Chapter 13

Wolf crouched low in the ferns, watching his quarry carefully. He moved with deliberate slowness as he drew his bow out, stretching the arrow against the taut twine, pulling the end of the arrow, anchoring it against the corner of his mouth. He breathed in, out. The arrow aimed at the deer's heart. Intaking another breath, he released.

The arrow killed the deer instantly.

The rest of the herd scattered as the prey fell down, dead. Wolf stood, walking confidently to his kill. He took out the knife, beginning to gut the deer and skin it.

After the deed was done, he packed the meat for camp to roast. At least now the team had fresh meat to eat throughout the rest of their search, and he could always hunt for more.

Wolf pulled the arrow from the hide of the deer, closing its eyes for the rest of the forest to feast on.

(**)

The human stretched out on the ground before the fire, hands resting on his stomach. "Now that was a good meal," he exhaled, the taste of medium rare deer lingering in his mouth. "I don't know why humans don't like hunting. The result is amazing."

Sunset fell on the forest. Wolf stared at the sky through the trees, watching as the colors shifted from bright orange to a deeper, duller red and finally shifting to soft blue, bringing forth the night.

Twilight, he confirmed as a few stars poked their way out in the approaching darkness.

The snap from a broken twig jerked him up. Wolf moved his curved ears forward as he scented the air.

Dew in the moonlight.

Red.

Hurriedly, he scratched away the dried blood on the corners of his mouth. He rubbed at the blood on his hands, doing everything he could so he wouldn't look like a monster.

Red came in a little too soon, seeing his face a bit too pink around the mouth, his hands a blushing fuchsia. She didn't need to look at the stores of meat nearby to know he made a kill.

"Maim an elephant this time?"

"Deer actually," he said bashfully. "We can use it for food later in the mission if we run out.

"Impressive," she nodded. "How do you know it wasn't a smart animal?"

"No clothes and walking on all fours. Total giveaway."

Red nodded again, "Of course."

He saw the distant gleam in her eyes, recognized the sadness.

"Do you want something to eat?" he asked carefully.

She gave the slightest shake of her head. She moved over to him, sitting close. Wolf recognized the disturbed expression on her face. Sitting up to match her position, he inched closer, nudging her with an elbow, "Hey, you okay Hood?

A sigh escaped through her lips. Wolf narrowed his eyes down, watching her every movement, taking note of her careful expression. At long last, she spoke, but it wasn't an answer, "Hey Wolf, can I ask something? It's about when you were living with the pack."

Wolf wondered faintly why she was thinking about this, but he shrugged his shoulders, "Okay, shoot."

She sighed out shakily, "What did you guys hunt?"

He felt caught aback by the question. His mind faltered for a moment, "Uh, deer, elk, moose, sometimes a farm animal if we were desperate. Small animals too like rodents and stuff. Why?"

Red glanced to him nervously, then stared absently back into the fire. "Did you ever hunt, humans?"

Wolf froze. Red read his face, waiting quietly, fearing the answer. He breathed in, answering slowly, "I, discouraged it from them if they suggested this. I told them of stories with their fire sticks, the poison arrows. But if they ever did go after a human, I would try to defend the human. I never gave into the instincts to kill. I still had my mind, and every animal in the forest knows to kill a human is a terrible sin. You shouldn't do it even if you're at your last breath of starvation."

"Why?" Red tilted her head.

Wolf smirked distantly, "Humans will come back with revenge."

Red looked at him, "Was there ever a time you couldn't stop them?"

Wolf's smile vanished. He heaved a great sigh. "Yes. There was. A woman. It was winter. We were all hungry, starving. At that point I ran with the pack for four years. We couldn't find any food, so one of the hunters suggested going after a human when we caught the scent. I protested, giving them the usual excuses but their stomachs were louder than their minds, and they set out. I tried to throw them off the trail, but they found her. I fought some of them off but it was too easy for them to kill her. She was a female, young, weak from the winter. She was dead in half an hour." Wolf cringed, grabbing the bridge of his nose as he squeezed his eyes shut. Red looked on in horror as he continued, "I can still hear her screams, drowned by the sound of the packs' snarls. Eventually when they finished, I pushed my way to her and-" he cut off, trembling, wondering faintly if he went too far in his little story.

Red felt it, knew what laid ahead. She didn't want to push him any further, but she felt the crux of this moment, how he needed to get this off his chest. He hadn't spoken of this for years. How long did he need to carry this burden, this truth which followed him as a shadow follows its owner?

"What happened Wolf?" she urged patiently, voice laced with softness.

He gave a shuddering sigh. "Instinct took over, I ate my fill and I left."

His shoulders deflated as he confessed, his large hand hovering over his eyes, shielding his expression, the pain in his eyes transformed so tears made their way down his face. "I saw Jack before I fled, saw the horror in his face, the fear when he laid eyes upon me. I can't get him out of my head." The tortured soul continued on, "When I realized what I did, I ran, left the pack, swore never to return. I'd killed too many humans."

Red shook gently, the images in her mind frightening her, "You killed more than just one?"

"By accident, two. I know I didn't kill either of them, not directly, but-"

"You still feel guilty."

He nodded, shoulders stiffening. "I don't deserve to live," he growled. "What I did was worse than what they did. I know the wrong I did, they did it out of ignorance. I shouldn't even be alive. Stealing life so I can go on, it isn't, it isn't-"

Red hugged him.

Her small arms felt huge, warm, safe. Wolf leaned into her, large body curled close. His shoulders quaked, his head resting in the crook of her shoulder. Red brushed her hand down his head, crooning to him, murmuring softly.

"I've never told anyone this," he confessed softly, leaning back a little ways. He didn't meet her eyes, ashamed of breaking down in front of her.

She brushed her hand along his forehead, smiling up in his teary gaze. "I'm glad you could tell me," she murmurs.

Grabbing his hands, she stood up, Wolf towering over her. With a careful smile she suggested, "Ready to fight now?"

"As I'll ever be," he said, hurt still glimmering in his eyes.

The pair stepped away from the fire, closer to the trees. Red started, "Okay, you always want to maintain this stance; it has the most balance and it gives you quick ways to move to dodge your opponents attacks." Red showed him the way to stand. He mimicked her stance, eyes hard with determination.

"Now we'll practice some punching."

Wolf rolled his eyes then swung right at her face.

Red ducked, grabbing his wrist and twisting his arm. He made a wolf-like yelp, jerking his legs at her. She jumped out of the way; he leaped at her, arms wrapping around her middle. She slid down from his grasp, spinning to kick her legs in his chest, knocking him down so the breath caught out of him.

Wolf sat up, gasping for breath. Red crossed her arms, rolling her eyes, "Baby steps, okay?"

He nodded, "Fine."

The pair practiced for hours. Red had to give him credit; he did learn fast. It wasn't long when they were able to really spar with each other, ducking, throwing out punches, kicks and the occasional slap to the face.

"So how long have you been training?" he asked as they fought.

"Granny signed me up at a super young age. Its natural to me now. I'm glad she did."

"Wow. And all I can do is kill things." Wolf swung back, doing a roundhouse kick at her, in which she grabbed his leg, twisting him away from her. He stumbled away, turning instantly to face her again as she flung herself at him.

"Don't underestimate yourself Wolf. It'll make you sloppy."

"Thank you, sensei."

"Hey, I am just filled with wisdom, grasshopper." Red jumped over his leg swinging towards her feet with the intent to trip her.

She reached back to punch him. He grabbed her fist, twisted her around with her hand behind her back and began to push her away. Red ran ahead, pulling him forward so she ran up a tree, flipped around and gave him a firm hit to his center back. Wolf turned around, darted to one side, then another and charged straight at her, forcing her against a tree.

"I don't know why Jack likes you," he gasped for breath, "he would never win any argument."

Red blushed, annoyed that Wolf brought Jack up. She relaxed against him so he let his guard down. Instantly reacting, she grabbed his throat and forced the once-wolf to the ground. His curved ears flattened back, a cold glare staring at her. She beamed triumphantly, "Never let your guard down unless you know for sure that they will stay down."

Wolf grunted, getting back to his feet when she released him. He dusted himself off as she walked off. "You heading back to the mansion?"

She paused, pivoting to face him. "I thought I was staying here with you."

He blinked, "Huh?"

Her eyes beamed. "Wasn't that the whole point of me coming over here? I hate sleeping indoors."

Wolf only smiled.

(**)

The human ran through the blank emptiness, gasping for air, calling for the one they loved. "Please! Please where are you!"

"There you are."

A flash came from nowhere, illuminating the eternal darkness. The human lowered their arms, staring at the witch, who stood before them. A smile curled up her warted face, tinged green skin crackling like lightning. Her voice spoke out, coming in high, squeaky and filled with amusement to the whole situation. "I can see you have summoned me."

The human stumbled back. "I didn't summon you!"

The witch chuckled, "Oh, but you did. How else would I find a way to enter into your dreams?"

Trembling in fear, the human turned, running away, however the witch appeared in front of them, cackling with joy. "You cannot escape me, human. I can always follow you, especially after I granted your deepest desire."

"No! No no! I didn't want this! I- I didn't want that to happen!"

She laughed, "Oh but you did. From within the deepest corner of your heart, you wanted me to grant that wish." She gave a knowing chuckle, "And I know you want something else of me, right dear?"

Bristling, the human lowered their head, knowing what the witch said was true. Swallowing, licking their lips, they voiced out, "I-I do want something."

The witch clapped her hands delightedly. "Oh goody! Now we're getting somewhere!"

In another flash of light she disappeared, reappearing right in front of the human. "So tell me what you want," she hissed, showing the yellowed, rotting, jagged teeth.

The human lifted their eyes. "Reverse it. Reverse the spell you cast. I don't want it anymore. I- I don't think I ever wanted it."

The witch gave another high laugh, backing up several paces so the human needed to squint to make sure she was still there. "That's the thing dearie," she whispered. "I can't reverse the spell; it is now beyond my ability."

The human's mouth turned to chalk. Swallowing, they gasped out, "Wh-What do you mean?"

She folded her hands together, tapping each finger against the other, "You see, the spell will only come off when you wish for it to not be there."

Suddenly filled with fear, the human took a few nervous steps forward, "But I- but I don't want it anymore! I never wanted it!"

With an amused, knowing chuckle, the witch questioned, "Then why is the spell still working?"

(**)

sorry its uber late. We're going camping in a week so we went grocery shopping today . and we were in walmart for like 3 hours. Soooooooooo that why its late xDDD sorry!