Chapter 22: Going Into The Woods
"So, your mom knows about the Moonlit Sins?"
"Of course, she knows! She's one of the only few people who do. Why did you think that I didn't want you to tell regular people in Cherrywood the other day? Not everyone could know about this. Not everyone can know about me and you being wolves. You know?" Michael and Maleva walked side-by-side on a beaten path in the woods. The same woods they were recently attacked in by the third werewolf.
"Is your mom a sin?" Michael asked her the question he had been dying to ask her even since they left town.
"No. She's not."
"But then, she's still a werewolf, right? You said it yourself before. You're a pure-blood. So, that means that everyone that has your blood is also a werewolf…" The hunter presented his theory to her.
"You're pretty smart, Michael. I like that," she smiled at him.
"I'm not smart. I'm only attentive. That's all," he pointed out to her.
"Waf!" they both suddenly heard a dog or a wolf playfully barking behind them.
They turned around to discover that the animal who just barked at them was no other than Lycanna! She ran on all fours, something she didn't always do, and quickly came their way. More specially, she came to Michael and adorably rubbed herself all over his right leg. It came across as if it had been a little while since she had seen him.
She wagged her tail as she finally reunited with him.
Her tongue sticking out of her mouth and flailing around.
"Lycanna?"
"Guess she missed you…" Maleva mentioned, shrugging.
"Missed you!" Lycanan could be heard as she continued wagging her tail.
Michael bent over to pet her head and she loved it.
"Never had a dog before—guess this must be how it feels to have one…" he always wished he had one when he was a bit younger.
"You're definitely making up for all that time you spent without one. You know? While being one yourself now and everything," This made Maleva laugh a bit She chuckled as she placed one hand in front of her mouth. Almost relishing in the fact that her childhood friend was now a wolf just like her. Since she had always been one, it was a great, personal pleasure to have Michael join her. Be a wolf with her. They were also in the same pack now. They were together. United. Linked. Even if they were not boyfriend and girlfriend yet, they were still linked as they were in the same wolf pack.
Lycanna continued rubbing her head all over his foot as a new presence was soon detected in the area…
Sniff!
Michael was the first one who was able to smell that a stranger was nearby…
"Someone's here!"
Sniff! Sniff!
"Yes. I can smell it, as well," Maleva agreed.
Sniff…
Lycanna also smelled in the hope of having a better idea as to what they were dealing with… Unfortunately for her, whatever was hiding in the woods sprung out on them a bit too fast and surprised the wolf spirit!
"Wuf-wof!" Lycanna barked at whatever was about to come out of the bushes. Trying to intimidate the intruder. Yet, this, unfortunately, didn't work out too much as a shadow quickly lept above the grasses and harshly struck Lycanna!
Bang!
"Ugh!" the little wolf made a sad puppy noise when she was sadly hit.
Violently hitting her head and launching her in the air! Lycanna's body hit another tree hard!
"Lycanna!" Michael shouted.
"No!" Maleva felt so bad she allowed this to happen in the first place.
The shadowy presence did not remain a shadow for too long. It revealed itself to be a vile creature. The beast was a strange demon wolf. A wolf that walked on four legs, but was much larger than a regular one, and possessed no eyes. Yet, it could still see pretty well.
"What is that thing?" Michael asked.
"No idea."
Then, the demonic wolf soon rushed toward Lycanna again. Much like it was the case recently with the other shadows when they came back to town after spending some time at the farm.
Michael and Maleva had to act now, otherwise, Lycanna was doomed.
Maleva moved first: She ran toward the demonic wolf and threw a hunting knife at it. She did not miss and managed to hit it right on the side of his neck. However, it did very little to slow it down during its run to attack the wolf spirit again.
It was Michael's chance to do something.
He charged at the demon wolf and placed himself right between it and Lycanna.
The demonic wolf roared in dominance as it saw that Michael was truly trying to stop it, risking his life for her. Now, that Michael Redheart had its attention, this was the most perfect opportunity for the huntress to get in its back. She did so and prepared another hunting knife.
She ran as fast as she could to stop the demonic wolf from attacking Michael, but the enemy was too fast for her.
"Come to me!" Meanwhile, Michael encouraged the demonic wolf to attack him. This was not exactly what Maleva wanted him to do since it was so dangerous and he could get killed, but at least, this gave her a chance to surprise the creature. Still, she had to catch it first…
"Kaaaaarr!" the demonic wolf roared one more time.
It was too late.
It was about to assault Michael. Maleva was still too far.
Chomp!
The demon wolf had finally made its move.
With its mouth wide open, it took a chunk out of Michael!
But did it?
Blood was drawn.
"Michael!"
Maleva thought Michael had been bitten for sure, but when she looked up, she realized that this was not exactly the case…
Michael sacrificed himself by having his hands injured, but he managed to stop the beast by keeping its mouth open. His right hand had the upper half of its mouth open, while his left hand did the same for the lower half.
His hands were cut.
Blood dripped down his fingers…
The courageous young man continued holding the demon's mouth open…
"Michael…"
"So, what are you waiting for, Mal? Are you going to come help me or what?" Michael grunted, barely able to fight the beast off anymore since it was so strong…
"Y-yes! I'm on it!"
The beautiful huntress then lept in the air and landed right on the back of the four-legged demon.
She pulled her hunting knife out and slit the demon's throat!
Ending its reign of terror.
However, this was only another member of the shadow werewolf's pack.
The pack was still out there.
Still after them…