I rise early before dawn even though I hardly slept. With the number of thoughts running through my head and lack of fatigue, I stayed up late into the night planning and preparing for my journey. I'm not a morning person and never will be, but I do what I got to do.

I must've passed out for about three hours on the bed. I feel pretty good for someone who turned into a monster and barely got any sleep.

I stand up and stretch. Everything is a bit sore like I ran a whole day. I grab my clothes off the desk and walk to the mirror. Looking at my reflection, I see that my eyes are less glowy and demonic and look relatively normal. I open my mouth to see my canines still look very much like fangs. Taking a deep breath, I smell things I never could have recognized before. Though it's not as precise as it was last night.

I put on my clothes, which, of course, have leather included and are a bit warmer than what I have been wearing. Since Lindar is up north, it has a colder climate. The city was originally built at the base of the mountains and gradually spread upwards. Most of the commoners live near the bottom because the higher you go up the mountains, the higher it costs to build and heat. The Royal Palace is one of the highest buildings on the cliffs.

I plan on getting there as fast as possible. I will ride through the night and only rest so as not to kill Reina. I should get to Lindar tomorrow evening if this all goes to plan.

Gathering all my belongings, I put my pack on my back and do a quick scan of the room. Nothing left. However, I do see a suspicious dark spot on the old wooden floor... I unlock the door and head out into the hallway. The smell of hot coffee and breakfast is tempting but I stop by the bar to pay my tab.

"Good mornin', you leavin'? the innkeeper asks.

"Yes. I'm here to pay up," I say, making her chuckle slightly.

"Alright, let me find it real quick," she says as she rummages through a cabinet below the bar, "I don't think you'll need it but be careful out there, girl, one of the sick was found out back last night." After a couple more moments she pulls out a piece of paper and squints at it.

"Your tabs paid, lassie," she says.

"But I never paid it," I say, concerned.

"Maybe you didn' but someone else sure did," she says, "you're free to go girl."

"Have a good day," I say as I quickly stride towards the door to go get Reina.

It's not that I don't appreciate kindness, but why would someone pay my tab? I don't believe in coincidences. I walk towards the stable with my guard up. Everything seems a bit sharper and clearer. I can see a lot farther and I can hear so much more. Something that would be a murmur for most people would be like they were sitting right next to me.

I go into the stables and find Reina right where I left her. I approach her and she looks at me warily. The fear of being prey in her beautiful, dark eyes. I cautiously grow closer and whisper soft things to her till she doesn't consider me a threat. Reina's sleek, black coat is soft and warm under my fingers. I put her saddle on and bridle on and give her some strokes. I secure my saddlebags on her back along with my bedding and lead her out of the stables.

The sun is now peeking up over the horizon in a blend of warm shades. I mount Reina and take out my map while she shifts under the new weight. She was fine with me yesterday, but I guess I am not the same person that I was yesterday either... I shudder.

Picking my route, I turn Reina north and we gallop off with the rising sun.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧*.• ✧･ﾟ: *

It is sundown when I fall off Reina. The brush and branches scratch and pull at me while I writhe in pain on the forest floor.

The blaze in my veins burns as if it is trying to boil me from the inside out. I let out an agonizing scream into the surrounding wilderness when the burning reached my breaking point. It runs free throughout my body. Its wicked control searing every nerve.

I must've passed out at some point because I'm in a ball, holding my knees to my chest. The torture is over for now and I climb to my feet. It's now full-on night and I look around for Reina.

By some merciful god, Reina is just a few yards away munching on some grass. I walk towards her, noticing how silent my footsteps are. I can see everything perfectly even in the pitch black. I see the eyes of an owl looking back at me from the protection of a tree. 

The snap of a twig brings me back from the owl to see a mountain lion stalking towards Reina. Overcome by a protective urge, I dart in front of Reina. The big cat growls at me and reveals its large fangs.

That wild and feral part of my mind caresses and strokes my consciousness wanting to show this pathetic animal who is the top predator. I bare my newfound fangs at the cat and let out a growl of sorts of my own. The sound is smooth and deadly. Elegant and lethal. it still lurks closer despite my display and the wild side delights at the idea of a fight. I fall into my natural fighting stance and prepare myself. My nails, long and sharp like claws. The cat treads ever closer and springs at me, all animal instinct.

I move smoothly out of the way and kick the cat in the ribs, sending it a couple of feet away. Enraged that its competition wasn't easily defeated, it comes at me full force. I manage to evade most strikes and bloody the animal but a wave of fire puts me on my knees. That's just enough time for the cat to lunge, its maw closing in around my left arm with a sickening crunch while its claws dig into my back.

I release a howl of pain and then the animalistic side takes over. The Rage roars in my veins as the cat is ripped from my body and thrown into a nearby tree. I stalk towards the animal and it lays there panting at my mercy. I drop to my knees and kneel over the cowed beast. I bring my face towards its furry neck and sink my fangs into its flesh.

The cat's blood is thick and exhilarating. The adrenaline is still coursing through its veins giving me a rush of energy. As the beast grows still, I let its mighty head drop to the ground and stand up. I observe my kill's pelt that is littered with the wounds I gave it. And then the feral power drains out of me when no threat appears.

Holy shit.

I drop to my hands and knees and squeeze my eyes shut. My left arm feels broken and I can already tell my back is a ragged mess. I feel exhausted even though I got that rush of energy from the mountain lion. My energy is gone with my body trying to heal my wounds.

I struggle to my feet, letting my left arm hang awkwardly. With a grimace set on my face, I call out for Reina. I lost track of her after the cat attacked. I whistle and hear a neigh and she comes walking out of the brush. I manage to haul myself onto her back with one arm and get her to gallop. We need to at least get away from here before more hungry predators come and find my scraps.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧*.• ✧･ﾟ: *

How is it? Good? Bad? Suggestions?

Sorry, it's been a while but I've had school among other things so I hope you enjoy it!

Btw the pic is what I imagine Freya's outfit to look like.

Thanks for reading!

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Mf