~(Y/n) POV~

When we checked the kitchen and see it empty we desired to look in the library, perhaps she was cleaning the mess from the trader raid.
The first thing I notice when we arrive at the library is Lidia trying to set some books back to the top shelf. I walk over, get the books, and put them back up

"Dear Mother Miranda, you scared me."

"We're sorry Lidia but luckily you got a new helper" Daniela points at me and I took it as to introduce myself

"Hello ma'am, my name is (Y/n) (L/n) I will be a new help for the lady and her daughters."

Lidia smiles "Well, welcome to the castle. If you like you can help me make dinner but first, you need to find your room. I'll see if I could get you fitted into a uniform."

"No worries Lidia, Mother and I will fit her a uniform." Daniela stared at me.

I'm in danger, am I...

Daniela then pulls me away to show me a spare room. The area looks like a normal room, with just a bed, a nightstand, and a small desk cabinet. The window is barred up but you can see the village. Daniela left me alone to catch my breath and to come help once I'm done.

I take off my vest, lay on the bed, and let out a pleased groan.

I miss laying on a mattress

But you're still a prisoner.

I shake my head, listen closely to see if anyone is around, when I heard the sweet sound of silence I shifted to a chest mimic. I open my chest-like mouth and take out my supplies from its special pocket sac, setting them on the desk, once I got that out I shifted back to normal and open a potion.

A potion a day keeps the rage at bay

I drink the potion, trying my hardest not to gag at the vile flavor. I never liked the taste but Calla advised me to drink it so I don't listen to that voice again. That rage isn't me anymore and should stay quiet.

I better get ready to help out Lidia

I walk out and follow the scent to the kitchen but as I turn around the corner, I accidentally bump into one of the daughters. I immediately grab the girl and held her to prevent her from falling. I look at saw the girl I caught was the eldest of the three.

"I'm so sorry Lady Bela, I was on my way to help Ms. Lidia"

She just stares at me and I slowly let her go once she got her footing. "Why are you doing this mutt?"

"I'm afraid I don't understand, doing what exactly Lady Bela?"

"This whole act, you helping us. Protecting us from traders? We're your captors, we tortured you, and yet your willing to fight for us. Sounds to me that you have something planned, I won't let you hurt my family."

I have to agree that it is far fetch for any normal person who's held against their will but I can't tell the real reason. Not yet at least.

"You wound me, Lady Bela. I'm a beastkin, we have a great deal of pride, your family helped me so I offer my help back."

I smile and start to walk away, she follows behind staring at me as I sway my tail. She looks so curious almost like...

Her...

I frown and my tail droops a bit till I felt a tug and I look back. Bela has the tip of my tail in her hand.

"So what are you exactly, are you like a lycan?"

I chuckle and slowly wrap my tail around her waist and pull her closer, make her walk beside me then let go.

"You're a curious one aren't you? Well, to answer your question I'm kinda like your lycans but I'm more progressive. Ever heard about a werewolf?"

She shakes her head looking interested, "Are they in your village?"

"Just a few but there are a lot more creatures like us in there, so many different species living together in harmony to progress the future of the village"

"More creatures? Like us?"

I nod and stand in front of the kitchen doors. "Maybe I can tell you more about them later." I smile and walk inside before she speaks, I close the door and sigh

Why did I say that, I shouldn't get all friendly with them, they're the enemy.

I turn around and see the kitchen empty till I heard a thud in the supply room, I walk in and see Lidia trying to find something.

"We can't be out now. I was sure we got the meat refilled. It must be those raiders."

"Miss Lidia is something wrong?"

Lidia looks at me in horror before letting out a sigh of relief

"Oh, it's just you... you scared me, anyways we're in a crisis. The meat supply has been ransacked during these raids. Normally I would be ok but the ladies are low in blood and with fewer maidens around the village they'll for sure be weakened by the next raid."

She paces around and keeps mumbling.
"Can't we go get more meat from a market or something?"

"No dear, the closes available market would be from a town over and it could take a whole day with the Lycans walking around"

"How about hunting?"
She stops pacing and thinks

"Well, there is a spot where our last butcher would hunt the meat. But I don't have any knowledge of hunting." She starts to pace again

I walk in front and stop her, making her look into my eyes "Luckily for you I do, I can get the meat."

"No I can't make you go, there are lycans outside."

"Lidia it's ok, I can handle the lycans, if need be we can use my blood."

"No no no, I can't use your blood dear, the amount they need can kill you. Plus I don't want you hurt, you've been kind to me so far I hate to see you gone so fast"

I look around and listen to see if anyone's around, I pull her closer and whisper "Listen, I have regenerative properties so if need be I can supply them with blood and flesh. They can drain gallons out of me and I'll still be walking."

"You're not human are you"

I chuckle "Nope just like you aren't either. It's not every day you find a drow elf using glamour to appear human."

"How did you know? Wait, you have scent detection don't you"

I nod and walk to the exit, "so where's the spot"

"It's over by the east, just follow the creek and you'll see them, and dear good luck"

I smile and did a small salute before walking out. I head to the door, just when I was about to open the door I stop.

"You can come out now lady Cassandra, if you think I'm escaping you're wrong. I'm just going to hunt."

Soon a swarm of flies comes closer and form Cassandra. "How should I believe you?"

"You could always follow me but I rather have you whole than have you buzz around me."

I open the doors, "besides you'll distract me from hunting the great prince."

She starts to laugh in a mocking tone, I just turn and stare at her.

"A great prince? You'll be lucky to catch an elderly doe at best."

Her taunt got me feeling challenged, a trait my prideful werewolf side won't let it be, thankfully being part tabaxi helps keep the arrogance down.

"Is that so, then how about a small wager." I look her dead in the eye, excited to see her skills and put her in her place

"What can I possibly gain from this wager mutt."

"I'm willing to bet my entire village location." Once those words left my mouth she looks completely interested.

"Go on"

"It's a simple bet, we both hunt for the great prince the one who kills the prince wins the game. We can use our unique powers to help as well."

She smirks, the arrogance is flooding her scent.

"Very well, I'll accept. Hope you're ready to betray your village mutt."

Hope you're ready for an ass-kicking.

We both got ready by the door, we both counted down to three then bolted out of the castle's property.

I haven't shifted yet since the scent of a great prince is similar to an alpha buck so I follow the scent, keeping an eye out for a certain sister and nearby threats.

After a few encounters with a few lycans, I arrived at the creek and follow it down to an opening where a herd is grazing. I shifted to a smaller werewolf and keep myself in the dark. Stalking the herd till I see the great prince in the middle of the herd. I always remember my father's advice when we first went hunting

"Remember (Y/n), there's a reason why they call that deer the great prince."

I keep watching the prince till it lifted its head, stomps a few times before letting out a snort, and starts running.

I follow close by and look back to see Cassandra charging in like how Daniela always says, I look around losing the prince in the herd till I see a fawn trying to follow the herd.

"The great prince maybe the largest buck but they're smarter and more agile than the rest but it still cares about its herd"

I grab the fawn and take a bite on its leg, making sure not to bite hard to break it, just a small injury. As it let out a loud cry for help I held them down till I see the one I was after.

"Once it hears the cry of its family hurt he'll come to help and that's when you'll be at a stare-off with the prince."

"Hello there, here for someone," I say mocking the prince staring at me before it strikes the ground, the universal sign of a challenge. I let the fawn go and stand tall, growing to my original size

"at that moment you have to remember, you must be swift as a crossing river."

The prince charges and I move out of the way and watch how he moves. The prince is more tactical.

"with all the force of a great typhoon."

The prince charges again but this time instead of moving away I stand my ground and grab its horn, as we come to a standstill. Then I heard the buzz of the girl I was competing against. Cassandra move closer to take give a fatal blow but the prince was smarter, "Lady Cassandra wait!" Once I shouted my grip loosen allowing the prince to shake me off and deliver a mule kick to Cassandra before she could turn into her swarm.

"us all the strength of a raging fire"

Seeing as we are both distracted and the fawn has run away he took the opportunity to run away as well. The great prince knows when it's time to flee but I won't let him leave.

I chase after him and jumped at him, he turn to try and hit me with his antler but he gave me a perfect strike as I bite the antlers and drag him down before throwing him at a tree hearing a familiar crack.

"And remember to be mysterious"
"As the dark side of the moon, right Papi"
"That's right mi Luna"

I smile and slowly walk up to the deer, with the crack it sounded like I may have paralyzed the prince. His breath is rugged but we stare at each other till I bow my head.

Thank you for letting me live another day.

I look up at the prince as he calms down and he lets out one last bellow of appreciation before closing its eyes, accepting his fate. Beastmen are more connected to nature than we realize, Papi always tells me to thank the creatures we hunt for giving up their flesh for our starvation. And the animals also see it as respect to them, in the end, the soul of the creature will live on in peace.

I turn to look at Cassandra as she stares at our interaction before I land the killing blow. I shifted back, get up and pick up the prince.

"Looks like I won" I smirk and start walking home.

"What was that, the deer was fighting to survive but stop once you bowed"

I laugh a bit "It's kinda like a custom of my kind, we thank the prey for giving its nutrients for our hunger. It's our way of letting the soul rest in peace. Nature finds it very respectable to allow us to feed"

She looks baffled but then gets her same sour attitude. "It's just prey, there's no need to go that far. The only use for it now is to be eaten."

"Maybe to some but not for us, by the way, I'm to expect my reward once we get back to the castle."

Cassandra looks at me in shock, "wait wait wait. You didn't say anything about awarding you."

"It's common courtesy that if we place a bet we both get something out of it, come on I can see the gates. We'll talk more after dinner."

She groans and flies away till we reach the gates and she opens the door and watches me walk in before I stop and look back.

"Lady Cassandra"

"What now mutt"

I smile "I enjoyed the hunt, maybe we can do a rematch"

I walked back to the kitchen and, with the help of Lidia, we get ready to skin and carve the deer for dinner.

Today was an interesting day, wonder what else I'll do with them
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[Howdy everyone, sorry it took long. I honestly didn't like how the first draft was so I rewrote the entire chapter and it feels like it fits more of what I'm trying to do. Hope you enjoy this and thank you for your patience.

Wolfe out]