Hill Worm

 

Pooki raised the hackles on her back and growled long before Sir Andrew spotted the hill worm.

"Got over them hills quickly," the old farmer had said while Sir Andrew bartered with the farmer's wife for bread and cheese. "Don't let the sun set on you or I'll be collecting your bones tomorrow."

Pooki stiffened as the huge worm raised up from the leaf litter, her growl changing to something more urgent.

Gods, this thing was huge. Most of the worm - maybe two thirds - was still on the ground, but the part that raised up was taller than any person. It was as thick as his torso, and it stank of decay.

"They got yella blood," the farmer had said. "It is poison. It also oozes out of its scales. I seen one. I know. One killed a stray calf last year."

Pooki snapped her jaws, her nostrils flaring with the reek of poison.

Sir Andrew drew his sword, already trying to figure out the best way to attack this unholy thing.

The worm dropped to the ground and scuttled off. Damn, it was fast too.

Then an even bigger worm showed up.

Pooki stopped growling and looked at Sir Andrew as if to say, "Well, now what?"

Sir Andrew ran away as bravely as he could.

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