Nighttime Visitor

Walking over to the last pole, he looks down to the small stone in his hand. He sighs as he see the large crack that goes straight through the rune on the surface.

“Useless.” He mumbles as he throws the rock far into the corn field. Looking around he notices that other few farmers that lives around have already lightened their poles, and ready for when the sun finally descend behind the hills. They’re all hiding inside now. Hopefully.

Placing his hand on the wooden surface he takes a last look around just to be sure no once around. He then looks up at the pole and reaching within himself to find the hot fuel to his powers, his anger. Then what feels like strains of warm threads shoots out his arm, leaving a small tingle in his fingertips. Then the pole is lit with a bright fire on top.

A rustle from the nearby woods makes him quickly turn around. Taking a small step closer to the comforting light from the fire he looks to the sun. It's already over halfway down behind the hills casting long shadows stretching over the ground. His heart is pounding in his chest just by the thought of what might be hiding in them. Quickly he runs towards his house and just as he slams the door shut the sun is gone.

Sitting down in one of the chairs by the fireplace, he looks at the cold logs. With a small wave of his hand he summons a small flame and lets it fly over the floor and into the fireplace. The warm fire begins to rise from the wood. Slowly the heat starts to spread through the room.

Then the sounds begins. The natural sounds from the animals roaming the farmland is gone and replaced by unsettling noises of deep unnatural growls, hissing and what seems like distant screams of an animal he has never heard before.

Looking out the window he watches as the fires on top of the poles dances, casting both comforting and protective light around his property. They are placed just far enough so the light from each fire touches each other. There should be no shadows able to come through.

No one in their right mind will be wondering around now anyway, so he guess his wife won’t be coming home before tomorrow morning.

“Probably had one too many drinks again at the Inn.” He mumbles as he rises and walks over to the side of the fireplace and pulls out a few of the stones. Reaching in he takes out a wooden box with a symbol on it. The symbol of his clan. Opening it there are small trinkets that he has taken with him when he was cast out. And an even smaller box containing a few rare cigars. Grabbing one of them, he puts the box back in and puts the stones back in place before walking back to his chair.

Putting his finger on the end a small sliver on smoke starts to rise and he takes a deep breath and sighs while smoke comes out of his mouth. Leaning back in his chair, there are knocks at the door.

And he freeze.