The candle burns long into the night;
Lighting the path of padded feet with flickering flame.
The hooded figure presses on;
Cursing the darkened, clouded, skies.
A snapping twig on barren path
Breaks the sound of steady breath.
Pausing, turning, searching,
Seeing, cursing, running.
Candlelight extinguished;
path darkened to beyond recognition.
Shallow breath misting the air: short-lived.
Moss-covered cobblestone fence;
The ancient gate swings open:
Rusty hinges screeching like a dying animal.
Eyes, colored red like fresh blood, watching;
poised upon the steeple of decrepit temple.
The sudden twang and thwish of a loosed arrow
penetrates the silence.
The hooded figure drops to muddy knees;
shaft protruding from leather-armored chest.
Hunting Eyes approach in the thickening fog;
Sweeping over the fallen victim.
A Crow's call echoes in the night,
and the Hunter vanishes into darkness.