[IC] Pair of Hunters

[Raptra]

On the balcony of a two-storey cabin on the outskirts of the mountain town of Lightstal stood a lone hired hunter - a woman in her mid-twenties of a slender build with glossy bronze skin and brilliant turquoise orbs that shone from her almond-shaped eyes. Her jet-black hair was pulled into a firm braid with straight cut-across bangs. Not paying attention to the racket caused by her rowdy companions in the background, she first turned to the left, watching as the Sun set over the lush green forest. It was their destination for that night, and it is with the darkness that the dangers would come. With a quiver of crossbow bolts attached to her belt and a large dagger slotted in the holster around her calf, she was as ready as she could be for them.

To the right was the little town which displayed a semblance of comfort and peace. That was all it was, however, a semblance. Shamira was well aware of what truly went through the minds of its inhabitants when the Sun went down every single day. Anxiety, worry, fear that they and their loved ones would not make it through the night without falling victim to the savage monsters that would emerged from the adjacent forest. Having had her mother taken from her at an early age, she knew exactly what it felt like to have that very fear become a reality. The fact that she had been recruited to go right into the danger she had trained to protect herself from was ironic, to say the least, but they needed anyone they could get. This current view of Lightstal would motivate her to do her very best to bring its residents the sound sleep and peaceful nights they deserved.

"Miss?"

Shamira turned at the voice to see the head of the youngest recruit poking through the doorway. It was at that point when she realized that she did not even know his name. He could not have been past his late-teens, and the other members of the team would simply refer to him as 'boy', or 'kid'.

"We're umm, moving out..." he then continued in a slightly nervous tone.

She simply nodded to him in thanks and acknowledgement before picking up her crossbow. Following her companions out into the forest, she glanced up into the night sky and saw that the moon was already shining bright. The atmosphere quickly changed once the team set foot in the forest, each member wary of what might be lurking in the nearby vegetation. Shamira pulled a bolt out from her quiver to load her crossbow with. She gripped the weapon tightly, taking a deep but quiet breath to calm herself as she put her finger on its trigger and readied herself for the first sign of an attack.

[amorphical]

Resting beneath a large and fairly dense bush the creature sat. The day was not his favorite time. Just too warm under the thick fur pelt. Most of the trees had turned colors and lost half there leaves. The floor was littered with them making stealth a bit hard. All he wanted was a good meal for the next few days. Like a tender dear. Being the beta of a pack was rough now that most of them were now adorning the floors walls and beds of hunters with only there skins made matters worse.

Too few were left. When the chance for the remaining pack to join with another alpha they left. Not because he wasnt strong or healthy, it was that one difference that stood out also isolated the creature from the others. His stomach gave a soft growl of its own. Tonight he would have to score a kill if he was to feel better.

Because behind the eyes that were even more clever than a normal wolf he was special. Buried under the thick fur was the heart of both beast and monster. Constantly fighting with one another for control. Never killing more than it needed to stay alive. This night was suppose to be no different than the others. How the creature would find just so wrong he would be.

The air took on a chill as the sun was only a soft glow off in the west. The dark made it easieer. Especially after setting up camp near the den of thickets for the female deer. She whould return only to find the safety she sought now far behind her. Only the hope of the day taking her cautions and replacing it with fatigue might be enough for a chance.

Meanwhile closer to the foot hill of the mountain another real monster lurked it was ferral and huge! With the strength of ten wolves. Moving in a slow nearly silent stides. Sniffing the air for anything to fill the hole in its stomach. Picking up the scent of wamth and flesh it moved along the edge of the forrest to the lingering promise of food. There was more than one tonight, the thought of such a large meal quickened the pace as the lumbering giant moved closer and closer still!

Trading stealth for a surprise attack the bear had circled around to the parties rear and from a standing position tackled the rear guard! Sending him to the ground with a squelching wet sound as the creatures weight crushed the humans ribs causing a gout of blood to leap from the hunters mouth! Not stopping to savor the meal the bear with one dead eye turned towards the other as the next person in her troupe now screamed trying to startle the massive beaat! John stood there for only a moment.

The beast had lunged to john with its massive head biting into the boys side and just effortlessly lifting the burly human off his feet! The spray of blood as the beast bit down hard and the knife frantically desperate to find a hold slashing wildly at the fur but going no deeper. With a vicious thrash of the bears head the sound of John's back gave a wet snap of surrender.

Meanwhile just as the creature was about to pounce on the meak and trender flesh, the sound of the fight in the distance was more than enough to scare off the supple meal. Now angered and hungry the intent to kill something for food exploded in the wolf! He fled towards the sound willing to do whatever it took to eat!

Wth tbe dead youth John slipping from its mouth the bear turned to the final member of the group. A deep cavernous growl echoed within its chest. The milky white left eye seemed to pierce her very soul. The blood matted fur now surrounded the creatures face with hot steam of the arterial heat. It made the beast truely a demonic sight!

[Raptra]

The sign came soon enough, with the rustling in a bush right in front of the group attracting the attention of the wary hunters. The leading members immediately readied their weapons, pointing them straight at the source of the sound. However, the beast that had leaped out of hiding made an unexpected move by emerging behind the team, dealing its first blow on the last individual. Startled cries were let out by the rest of the group as the werecreature tore through several of them, while the rest scrambled away after several attempts to incapacitate the creature had failed.

Shamira quickly glanced around at the bodies of her fallen companions, or what was left of them, angered. Not just at their deaths, but how the scene before her reflected the situation of not only the hired hunters of Lightstal but its people in general. It only took one, one werebear to eliminate half a team of trained fighters and send the rest running. Were they truly that pathetic? Were the humans really that helpless against these monsters?

A mixture of rage and fear stirred inside her, each emotion fighting for control as she glared defiantly back into that soulless white pupil that showed the creature its next target. She thought about her duty to the town and its citizens, and aimed her loaded crossbow straight at the werebear before firing. The creature let out a deafening roar of pain and proceeded to yank the bolt out with its paws. Shamira flinched slightly at the bellow, but continued shooting at the furry predator. All she had done was to create a small distraction, but she knew that she would run out of ammunition if she did not think of something else soon.

Deciding to conserve her remaining shots, she had allowed the werebear time to remove the bolts from its hide and turn towards her once again. Looking into the savage eyes of the creature once again, her flight response took over this time, and she decided that it was time to book it, realizing that there was a chance to fulfill her duty to Lightstal only if she was still alive to do so. With the bloodthirsty monster hot on her heels, she took off through the trees, only thinking of getting to a safe place where she could collect her thoughts. After a short while of sprinting and leaping over fallen tree trunks while the large creature barreled through obstacles to get to her, she found herself heading towards a rock formation mostly covered in vines, offering a small orifice that she could probably just fit through.

As any opening she could use to get away from the werebear was currently more than welcome, she dove forward, sliding in through the crack a split second before the snout of the creature slammed against the rocks. She landed on what felt like a pile of dead leaves, while the formation shook and pebbles rained over her as the roaring monster continued to aggressively ram its body against the formation, clawing at the opening. Shamira took a moment to catch her breath and then felt around her, finding the area to be enclosed except for the opening she had entered through. She had bought some time for herself, but she was now trapped.

She could try shooting the creature through the hole, but with her limited ammunition, she had to ensure that she would hit a vital spot, which would allow her to escape. However, the werebear's movements were currently too erratic for her to get a good shot. She did not know what good waiting it out would do, but she figured it was worth doing anyway.

[amorphical]

The dark bear grew impatient for its meal. Clawing at the rocks and roaring at the tiny crevasse the hunter managed to slip into! The only thing it could do was try to intimidate the creature out of hiding. As all hope was lost there was a second sound that caused the huge bear to turn. A deep snarl followed by the a large dark shadow hanging over the bear. For only a second the bear gave a startled look before returning to a menacing face. Turning its large snarling teeth to the new challenger for the scrap of food in the rocks.

The Bear turned only to have a flash of teeth bite down into its shoulder! The bear put his weight into the attacker and the two fur monsters rolled down the rocky outcropping to the grass below. The two rolled and growled and fought tooth and claw! The wolf equally matched in sheer strength but as for weight class the bear had the advantage! A few solid slams and paw swipes sent the wolf creature flying into one of the nearby trees! Looking up with a snarl the wolf bristled it's back as the bear charged forward. The battle was fierce! Growls and snarls filled the cool night air as the sun shed its last glimmer of light. The sky turned a dark blue to black. The birds and other creatures were silent choosing to remain hidden from the two alpha predators.

The wolf leading the bear deeper into the woods. Rushing to shorten the time the wolf might have to recover! In a very unwolf like move the new challenger used its claws to climb the tree increasing the wolfs jump! Soaring through the air landing on the bears back! Digging the wolfs claws into the bears flesh the wolf delivered another deep bite into the bears head! Missing the intended mark sent the scent of copper into the night air. A whine gave the signal the bear had enough. However the wolf failed to hear it. Giving the bear another powerful deep bite, into its neck. Finally dropping the bear to the ground. A fresh arterial spray covered the wolfs face fur.


The blood soaked fur made it impossible to tell what was in the rocks using his nose. Winning such a costly battle earned his at the very least a look at the creature in the rocks. Moving toward the rocks the wolf creature shifted into a simple large wolf. The injuries were severe making it hard to breathe. Suddenly choosing rest over food the wolf limped off into the forest leaving a trickle of blood behind him. Making his way to the den, a small mound of dirt with a dug out area for him to rest in the cool shade. Now even hungrier and hurt the wolf whined a little before laying down to rest. It wasn't long before the cool earth and moist air sent him to sleep. There was simply nothing else to be done until the wounds healed. He spent too much of his energy trying to hunt. Rest and a dream of food would be most welcome.

[Raptra]

With hope that the creature had to tire at some point, Shamira stayed put within the rocks, though flinching slightly with every impact that would make the structure tremble. She knew that at the same time, the werebeast outside was hoping that with its repetitive striking, the formation that currently protected her would give out. It was impossible to determine the outcome of the struggle at such a point, though, in the event that it did not end up in her favor, she would be prepared to cause a distraction with another crossbow bolt before running again. As she readied her weapon, however, the ramming suddenly ceased, followed by sounds of struggle that seemed to be coming from slightly further away. Dare she stand to take a look at what had happened? With a deep breath, she eventually did exactly that, peering through the crack to observe the scuffled that had started.

It was a terrifying yet magnificent sight. A second beast had picked up on the commotion and was currently battling her first attacker for its prey. The smaller creature must have been desperate for food to have taken on the bear, fighting with a ferociousness and savagery uncommon even for a werebeast. It was possible that now would be the best time to flee while they were distracted with each other, but keeping in mind that the creatures were battling it out over her, there was a chance that they would both switch their focuses to her and tear her to shreds once she emerged from the formation. Stay, or run? As she contemplated this decision, the fight was then taken further into the woods, leaving her unattended.

This was her chance! She swiftly slid through the opening of the formation and took off in the opposite direction from the beast battle. That was when the she heard the fighting stop. The surrounding forest was quiet once again, and she scrambled behind a tree some feet from the rock formation, leaning slightly out to see which creature would emerge as the victor. To her surprise, it was the smaller of the two, and she watched as it took its wolf form and limped, injured and drained of energy, towards the stones where it apparently still thought she was. She raised her loaded crossbow from where she was, initially eager to end this easy target. Taking out even one more werebeast would be beneficial to Lightstal, would it not?

Wait... what was it doing? She raised an eyebrow when the wolf took an unexpected turn to leave without even checking the opening in the stones. Had it picked up on something else? Suddenly, any intimidation she had felt by it was gone. As it dragged itself away, all she saw was a wounded animal, fighting to survive just like her and her fellow humans. Her finger shook as it rested over the trigger of her weapon. Kill it, kill it now! It's just a monster! What was it that was stopping her? It looked to be near death regardless, but she eventually lowered her weapon with a sigh, deciding not to put it out of its misery. She would leave it up to fate, figuring that in its condition, it was highly likely that it would be taken out by a stronger predator.

"Just this one time, buddy..." she muttered, watching the large canine disappear into the woods.

[amorphical]

Upon returning to the town with the bear hide in tow on a flat cart with a loaner mule. The towns people were at first happy to see the huntress return! After hearing the tale and that only so few returned they were somber. The huntress could spot some of the cowards that fled from the bear leaving her party at half strength drinking in a far corner hoping to remain unnoticed. They avoided Shamira's gaze. The bounty paid and the bear carted off to be skinned and the meat burned. The rest of the day was to do with what she willed with a decent coin purse to show for her troubles. Not having to split the bounty helped ease the loss.

The wolf slept for most of the day only waking once at dusk to see the wounds healing. A soft whine at the soreness and the hunger within gnawing at the creatures body. Food could wait until the wounds were healed. It seemed the next night would be another life or death struggle hopefully this one would involve food!

Awaking for the second time and slowly moving out from under the dirt mound the wolf sniffed the air. Nothing. Nothing except the smell of the cold night air and the surrounding forest. A few stretches he took before strutting out into the darkness. Starting to see just what the Bear had been so interested in. Leaping from one rock to the next until finally getting to the crevice the bear had been so intent on reaching. *Sniff, sniff... A human. Even in the dark the animals nose told the tale of their fight. The others around her as the bear circled from behind. The fear still lingered on the rocks and the lack of blood and second trail gave him the impression she strode first toward the wolfs trail then back to her encampment. Surely a pelt would of been a hunters goal. Guessing the bear more than filled that need. it would seem the huntress buried the others next to one of the trees at the forests edge. Leaving the safety of the wood to satisfy the wolfs curiosity was questionable yet he trotted out into the dark plains following the huntresses scent.

Along the way His nose managed to help him unearth a den of rabbits. They were a small meal yet not really as fulfilling as he had hoped. He first buried the second escape hole before frantically digging to their burrow. Food was the first law of living. More bones than meat still they worked out in a pinch. Making the detour to the sound of running water for a cool drink and a dip to wash off the bear scent and fresh rabbit blood. Closer the wolf came to the small town the scent was overpowering! So many people and the mix of animals! Picking out the hunters scent became almost impossible. The cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens! All in one spot ripe for the taking! The wolf shook his head trying hard not to loose himself to the hunger. Pacing back and forth trying to not give in to the pain in his stomach! He could eat for a month every day and still have more! Would they really miss just one or two?

The sound of a wagon broke his trance. He skitter off into the high grass as one boy using a sling shot whizzed a rock by the wolfs feet. There in the grass he looked back with only the lanterns light reflecting off his eyes. A soft howl of frustration and need broke the night air and the animals in the town fell silent. Trotting deeper into the grass to the wheat field rows did the wolf disappear from sight. A soft walk around the town to try and find her scent from the rest was also impossible. The towns live stock and look out fires kept any progress from being made. Still there was the one that didn't get away.

A sudden leap and the mud was thick as the wolf bit deep into the squealing flesh of a pig half his size. The fence was only a deterrent and not very well made. He dragged the animal off into the wheat field taking a final bit into the animals neck to silence it. In the morning they would find a small circle of trodden crops and a mix of dirt bone and blood. The wolf had eaten the rest. Doing a zigzag path back to the water then to the edge of the woods. There he would make a few long leaps disappearing back into his den. His stomach silent and very full.

In the morning the towns people were bustling with trade and the word of the theft was mixed with a family on the road spotting a lone wolf. The farmer putting up a reward for wolf pelts ten silver each. Soon there was even talk of hunting parties going out again to look for the demon.

[Raptra]

She slumped against the tree that hid her once the injured predator was out of sight, sliding down to rest on a large root. For how long she had sat there still and in silence, her mind void of any thought, she could not tell. It was as if the psychological shutdown had been an automatic response to the overwhelming and traumatic experience once she had registered that she was no longer in any immediate danger. Perhaps it had been a subconscious effort to block out the memories of that night when she had her first encounter with a werebeast, when she could only watch on helplessly as the savage monster devoured her mother.

As she slowly started to become aware of her surroundings once again, she noted that the forest around her was dead quiet. The wolf was probably long gone, and it was almost unbelievable that she had managed to survive the ordeal. She had to get used to this if she were to continue serving the town as their protector, and she knew that not many were able to. Only the best were recruited, and even then, their numbers still dwindled with every encounter. The entire event had her eager to return to town as soon as she could, causing the bounty to nearly slip her mind. With not a single sound left that could warn her of any other potential dangers lurking around, she stood, albeit a little shakily, and made her way to the site of the battle. Her view falling on the bloody carcass of the dead werebeast, she decided there would be no harm in lugging it back to town.

Back at Lightstal, she was subjected to another overwhelming encounter, this time with questions from the townspeople regarding the events that had led to the death of the great werebeast, when all she desired to do at such a point was to clean up and rest. She would have been glad to be reunited with her companions, who had been separated from her during the attack, though, they currently seemed to want nothing to do with her. Perhaps it was guilt, but she was unsure if she could blame them, for had the focus of the ferocious beast been on someone else, she did not know what she would have done if all seemed lost. With a lack of energy to immediately spend the coin she had just earned, she merely took the bag home for some much-needed shuteye.

The huntress would awake after sunset, just in time to hear the pitiful howl of a wolf that would echo through the streets and past the establishments of the little town. At the sound, she peered out her window to see her neighbors shutting and bolting theirs, as well as their doors - a standard procedure for the people of Lightstal every single night. Until they found a permanent solution, the town would continue to live in fear. She let out a sigh, silently wishing the best for the team on patrol this night before bolting the entrances to her own home.

She would still be awake in the morning, to first hear that the team that had ventured out into the forest the night before had been much more fortunate than hers, and then of the attack on the livestock of a certain farmer who resided near the outskirts of Lightstal. She kicked herself in her mind, regretting the decision she had made the night she was out in the woods. She had spared a wolf while it had been down, and the very next night, a wolf had entered the town and destroyed a farm. She considered the possibility of both wolves being one and the same, though, she could not tell at this point. She would have serious conversation with the residents of the farm that was left in ruins, and the following night would find her camping out on that very farm in hopes of catching the same beast in action and taking it out once and for all.

[amorphical]

It was true the farm had been ruined. When the family explained about the wolf and the damage. The story quickly grew into a demon that killed the family and destroyed their home, while blood could be seen along the trees for a mile! However the scene was a little more vanilla than the reports. The house was still standing and the family was walking around. The kids were feeding the farm animals the mother was making butter and the father and two sons were mending a broken fence.

When questioned further the father answered saying that a pig had been taken and there was some blood on the grass from the resulting struggle. The fence was in fact not very sturdy and the farmer was surprised this sort of thing had taken so long to happen. Seeing the huntress the man apologized for not taking better care of his livestock. He also promised to bring them into the barn at night to remove the temptation. The farmer did mention that the one pig that was stolen was about sixty pounds and showed the huntress the tracks left by the wolf. They did indeed match a wolf however these tracks were not normal. The first thing was these tracks were larger than a normal wolf. On the same size as an adult bear. It made sense, no ordinary lone wolf could have taken on a were bear. The weight difference alone would be more than enough to make any normal timber wolf flee.

It had all happened too fast and at night there was little light to really get a sense of the creatures size. Now in the day with a fresh print the gathered information all pulled Shamira down like a sand pit. The unavoidable conclusion that this was no ordinary wolf. A were wolf perhaps, maybe even a dire wolf, or forest guardian bestowed with a task by the goddess of the very nature that surrounded the small town. No doubt this wolf was large enough to not only hold its own against a were bear but defeat it and live! The huntress was certain there was only one creature last night. Now at the farm, no ordinary creature could carry sixty pounds off in the night. A normal wolf would lead a pack in, team up to kill a single pig and then leave the carcass while making off with large chunks. Nothing this wolf has done would be considered "normal" behavior. Maybe the wolf was a cursed person trying to survive? The thought of two different wolves in this size class was almost too much to believe. Undoubtedly two wolves would be more reports and sightings. The town was blessed with very few incidents. No raids, or weird creatures taking kids. Maybe it was worth looking into a bit further?

[Raptra]

It would seem that the news had gone through many before reaching the huntress, as evident from the exaggeration of the severity of the incident. Upon arriving at the farm, she had observed the minimal damage that had been inflicted on the property - not at all like the picture she had painted in her mind with reference to the stories of individuals who resided nowhere close to this place. However, her visit proved not to be in vain, for after some investigation around the property and communication with its residents, there was sufficient evidence to concluded that there truly had been something strange at this very place the night before.

The shape and size of the creature's tracks gave away what it actually was. So, this was one part of the story that remained true as it was passed across Lightstal - the predator that had been spoken of really was a werewolf. It was no secret that the town had a shortage of hunters to patrol its borders, and the section that allowed access into the town from the forest via the farm must have been left unguarded the night before for a werewolf to have made it in. Regardless, she was rather relieved that there had been no casualties, hunter or not. Having narrowly escaped one on her last adventure out into the forest, she wondered what the one that had been on this farm would have done if it had come across a human.

Rather, she had spared it when she could have easily ended it. Could it be? No, it would be too much of a coincidence for it to have been the same one, would it not? There was a chance that she could find out this night, that is, if the same creature were to return for another meal. With all the livestock kept hidden from view, she would pull in a couple of her teammates to wait it out with her on the farm once night fell again. They would have a sack of meat with them to use as bait, and if whatever would appear did not attack them, they would follow it to hopefully discover its hideout, as well as any companions it might reside with.

[amorphical]

Reintroduced with the feeling of a full stomach created an almost spiritual reason to brave the danger and get a free meal without the tracking, stalking, and running. The town had made hunting nearly impossible. The scent alone kept most of the deer away. Add that to the smell of smoke and the noise it was almost impossible to hunt. The only saving grace was the breeding rate of the local rabbit population. The stream nearby in the spring was a good place but only in the spring. Still the furless creature those humans had was pleasantly meaty. It couldn't hurt to get another one. The wolf waited resting lazily in the cover at the edge of the forest for night fall.

Now as the final ray of light slipped away behind the mountains night fell over the town. Checking the scent to make sure the prey was still there the wolf kept low to the ground moving cautiously closer to the fence. The scent became impossible to filter out. The wolf grew closer still. Everything was wrong. The fence was different the noises were different, even the ears on his head were perked and tried to warn him of the dangers. The wolf was such a large creature yet silent on the approach. Instinct urging it to run, yet the promise of food forcing him to stay. The sudden panic had the large creature turn and sprint back into the safety of the edge of the woods. A fairly strait line to the edge of the river. Stopping for a moment to rest and howl at missing an easy meal. A soft long howl. Resting on his stomach blinded by the sound of the water and smell of the town smoke. There had to be a family of rabbits that need thinning. There was just too much of a risk stealing food from the town. The humans changed everything. As long as they kept out of the forest then he would stay out of town.

[Raptra]

With the sky turning dark, the residents of the farm ushered their livestock into the barn and retreated into their home. On the porch of the farmhouse, three hunters settled down for the night, yet kept alert for any danger that might come. By candlelight they waited, glancing out into the darkness cast over the crops and the silence brought by the night every so often, ready to spring into action at the sign of anything out of the ordinary. The silence was occasionally broken by some words exchanged among the team, though, none of them had much to say during the wait, for they did not have to wait long before movement was spotted from across the field.

All three shot one another quick and knowing looks, swiftly leaving the porch to head towards the movement. Upon reaching the spot where it had last been seen, they were puzzled to find nothing. Might whatever it was be in hiding? The hunters immediately began checking their surroundings, wary of a possible surprise attack. That was when the tracks left by the creature were noticed, confirming that it was no longer anywhere near. Giant wolf tracks - the same ones that were left on the farm the night before. They led back into the woods, and the three glanced at one another again and nodded, silently agreeing to move forward and follow them.

As they cautiously made their way along the path left by the large tracks, the howl of a wolf was heard up ahead. The team was getting close. They wondered if the creature might be with others, but they were expecting such a situation, preparing to hide once they caught a glimpse of some fur. They were puzzled once again upon arriving at the edge of a river to see the animal by itself. They watched it, hiding behind trees, and the next time they exchanged glances, they were ones of confusion. However, it was not long before one decided that the reason for the wolf's behavior did not matter, and that this was their chance to end it for good.

Suddenly, just as Shamira's companion had taken aim and was about to shoot it on the spot, the sound of something else could be heard approaching from behind them, and this one a lot larger than the one they were currently watching. All three turned in time dodge a set of razor-sharp teeth. One tossed the sack of meat they had with them at the monster, hoping to cause a distraction while they escaped. Such a beast had managed to take out half of a full team before, and so they had little to no chance of taking it down with just the three of them. Completely forgetting about the smaller creature they were tracking, they thrashed across the river and scattered. Shamira hoped that she would not be the one that it would decide to chase.