Hello! Sorry again for the late update, I don't even have a good excuse other than the fact that I'm really lazy… I'm hoping to be able to upload more consistently for later chapters. I am also almost done with my other fic so I should be able to focus on this one. I hope you like this chapter! Oh, and if you would like me to write from Will's POV just comment, if enough people want to I might start J
Nico followed behind Will, his eyes focused on the ground in front of him. He was jolted out of his daze when he collided with Will "Are you alright?" the blond asked, glancing down at him.
"I'm fine." Nico grumbled, straightening and forging on ahead of Will. Honestly, the scene had shaken him. Normally he would have been perfectly fine seeing something like that but living at camp for a few weeks must have gotten him used to the peace and tranquility.
Will walked up beside him and asked again "Are you sure?" his gaze when to his blood stained pants and hands "You're still covered in blood."
Sighing Nico waved away the question "We need to get back to the village and report what happened," he looked up at Will and added "I'll change after that." Will smiled and nodded, obviously pleased with the deal.
When they entered the village a small group had gathered beside the chiefs' house. Nico spotted Lucy in the group along with her father. Her voice cut through the quiet chatter "Nico!" she exclaimed pushing aside the other villagers. She trotted up to him and noticed his blood covered attire "Are you alright!?" she held him back at arm length and looked him up and down.
"He's fine." Will said, breaking her hold on Nico by pulling him back a step "But we did find someone." He looked over at the chief and walked over, pulling Nico along with him.
After explaining what they had found the small group once again exploded with whispers and questions. One of the men from the group walked forward and glared at the pair and growled "I thought you were supposed to get rid of the wolf!"
Will was about to reply when Nico took a step forward and silenced him with a glance. He turned to the villagers and cleared his throat "I'm sorry for your loss." He started, glancing from face to face "but we have learned valuable information." Turning to the Lucy's father he said "I think you should refrain from letting anyone leave the village."
Complaints rose from the group "What about water!" one voice yelled "And hunting!" another added.
"You'll have to do with what you have until I can find and dispose of the wolf," Nico snapped, he rubbed his temples and looked back to the chief "I'm going to go and prepare some things." He nodded to Lucy and turned, heading back to the house they were staying at.
"Hey, Nico!" Will said jumping to follow him.
Once Nico had entered his room he sat down on his bed and scratched absently at the drying blood on his hands. I'm going to need to find out where it lives, he thought, closing his eyes and humming softly.
"Nico!" Will said slightly louder, snapping his fingers in front of the teens face.
"What?" Nico growled, glaring up at him "I'm thinking." He noticed the jeans hanging from Will's arm.
"How about changing out of those," he gestured at the blood soaked jeans "and cleaning off your hands." He grabbed Nico's arm, pulling him from his seat.
Grumbling, Nico complied.
After changing and washing off the blood he felt much better, but he didn't tell Will that, he didn't need Will getting any ideas.
He walked back into the main room and sat back down on the chair "We are going to go and search tonight." He said, bending over the map on the table "We'll start here." He placed his finger on the north side of the deeper woods "I'd like to find where it lives and dispose of it before it causes any more trouble."
"Let's just not get ourselves hurt in the progress." Will added coming up and standing beside Nico "I don't want to have to use our supplies this early in the quest."
Nico rolled his eyes and decided to ignore that fact that all Will thought about was safety "Whatever, let's just get prepared."
They walked out of the house as the sun started to dip below the horizon, the last of the bright rays disappearing. They were traveling light. Nico had his sword and the map along with a small canteen of Nectar. Will was equipped similarly, he had a bow slung across his back and a small bag of medicine hanging from his belt.
The trip was an easy one until they got to the denser part of the forest. "Can you make any more noise?" Nico snapped, turning to watch Will trip over another branch.
"I'm not a creature of the night like some people!" Will hissed quietly, regaining his balance. And glaring in Nico's general direction "I can't even see you in this darkness, remind me why we didn't bring a flashlight or something along those lines?"
"The light would give use away." Nico muttered turning his attention back to trudging through the forest.
"But don't we want the hound to come after us."
Nico shook his head "Normally if we wanted to get rid of something that would work, but in the darkness we have a disadvantage, it could jump out at us from any direction." He pushed up a branch with his arm "I would like to find its den, then we might be able to catch it with a sneak attack."
"That's a good idea…" Will muttered begrudgingly.
Nico nodded, then realized he couldn't see him "Thanks." He said aloud, ducking under another branch.
He heard a satisfying THUNK as Will collided with branch "Hey!" he hissed "You could have warned me about that!"
"No, it's much more fun to watch, or hear, you run into it."
Will sounded like he was about to say something back when a large snap shattered the quiet. They could hear the squawking of birds and flapping of wings.
"This way!" Nico ordered, breaking into a dash. He waved through branches and leaped over logs and roots, following the sound of the crows. Before he broke through another wall of vegetation Will tackled him. They both skidded to a halt. Nico turned his head to snap at the other boy but his words were cut off by his hand. Will held up a finger to his lips and looked around them.
The sound of the crows sounded close now. But the cries of the bird were mixed in with another sound, heavy breathing and the sound of tearing flesh and breaking bones. Will rolled off Nico and pointed through a hole in the bushes "Look." He whispered softly.
Nico pushed up beside Will and spotted the large shape moving across the ground in front of them. Its back was turned so all they could see was the long blood matted fur of its back. Bones were scattered around its paws and a few piles placed carelessly in the area. It smelled like something that had died, been forgotten about, and then opened up again after a few weeks.
"We found it" Nico whispered, shifting to get a better look. Will also moved at the same time. They both bumped shoulders rustling the bush in front of them. The large hound snorted and growled slowly turning to face them.
Nico could hear Will gasp, and he could understand why. This hound was different, you could feel the waves of blood lust and anger rippling off its pelt. Nico automatically knew what they had to do, run.
Mwahahaha, cliff hanger! Thanks for reading! I'll try to get the next chapter up sooner so please review to remind me! Sorry for any mistakes in my spelling or grammar, i'm still not error free with my writing ^^;