The Wolf of the Wilds

The Hunt

The forest was quiet. Only the rustling of leaves and the sound of water droplets hitting the ground filled the cavernous space. Helena sat perched on a branch high above the forest floor, her eyes surveying the land below. Her ears picked up a sharp squeal of pain and she was down in seconds, her feet making the slightest of noises on the decaying foliage.

She walked steadily towards the trap she had set up, taking the knife from her neck and gripping it loosely. As she passed a tree she saw her latest prey. A rabbit. Snagged in her trap. Struggling, screaming.

Moments later it was dead and she had tied it to her belt with a length of yarn around its ankles along with her other kills. She counted them in silence and nodded to herself.

"That should be enough," she murmured softly.

She left the wooded area soon after, going back onto one of the beaten tracks that surrounded the Montis territory like a spider web. Cheval was stood a distance away, tethered to a fence post. His eyes looked over at her balefully and his nostrils flared as he huffed. Helena sent him a grin, patting his side.

"That was the last one, my friend. We can go now, just let me check these fastenings first," she said, holding up a finger. She'd managed to catch a deer earlier and now it was tethered to Cheval with several ropes. The horse had been less that impressed by the arrangement, but he was a massive creature so the weight didn't bother him too much and the promise of an apple had sweetened the deal.

On the way back to the town Helena walked at his side, attempting to ignore the swing of the small, dead animals at her hip. At the boundary she stood at one of the guard post gates, waiting to be allowed through. When one of the patrol wolves finally noticed her they let her through without a word; they were used to her impromptu hunting trips by now. The town was busy today as people prepared for the show later that evening. With the weather now improved a bright summer jubilance had taken over the streets.

Helena passed everyone by without acknowledging them in the slightest. She knew that she was not welcomed here. She was tolerated, but only for their betas sake. She was still a rogue after all.

She headed into the omega district. It was poorer than the rest of the town, but not to the point of poverty. The ground was mud here, animals like chickens and donkey wondered the roads and the buildings were a little decrepit and worse for wear.

The Montis had three omega families, amounting to about twenty omegas. As Helena walked down to Felix's home she stopped at each house and left them a pheasant or rabbit. It wasn't much, but it'd give them a good dinner.

Felix's home was crammed between two other buildings, it's roof sunken and the walls dulled with dirt and climbing plants. A crow's nest was sat on the buildings spine and several of the tiles looked dangerously loose.

Helena halted Cheval and went to the front door, knocking it several times. There was movement from within and Felix pulled the door open with a grin on his face.

"Good morning, Lena!" he said, his hair a messy mop and his tunic creased.

"Hello, Felix," she said, glancing behind him and into his home. An old wolf was sat at his dining table, sipping at a bowl. "Is this a bad time?"

Felix shook his head and stepped out of the doorway. "No, please come in. How can I help you? I was just having nettle soup with Pavel."

Helena stood in the frame of the door, awkwardly shifting from foot to foot. When Pavel looked up she sent him a slight nod of greeting.

"Well I went hunting earlier you see, just to de-stress and unwind. I caught a deer," she began casually, "and well, I have no use for it so I thought you may as well have it. It's fresh so you could dry it or sell it off, but it's all yours."

Felix looked up at her with wide eyes, his jaw hanging open in shock.

"A whole deer?" he whispered.

"It's outside on Cheval if you want me to bring it in," Helena offered.

Felix practically threw himself at her, hugging her tightly and rocking from side to side with jubilation. Helena froze in place at the gesture and awkwardly patted his back as she tried to remember the appropriate response.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you! That's amazing, Helena. I can't believe it!" Felix said, pulling away from her and gracing her with probably the widest smile she had ever seen. She cleared her throat and ran her fingers through her thick mane of hair.

"It's no problem."

The old toothless Pavel looked up from his soup, his white hair wispy and almost transparent in the window's light.

"Miss, a deer for an omega is a small fortune." His voice was weak and shook with every word, his milky blue eyes staring up at her. Helena sent him a slight smile.

"I know," she replied, turning her attention back to Felix, "you can borrow Cheval for the rest of today. Just make sure he's back in the pack stables by sunset. I've got to head off. I said I'd help Adrian set up the show with the performers and the other betas. Will you be going to the show?"
Felix just nodded his head, his body still buzzing with an excited energy.

"Yes I will. Thank you again though, I'll be sure to take care of Cheval." 

She headed off soon after and helped out in the town square. It wasn't like she was deliberately trying to be a good citizen, it was more that she wanted to spy on Amos and Lin. She watched them for about an hour, inspecting their every move for anything suspicious. It was a bit disappointing really. They had once been fine warriors. Revered and respected by all.

Now they had been reduced to simple performers, chasing after their children and handing out drinks. They were dancers still it seemed, but that was nothing to what they once were.

They had found one another early on. At the age of twelve and thirteen. Since then they had been inseparable. They trained together, ate together, killed together. They had been the perfect team, synchronised and seemingly able to read one another's minds as they moved. Watching them hunt was like watching two butterflies dancing in the air. Their footwork feather light, their movements precise to the inch.

"You're staring," Adrian said from her left side, tying together two stability lines. Helena growled under her breath, still watching the Angor pair with poorly hidden suspicion.

"I don't trust them," she muttered, angrily hitting the peg with a mallet.

"Are they who you thought they were?" Adrian asked.

"Yes, but apparently they aren't a threat. Not that I'd take their word for it."

"Who are they?" Adrian said, peering at them from over Helena's shoulder and squinting slightly.

Helena sent him a look of exasperation. "Who's staring now?" she replied, prodding his cheek to get him to look away. She leant closer to him, her back to the unknowing pair. "They are ex-Angor wolves, but don't make a big fuss of it. They'll move along soon enough." Her voice was low and gravelly as she spoke, her eyes watching as Adrian's eyes flickered around wildly and the scent of fear met her nose.

"Angor?!" he whispered incredulously. She placed a hand on his shoulder, gripping it firmly to get his attention.

"Calm down, Adrian. I'll explain later."

A/N-

Thank you for reading this part. It's not the most interesting chapter, but it needed to happen. I haven't properly edited this one so please tell me if there are mistakes. As always votes, comments and constructive criticisms are welcome.

Have a lovely week.

-H