“What are we doing?” Edward hissed, hurrying across Cyrus’ back.
“Klappen are daylight sensitive,” Fibian replied, using his webbed fingers to spread puddle mudacross Cyrus’ face, “We must make the boat before nightfall. Stay low to theground and conceal your movements. Klappen have pooreyesight. They hunt mostly through scent and sound.”
“What exactly are they?” Cyrus asked, rushing to camouflage his clothesin the earthy smelling muck.
“Minions of Rorroh’s,” Fibianwhispered, “Keep to the shadows and follow me.”
The trio hunched low and crept from tree to hulking tree. Fibian peered over his shoulder. Cyrus followed his gaze upinto the forest canopy. The klappen were climbers,Cyrus guessed. He and Fibian moved with stealth asbest they could, crawling through small ditches and along fallen logs, avoidingopen clearings whenever possible.
Fibian stopped and fell flat to the earth. Cyrus followed. His heavy breathrattled the fallen leaves. Edward crawled to Cyrus’ shoulder, closest to the froskman.
“What is it?” the spider asked, his two eyes searching.
Fibian pointed to the trees above.At first, Cyrus saw nothing, just thickbranches and dwindling daylight. Then henoticed something twist ever so slightly and sniff the air. Cyrus’ skinbristled. The creature was brown as a rat, with red, rodent eyes, yet it worethe tattered trousers of a man. It leapedfrom its perch. With arms much longer than a man’s, it half fell, half glidedto the next tree. Ripped membranes of translucent skin stretched from elbow towaist and slowed its descent. It seized the branch with long, clawed hands andlet out a muted shriek. It looked starved and diseased and infectious to thetouch.
Fibian motioned for the bow andarrows. Cyrus gladly handed them over. The froskman signaledthem forward. They crawled away from the klappen andcontinued along the forest floor. Muffled cries sounded throughout the woods.Branches snapped and cracked overhead. Theevening grew darker. More shapes crossed high above. The klappen were on the move, but unable to detect their prey.
Cyrus and company reached a deep ravine, far too wide to jump. Fibian took the rope from over his shoulder and tied a lasso.Then, spying for danger, he threw the lasso across. The loop snared a treebranch.
“You and Edward go first,” Fibian whispered, handingCyrus the rope, “I will follow.”
Cyrus took the rope in both hands. The fibers were coarse and biting. Hetested his grip. Strong enough, he figured. The branches above crackled.
“Cyrus,” Edward gasped, crouched on his shoulder.
Cyrus almost screamed. He looked overhead. A dark form stooped in thetree limbs and tasted the night. Had it seen them? The sky was growing dark.What was Cyrus supposed to do? If he stayed, more klappenwould come. If he swung across, the creature would surely sense them. Cyrus froze,his hands shaking.
Quickly and silently, Fibian drew an arrow andfired. The klappen clutched its ribs and attempted toscream. The shaft had pierced its lungs. It toppled from the tree and hit theground dead, rolling into the ravine.
“Go,” Fibian whispered.
Cyrus swung across the bog with Edward clinging to his collar. He struckthe far side of the gully hard and had to scramble up the steep bank. The treesabove quivered with the swish and rattle of newcomers. More klappen!Cyrus’ thoughts became erratic. He scurried to the base of a large tree trunkand wedged himself between thick roots. His side ached, and his back was slick with sweat. Shining eyes peered down at him,then the shadows came alive with panting and wheezing.
Fibian’s bow thrummedfour times from across the ravine. Four klappendropped to the ground, unable to shriek. The branches grew still. Cyrus stuffedhis muddy hair under his cap and exhaled a long-held breath. Things were gettingtoo close. He wanted Fibian here now so they couldget to the boat. The rope! Fibian needed the ropepassed back to him if he was to cross.
Cyrus pushed to his feet. He caught the sudden smell of excrement andurine. He looked to his left. There, sniffing the very tree he hid behind, was a fifth klappen. HolySea Zombie! The creature did not blink, just drooled and bared its rottedfangs as it hunted its prey with all its senses.
“Cyrus, do something,” Edward whispered, as he crawled up his collar.
Cyrus remembered his blade and drew it. The creature perked up at thesound of steel against leather. It began to narrow in on them. Remembering Fibian’s training, Cyrus focused on the klappen’semaciated neck. The fiend drew closer.Cyrus backed a foot away. The creature became desperate at the sound. Itsnostrils flared, and its hands groped thetree. Cyrus fixed his grip on the knife, as Fibianhad shown him, ready to strike.
“Watch out!” Edward cried.
The creature pounced cat-like, driving Cyrus to the ground. Cyrus losthis weapon. The klappen shrieked and snapped at hisneck. Cyrus, fighting to get both hands on the villain’s boney chest, forced itback. The klappen doubled its efforts. Cyrus’ armsbegan to shake. He switched tactics and began to drive his thumbs into thecreature’s windpipe. The fiend choked, its breath putrid and noxious. Cyrus gotboth feet on the klappen's hips. Hekicked it away. The villain sprawled backward.Cyrus found his knife and scrambled to his feet. The klappendid the same. Instinct and rage clouded Cyrus’ terror. Now he was the aggressor.He thrust at the fiend, slashing at itshands and stabbing at its face. The klappen snarledand clawed, backing itself into a tree. Realizing it was cornered, Cyrus saw the creature grow frantic. Cyrus hesitated.The villain lunged forward all teeth and claws. Cyrus heard something hiss onhis shoulder. It was Edward! A ridge of yellow fur spiked across the arachnid’sback. The klappen froze, wide-eyed.
This was Cyrus’ chance. He targeted the klappen’s neck. Fibian’s bowrang. An arrow punched the creature in the chest. It stumbled and shrieked. Itscry was cut short as Cyrus’ blade foundits mark, nearly taking the klappen’s head off. Brownblood sprayed across Cyrus’ face and leather jacket, mixing with the dirt andmud. The klappen fell to the ground, thrashing andattempting to scream. Cyrus
