But my attention, and that of the village, was on Sener. He was a strange one, that Sener. Of course in such a rural village as Holly was, anyone who was not born and raised here was considered strange but Sener was strange even by Holly standards.
I remembered when Sener first showed up, about three months ago, right after the last of the winter's snows had melted away. He had ridden a horse into town, which would have been enough to mark him as a noble or at least, well off, but his clothes, though dirty and stained, were of fine cut. No one had seen anyone like him before. He gave his name simply as “Sener”, which pleased me since that was my grandfather's name and confusingly enough, the name of the Holly's mayor.
The mayor had accorded the welcome he would give a noble, though no one was sure exactly what Sener was. It was possible he was a runaway lord with the civil war going on, though the war was far away from Holly. No one bothered with a small village in the foothills of the Grey Mountains. No one in town even knew the name of the duke, or even what duchy we were in; East Midlands? East Essex? Did it really matter?
Sener lived in Hilda's hut on the outskirts of town, presumably helping the old hag with chores but no one asked him. He came into town now and then to get water from the well and seemed nice to everyone but didn't talk too much. Every few weeks he would vanish for a few weeks on his horse before finally returning.
I met Sener down by the well one summer morning. Sener was dressed in plain brown clothes that made him fit in better with the rest of the people though the way he carried himself would set still set him apart. Sener was lowering the bucket down, my own bucket placed at my feet. I came up to him and stood there, waiting my turn.
“Excuse me,” Sener said.
“Yes?” I didn't exactly what to say. Maybe Sener was just trying to make small talk. If so, why did it feel so awkward?
“I thought all the men and boys worked in the mines.”
“Oh, well, most of them, us, do, yes. Aigefan is a trader and Mayor Sener is a blacksmith. If there is a pot or pan in use, chances are he made or repaired it.”
“And you?”
“I am apprenticing to my father. He's a trapper.”
“This is Catchotochk. Does your father hunt it?”
I shook my head, “No. Sometimes the mayor will send out hunting parties but they never have been able to catch or kill it.”
“Interesting.” Sener tapped his pursed lips. The hauled the bucket of water up, “Thank you...”
“Wade.”
“Thank you for the information, Wade.”
I nodded, “You are welcome.”
I watched as Sener took his bucket and walked away. I lowered my bucket down into the darkness. The water in the well came from Lake Hoarfrost, up above in the mines, in the Grey mountains. A stream flowed out of the lake, over a waterfall then a short distance later disappeared underground, flowing right under Holly before reemerging a few miles away down the valley. I had once climbed up to the shores of Lake Hoarfrost with my cousin Jimy, but there was nothing to be seen except the stillness of it. No trolls came down to far shore like grandpa said they used to.
My bucket was full. I pulled it up and returned to the house, wondering what Sener was doing at this moment.
#
“I talked to Sener while getting water.” I announced at dinner. My father, a large man of few words raised his head.
“Oh?”
My mom didn't say a word. She just looked at my father.
“He asked about the Catchotochk.”
My father grunted and returned his attention to eating. I weighed saying something else.
“He's welcome to it.” My father said abruptly, “I don't think the mayor will give him any reward, though.”
“Would it be better for business if the Catchotochk were killed?”
My dad shrugged again. “Even if it went away tomorrow, it's not the mink will return the next day. A predator like this scares them away for a while.”
My mom frowned. Without being able to sell furs, times would be tough. Last time the Catchotochk came things got so bad my father considered working in the mines and me along with him. Luckily, we had had avoided that fate. Maybe we'll get lucky again.
“You should stay away from Sener.” My mom said. “He's...strange.”
“I'd say.” My dad grunted.
“I will.” I lied then resumed eating.
#
That night, I lay awake in my bed. I looked out the window to the moon lit forest beyond the backyard. The tall pines were silent sentinels, rising into the night. Beyond them in the darkness would be the Catchotochk. I could hear it's calls echo in the mountains that surrounded Holly on three sides. Higher up in the mountains lived trolls but I had only seen one at distance when I younger. I couldn't sleep so I just lay there, looking out the window, wondering about the Catchotochk and how long it would stay this time. All summer? One month like three years ago? Before the summer three years ago the Catchotochk hadn't appeared in five years. No one knew where the Catchotochk came from or why it came. To me it was baffling that it was just accepted for what it was.
I drifted off to sleep then woke up abruptly. I may have been a asleep only an hour. The Catchotochk was still out there, calling out. I turned my head and caught movement in our backyard. I got out of bed and looked closer. It was Sener, sword in hand, jogging into the forest. I watched him vanish and waited to see him return. The Catchotochk went silent. Did Sener kill it?
Sener didn't return, at least while I was awake though the sound of the Catchotochk did return before dawn. Maybe Sener had been killed by the Catchotochk. I knew the way rumors spread through Holly and it wouldn't be long before word got out.
#
I tried to find any excuse to go to the well and see if I could find Sener, but my mom and dad kept me busy at the house doing chores. I managed to sneak out but didn't see Sener at the well and I didn't dare ask anyone. At dinner, my parent's didn't mention anything so I just let it go, turning it over and over in my mind.
Three nights later, I got my answer when I spotted Sener once more heading in to the woods behind the house. I watched him vanish, listening to the wind in the trees and the call of the Catchotochk. The calls of the Catchotochk grew distant, as if it was running away from Sener. Then they went silent.
Two days later, I found Sener at the well. He looked more tired than I remembered seeing him. He didn't seem to notice me as he lowered his bucket down into the well. I put my bucket down. It was then he noticed me.
“Hello, Wade.”
“Hello, Sener. How goes things?” Did I dare ask him about his late night forays into the forest? Turns out I didn't have to.
“Hello Wade. Mind if I ask you something?”
“No, go ahead.”
“I have been trying to track down this Catchotochk but I don't know the woods here at all. Do you think your father would help me?”
“Maybe if you paid him.” I said.
Sener tapped his pursed lips then said, “I am low on coin, that's why I work for my food and shelter. But does seems strange that something like this Catchotochk wouldn't be the cause of alarm here.”
I shrugged, “I've wondered that too but it seems like the weather. It comes and goes. It is what it is. I once asked what duchy we were in and not even the mayor knew.”
Sener thought for a moment, “East Midlands. Holly is too far north for East Essex.”
“I never knew that.”
I watched Sener pull up the bucket and set it down next to the well, “How about you? Would you willing to help me? I assume you know these woods?”
“I do.” I said. “Not as well as my father, though. I don't think he'd let me help you, though. I could ask, if you want.” Actually I wouldn't ask. I would just go help him. It wasn't hard to be excited by the prospect of hunting down the Catchotochk. Better than just sitting around waiting for it to leave on it's own.
“Why don't you ask him.
It can't hurt matters. Oh by the way, can you use a sword?”
“Every male can. It's been a tradition since the founding of the kingdom.”
“I'm surprised the tradition is kept here.”
“You are? Why? Do they not keep it where you come from?”
Sener chuckled, “No, no. It's just Holly is so remote...”
“We have troll trouble sometimes.” I snapped then caught myself, “I'm sorry.”
“No, it's okay, Wade. My apologies.”
“My great grandfather served along side Harold the Conqueror. He and several of his friends from the army settled here to mine iron. In the past the town has been attacked by trolls but few are ever seen anymore.”
“Interesting.” Sener said, thinking, “The old hag awaits. Do let me know what your father says, okay?”
“I will.”
#
I lay awake, listening as my parents went to bed and the house fell silent. I tied the laces of my shores together and hung them over my shoulder then went to my wardrobe, opening it and pushing aside clothes. Hanging on a peg in the back was my sword. I hadn't touched it a year. It was my very first sword, a short, light weight blade designed for cutting and slashing, more a defensive weapon. I took it out and bucked it on.
I briefly adjusted the sword belt as I crept through the dark house to the small back door and unlatched it, feeling the chill of the night air wash over me. It wasn't cold out but cool, dew already forming on the grass. I put on my shirt then went outside, closing the door behind me. The moon up was up and the sky clear. I could hear the Catchotochk in the distance. I put on my shoes and went to the edge of the woods and waited, letting my eyes adjust to the darkness then I just listened to the sounds of the night and waited. Would Sener show up?
I yawned. Looking back at the house I could see it was still dark, so no one had discovered I was gone. I leaned against the tree, feeling myself relaxing. I yawned again and heard someone coming toward me. I opened my eyes. It was Sener!
“Sener.” I whispered.
Sener froze and raised his sword, leveling it at me then a moment later lowered. “Ah, Wade. You startled me. Good thing I paused before gutting you.”
“Yes.”
“So your father gave you permission to come out here?”
“Not really.”
Sener nodded. “Okay then. I assume you know these woods.”
“Yes.”
“Lead on then, Wade. I'll follow you.”
I drew myself and led Sener into the woods. I wasn't sure I liked being in the lead but soon the darkness of the woods enveloped me I concentrated on walking. Not too far away was the stream, a shallow, fast moving stream that had no name. Crossing it was easy, jump from one boulder to the next. Then onto the far shore.
The land on the other side of the stream was steep with large boulders. The pines drew closer but I knew my way. Over there was a deep cave that was home to a large number of bats, over there a pile of boulders I used to play in when I was younger.
The Catchotochk called out again ahead. I was pretty sure it was in a meadow up near the top of the hill, a circular opening the forest. If we continued this way, we'd arrive in a few minutes but going straight ahead wasn't going to work. I paused.
“What is wrong Wade?”
“Nothing. We'll go up Farmon's Gully and come around back of the clearing.”
“Okay.”
I moved in the darkness once more, around a giant boulder, waited for Sener. Then across a ditch and up a steep hill. The forest seemed to recede away from me. Then before I realized it we were in Farmon's Gully, a steep sided gash in the hill. I have no idea who Farmon was. Maybe I'll ask my father sometime.
Thinking of that reminded me about how angry he would be if found out I was out here. My father wasn't one to spank or beat someone. He had never done either to me my whole life but if I didn't come home before he woke up or worse, came back injured, I'm not sure he would able to check his temper.
I put those thoughts aside as I concentrated on hiking the increasingly steep gully. Somewhere off to the right would be the Catchotochk. My legs had just started to ache when we reached the top of the gully, which was a large flat area before another ridge rose. Sener was right behind me. I paused again.
“We'll go across this ridge then across another stream. This actually an old troll trail.”
“Lead on.”
I did following the trail. Up here the mink were easy to find, inhabiting the area around the stream. They sometimes came down the stream behind the house but were common up here. This was the first area my father and I hunted mink in the years when the Catchotochk wasn't around.
The call of the Catchotochk was louder now. Goosebumps ran up and down my arms. I shivered. We were getting closer. I slowed down our pace as we reached stream, which was narrow but deep and fast flowing. I looked it over.
“We'll have to jump.”
“Okay.”
I jumped, briefly panicking as my back feet missed the other side of the stream. Sener grabbed hold of me, steadying. “Thank you.”
He nodded in the darkness. I led us on toward the Catchotochk.
#
There it was, the Catchotochk. We knelt behind a fallen log at the edge of the clearing the Catchotochk stood in. Having never seen it before I was struck by how much it looked a chicken, a tall thin house sized chicken. Instead of feathers there were scales which shone in the moon light and when it opened it's mouth I could see sharp fangs.
The Catchotochk just stood there with it's back to us, calling out, it's head swiveling from side to side. It was oddly mesmerizing, so much so I nearly jumped out of my skin when Sener touched my shoulder and gestured for me to follow him back.
“You sense it too, don't you?” He whispered into my ear.
I nodded.
“I think that's why no one in your village seemed to want to come after it. It's like it has some sort of hypnotic spell it radiates.”
I nodded again. That perfect sense. It certainly made sense why my father would give up his livelihood waiting out the Catchotochk and why the presence of such a large animal nearby never really seemed to bother anyone until now.
“I have a plan. It is dangerous so if you want out, say so now.”
I didn't hesitate in shaking my head.
“Okay. Here's the plan. You'll go back to the log while I circle around to the other side of the clearing. Once you see me, distract the Catchotochk and I'll attack.”
“What if the Catchotochk comes after me?”
“I don't think it will but if does, run. I won't have any trouble finding you.”
“Okay.”
“Good, let do this.”
I watched Sener move off to my left. I crept forward to the log, which I knelt behind, watching the Catchotochk. My heart began to race and my palms became sweaty. I wiped my sword hand several times as I scanned the darkness around the clearing, waiting. I saw movement ahead of me and to my left. I couldn't tell if was Sener or not. Maybe it was a deer. I took a deep breath and charged out, sword in hand,
The Catchotochk's head whipped around to me and it opened it's beak, letting out a shriek that was loud enough to wake all of Holly. No matter. I raised my sword, preparing to fend off whatever the giant beast had in store.
I heard someone let out a cry and a moment later the Catchotochk turned and it's head and moved off toward the other end of the clearing, letting out another shriek. I trotted after it, watching it move with surprising speed toward Sener, who swung at it, dodging the Catchotochk's bites. It was all happening so fast!
I reached the vicinity of the Catchotochk just as it kicked out, sending Sener flying backward.
“Sener!”
The Catchotochk whipped around to face me. I raised my sword, feeling hopeless as it moved fluidly toward me. I snapped out of it in time to run out of the way just as a clawed foot slammed into the ground next to me. I could feel it behind me as I ran.
/>
Tripped and landed flat on my face, my sword flying out of my hand. I rolled on my back in time to see the Catchotochk over me, ready to strike the fatal blow with his toothy break. Closed my eyes and waited.
The Catchotochk let out another scream. I opened my eyes. Sener had stabbed it and bright red blood gushed out of a wound in it's side. I crawled forward and grabbed my sword as the Catchotochk whirled to face Sener, kicking out. Sener dodged, then dodged again. I grabbed my sword and got to my feet in time to see Sener dodge again, but not quite in time. The Catchotoch moved in for the final, killing blow.
I ran up behind the Catchotoch and stabbed futility, praying that I distracted the beast long enough for Sener to recover. I felt my sword penetrate between the Catchotoch's scales, cutting into bone and flesh. The Catchotoch shifted and I lost my grip on my sword.
Sener was there. He swung once, dodged the Catchotoch's stabbing beak then stabbed with his sword, driving in deeply into the Catchotoch's chest. The Catchotoch let out an unearthly scream then crumbled to the ground, death, blood pouring out from the wound Sener inflicted on it. I let out a long breath of relief. It was over.
Sener pulled his sword from the Catchotoch and trotted over to me. “Are you alright, Wade?”
I nodded.
Sener wiped sweat from his forehead. “You saved my life back there.”
I didn't know what to say. It seemed like a fading dream now. I nodded.
“C'mon, let's get back to town.”
#
Two weeks after the Catchotoch was killed, Sener left, probably for good. Summer turned into fall then came the long hard winter. Spring came at last and with it word that the the civil war had ended and there was a new king. Not long after that word spread throughout Holly that the new king was going to visit the town.
No king, no duke or even a housecarl had ever visited Holly. Doubtless no one would bother unless the iron ore stopped flowing, maybe not even then. Holly wasn't the only place in the kingdom that supplied iron. But still, it was exciting, a once in a lifetime event. I dressed in my best green tunic and tights and gathered with the rest of town by the well.
Soon the sound of horses could be heard, coming up the road. People staying point and whispering to each other. I strained to see but couldn't. Mayor Sener stood before the well in his best clothes of purple and gold, hands folded before him. I looked and saw why everyone was pointing and talking.