Diana was up early, preparing breakfast for Sanzher in their quaint home. Sanzher stirred as the waft of fresh food engulfed his senses. As he shuffled in the bed, scrambling up to sit, Diana emerged with a plate of grilled fish, tomatoes and a rusk of bread.
''You looked so peaceful. I didn't want to wake you,'' she said placing his breakfast on his lap.
''What time is it?'' Sanzher asked planting his fork into a tomato.
''The first bell rang nearly an hour ago. How did you sleep, my love?''
Sanzher looked at his wife, unsure whether she remembered the events that transpired the previous night. Diana was brimming with energy and a revived sense of freedom that Sanzher hadn't noticed until today. She had always been a quiet woman, meek at times even.
''I slept quite fine, my love,''
''I know!'' she said wearing a wry smile.
She must've woken up with her sleeping gown still hoisted above her hips Sanzher thought to himself.
''Eat up now, you must regain your strength, my love,''
Sanzher took heed and continued to shovel large mouthfuls of the delicious grilled fish, breaking off large hunks of the loaf he had. He washed it all down with goblet of fresh milk Diana had collected whilst he was still in slumber.
After freshening up, Sanzher met with Aleksandr at the start of the forest. Aleksandr was setting a few traps to protect the village livestock when Sanzher arrived to lend him a hand.
''Where have you been? I'm halfway done!'' Aleksandr stated with his temper already flaring.
''Calm down, brother. I'm here now,'' Sanzher said kneeling beside Aleksandr.
''Did you hear what happened last night?''
Sanzher's ears tweaked. ''What?''
''Well, you know the large tree near the animal kraal?''
''Yes,''
''Well that tree has been here longer than anyone in this village. One of it's branches just snapped in the middle of the night!''
''Well it is an old tree though, Aleks'' Sanzher reasoned.
''You try and tell the elders in the church that! They've been talking about its meaning,''
''It could have been the wind. That mountain air is relentless,''
''They found one of the lambs in the kraal dead, Sanz. It was completely stiff, drained of all its blood. And the most startling thing is that they were no bite marks anywhere on its body!'' Sanzher stood still for a moment before Aleksandr continued. ''Why do you think I'm out here, setting traps for an animal that doesn't leave footprints nor a trail of blood for us to follow? This is certainly a fool's errand.''
Sanzher got up from the snow with a grave look on his face. This in turn made Aleksandr stand up.
''Aleks, I think I may know what is responsible.''
Catch the continuation next Thursday for the next installment
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