The first spear was already pointed at its heart when Elena Vale realized the creature was afraid.
Not angry.
Not hunting.
Afraid.
She stood in the center of Black Hollow's market square, surrounded by twenty villagers, with an iron spear trembling in the hands of Rowan Hale only a few feet from her.
Behind Rowan stood nearly every man in the village.
And behind them stood the creature.
It was enormous.
At least seven feet tall, with the body of a heavily built man and the head of a bull. Two thick horns curved outward from its skull. Reddish-brown fur covered its neck and shoulders, and strips of dark leather hung from its waist.
Its chest rose and fell heavily.
But its eyes weren't on Rowan.
They were fixed on something beyond the village gate.
"Stay back!" Rowan shouted.
Elena turned toward the creature.
It took one step forward.
Every spear moved with it.
The creature stopped.
A woman in the crowd screamed.
Someone shouted, "Kill it!"
The creature's nostrils flared.
Elena expected a roar.
Instead, it looked directly at her.
There was something almost human in its eyes.
"Elena," Rowan said sharply. "Move."
She didn't.
The creature slowly raised one enormous hand.
Not toward her.
Past her.
Elena turned her head.
There was nothing there.
Only the old stone road leading toward the forest.
Then the creature stepped closer.
Rowan immediately placed himself between them.
"I said stay back."
The creature looked at him.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then Elena noticed blood on the creature's hand.
Fresh blood.
Her stomach tightened.
"You killed someone," she whispered.
The creature's expression changed.
It shook its head.
Then it looked toward the forest again.
A low sound escaped its throat.
Not a growl.
A warning.
Suddenly, a horn sounded from the northern watchtower.
Once.
Then twice.
Then three times.
The villagers turned.
Rowan's face went pale.
"What is it?" Elena asked.
Nobody answered.
The creature suddenly grabbed Elena's shoulder.
She screamed and tried to pull away.
But the creature didn't hurt her.
It stepped behind her.
Its enormous body shielded her from the forest.
Then its mouth came close to her ear.
Its voice was rough and almost impossible to understand.
"Don't look behind you."
Elena froze.
Rowan lifted his spear.
"Get away from her!"
The creature didn't move.
Elena slowly looked at Rowan.
He wasn't looking at the creature anymore.
He was staring toward the forest.
His face had gone completely white.
"What do you see?" Elena whispered.
Rowan didn't answer.
Then, from somewhere beyond the trees, came a deep sound.
Not an animal.
Not a human voice.
Something that sounded like dozens of people whispering at once.
The creature tightened its grip around Elena's shoulder.
And whispered:
"They're here."