Myles fell back onto the bed of leaves beneath him. His tanned skin glistened with sweat in the afternoon sun, as his chest heaved with excertion. Beside him laid his wife, Sara, the werewolf breathing just as hard as he was. Both of them were naked and covered in sweat from their love making. His wife's black and white striped fur was as matted as his short brown hair, her large red eyes staring at him with complete adoration. He smiled and scratched her head with one hand as his amber eyes roamed her body with increasing lust.

Myles' heart was in complete and utter bliss. All the lies the Order had told him and Sara were all gone now. Lost to the intense pleasure that filled them when they finally accepted each other. No more awkward stares during training, embarrassing teasing from the other Heroes, or his family forcing the two of them apart. They could live here in peace and express their hidden desires for each other away from anyone who would judge them. Sara had already born two daughters, Lulu and Fira, both of whom were watching the orgy from afar with curious eyes. They'd learn from watching their mother and aunts before they came of age, where they'd go out to find a husband of their own to bring to the pack. Then their kids would do the same, and so forth.

Myles could already see the smiling faces of his grandchildren which fueled his love for Sara even more. He sent one hand to her chest, making her moan in pleasure. Around them five other werewolves watched, waiting for their Alpha to call them for their turn.

For all seven of them, the world had stopped moving. There was nothing save for the pleasure they gave their Alpha and that he gave them in return.

Until a high pitched scream pierced through their stupor.

Not one of pleasure, but pain.

All the werewolves stopped moving. Their ears pricked up and started swiveling about. Their noses started flaring as they caught two scents carried to them from the back of the hill. The first was the familiar scent of a human female, but something about it made the more senior wolves' fur stand on end. The other was the metallic smell of blood.

Myles sat up, ignoring the chill the wind sent across his naked body to observe his pack.

He had been with them long enough that the could tell what was going on based on their actions alone. And what he saw made him grip his wife's hand tight in worry. The two of them looked at each other just as another scream echoed across the grassy hill. The seven wolves didn't hesitate, their instincts to protect their Alpha making them surge towards the smell of blood. Myles and Sara stood up at the same time nodding each other with the same look in their eyes. They finally found a place where they could be happy together, and they would defend it. Whatever it took.

The sound of grass rustling indicated their children running up to them. The two girls looked up at their father with fear etched on their faces. Lulu, the older sibling, was the first to speak, "What's going on, daddy? Is something wrong?" She had Sara's fur and her father's eyes, with a tomboyish face to match her aggressive tendencies. Fira nodded at her sister's statement while pointing a claw in the direction her aunts went. Her fur was a solid brown color with a meeker demeanor than her sister, and puppy dog eyes that elicited sympathy from all who saw them.

Myles knelt, gripping his daughters' shoulders while giving them a confident smile, "Of course not, sweeties. Daddy just needs you to go get something for him and mommy. You remember where Daddy's spear is, right?"

----------------------------------------

This should be enough.

The werewolf's roar was cut short as the Huntress' Rakuyo sliced through her chest. Her body sailed over her killer, staining the Huntress' black clothes red with blood. The long blade of her weapon was a blur as she splashed the from her weapon onto the grass below. Around her laid the corpses of the three werewolves that were guarding this side of the hill. The Huntress had swiftly made her way around the incline, getting closer as she got farther away from her comrades. By the time the enemy sentry had caught her sent she was already among them. She killed one by stabbing it through the neck with the end of her Rakuyo, then another by throwing a knife into its skull. The latest corpse to add to the pile had come running at her from further up, pouncing at her when the distance was closed.

An understandable choice, but a foolish one.

The Huntress advanced up the cliff, pistol and double-bladed sword held in her hands. The smell of blood was already starting to emanate off the bodies meaning the werewolves should start drawing their forces towards her. If they did, then she should see a host of werewolves appear from behind the crest of the hill.

If they'd didn't, then she'd have to improvise.

Wouldn't be the first time.

She's able to reach the midpoint of the hill before they start to appear. The Huntress' eyes count each one as they emerge from the top of the cliff. She counts eleven in total by the time they stop appearing, making her nod when the last of the monsters revealed itself. The plan was working. Now all she had to do was keep their attention.

Which, based on their shocked expressions as they beheld the bodies behind her, would not be a problem. She recognized the reactions they had as the reality of their companions' deaths fully hit them. The hands going towards their mouths, eyes widening in shock, their heads jerking towards the ground before expelling the contents of their stomach. She reacted the same way when she killed her first Beast. However, rather than feeling sympathy, she frowned at the feeling of justification. She recognized the piles she had passed by as bones of small animals, meaning they were no stranger to the murder of living creatures. Nor was the sight of blood and viscera something they shied away from.

Which meant that the war between the humans and monsters had truly seen little bloodshed.

Which did not sit well with the Huntress.

She turned her attention to the middle of the group, focusing her attention on the center. There stood the only male among the entire pack, meaning he was their target. And judging by how he stood with the monsters instead of attempting to get away while they were distracted, Jet and Sentinel were on the mark. Meaning this had turned from a rescue mission into a "rescue" mission. The main difference being the target was less cooperative in the latter case.

She studied the man as much as she could from her position. He held a spear in one hand and a buckler shield in the other with white plate armor that shined in the afternoon sun. His short hair framed the determined look on his face. A werewolf stood beside him, her fur black with white stripes, with her arms wrapped around one of his. She looked at the Huntress with a mixture of fear and awe that only grew the more time passed. The look was shared by her sisters as both sides continued to stare each other down. The werewolf whispered something into the man's ear that made his eyes widen for a moment. They narrowed a second later, then softened as he saw the worry on her face.

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He rubbed the top of her head sending her tail wagging, before turning to the Huntress. His voice was young yet stern, as if he was on the edge of puberty, "Who are you? Why did you come to our home and attack us?"

The Huntress gave a short bow in greeting, "My name is not important. I am but a simple Hunter, and I have come for you, sir. I am hear to rescue you from these monsters and return you to your true home. I attacked merely to prevent myself from being attacked and turned into a monster, and to get to you."

The man laughed while shaking his head, "A 'Hunter'? My mother sent you, didn't she? So now she suddenly cares about me? Sorry to disappoint you, sellsword, but as you can see here I have no need of rescuing." He held out his arms to indicate the werewolves around him, "My real family is here, with me. And your hands are stained with their blood."

The Huntress narrowed her eyes, taking one step forward while her voice got deeper, "I am afraid I can not return empty handed. You will be coming back with me, willing or not."

The entire group of werewolves got onto their haunches, growling and barking at the Huntress. The man smiled while moving his hand under the striped werewolf's arm, before grabbing onto her breast. He never took his eyes off the Huntress even as the werewolf moaned under his touch, "If you can't go back, why not stay here with us? Don't you want to have a family of your own? A place to settle down and-"

"And waste away while my body is used merely to satisfy the fleeting, baser urges of others?" the Huntress pulled down her bandanna and spat onto the ground. She pulled it back up before continuing, "I think I'll choose to live my life."

She didn't know why, but her answer shook the entire line of adversaries. Even the male ceased his groping, confusion written all over his tanned face. It was like they had never heard a woman deny their offer with such conviction before. Like every other female they offered that to had accepted without delay.

The Huntress smiled at being the first one to defy their expectations.

"Now then," she took another step forward, her Rakuyo and Pistol ready, "Will you come with me willingly? Or do I have to drag you out through a sea of corpses?"

A tension settled over the hill as the two sides stared each other down. One an eleven strong werewolf pack led by a male human warrior, and the other a single Hunter who managed to cut down three werewolves on her own. No one dared make a move lest they set off the powder keg that threatened to engulf the entire section of the forest in flames.

What felt like hours passed before the male finally made his move. He looked at the werewolf by his side before walking down the incline towards the Huntress. As the rest of the Pack made to follow, he held up a hand and shouted, "If you wish to take me back, you must do so by force. However, I will not risk anymore of my family's lives on this day. I shall face you in honorable combat,. If you win, I promise to go with you but you must promise to not lay a hand on anyone else in my family."

He stopped when he was a few feet from the Huntress. She was surprised to discover how young he was. He couldn't have been more than eighteen or seventeen. Yet he already had a family and was ready to fight her to defend them. It didn't change anything, but it did make her reassess her battle strategy. She stood up straight saying, "I will fight you one on one, however I do not accept your terms. What guarantee is there that the pack of monsters behind you will not simply attack me the moment I lose or win? Or that they will not pursue me to the village in an ill fated attempt to get you back?"

"Nothing, save my promise as the Alpha," he turned around, gave each werewolf a look that communicated something to them, before turning back towards the Huntress, "there. And if I am victorious?"

"Then do whatever you want with me," the Huntress shrugged, "I care not."

"Agreed," the male spread out his legs while moving his spear to sit atop his shield. He held both out in front to protect his body and strike at the Huntress at the same time. He spoke again, anger rising in his voice, "Myra, Davi, and Ulva. Those were their names. Those were the ones you killed. Let their spirits be with me as I, Myles Deltora, face you in battle!"

His battle cry split the air as he stomped his foot into the ground. With no hesitation he rushed straight at the Huntress, his spear poised to stab at her shoulder. At the last moment he pulled his spear back and brought his shield up to strike her in the throat. The Huntress effortlessly ducked under the attack and kicked him in the stomach. The blow transmitted straight through his armor, knocking the wind out of him as he went flying back a good two feet. He rolled to his feet just as the Huntress dashed in again. His shield went up to protect him only to be pierced through by the dagger on the end of the Rakuyo. Myles let his arm slip from the buckler, watching the Huntress wrench it to the right and throw it behind her off into the forest. Myles grit his teeth and let his Mana flow across his body. This wasn't an opponent he could defeat with normal means. He had to get serious if he wanted to win.

As he dodged his opponent's sweeping strikes, he felt the energy encase his limbs as they got looser and more agile. His armor became lighter and lighter until he felt like he was nude before his opponent. His body began to glow a faint white color as his Aura started to encase his entire body. Smiling he grabbed his spear with both hands and lunged at the Huntress. He watched for the moment she backpedaled, so he could press his assualt and keep her from moving closer. Then, when his Aura had reached its peak, he'd end this battle with a single strike.

His smile of triumph swiftly gave way to a mouth agape in fear.

The Huntress, rather than dash away from the oncoming spear, stepped towards it. Myles could do nothing as his enemy dodged his attack, brought her blade up, and cleaved his spear straight in half with one swing. She didn't let up, sending a right hook to Myles' temple and a kick to his groin. As he doubled over in pain her knee came up and knocked his face towards the sky. He felt blood pool in his mouth as his body throbbed all over. He tried to regain his footing only to see the Huntress' head slam directly into the center of his face. Myles felt his nose break as he was sent to the grass below.

He tried to get up but froze as he felt the tip of his foes' blade pressed against his throat. His face quivered as he stared up at his opponent, "Wh-who are you? When Sara said you had no Mana, I thought she was just seeing things. But...it's like you're dead. And you can't be a Mamono so...what are you?"

The Huntress tilted her head at what he called her, "Mamono? Is that what the monsters call themseleves? Hmn, interesting. But I believe I already answered your question. I am a simple Hunter. No more, no less." The Huntress jerked her head to the side, "I have won this battle. I believe you owe me your cooperation."

Myles bit his lip, eyes flicking between the Huntress and the weapon in her hand. It took two minutes before he finally sighed and nodded in defeat, "Alright, I'll return with you. Can I at least-"

"No," the Huntress cut him off, "We have no time for that. Jet, Blitz, Sentinel! I have the target."

"Indeed you do," Jet said as the three of them crested the top of hill from the other side. The werewolves all jumped and readied to pounce the intruders, but one shout from Myles was all it took to prevent them from attacking. Jet clapped his hands while looking at the assembled monsters, "Do not worry, ladies. We will be out of your fur in a few moments. Alright, Hunt! Bring 'em up here! I can already taste our reward!"

The Huntress nodded while jerking her head towards her comrades. Myles recluntantly complied, placing his hands behind his back as the Huntress held her blade to his back. He scoffed as the two of them began to walk, "You'd destroy a family for coin?"

"I've destroyed many things for far less," the Huntress replied cryptically, keeping herself a good distance behind Myles. She kept her eyes on both her target and the top of the hill as they went up the incline. Her sharp eyes flicked between all the werewolves as they went. They maybe monsters, but it was clear they felt emotions the same as humans did. Specifically, desire and lust for another. And when such emotions ran high, irrational decision suddenly seem completely...wait. Where was the black and white werewolf that was clinging to-

The Huntress felt her instincts kick in. He blade flashed to her right in a dazzling dispaly that left a white streak behind it.

Everyone felt their hearts stop.

Myles slowly looked to the right.

There he saw Sara staring at him with emotionless empty eyes. Their eyes met for one last moment as he mouthed her name.

She smiled with her eyes closed.

Then her head rolled off her shoulders.

"SARA!"