As I held my breath with dire anticipation, the arrow hit the bird right in its abdomen, it let out a shrill groan like whistle that could've burst eardrums as it fell down to its inevitable death with a soft thud and its life ended, just like that.

With my feelings all over the place, I sat back down on the tree with my legs hanging off the branch as I clutched the bow to my chest with both hands.

I remained just like that for I don't know how long, trying to decide how I felt about....this.

Should I feel proud of myself that I'd killed my prey in only one shot and caught my first victim as a hunter or should I feel ashamed of myself for taking the life of a perfectly innocent being who'd done nothing wrong?

Ugh...no, I do not have the time to overthink this. Making up my mind to not think about this right now, I slung the bag over my shoulder with its mouth still sealed and the bunny still in it.

I got off the thick branch I was sitting on and made my way down the tree, facing no difficulty this time for I remembered which branches could bear my weight.

No matter how much I told myself that this wasn't a big deal, deep down I knew that killing the little puffin was just the beginning, who knew what I would kill next?

As soon as I reached the ground, I frantically searched around the tree for the deceased bird, scared that the snow might've covered it up whilst I was busy debating with my conscience and I would have to remain hungry and probably starve for another day.

Then my gaze fell upon the ravaged bloody body of the once lively puffin, now most assuredly dead, now nothing more than a heap of feathers and blood.

I felt a catch in my throat as my eyes got moist, no...no, I wasn't a scared little girl who cried at the sight of blood, I couldn't be.

I willed myself to compose my being as I coolly walked over to the bird and bent down to inspect it, my sensitivity started to resurface but I pushed it back down.

I pulled the arrow out of its split stomach in a clean stroke trying to contain my emotions. Then I wiped the arrow on the snow to rid it of the blood.

The puffin's head was bashed in and...and so was his body for it had fallen from a great height.

My stomach growled reminding me that I hadn't eaten for two days.

I was disgusted by myself because I didn't feel guilty anymore, I just felt so hungry and the dead puffin was my only means of food right now, nothing else mattered.

I guess I now knew what hunger makes people do? I mean, could I really blame myself?

Oh...I'd been so focused on the puffin, I hadn't even thought about the aftermath. How the fuck was I going to cook it? There was no question of me making a fire because the smoke would lead the wolves right to me and I really didn't want that to happen.

I heaved a heavy sigh as I looked up at the sky, cursing my fate.

In a robotic movement, I unknotted the saddlebag and placed the arrow in it. I didn't seal its mouth this time so the hare wouldn't suffocate.

That's when it clicked in my mind.......I remembered that the gamble oak tree produced very little smoke when burnt.

My eyes lit up as I realized that this forest had small gamble oak trees every step of the way, why didn't I notice this earlier?

Anyway, not wanting to waste a second, I hastily sprinted over to the nearest one.

Picking the lowest and thinnest bough which came up to just my shoulder, I took out my knife and got to work on cutting the bough right where it connected to the trunk.

As I slayed away at the bough with as much force as I had, my thoughts drifted back to my dream, specifically the wolves.

Even though I'd seen them in a dream and that also at a very great distance, a very clear picture was painted in my mind, they were just so... incredibly huge and sinfully formidable with their eyes as black as the night.

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Some wolves were black and the other ones were white, their fur glowed so much that it was difficult to see them through the naked eye.

Ironic, wasn't it....that such horrendous beasts were made to look so radiant and wondrous. The bough fell down as I cut through it at last. I moved on to another branch and slashed at it with all my might for I was ravenous.

Soon, I had enough wood to make a fire. I gathered all the boughs into a pile under a quite tall and dense tree, its thick layer of canopy would protect the fire from the snow.

I'd seen my father make fire by rubbing two stones together until the sparks flew out and lit up the logs of wood.

There were slabs of rocks jutting out here and there but no small stones, so...I had to go with another idea I wasn't sure would work.

Our elders used to say that rubbing two logs of wood also ignited fire but it was long ago when we didn't know that stones lit fire much easily.

And I'm trying the elder's trick but...oh!!!

Yes, the wood caught fire. As the beautiful sparks of warmth flew out, the wood caught fire as it sizzled in all its scalding glory.

I cannot express how fucking happy I am right now, who knew lighting a fire could be so satisfying? Fuck, I feel so silly.

I had a thin branch with which I eagerly pierced the bird right in the middle and held it over the fire, my hand holding it's one end as I sat there, on the slab of cold, hard stone, empty-minded.

Waiting for the meat smeared in blood to get roasted enough to eat.

Damien's POV

"What the hell do you expect me to do, go into the forest of the fucking deadly wolves, just so we can execute some impudent little village girl?" I shot back at my father, boiling with anger.

My father was equally enraged but was trying not to lose his temper.

"That 'impudent little village girl' could be the end of us. All that the sorcerer predicted has come true, how can this prophecy be false, and even if it was, I cannot take that risk, I am their protector, it's my job to protect them. And you will do as I say. This is not a request."

His voice boomed in the imperial office as it reverberated repeatedly.

I frowned, realizing he was right, our ancestors had led the vampires through such wars and hardships and we still survived.

I was next in line after my father to take over but it was such a ridiculous job he was giving me, to kill some ignorant little girl. I had much more important jobs to do here in the academy.

I opened my mouth to argue further but he raised his hand, silencing me.

He huffed quite noticeably as he spoke in a commanding tone, a subtle warning for me, "Damien, you are the future of the vampire race and that girl as Abner prophesied could be the blood of the great night wolf and the most powerful sorceress there ever was."

He took a forced pause, trying to make his voice level but not succeeding very well.

"And as the grandson of the great Vladek who lead the vampires to victory in the fight against the werewolves and their pack of wolves, it is your duty to eliminate any and all beings which may be a danger to your kind."

I was well acquainted with the fact that it gave him immense pleasure to reprimand me of my duties.

" But there is no way that you're sure of this. I agree that Abner's prophecies haven't failed us in the past and we should take this seriously. But going on a wild goose chase is not the best way to deal with this. " I said, trying to make him see sense.

He went on, commanding my attention, slightly discerned by my cool stature," If his predictions are correct, she could be a great danger to us, with the blood of the strongest werewolf there ever was and the sorceress, she could have unimaginable powers and it is best to end her life while she still remains ignorant of her heritage."

Damn it....he was right but we didn't need to fear her, even if she was 'all-powerful', we had nothing to fear. There were a vast number of vampires and sorcerers all over the world which when summoned would immediately come to our aid.

We were powerful creatures, even if she rallied the wolves to fight against us, however powerful she may be, she wouldn't be able to control those wild beasts alone.

And the few werewolves that were left who controlled the wolves as a pack hated her for she was the blood of a sorceress, they'd never help her. Hell, we didn't even know if they were alive.

Anyway, she didn't stand a chance against us.

I started to speak again but father cut me off as his eyebrows knit together in frustration.

He slammed his hand down on the titanium table, trying to get his rage under control, "Fine, you've proven your point, you are not going to go after the girl, send word to your uncle and pass this message to him."

The table shuddered under his force.

He'd caught me off guard but I quickly composed myself, trying not to seem fazed.

He then again stared back down on the manuscripts arranged carefully on his desk, a silent gesture to dismiss me.

What?

Well, this was unexpected. I'd expected him to blow up on me for my father had a short temper and he didn't like to be argued with. I thought he would've ultimately forced me to follow through with his order.

Frowning, I got up from the chair and walked out the door, as it dawned on me that this really was serious. My father didn't ask favors of my uncle for silly tasks.

My uncle was a busy man, he was always gone, traveling all over the world. I never truly trusted his intentions but I respected the man.

What he did, I had no clue about that. But I knew this, whatever it was, it had to be important if my father deemed it necessary to keep it from me.

Whatever at least I got out of heading up to the north because it was really fucking cold up there.

The sorcerer who'd prophesied the existence of the girl, her bloodline and her unearthly powers was a trusted source and a dear friend. He'd never been wrong before.

So, there was a high chance that all of this was true, maybe......I should've gone up north...what? No!! I didn't have the time to worry about some worthless girl who may or may not be perilous. I'll just.... let my uncle deal with her.