The One You Feed (Shadow Tales Book 1)
Description
Vocal Characteristics
Language
EnglishVoice Age
Middle Aged (35-54)Accents
North American (General)Transcript
Note: Transcripts are generated using speech recognition software and may contain errors.
he only made it a couple of steps before a low, muffled growl stopped him dead in his tracks. A predator just like that, Henry's main concern was no longer preventing his hogs from getting out of the stable, but determining what had gotten in spinning around, he shone his flashlight into a nearby stall, then another. All he found were squealing pigs turning his head slightly. He caught only a glimpse of the intruder out of the corner of his eye just before the animal struck. It was powerful, whatever it was, the blow not only knocked the hog farmer off his feet, but sent him sailing. As Henry stumbled to the ground, he felt a sharp pain shoot up his left side. At first he thought he'd been injured by the hard landing, but when he brought his hand to his ribs, he discovered his rain jacket and shirt had been torn open by the animal strike, although he couldn't make out anything in the darkness. His fingers came away, covered in a sticky wetness Henry could only assume was his own blood. He spotted his flashlight laying several feet away and considered scrambling for it. Then, just beyond where the flashlight lay, two lustrous yellow eyes materialized from the shadows. They were all Henry could see of the creature that had attacked him. They were all he wanted to see his confusion turned to terror, forgetting about the flashlight, He rolled onto his hands and knees. He began crawling for the door, then lurched to his feet. The pain in his side intensified with the effort and his hand instinctively went back to the wound Henry's shirt was now soaked with blood. Dread seized him. This animal was big and it was vicious. He heard the heavy patter of its paws loping across the dirt floor. Before he could turn to face the creature he felt its razor sharp teeth gliding through his thigh, the beast's jaw clamp down like a bench, vice, it then yanked Henry off his feet and sent him airborne. Again he hit the ground hard, skidding across hay and manure. When he finally came to rest he was lying beside the hole the massive beast had created in the stable wall. Henry had to get through that opening. Maybe the thing had decided to claim his stable as its own and was now defending it. If he could pull himself out into the pen, maybe he'd be safe. He grabbed at the splintered wood with his bloody hands, his muscle straining as he pulled himself through the breach. The welcome sensation of raindrops striking his forehead and cheeks lasted only a second. Then Henry felt the beast's fangs chopped down once more he cried out as the creature jerked him back inside the stable. There would be no escape. The squealing of his hogs grew louder, but they're commotion was no competition for Henry's own terrified screams. He felt the animal's claws cutting through him, but no pain. Henry could no longer feel pain. In the next few moments he'd stopped feeling altogether. Chapter Two It's title was what had drawn Toby to the book, The hero with 1000 faces. According to the blurb on the back cover, It delved into the structure of popular myths, specifically analyzing the ordeals and sometimes tragedies heroes endured and how such hardships often spurred them to embark on quests of self discovery. Toby had checked out the timeworn hardcover from the library, helping to find a relatable tale that illustrated exactly how to muster motivation after suffering grave misfortune, he needed guidance on how to allay his overwhelming guilt and grief, something that provided him with a roadmap for how to get on with his life. His search for such direction had lasted nearly a month. It had included seeking inspiration from the bible, some self help books, even a couple of paperbacks on depression, none had given Toby the healing blueprint he needed. It wasn't looking like his latest selection would either Each story in the book followed the same narrative. The hero to be, would be living in everyday ordinary life. Up until the moment tragedy struck something about the tragedy would then spur the hero to set out on his quest. He had obtained special sometimes magical skills or weapons he could use to overcome an ultimate oftentimes supernatural challenge. And it was the overcoming of this challenge that forced the heroes remaining angst and doubt to permanently surrender to his newfound courage and conviction and that was the problem. Toby had no supernatural quest to take on the idea that transformative action taken to overcome a seemingly insurmountable challenge was the key to becoming a better version of oneself was all well and good. But the challenges and actions described in the book all revolving around slaying fairytale beasts and mythical realms. Toby needed to know how to conquer grief, guilt and doubt in the real world. Aunt was the world in which he had failed to save his mother's life in a dark, cold river where he'd been overcome by panic and dread, unable to see or think unable to act. Loss, failure, heartbreak angst. He was too consumed by these things to take any sort of action to better himself. Instead, inaction had become the norm.