Sunlight broke over the horizon bathing the area in an orange light. Dew stuck to my fur as I got up and shook of. At some point I must have shifted at night and not realized it. The damp smell of soil and the first cleared my mind as I stretched out and grabbed some dried meat to eat. I pulled the pack out Vixen left and opened it up pulling out three pieces of clothing. The first was a pair of black pants, made from a strange material that looked like it was woven from very small thread. They were easily flexible but felt durable, similar to my burlap sack but a softer material on the skin. the second piece was a black shirt made of something like very fine cotton but not a think material, a grey wolf head pattern shown on the chest. The last was a long coat with a hood, ironically black to. It was as long as I was tall. Ignoring my curiosity on how she knew how long to make it I put the clothes on.
Remembering what she said I shifted to wolf and the clothing became a thick collar around my neck. As I shifted back I felt the fabric flow around me and I was standing there the same as when I put it on. This would be very useful as time went on. Double checking the package I found a pair of dark gray shoes that were thick. Two layers of leather hid the multiple plates of steel in between. I stomped a few times feeling the weight before kicking a tree with all my force. There was a shower of splinters as my foot shattered half the trunk. It gave a long groan as it fell beside me. This is gonna be fun I grinned heading to the town.
The town was hard to miss as I left the woods. A massive wall hid much of the town while farms dotted the area leading up to the entrance. The woods all around looked to have been cleared away for construction supplies since the wood line mimicked the shape of the wall an even distance away all around.
I was given a few curious glances but not many, judging by the people I passed they get all kinds going thru. I passed thru the gate the guards quickly looking me over with a trained eye but not stopping me. Once inside I saw the keep on a small hill with a second wall protecting it's perimeter. I ignored it as I had to pay attention to avoid stepping on beggers sitting along the street.A few dirty children ran by and looking around I knew I was in the slums.
I picked a side road and after a short distance I could hear a market and the ring of metal being struck. I quickened my pace to the sounds when in a side alley a muffled scream caught my attention. Sticking to the corner I peeked around to see two dirty men cornering a woman one of which had a hand over her mouth. She had on a black robe that looked like the garb from a church.
"Let's have a little fun. Have mercy on the poor like us." The guy on the left chuckled as he grabbed at her waist and tore a stop if fabric off. I silently walked up behind and when she noticed me she averted her gaze to the side making the two smile.
"That's more like it." The other bean to reach for her chest as I grabbed his wrist and snapped it. As he let out a painted tell I smashed his face into the wall crushing his skull. His friend stabbed me in the side with a knife while cursing me. I grabbed his shoulder and squeezed hearing a satisfying crunch as he fell to his knees. I pulled the knife out and stabbed him in the side before twisting it letting him slump to the ground. I turned and left quietly as the woman started at me wide eyed. I heard a faint 'thank you' as I rounded the corner.
'
It seems the real monsters here are human.' I thought as I neared the market. Dozens of people walked slowly stall to stall looking at the wares while the vendors raised their voices trying to attract buyers. At the center of the activity on each side of the road sat two medium sized buildings. One was a shop front with the smithy in the back the other, on my right, was a hunters guild. I walked near the hunters guild and there was a wood post with papers bailed to it. Various jobs for hunters asking for wolf or bear pelts or higher paying jobs to hunt down demons that have been terrorizing villages or mages that have kidnapped people. What caught me was demons. Did they mean people like me or actual demons summoned from hell. I only ever seen one and it was when the seer summoned it, but it was stronger than she thought, and it nearly killed her before she could banish it. I was lost in thought as a woman walked over to me.
"Your new here ain't ya. If your looking for work I can help you sign up to be a hunter. It pays pretty well and you can take a job whenever you want. Only one at a time tho. So how about it." She smiled as she gestured to the door.
"Sure why not. I saw one of the jobs say hunting a demon. What kind of demon." I asked as I followed her in.
"Your guess is as good as mine.....a few that came back from missions like that said it was the people who turned into wolves and others said it was one from hell itself. Other people simply never showed up again." I nodded as she gave me papers to fill out and tried to contact one of the others. They said the same was going around down there and they even fought a demon but it wasn't very strong. I told him to get the others together if they can and we will have a meeting. We may be going after the seer and her group sooner than later.