoulder he snuck out of the castle doors.
Howard took a few moments in the courtyard as the last rays of light fell below the horizon. Night had come and with it rose the predators. He would no longer have to shield his eyes or cover his skin from the harmful effects of the sun. It was the time for creatures of his nature, the time he could be his true self. Howard slid his hand over his head, removing the hood that covered his dome throughout the day and with a shrug of his shoulder he allowed his robes to fall from his back. He draped it over a nearby bench as it would do nothing but slow him down. Howard would retrieve it later upon his return. Looking ahead, the Dhampir eyed his target, the tree line to the Forbidden Forest. With a brisk walk, he took off towards it.
As he came to the edge of the forest, Howard would pause by the remains of a nearby tree. It was the one he always used when entering the Forbidden area of the Hogwarts grounds. He removed his shoes and socks, unbuttoned his shirt and left them all in a pile near the stump. Rolling up the legs of his pants, Howard crouched low and moved with great speed into the woods. He wouldn’t travel far before he found his prey.
The critters of the Forest were anything but a good meal, but they would sustain him. He kneeled down in a patch of moonlight that broke through the canopy of the woods as he fed upon his catch. However, a noise near the tree line would interrupt his meal. Howard rose and turned towards the disturbance. His flesh would appear ghostly white as the moonlight illuminated his pale skin. Blood would stain his lips and the palms of his hands as his bright red eyes locked with those of the intruder. A mixture of shock and fear would cross his face.
Howard would skip dinner in the Great Hall as the last moments of light slipped away into dusk. He flipped the hood of his robes over his head before tucking his arms into his sleeves and making his way towards the castle entrance. He had timed it well as the herd of students left dinner and made their way back to their common rooms. Although his appearance was striking, it was easy to get lost in the crowd. Few paid him any mind as he turned off into the Entrance Hall and with one last look over his shoulder he snuck out of the castle doors.
Howard took a few moments in the courtyard as the last rays of light fell below the horizon. Night had come and with it rose the predators. He would no longer have to shield his eyes or cover his skin from the harmful effects of the sun. It was the time for creatures of his nature, the time he could be his true self. Howard slid his hand over his head, removing the hood that covered his dome throughout the day and with a shrug of his shoulder he allowed his robes to fall from his back. He draped it over a nearby bench as it would do nothing but slow him down. Howard would retrieve it later upon his return. Looking ahead, the Dhampir eyed his target, the tree line to the Forbidden Forest. With a brisk walk, he took off towards it.
As he came to the edge of the forest, Howard would pause by the remains of a nearby tree. It was the one he always used when entering the Forbidden area of the Hogwarts grounds. He removed his shoes and socks, unbuttoned his shirt and left them all in a pile near the stump. Rolling up the legs of his pants, Howard crouched low and moved with great speed into the woods. He wouldn’t travel far before he found his prey.
The critters of the Forest were anything but a good meal, but they would sustain him. He kneeled down in a patch of moonlight that broke through the canopy of the woods as he fed upon his catch. However, a noise near the tree line would interrupt his meal. Howard rose and turned towards the disturbance. His flesh would appear ghostly white as the moonlight illuminated his pale skin. Blood would stain his lips and the palms of his hands as his bright red eyes locked with those of the intruder. A mixture of shock and fear would cross his face.