INT. WOODS - NIGHT
Dusk in a thick Forrest during a storm. KARL,18, sprints through the rain. He spots a tent and rushes over. He carries a small shield on his back.
KARL
Sorry to intrude, can you share your tent?
Snoring comes from inside the tent. Karl lifts up the flap and looks in.
KARL
Uh...Excuse me?
Birna screams and slams her foot into his face knocking him away.
BIRNA
NEVER enter a ladys tent without permission, ya creep!
KARL
I didn't know, sorry! I need shelter from the storm!
Birna scowls at him, then spots a shield on his back.
BIRNA
Alright, ya can come in, IF ya give me that shield.
KARL
That's my fathers shield!
BIRNA
It any good at keeping ya dry in the rain?
Hes silent and holds up a few coins.
KARL
You can have this, not the shield.
BIRNA
...Deal. But on one condition.
Karls heads sticks out of the tent and he has the shield on to keep himself dry.
KARL
This is ridiculous.
BIRNA
You're too tall to be in here anyways. Stay on your side and I wont stab ya, k?
He scowls.
KARL
Can't I have a blanket at least?
Birna groans and tosses a small blanket on him, it barely covers his legs.
A rumble comes from the distance.
BIRNA
Thunder. Great.
Another rumble, this time the tent shakes. Birnas eyes widen, she grabs her sword.
BIRNA
(whispering)
Hey, creep. Is something out there?
KARL
(whispering)
Keep quiet.
A giant crash makes the ground tremble from its impact.
Karl watches the thing in the woods. Its about the size of a cow, on all fours and has bright glowing eyesthat slowly scan the surroundings...then lock onto the tent.
KARL
(Whispering)
It found us!
Inside the tent brightens up under the things glowing eyes.
It crawls closer to the tent, the brightness intensifies Birna has to shield her eyes from the light now.
Karl trembles and squeezes his eyes shut.
The things directly outside of the tent on Birnas side.
BIRNA
PISS OFF!
The blade thrusts through the side of the tent and sticks into the things eye. A loud croak of pain follows.
Birna rushes out of the tent with her sword at the ready, but its gone.
BIRNA
The hell was that!?
She scowls at Karl.
BIRNA
Ya could have helped, ya dope!
Karls still. Birna lifts up the shield, he's unconscious. She groans and lowers the shield back in place.
Morning.
The suns out, the sky is clear and water droplets trickle down from the trees above Birna and Karl.
Birna rolls up her tent.
BIRNA
K, creep. I'm off.
Karls sits silently under a tree, his expression is both serious and sad.
Birna kicks the tree and water droplets pour down on him. After a moment he blinks and looks at Birna.
KARL
Hmm?
BIRNA
I'm off.
He limply waves goodbye.
BIRNA
Ya know, if ya have this much trouble with monsters yer better off staying home. I can't protect ya all the time.
Karl sighs.
KARL
Yeah, I know.
BIRNA
Ya also might consider giving that shield to someone-
KARL
No.
Birna shrugs and marches away leaving Karl beside himself. He lowers his head.
KARL
I'll never make it to the tower of death like this.
END OF CHAPTER 4