It was time again.
Kindred bounded through the forests of the Shadow Isles with unmatched finesse and speed. The ghosts and specters retreated in fear, but the Kindred were not after them.
No, the residents of the Shadow Isles had already been dealt with, and it was time for two others to join them.
Permanently.
Seconds later and Kindred arrived at a small clearing. They could feel it drawing closer as they stopped.
The end of the hunt was nearing, and it was time for them to reap their prize.
An anthropomorphic wolf was towering over another creature. Both were weakened, injured, but neither dead.
Yet.
The beast breathed heavily, its chest heaving as it rested.
A hunt within a hunt but in the end, there would always only be one true hunter:
Kindred.
The scent of fresh blood filled Wolf's nose, and he laughed loudly as he savored the pungent smell. The sound of his laughter attracted the attention of the hunter, and it turned its head towards them.
Its eyes widened as it recognized Kindred.
"N-no! Not yet! Not now!" It backed away from Kindred, tripping over the body below it.
Wolf grinned sadistically as he approached it. "You time is up, little wolf. Best to start running now. You've never faced anyone quite like me!"
It scrambled onto its feet as it turn and ran, away from Kindred, away from its inevitable fate.
How cute.
Wolf sped after it. "Yes! I love a good chase! Run! You can't escape me forever!"
Lamb watched Wolf chase with unbridled joy for a few seconds, joy rising in her chest as she felt his happiness.
But there was no time for that, not while she still had a job to do. It was her turn now.
Lamb stood over the fallen body, softly humming a tune as she observed it. It was that of a dying woman, but not one quite human. She inquisitively tilted her head. She had never seen a being like it before in her many years.
A sharp horn protruded from the top of its head, parting its silky white hair. It had beastial legs that resembled those of a goat. Multiple scratches marred swirling purple patterns on smooth lavender skin, blood leaking out of the deeper cuts. The large cavity in the center of its chest was the worst part. The beast had ripped a hole to access the heart, but must have forgotten about in its haste to escape death, so now Lamb could see the rapidly beating organ push against exposed broken ribs.
A truly grisly scene, but not the worst she's seen.
It wouldn't survive for much longer. At this rate, it would bleed out within minutes.
One swift shot was all it would take to end its suffering.
It focused its golden eyes on her, the brightness in them dimming with each second. Yes, it knew her. Its mouth was slightly agape as if wanted to cry out, but no sound came out from its throat. Tears ran down its cheeks as it closed its eyes, awaiting its fate.
Lamb raised her weapon, her fingers tightened around her bow, ready to release the arrow that would end its life.
Only she didn't.
She remained in that position for a few seconds, as still as a statue. Her bow and arrow didn't move an inch and her fingers felt stiff.
Strange. She's never hesitated like this.
Something didn't feel right.
Was she mistaken about the time?
Against her better judgment, she slowly lowered her weapon. She stared as the strange creature struggled to open its eyes, curious as to why it wasn't killed yet.
Lamb wasn't sure why, but she knew what she was going to do.
She was going to save it.
She began to channel magic until an aura completely surrounded them, preventing death in the area. She put the creature to sleep as she forced magic to ebb into the wounds, healing even the worst of the fatal injuries.
Before long, the creature was healthy enough to not die.
Lamb was not a healer; she was a killer. The only magic she knew was basically necromancy.
It would not be the same afterwards, and Lamb didn't have an issue with that.
There was, however, still one problem left though:
Lamb wasn't sure why she was doing this.
She couldn't kill it, so that meant that she must save it. Questions rushed through her head as she performed the rare ritual.
It was too late to go back though.
She made the magic intensify, until there was a bright flash of light that shone from its breast.
She watched as corrupted life returned to it.
"Not here, not yet," she whispered.
But when?
