Tainted Soul

The wind whistled by him. His breath came in puffs of steam.Snowflakes fell around him as they coated everything inwhite and reflected the full moon's glow.Jonna leaped to the top of a white-coated log. While hislungs labored in the winter air, his legs stretched witheach bound. Snow spilled down. However, despite thecold, his digits remained warm. He raced into the upperreaches of a tree and paused on a small plateau.The voice of Lord Conall echoed through the forestbehind him. "You owe me. The debt must be paid."Below him, through the underbrush, two stone altarscaught his attention. On one lay an elvish woman. Onthe other lay a human female. Both were strapped withleather ties. Neither appeared conscious. A runicdagger hovered between them."Owe you what?" Jonna challenged into the wind.The voice changed from male to female as Esti,a vulkodlak, answered, "Run, Jonna, run!"