Gruff chatter and dry, scratchy voices filled the air, followed by harried hushes from those who knew better. They were not safe here. The wildlife crept about the shadows, hungering for their blood; they mustn't linger long.
An owl hooted, silencing the loudest voices, followed by the ear-shattering howl of a wilderdog. 'Twas a timely reminder.
Self-appointed Lady Mayor Breanna Bringgus climbed onto the bough of a low-hanging tree, readying herself to face the desperate eyes of those who had managed to crawl out of their hovels and into the grounds of the old townhouse. The people were starved, unclean, beyond hope; she was none of those things. They would take heed of all she must say, if only because they one day hoped that they, too, could be in her position.
"I assume you all heard that wilderdog howl just now," she murmured, meeting the faint, moonlit glint of all the eyes that lay before her. Shadowed heads nodded and those very eyes darted all 'round. A soft breeze wound its way through the leafless trees, swaying the twiggy branches against one another like the grind of bone upon bone, and another howl, slightly closer, pierced the night. "We have a most glorious opportunity," she hurriedly stated. "We must use it. Quickly."
"Pardon me, ma'am... a glorious opportunity?"
Lady Mayor Breanna Bringgus narrowed her eyes at a child in the middle of the crowd, the one who had just dared to speak, but despite her inner glare the smile painted across her face widened.
"Yes, dear child. A most glorious opportunity."
The wilderdog howled louder, closer, and a woman near the child raised a finger to her lips to hush her. The child ignored the woman.
"For what, ma'am?"
"Shut up," the woman hissed. "It's gonna get us and it's gonna be. All. Your. Fault."
Hello!
I'm joining in for Day 1361 of 
Five minutes to write a bunch of stuff, 25 or so to refine it a smidgen.
You can find more details about the challenge if you click these blue words -- and yoooou should join in too! 😄 Babble for five minutes about the prompt, fiction or non-fiction, refined or in all of its rough glory. Your choice!
Join us!