The Lycan's Prey

Chapter 2

At some point, I'd stumbled onto a road and began following it in hopes I'd find a town or city. Even though it was the middle of winter, the sun burned with a vengeance as if trying to deter me. The water from the bottle my mate had given me, had long gone and I was sweating like crazy. I wondered if it was truly winter or not.

I trudged forward, determination fueling my every stride as the road snaked through the secluded expanse. As I rounded the bend, my ears picked up on the faint sound of a vehicle. My guard was raised once again not knowing if the person or person's approaching bore any threat to me. I continue walking monitoring the closeness of the vehicle until it was a mare meter away.

"Hey there! You need a lift?" a male voice called out, breaking the still silence. His scent was human and I couldn't be happier for that as it meant he wouldn't turn me in. My tense muscles relaxed as I knew it was safe to engage.

"Are you okay? It's freezing out here," The voice called again with concern lacing his voice. He looked like a kind man; no more than forty it looked like. Though his long bushy beard was specked with grey hairs, I could still see a youthful look in his eyes.

"I'm... I'm okay, thank you." I reply with a smile, my voice wavering slightly. I surely was not fine. Not after the night I'd just had.

"Why don't you hop in and I'll give you a ride into town?" I'm grateful at his suggestion and mutter a small thank you before hoping into the beat up pick-up trunk, that I'd assume was once red. He presses gas we are moving as quickly as the old truck could take us.

"So what's you're story? You look like you've been on the road for a long time." He says side glancing me as he drives.

"Oh I'm mostly just travelling looking for a place to really call my home." I smile, surprised at myself for the quick backstory I thought of on the spot.

"Ahh, I get that, you young people, always looking for a place to fit in." He says and I try had not to laugh at how old he's making himself sound. Werewolves and Lycans live far longer than humans so I guess in this case he truly was old by human standards.

"So, you have a name?" He asks as we past the welcome to Half-Away town sign. I pause for a moment before deciding it wouldn't do much harm to be truthful and tell him my real name.

"It's Alaina. I don't think caught yours." I reply trying to sound friendly.

"It's Bedutch," He says a smile playing on his lips as he sees my cringe at his name.

"Bee-Dutch?" I ask, trying to pronounce it like he did.

"Most people just call me Dutch." His smile turns into deep hardy laughter.

"Okay then, nice to meet you, Dutch."

"Likewise Alaina."

For the rest of the ride I look out at the landscape as it goes form only snow and trees, to motels and townhouses with smoking chimneys. Shops and storefronts line every other street. I watched as the town's residents moved along the cobblestone streets glistened with melted snow, whether it be in trucks like Dutch's or on foot. The place felt lively and as we neared the town's square I could see a large tree adorning the center, fixed with lights and other decorations. Time had surely flown when I went on the run. I'd almost forgotten about how close Christmas was. What date was it now the fourteenth or maybe the fifteenth of December.

"You came at the perfect time," Dutch says cutting me from my thoughts. "The Half-Away festival is going to start in a couple days."

"What is the Half-Away festival?" I ask curious to know about this festival.