Terror and Rooster, bound and on their knees in front of the remaining archons, were presented one last opportunity to plea their case. The town hall had been transformed into a makeshift court with the three archons and one empty seat presiding. The accused faced the archons with their friends and family members behind them, all shouting for the death of one or the other.
Still on their knees, Terror and Rooster spat out pleas of innocence along with blood and teeth. They had not been treated well before being brought before the archons.
"ORDER!" screamed Archon Aru over the chaos. His commanding will drew the respect and obedience of the villagers. "As you were saying, Saddam."
"Ahem, yes," Saddam said clearing his throat. He stood behind a large tome barely balancing it with the additional weight from the eyes of the village baring down on him. "As I was saying, our most eldest laws state that no two persons can be executed on the same day."
The fire from the crowd lit up again with replenished zeal. They wanted blood and they wanted it now.
"We cannot let them both live!" said a farmer.
"We can bring this curse two steps closer to the end tonight!" spoke the elderly woman.
"Terror is not our enemy!" said a cleverly disguised wolf.
"No one likes them anyway!" shouted more than one.
Archon Aru stood slowly and began to speak. The villagers quieted themselves.
"If we discard our laws, then we give into the chaos that this curse is after. If our laws tell us that we can only kill one, then we will. These laws are the pillars on which our community has been built and I will not forsake them!"
Archon Aru's speech drew nothing but silence from the villagers till one finally had the bravery to speak.
"With all due respect to the laws," said Mr. Seu Dony, "They were not written to handle a scourge like this." The villagers roared in agreement and it took many moments before Aru could speak again.
"We will put it to a vote. Each person here gets one mark." Once his words were spoken, Archon Aru tore a piece of parchment and wrote a name. He folded the paper and threw it on the ground before the accused. The parchment made it's way around the room till finally all present, including Terror and Rooster indicated their votes. archons Sean and Tails counted the votes and then handed the results to Archon Aru.
"Three votes for," Aru paused and looked at Terror. "Rooster and twelve for Terror," he finished well below the volume on the villagers.
Rooster let a sigh of relief as the mob took on the role of hangman. Using whatever blunt instruments they could get their hands on, they beat and clubbed Terror until he no longer moved. As Terror's blood and life raced out of his body, the villagers watched in anticipation. One heart beat, two... twelve. He never transformed into a beast.
Rooster looked upon the eyes of the villagers. She knew they were second guessing themselves. She could see on each of their faces the remorse and regret of choosing the wrong person.
"I'm still innocent," Rooster said almost breathlessly, but her words fell on deaf ears. "I'm not a wolf," she whispered to herself as the town hall slowly emptied leaving her alone to struggle free of her bindings.
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Sorry for the late post! Wolf Neon (not Krypton!) send me your kill. Day breaks at May 21, 2012, 12:00:00 PM