The Wolf's Ruby Veil

Chapter 2: Legend of the Wolf

Scarlet winced as she watched as Taylen and Aspen helped the constable pull a hunter into the doctor's station, the poor man gritting his teeth as he howled in pain. Upon hearing the loud cry for help, Taylen and Aspen had rushed toward the sound and discovered one of Hornwood's hunters barely moving his way into town; the poor man was hunched forward and limping with tears in his eyes that were slowly freezing to his already ruddy cheeks. He wore only a heavy cotton shirt and dark trousers as well as a vest of racoon hide, the fur fluttering in the wind, as well as a pair of heavy leather boots that kept the heavy snow out. His equipment was absent from his person - including his smoothbore musket, knife, gunpowder, bullets, and whistle - as well as his cloak and hat.

The most frightening thing that made everyone move away from him, though, was the sight of blood that spilled from the injury on the man's thigh. A large bite mark - to big for an ordinary animal bite - peered out between the man's hand as he squeezed the injury, trying to prevent the injury from spilling more - but the fear in his eyes and the sight of his movements made it appear he had been recently attacked... and close to the city's borders as well.

"Put a sock in it, ya old mongrel," Doctor Ames warned, pushing the hunter down onto the table as he ripped the already shredded trousers further, "I know it hurts, but you don't need to be screaming your guts out!"

Doctor Cary Ames was a well-respected physician and alchemist in Hornwood - one of the best in the entire kingdom to many; he was a veteran who had survived the 'Great Sickness' many years ago and had seen everything from smallpox, typhus, yellow, and scarlet fever as well as a few cases of tuberculosis. He was originally born and raised in Oria, but traveled to Hornwood following the arrival of the pandemic - Scarlet often recognized him by the white overcoat that fluttered behind him as he moved, the tails reminding her of doves that often flew from the large Cathedral in the center of the city. If one were to ask, Scarlet would say that Doctor Ames reminded her of Eagle Owl; he was a relatively large man and with a stomach to boast, short amber colored hair lay flat against his neck that bore several thick streaks of silver and yellow, and his eyes were gold in color and seemed all-knowing, his thin lips twitching under his equally thin mustache when he was in deep thought. He was normally dressed in a black frock with black dress pants and dress shoes - the white coat was worn during the cooler months when his station was cooler than the stables in the back; something many argued should have been warmer.

"Can ya blame me?" the hunter asked, grunting as he shifted in his spot before hissing as the alchemist applied an antiseptic cream to the bite, "I barely managed to escape with my life!"

"And remind me again what it was that attacked you?" the alchemist asked nonchalantly.

"The wolf."

Dr. Ames froze in his spot, his eyes shifted to stare at the hunter before leaning forward, "You saw it?"

"As clearly as I see you," the hunter answered, "Fur black as night... eyes the color of the frozen tundra... fangs sharp as knives..."

Aspen sighed, "I mean, wolves are common in these parts, Dr. Ames -"

"My lord, please forgive me," Dr. Ames shifted to look at Aspen, his golden eyes shining in the dimmed light of the room, "but this is no ordinary wolf attack case."

Taylen stood straight, his gaze turning hard as he shifted in his spot, "Explain."

Dr. Ames looked at the constable, who sighed, "It would be for the best - I assume you all remember the legend on which Hornwood was founded?"

It was not a legend easily forgotten - not to the people of Hornwood, at least.

Hornwood was the oldest city in the kingdom of Elatyriaf - even older than Calcheth according to some. When Hornwood was establishing itself as a city under the rule of the first Emperor and the first King of the kingdom, disagreements and fights broke out among the men of all ages and classes - each one fighting to earn the right to be the head of the city, to be known as 'The Archduke of Thornbury.'