Part 4

It was late afternoon by the time Yurn found Gustav's dwelling deep within the forest, despite leaving the Inn not long after dawn. There was an unmistakable stench of death near the house, and even plant life itself did not want to draw near, with even the grass stopping a good distance away. More of the strange animals could be spotted near the home, but they kept their distance from him, seemingly observing Yurn. Looking at one of them, it was unmistakably a bear, yet there was stitching around the jaw, like it had been replaced. The back legs were likewise stitched, with what appeared to be the legs of a cougar.

"What has this man done?" Yurn whispered under his breath. He held his hammer close, as if expecting to be attacked.

When he reached the door of the building, he hesitated. What if Sirene was wrong? What if Gustav was an unreasonable man? But he thought of the strange stitched animals he observed on his journey here, and strengthened his resolve. No amount of fear would deviate him from his oath.