The rhythmic thump of running feet echoed against the familiar backdrop of the path to the village, a mix of gravel and dirt crunching beneath their shoes.

With clothes hanging in tatters, and blood stains scattered like macabre decorations across a weary frame.

As Ryn made his way back to the village along the carriage path, his steps quickened with purpose.

Each step was calculated, a dance of caution and haste, as he clutched onto the pouch containing his dinn– a collection of fragile eggs.

“She is not here!”

Ryn arrived at the farm near the village entrance, where he had parted ways with the old lady earlier that day, But her cart wasn’t there.

"It's understandable; it's already late," he mused to himself.

As the sun dipped towards the horizon, he paused to soak in its golden hues before his gaze fell upon his ragged appearance.

Anticipating the guards' reaction to his disheveled state, he realized he couldn't go in such a condition.

"I can't go like this," he muttered, scanning his surroundings for a solution. His eyes landed on the unlocked shed nearby.

‘Hope there's something wearable here,’ he thought, a spark of hope igniting within him.

Eager to find a change of clothes to conceal his tattered attire, Ryn ventured into the shed. After a moment of rummaging, he let out a sigh mixed with disbelief.

"I know I said anything, but... This is... Ha!" Ryn's shoulders slumped as he exited the shed, locking it securely behind him.

As the sun began its graceful descent towards the horizon, the sky transformed into a masterpiece of colors.

Hues of pink, orange, and gold streak across the heavens, painting wisps of clouds in a symphony of pastel tones.

As it approached the horizon, it appeared to halt, suspended in a blaze of fiery brilliance before gradually disappearing from view, leaving behind a sky ablaze with the embers of its beautiful farewell.

Ryn slipped through the village entrance unnoticed, blending in seamlessly with a family of farmers and their children. Coincidentally, one of the kids was also covered from head to toe, mirroring Ryn's mysterious guise.

"Ryn!?"

A familiar voice rang out as he neared his house.

"Ryn, right?"

Following the sound of approaching footsteps, Ryn recognized the voice.

"That's a familiar sound."

"It's really you, Ryn."

Turning around, Ryn now sported an old lady's robe over his shoulders, concealing most of his appearance.

"Norman!?"

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"Your mother has been looking for you, Ryn, but..."

Norman's confusion was palpable as his eyes scanned Ryn, a question hanging unspoken in the air.

"What are you wea—"

"Mother was looking for me?!"

Cutting off Norman, Ryn's face flushed with emotion.

"Yeah! She said you haven't come back for lunch and asked if you ate with us."

While Ryn wasn't particularly close to kids his age in the neighborhood, Norman was an exception. Being his father's student, Norman was the go-to person for Ryn's parents whenever he went missing—a rare occurrence that sparked concern in his mother.

“Where did you say my mother was now?” Ryn asked.

“probably the chief’s house. She was heading that w–”

“Thanks Norman.”

Ryn didn’t let him finish and showed his gratitude for providing him with crucial information.

Since Ryn frequented the chief's study, his mother would likely assume he spent the day there, despite leaving the house with his training weapons and a look that suggested he wouldn't be cooped up indoors all day.

Nevertheless, it was Ryn, and the possibility of him getting bored of his original plans and losing himself in books was quite high. Dana, being the doting soul she was, would offer him lunch in such a scenario.

‘That's probably how it will play out, with nobody at home,’ Ryn mused to himself.

With his mind set on this likely outcome, Ryn pondered how to sneak back into the house without his mother noticing his peculiar appearance.

After Norman's words had solidified his plan, he clung to the vision of events progressing just as he imagined.

‘Huh!’ Something was amiss. Ryn had the feeling he was forgetting something.

“Wait!. What about Sia!?”

Right before Ryn took off and rushed towards home before his mother came back, he realized the someone he was forgetting was his little sister.

“Ellysia? With your mom.” Norman recalled how Enara had Ellsia with her when she asked him about Ryn.

‘Now this is my chance.’

“Later, Norman.”

Ryn rushed towards home without even glancing back, after confirming everything with Norman or so he thought.

“But,.. she will be back by now.”

When Norman saw Enara earlier, it was true that she was on that path that leads to the chief's study, but he wasn’t totally sure if that was her destination. Since he never asked her that.

Another strange thing was the way that Ryn was acting like he was avoiding getting caught by his mom, returning home.

“Nothing bad will happen to him, right?”

Norman waited and sheepishly smiled until Ryn’s silhouette disappeared in the distance at the entrance of Dastarn’s house. Only then did he go his way.

The sun ascended with a gentle grace, casting a golden glow over the landscape. As its first rays stretched across the horizon, the warmth of dawn began to awaken the fauna and flora from their slumber.

The sun's tender touch seemed to caress the vibrant flowers, causing them to unfurl their petals in a colorful display of awakening. The leaves of the ancient trees shimmered in the early light, whispering secrets of the night to the new day.

As the morning progressed, the sun climbed higher in the sky, its radiant beams reaching the midpoint between the horizon and the zenith.

At this magical juncture, the village and forest alike come to life with a symphony of sounds and colors, as if nature itself was celebrating the arrival of a fresh day filled with endless possibilities.

Except for one individual who seemed to be having a bad day.

Rustling through the bushes of the forest, tracking the trail of blood on the leaves and the ground. Adorned in leather armor tailored for their small-slender frame, paired with hunting shoes and pants. Two swords strapped to their back, a waist dagger, and a satchel slung across their shoulders, resting on their hip.

Rustle!

Whoosh!

As the individual navigated through the rustling bushes of the forest, a sudden movement caught their eye. Without warning, something leapt out from the shadows, pouncing on them with startling speed and aggression.

With no time to evade the attack or launch a counterattack, they instinctively shielded themselves with one arm while clutching their satchel with the other. The force of the impact sent them tumbling, narrowly avoiding colliding with a nearby tree.

In a swift motion, the individual sprang back to their feet, their focus fixed on the precious satchel, opening it and peering into what’s inside. Ignoring their injuries and the source of the sudden ambush, they prioritized safeguarding their belongings.

Slowly, their gaze shifted towards the mysterious assailant, a glint of anger in their eyes. They then removed the satchel and cautiously placed it beneath a nearby tree, all the while maintaining an intense eye contact with their newfound foe.

Now that the individual could see what it was, they scanned it up and down while remaining cautious of its movements.

A regal creature with a wild and powerful presence, not unlike a large, furry dog with pointed ears, sharp teeth, and keen eyes that pierce through the darkness of the forest. Its fur, the shade of moonless midnight, with multiple stripes of light azure running through, ending with a gray tail.

‘What is that in its jaw’

The individual's eyes finally landed on what it was holding in its jaw.

The MoonHowl sensing the chance in that moment, slowly dropped what it was carrying and spurted into action.

The individual was caught off guard by the incredible speed of the MoonHowl and their vision was covered in familiar scene. only this time it was a huge glimmering fangs.

“Shit”