*During the events of the previous chapter*

*5/5/90*

Hunter grunted as he dragged a long, carved beam from the forest's edge, where the woodsmen worked. Perspiration shone on his face and soaked clothes, but surprisingly, not his bandaged arm. He made the trek from the forest to where the beginning of a new home sat in the Albino District. With a groan, he set it down in a pile with the others. "How…" He paused to pant before continuing. "How's it coming along?"

Ada quickly ran the pump, filled a tin cup with water, and handed it to Hunter. "It's going very well. Thank you again for your help."

"No problem," Hunter drank a little before he dumped the rest on his steaming head. "I'm just mad that more people aren't helping out."

"Well, these fires weren't set by werewolves or Shadows," Ada muttered. "I still hear whispers blaming albinos for the attacks.”

"That's just stupid. The attack was concentrated here because this part of town is badly guarded and right next to the forest!" Hunter shook his head. "It's a self-fulfilling prophecy. I bet the builders of Castell Henllys did this on purpose."

Ada nodded. “That is just how things are," she wiped away a small tear from her eye.

Rose walked by, effortlessly carrying several beams over one shoulder. "It wouldn't surprise me about the founders of Castell Henllys. I'd love to drag their racist asses from the grave and shove some wooden stakes where the sun don't shine," she threw the beams onto the pile before walking off again.

Ada made a sympathetic noise once Rose was out of hearing range. "I hear that she's been drinking a lot lately. I wish I could do something to help."

"Well, the physical labor seems good for her," Hunter said. "It helps her keep her mind off of Mom and Coraline."

Coraline… Thoughts of his little sister still filled Hunter with pain. He still couldn't believe that he'd never hear that chipper laugh or feel her sudden, speedy hugs again. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and took a shuddering breath.

"Do you want to sit down, Hunter?" Ada asked.

"Nah, I'm fine," Hunter muttered. "The physical labor is good for me too. Speaking of which, is Kenny allowing you to help collect werewolf corpses from the hunt tonight?" It would be a full moon, and most warriors and Huntsmen were itching for a new werewolf hide to hang on their walls, especially Rose.

"Not me," Ada murmured, shaking her head sadly. "I need to help with repairs. Besides, Kenny wouldn't want me to 'jinx' the hunt or anything."

Hunter couldn't think of anything to say, so he just nodded and continued hauling beams. Until Kenny and humanity started to see reason, it was all anyone could do.

~o0o~

Before the hunt, the Huntsman and warriors of the village gathered in the center of town, as was tradition. Their faces, armor, and weapons had ancient Celtic symbols painted in blue, as was also a tradition in Britannia. It was their way of asking the Maidens and even the gods of long-dead religions for protection and bravery. Kenny stood before them, a dedicated worshipper of the Maidens, going to the Temple daily.

He stepped forward and addressed the gathering. "Good people of Castell Henllys, the full moon is rising tonight. With it comes the swarm of unholy creatures that attacked our town days ago and killed several of our own! They think they can storm our homes and sully our Maiden-blessed lands with their filth. Let us prove them wrong tonight. Tonight, we will line our floors with wolf pelts! We will scatter their fangs to the wind! We will have justice for their crimes! We will have our revenge!"

Those participating in the hunt brandished their weapons and let out wordless cries of fury before splitting into groups and leaving town. Citizens waved to them from their doors and windows. Children shouted encouragement while playing with wooden weapons, toy Shadows, and werewolves.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Hunter used to love this part of the hunt when the entire town treated him and his companions like heroes. He truly felt like part of a noble cause. Now, all he could feel was the painful awareness that his party would be a member short tonight.

Rose was bloodthirsty, armed with her favorite spiked gauntlets and red-bladed axe. Her blood was boiling, and her belly burned with the brief sip she had taken from her flask before Kenny's speech. She was ready to find any werewolf and rip its head off personally. She wouldn't even bother keeping the pelt. It would be much more satisfying to tear the creature limb from limb.

The orange-haired priestess from the temple stood by the border between Castell Henllys and the forest, clad in traditional green and yellow robes of the Spring Maiden. She murmured prayers for the departing fighters.

Garrett scouted ahead, looking for tracks or broken branches. The group would be heading northwest. There were rumors of werewolves living in that part of the forest, even though the attacks usually came from the northeast. On the night of the most recent attack, several Huntsmen had seen werewolves fleeing in both directions.

Mason stayed at the back of the group, keeping a watchful eye over his shoulder for any werewolves or Shadows. He brandished his mace at anything that moved, his face devoid of its usual good humor. Today he had to be serious. This hunt was important.

For a long time, all was silent. Hunter wondered if this hunt would be like their unauthorized one a few days ago. He hoped not, for Rose's sake.

Then, less than a mile north of their position, came a sound that caused gooseflesh to rise on the young huntsmen: a long, piercing, unearthly howl. It rang through the air, into the sky, and across the trees. Its haunting sound went up in high pitch before gradually going lower and lower into silence. The echoes of that sound remained in the heads of all those who heard it. They quivered from the sound.

Rose's eyes flashed, and she clenched her fists. "That one's mine," she growled. "Taunting us, are you? We'll just see about that!" Abandoning caution, she let out a roar of challenge and rushed toward the howl.

"Rose, what are you doing?!" Jade gasped before rushing after her. "Don't break formation!"

Hunter cursed inwardly before turning to the others. "Garrett, do you know a clear path toward the north?"

Garrett nodded, already guessing Hunter's plan. Rose was haphazardly crashing through the trees and bramble. While she was strong, this would definitely slow her down. "If we move quickly, we should be able to cut her off before she gets too far."

"Good. I'll take point," Hunter drew sword and led his small group down the path Garrett pointed to.

Rose couldn't see anything but darkness and trees. She didn't care. She knew right where that howl had come from, and she would make that wolf regret uttering a sound. "I'll rip its damn tongue out!" she thought. "Come on out, you murderers!" she shouted, barely noticing the tears streaming from her eyes. "I'll kill every single one of you!”

"Rose!" Jade shouted, darting around trees while trying to use her magic to pull Rose back. The thick forestation prevented her magic from reaching the raging blond. "The stupid, reckless idiot! If she gets eaten by a werewolf, I'm going to kill her!”

Hunter, meanwhile, was just at the end of the path, clearing some brambles with his sword. He heard loud rustling to his right before two large forms nearly barreled into him, stopping short mere yards away. He jumped back, eyes wide.

Two werewolves were standing in the shadows, staring right at him. The ragged sound of their pants seemed unnaturally loud. Instinctively, he raised his sword. He sensed Mason, Garrett, and Brianna doing the same.

The larger wolf growled and stepped into the moonlight, chestnut fur bristling. Its green eyes flashed as it showed its fangs. Then, it froze. Its eyes locked on Hunter's, and it stepped back, ears flicking in agitation.

Hunter felt his mouth drop open as he looked at the creature. All at once, he was a little boy in the woods, nose to nose with a terrified werewolf pup. He blinked, his arm starting to shake.

"Hunter, what's- By the Maidens…" Brianna's voice became hushed.

Hunter was about to ask what Brianna had seen, but the answer became clear when the smaller werewolf stepped into the light. It was a tiny, little creature with black and red fur and shining baby-blue eyes. Hunter had only ever seen eyes like that once before.

"Coraline?" he gasped.”

The smaller wolf whined softly. The chestnut wolf started to relax its posture, a decision it probably regretted when loud crashes in the distance signaled Rose's approach.

Garrett looked desperately at Hunter. "Hunter, what do we do?!"

Hunter froze. He couldn't think. He had been told exactly what to believe about werewolves all his life. Yet, right before him was his little sister in wolf form alongside the creature he had saved years ago. He couldn't just attack them. He couldn't just let them go, either! The Temples said that bitten people had to be killed out of mercy. Rose is coming. What would she do? What would Hunter do about her? What could anyone-?

With a roar of anger, Rose burst from the trees. Her eyes locked on the larger wolf, and she lunged forward, brandishing her weapon without hesitation. There was a blur of movement followed by a feeling similar to being punched in the stomach. She staggered backward, falling to her knees, clutching her midsection as she glared at the smaller wolf. "The little jerk just headbutted me!"

The tiny creature was crouched down, ears flattened, fangs bared. It took a menacing step forward, slashing with one of its front paws. The wolf's claws slashed against Rose's face, bouncing off her Energy but still leaving a deep, ugly bruise.

"Coraline, no!" Hunter shouted.

All was silent. The small wolf blinked, shaking its head in supposed confusion.

Rose, for once, didn't move. She just stared, noticing the baby blue of the monster's eyes for the first time. "Coraline?" The word came out as a choked gasp. Her heart sank as her whole body began to tremble.

Hearing Rose seemed to be the final straw. The small wolf shook its head once more before a surprisingly vivid expression of horror came to its face. It stared at Rose, Hunter, Garrett, Jade, Brianna, and Mason in turn before spinning around and tearing into the trees at a blinding speed.

The chestnut wolf looked at Hunter, and he was almost positive that there was sadness in the creature's eyes. Then, it too was gone, leaving a group of stunned clansmen alone with their thoughts.