This is kind of inspired by the novels of a polish author, Andrew Sapkowski, not available on the West I'm afraid. He definitely deserves to be called the 'King of polish fantasy'. BTW this AU. If you like it, I shall continue.

Disclaimer - I don't own Slayers or anything at all. I hope the owners won't sue me for messing in their characters. 

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It was a shack more than a cottage, really. The wooden walls had so many holes that it didn't need windows. Though it had two of them, with panes made of some fish's bladder and looked as if they would fall apart from a single touch. The building was thatched and a giant hole in the roof was a sign that some forest creatures were gourmets of it.

It was awfully quiet, as if there was no life in the whole forest. The only sound was made by the horse's slow pace through the snow. After tearing through the layer of frozen branches the rider entered the clearing. He was dressed in white fur cape with a woolen hood; nothing else could be seen for now. His horse was grey with white mane and tail and had big eyes with a wise expression. Few yards after the horse minced a white wolf.  

The rider stopped in front of the ruined cottage and raised his head. If there was any witness he still would not see his face because of the scarf covering his face. He slowly dismounted and made few steeps to the house, checking the depth of the snow. It wasn't satisfying, he was burrowed to the height of the rabbit skins, wrapped over his calves. However he had no choice. He turned his eyes to the shack.

"OK my friend I know you're in there." he announced. "I can hear your breathing."

"I'm not your friend, vagrant!" came a harsh answer. "What the Hell are you doin' on my land?!"

Outside stepped the 'owner of the land'. He was quite muscular and unshaven, but the weirdest thing was that he was didn't seem cold in his scanty clothes: he had only a waistcoat and a pair of shorts. The wolf bared its teeth and started to growl the minute he saw him.

"Keep your stinkin' animal away from me!" wailed the hermit, obviously feeling uncomfortable because of the dog's presence.

"I'm sorry" said the stranger. If the 'land owner wasn't a simpleton he would sense a bit of sarcasm in his voice. "A girl was killed in a near-by village. The peasants suspect a werewolf or something and hired me to deal with it. Did you..."

"No I didn't see any godforsaken beasts around here!" exclaimed the hermit. His nervousness was evident "Now go away!!!"

"Fine. Let me know when you do. Here's something for your trouble." he threw a silver coin in the direction of his interlocutor. And the guy caught it in the air. Sucker. 

"ROOOAAAR!!!" screamed the hermit, grabbing his hand and throwing the coin away. The pain had blinded him but he was still fast enough to dodge the strike and turn somersaults through the snow. He didn't have a chance to get up though, because the wolf had pinned him to the ground, catching his forearm with its powerful jaws. His only chance was to transform and throw the beast off of him. He started to morph and grows more fur. Too late. 

CLASH!!!

The unfortunate werewolf's head rolled in to the semi-cottage.

"Leave him Dilgya. Our job is done." was the only thing said by the masked man. He went after the head and the wolf sat by the horse and waited for him.

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"Well done, master Zelgadis, well done." cheered the village elder. "I knew that hermit was a strange feller. Here ya go twenty gold peaces. A little high I think but I understand that someone with a reputation like yours can dictate the rules. After all, they don't call you Grey Wolf for nothing."

It was more of a monologue than a dialogue, because the Hunter had hardly said a thing. Not that the elder was expecting him to. Frankly speaking, he was glad because his voice was giving him the creeps.

"Oh! I've almost forgot! The innkeeper insisted to give you this. Another job offer, I guess."

The Hunter called Zelgadis took the envelope and broke the seal. Then he unfolded the letter:

'Dear Friend,'

Typical. Another guy that claimed to be his friend. It wasn't hard to guess since he had no friends.

'I tried to find you here but those coarse savage creatures living in this godforsaken hamlet...'

Again typical. It had to be somebody from the nobility who despised the illiterate country folk.

'...said that you went after some evil monster, a werewolf or something. I'm in awe of your abilities of differentiation those creatures from the rest of the folk, because I cannot see any difference. By the way: I would NOT suspect you of such penchants, you animal you.' 

Xellos.

He didn't bother to read anymore and simply had threw the paper to the fire and quickly exited the elder's house to avoid the questions. At least he tried.

"Not interested in the offer?" said the surprised man.

He was surprised that he bothered to say an answer:

"Definitely."

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Review please. Pretty please. Onegai.