The Wolf and The Hunter

Chapter 4

The glittering moonlight. The cool midnight breeze. It was all perfect. Perfect for her to hunt her prey, stalking in the woods. The hunter who has bothered her all day.

Hoseok notched an arrow upon hearing some broken twigs behind him. At the speed of light, he rolled forward, aimed his arrow and released it.

The arrow flew past her ear, startling her. She came to an abrupt stop, eyeing him.

He saw a pair of yellow lit eyes, staring at him. He knew it was the wolf he had been hunting earlier.

Hoseok preferred to play with his hunt until he was bored. Hence, he always went back late. However, none of his hunts actually fought back or hunted him back if he was to lose them except this one. He liked the wolf.

He smirked at the wolf which angered her more.

"He should be terrified!" she thought, her blood boiling. Her snarls became louder, more ferocious. Another arrow flew past which she barely dodged.

The infuriated wolf lunged at him. He sidestepped, missing the wolf's teeth by an inch.

She turned and lunged again but still missed. She lunged again.

And again.

And again. Missing every attack.

Both of the hunters in their perspective fields were still full of energy. They know not the meaning of tired.

A roar bellowed far to their right which alarmed and interrupted them from their 'Stare till they die' game.

As if they were telepathically talking to each other, they ran towards the opposite direction from where the roar came from simultaneously.

Their game has not ended, however. They managed to glance at each other in the between the tree lines.

Fast, heavy footsteps were approaching. It shook the very ground they were running on.

Thinking that whatever was chasing them was heavy, he climbed up the nearest tree and positioned himself so he would not be easily spotted.

The wolf could not climb, thus she concealed herself inside the nearby bushes.

The footsteps grew louder, indicating that whatever it was, it's getting close. It roared again.

A huge silhouette was coming close. It stopped between them, staring into the moonlight with its eye.

"One eye?" he whispered. The beast was huge. It had blood splattered on its black colored fur. Its fangs were sharp. The claws were red with blood. Whose or what blood they didn't know.

This beast has caused so much trouble for him and his brothers. But he knew better than to fight it alone. He kept quiet.

The beast finally opened its other eye, its regenerative skills kicking up.

What happened after surprised them both. The beast slowly shrunk. Fur turning into skin. Claws turning into hands. Fangs turning into teeth. The huge, muscular body, turning into a tall, hourglass shaped, blonde woman.

She turned west and ran.

Hoseok was dumbfounded.

"That thing... is a girl?!!" he asked himself. His head was all jumbled up.

The wolf too was startled. She quickly ran away when she noticed that the hunter was trying to process what he saw.

"She is the same as me?" she whispered.

"Ah... Damn it!" she cursed as she realized she had changed, running on all fours. She rolled forward and continued running on her two feet.

Hoseok dropped down from his tree, momentarily forgot about the wolf. His finger was holding his chin, the way he usually does when he is thinking.

Then, the thought finally hit him.

"Where's the wolf?" he drew his bow and took his defensive stance. One where he sits on one leg and rested his hand on the other.

The wolf was gone. It only left tracks leading into the heart of the forest. The sun was going to rise soon.

Hoseok ran, guided by the trail the wolf left behind. For all its aggressiveness, it was pretty sloppy at covering its tracks.

"Wait..."

Hoseok stopped running. His face scrunched up in confusion.

"What the fuck? These are human footprints! What the heck happened to the damned wolf?"

Hoseok followed the tracks with even more vigor. Curiosity fueled him, pumping his legs faster and faster. He'll get to the bottom of this, no matter what.

Soon, the tracks stopped.

"What a rare and magnificent sight," Hoseok whistled. A naked lady, skin as white as jade, was leaning against a tree.

"Bastard, what're you looking at!" she snarled. She hurled a stone his way. She curled herself up, using both her arms to cover herself.

"A piece of art, what else?" he smirked. A blush crept up her face. "You're bleeding."

"It's just a scratch," she waved it off. Hoseok however, had keen eyes. Her breathing was heavy. Probably from running. There was no energy in her throw either as well as her voice. It was weak, a stark contrast to her sharp tongue.

"A scratch wouldn't run your tank dry like this, would it?" She struggled to keep a straight face. "Let me take a look."

"Don't touch me! He-Hey!" her protest was weak. Hoseok easily wrenched her arm to examine the bleeding.

"You're right, it is just a scratch," he frowned.

"I told you. Now bugger off,"

"..."

"Well, what are you waiting for? Wait, what are you-, kyaa!" Hoseok lifted her up.

"Lady, you're coming with me."

"You! Put me down! Put! Me! Down!" her voice was strained. She hit him repeatedly. She tried to struggle, but her weak disposition coupled with Hoseok's strong hold of her proved her efforts futile.

Suddenly, she felt dizzy. Her hits got weaker, voice diminishing.

"W-what's happening? H-hey, what did you do to me?"

"Hah, more like what did you do to yourself... Damn it, it has already taken effect," he mumbled. His strides became larger.

"What are you talking about?" she slurred.

"Hang in there, lady. I know a guy that can help. A genius with poisons and medicine, he is. You're gonna be safe,"

"P-poison?"

"Yes, lady, now it'd be best to keep your mouth shut and save those few breaths," his voice was stern. "It might be your last." He could feel her arms tightening.

The travel home was quick and quiet.