Your blow lands true

Your approach remains undetected by the wug. Your blood pounds in your ears with the strain of remaining silent, the effort of willing the wug not to turn around, not to smell you, sense you. His back rises in your view. At last he is before you. His fin, engorged red with his arousal for your sister cuts along his back, leading your gaze to the bald dome of his head. Fury lends you strength. Taking a deep breath, you raise your club, and bring it down.

Wood thuds on bone. The wug crumples soundlessly, slipping off the stone to sprawl limply on the sands below. Brigette starts back, hands flying to her mouth to stifle a scream as the creature falls past her. She looks up and sees you. You quickly hush her and glance about the rocks to see if your scuffle drew any attention. The cove is silent save the heavy sound of distant waves, but the quiet is one now pregnant with menace for hidden dangers. You slide down the worn smoothness of the stone and join Brigette.

Together you and Brigette approach the creature. You stand over the limp monster uncertainly. “A wug?” Brigette whispers.

You nod. You prod the creature with your stick and note by the rise of its chest he is still alive, albeit ****. You look about again. “We can’t stay here. There may be more.”

“You think so?’ Brigette whispers, hugging herself in fright and eying the rocks as if every crack hid an army of the creatures. That may well be, for the rocks are irregular and spread apart, one which could hide any dangers, and the crashing of the waves obscure any sounds of approach.

“Unless he’s a loner, it’s a sure thing.”

“But…what if they’re ahead of us?” Brigette quavers. “What if we’re walking straight into their village!”

“That won’t happen,” you say firmly to stop the edge of rising hysteria you hear in her voice. Nevertheless, you consider that. It is a distinct possibility, and not one you relish. You look down again at the **** wug. Killing him is the right thing, but you wonder if it might not be more prudent to interrogate him first.