I had scrambled back into the woods after overhearing a conversation that broke my heart. I had known the Byrds feelings for the Ward family but I had always seen Valerian as an exception but I guess I was wrong.

My frustration clouded my judgement as I stalked around the woods, making more noise than an elephant trampling around. The hunt was not going well at all. I had already come across several hunters who were hauling game out of the woods and it didn't help my darkened spirits.

I stumbled through a clearing and came across a rocky boarder. For all I knew I had been out there, wandering around for hours. I followed the rock bed without thinking about what could slink along undetected in a mountainous climate.

A low growl bounced of the rocks surrounding me. I looked around trying to detect the direction it came from but the echo made it impossible. The sound of claws against rocks pierced the air. I grabbed my bow and in a quick fluid motion nocked and arrow. The darkness did nothing to help my vision.

There was a guttural sound as something lunged through the air and pushed me into the ground. My bow slipped through my grip and clattered somewhere in the distance. I cursed as hot sticky breath blew into my face causing me to gag.

Sharp claws dug into my skin and droplets of blood rose to the surface. The black eyes I stared into were nothing like the green intelligent ones I had faced the day before. They were cold and hard, it suited the descriptions the villagers had of the beasts in the woods. Which made me wonder why was the fox different. I examined the creature. It cackled into the air and its thousands of spots revealed its classification but it seemed like they were triple the amount then normal. This hyena had rippling muscles all the way to its tail. Sharpened bone poked through its rough skin along its spine, replacing the fur. As I looked at it I realized the extra spots weren't spots at all, they were deep scars from wounds dating back from all the years it had been alive. No wonder it's eyes revealed no mercy. This animal had been mistreated by man and its own kind alike.

I felt pity for it, but scolded myself for feeling bad for the creature ready to tear my throat open.

I struggled against its weight but it didn't budge. I now understood the true dangers of these woods. I closed my eyes willing it to be over. The few split seconds I felt my life slipping away felt like hours. Saliva moistened my face and the sheer smell intoxicated the air.

When the weight lifted from my chest and the snarls of the animal sounded then ceased I knew it was over. I was dead.

I opened my eyes ready to see what heaven looked like and all I saw was darkness. The same clouds moved and moonlight shown down on the clearing. I sat up and stared at my surroundings. The shadowy, unmoving form laid stiff on the rocky ground, an arrow through its heart. I recognized the fletchings. I looked towards the area I had dropped my stuff and Valerian stood there, my bow made of peryton antlers clutched at his side.
I grunted and fell backwards on the ground again, my forehead wet with sweat. I heard footsteps and Valerians hand was extended. I reached for it then stopped. Why should I let him just help me up after he planned with his older brother to bring down my family?

I glared at him redirecting all the hate I had felt in the past few years at him.

He stepped back, confusion showing in his eyes. Moments before he had saved a girls life and now she was glaring at him with all the hate in the world.

"What did I do?" He spluttered.

"Well, what were you expecting? A typical damsel in distress? The prince comes to save her and she falls madly in love with him and has a happy ever after?" I scoffed.

"I mean, maybe a little." He whispered shyly.

"Oh, don't give me that." I snarled as I contemplated leaving. I wondered just how much hell I should give him while I still had the spotlight but my better judgement told me that he didn't deserve an explanation. I still remained on the ground as my body thumped, my heart restoring blood to my previously immobile limbs.

"Oh God." He muttered after he realized the situation. "That was all Dirk." He held his face in his hands. "Of course you had to hear that conversation. Art, the only reason we still aren't best friends is because of my family! They hate your guts. I was only agreeing with him because if I didn't he would try to kill me. He was drunk."

"Oh, because that reassures me!" I started, looking him straight in the face now. "Now your drunken brother's out to kill me. That's just great." I said, anger surging through my veins. I leaned back, the rocks prickling against my neck. I stared into the night sky hoping everything and everyone would just leave me alone.

"Come on, it's not like that!" He shouted while throwing out his arms. I stood up only to stare at him, my legs almost crumpling. He stepped closer to me, grabbing my arm for stability with his face only inches from mine.

My body wanted to melt into his and forgive him. The moonlight lit his well developed features and yet I had to remember everything I had heard that night. We stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity and the space between us seemed to grow shorter by the second. I could now feel his soft breath on my face.

"No!" I yelled. I needed to keep my priorities straight. Shaking myself out of it I turned and stepped forward to run off. His hand remained on my arm with a strong grip. He spun me around to face him, his clear green eyes pleading. I tried to pull my hands free, struggling. When he didn't let go I tried to kick him. He backed off and I stayed there, glaring.

A blur of red flashed by in the corner of my eye. Valerians grip was ripped from my wrist and next thing I knew the fox was pinning Valerian against the ground. I couldn't help but smile.
It snarled in his face, teeth glinting in the moonlight.

I realized I couldn't leave him like that after he had just saved me from the same position so I called the creature off of him, reluctantly.

"Alright, I think he's had enough. Come on, get off of him." I commanded. The thing looked back at me hesitantly. It pondered wether it should leave the boy or not. After a moments pause it lowered its hackles and stepped off, gingerly. It circled and came to a halt beside me. I scratched its ears and it purred.

"You've got a soft spot, don't you?" I whispered to it.

I looked back up as Valerian stood wide eyed, staring at me. "Just stay away from me." I grumbled.

"Well that'll be harder than it sounds," He muttered as I turned. I couldn't help it as my cheeks burned bright red.

"Keep the hyena. It'll help you stay on the leader boards." He called after me.
I looked back, "Why are you even helping me?"

"Because like I said, it's my family keeping me from you." He stated.

I turned and looked at the dead beast and could not drum up a single way to get it back to the station and felt just as stuck as I had been when pinned on the ground by it.

"I know you can't lift this thing all by yourself." He smiled. I rolled my eyes, and reluctantly let him help me carry it down the road.

☆☆☆

As we carried the large creature, the night remained silent. I was reminded of the sunny days we used to walk these same paths reminiscing about the exact thing we were doing now and my mood slowly lightened. Maybe he was right and maybe it was not his fault but a part of me was still reluctant to forgive him completely.

Once we had reached town I had told the fox to go back home. I wasn't sure if it understood me but afterward it prowled down a road towards my house. Sweat beaded along my forehead from the struggle of carrying the beast across town but once we reached town hall the man at the desk got several guys to help him haul it to the back.

Our numbers shot up, putting us ahead by more then two-hundred points. I was speechless. Suddenly I couldn't control myself, I turned to Val and hugged him. He stiffened as if uncomfortable then lightly hugged back.

"Thank you," I whispered, his shoulder muffling my words. I let go and turned towards the open door.

Dirk stood there, his eyes gleaming. Val stiffened beside me. He walked quickly past and I trailed behind him.

"Hey, little brother." Dirk said as we shouldered through.

Thankfully he ignored him.

☆☆☆

The trek home was just as uncomfortably silent. Val stalked along beside me his head lowered but refused to let me return home alone. I glanced down every corner paranoid. Finally once we reached my house, the smell of blood drifted through the air.

A pile of creatures were at the door, the result of a big hunt. There was a crash inside and I bolted up the steps and through the door.

In the living room was my fathers bulky figure, in his hand he held a large knife, one I recognized that he used for skinning. It's wicked sharp blade glinted back at me.

Across the room was the enfield beast. It was in a hunched position, it's hackles raised.

"No!" I screamed, throwing myself in front of the fox.

My dads face was red with rage. "I came back from hunting with my kill, to get the skinning knife because I wanted to use some of the pelts and give the meat to the town. Then I found this demon in your room!" He howled.

"Dad! Relax, it's okay! It won't hurt us."

He looked at me, his face stricken. "Put the knife down." I stammered.

Valerian entered just as I said this. His eyes widened, the fox was hidden from view because I was standing in front of it. The scene was probably terrifying to a bystander.

He tugged the weapon free of my fathers grip and my dad jumped, startled from something else coming up from behind him.

"I want it gone by tomorrow." He growled, his figure slumping. He returned outside to grab his kill, slammed the door, and made off towards town hall without another word.

I sighed turning back to Val my body slumping as well. After all the events of tonight, I was too tired to turn him away despite the circumstances. "You want to stay here for the night? I don't know if you'll be very welcome at home." I inquired, somewhat defeated.

He nodded rubbing sleep from his eyes, "As long as it's okay with your father."

I thought it over, he'd probably be gone all night. There also was only about three hours or so till the sun actually came back up.

"You should be fine." I said, hoping I was right. I clambered up the stairs and grabbed a few blankets made from pelts and threw them over to the cot across from my bed in which he used to stay all the time when we were younger. I also grabbed a change of clothes from my dads wardrobe. It would probably be a little big but at least he'd be able to get out of the sweaty garments he wore now. It wasn't much but we didn't have visitors very often other then my friends. Before I left the living room he pulled off his shirt and I peeled my eyes away and stumbled up the steps as fast as I could, in effort to make him believe I wasn't staring.

As I climbed into my cot he entered the room, still shirtless and holding his dirtied clothes. I looked at him surprised.

"Try not to let your jaw hit the floor," he laughed.

"Why-" I stammered as the realization hit me. I had dropped the shirt I borrowed from my father in the hallway in my hurried yet tired state.

He narrowed his eyes at me, "I hope you didn't do this on purpose after just yelling at me in the woods because I might start thinking you're bipolar."

I couldn't contain my giggle no matter how hard I tried and he laughed back at me. He descended into his cot right as the fox scampered into the room with my dads shirt hanging from its mouth. The shirt was now half soaked in saliva and I regretted the day my dad would find out. The creature curled up protectively between the two cots as if to establish the boundary and I quickly fell asleep with my last glimpse being Val's familiar face.

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Hey guys! Hope you liked this chapter! If you have any suggestions make sure to comment.
Until next time,
Hannah ❤️