'The Story That Lasted Thirty-One Days'

You could see from her swelling tummy, that within one month of the uncontrollable urge which led to a night of passion in the heart of the forest, she's with child.

Having killed the Vampire Queen, the eyes of admiring folk were constantly upon her, it was not possible to hide her pregnancy, that began to show in a matter of days, and you could be sure that it wouldn't be long before the City's, less friendly waggled their lips. Soon her heroics would count for nothing, as those who envied her, would use it to bring her down, by implying it brought sham on her, her family and the City, after all, she's no more than a common Endophyn slut. But, before a word was allowed to spread on the streets it was brought to the attention of the Monastics and the couple were summoned before them. You might have expected some demonstration of compassion toward them as a result of the great deed they'd done the City, but these leaders of the faith were just as hypocritical as any religious order that had come before them. Their position of power was now threatened, the vows of pacification which previously controlled the masses were at breaking point, by the young. During the reign of the Vampire Queen, it had kept them safe and comfortable and of her, they had no fear, so long as they kept her prey passive, posing no threat.

So, instead of protecting them, they decided it was in the Monastics best interest to exile them to the highest monastery, located in the most desolate reaches of the almost impenetrable Tyrolean mountain ranges, where Halloween would have their child and give it up for adoption. The scribes would tell a story of how the heroes had seen the light and decided to make a spiritual pilgrimage to the birthplace of the Endophyn faith and as a sign of respect would atone for their sins through servitude to the monks. This was deemed a small price to pay for the sin of taking a life, whether that of a Demon or a Mortal, it didn't matter, it was, after all, a cardinal sin.

Neither Halloween nor Almanac believed they had little choice but to toe the line, however, in their hearts, they knew there was no way they were going to hand over their baby. On the day they were due to go away their followers gathered ready to say their goodbyes, but they were robbed of this pleasure, as the Monastics secreted them away via ancient catacombs to the edge of the city, from where they vanished without any display of solidarity from their followers.

Many weeks into their journey the caravan met with a Demon horde for the first time, it was only a scouting party led by a gigantic Schnozzle. The towering demon was at least twice the size of the biggest Endophyn that had ever lived and it wore armour that was crusted with frost and snow. Uttering no words, it started to carve its way through the caravan of Monastics, cutting down everything in its path, throwing carriages and their Endophyn passengers screaming into the valleys below. Those at the rear had time to retreat and escape, fleeing with concern but solely for their own safety.

The carriage carrying Halloween and Almanac was left driverless as the cowardly crew fled with the tail of the caravan, leaving them to meet with an untimely end. They lept from the carriage just before it was discharged over the ledge like the rest, it was now just a couple of tiny Endophyn who stood bravely, face to face with a small but vicious army of demons soldiers.

Out of the mist stepped 'Hanus Dictous', the monstrous leader of the Schnozzles, touting his enormous proboscis, he looked at them with what they thought was contempt. As if reassuring their perspective, he gave them a contemptuous grimace and seeing no threat, ordered his minions to dispose of the vermin. In his arrogance, he didn't realise they were the wrong people to underestimate, Almanac was unarmed, but Halloween still carried the Weir Wolfs Claw around her neck. The lumbering enemy approached but even pregnant they were no match for her, the first was soon watching its guts spill from the gaping hole the claw left after it ripped through its armour. The second lasted a fraction longer as she cut off it'd proboscis and threw it to Almanac, who finished the job by removing its demonic head.

Using the dying Schnozzles as snowboards, they launched themselves from the ledge and disappeared without a trace into the snowy depths.

On their return to the City, the cowards who'd escaped spread wonderous stories of a fearsome battle and the death of two heroes, that killed dozens of the enemy, that were buried in the mountains with honour, before their return with the sad news.

Over the centuries this story was embellished time and time again by folklore and passed proudly from generation to generation, so even today the story is still fresh and the heroics of Halloween and Almanac still captures the hearts of many.

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