So, they recognized me after all. A smirk danced upon my lips, a fleeting moment of satisfaction. With my pistol steadied in my other hand, I took aim and pulled the trigger. The bullet tore through one of the werewolves, causing him to collapse instantly. The second one, though injured, managed to hobble away, his pace considerably slower than his companions.
"Hurry up, Mob!" the talkative one bellowed, urging the wounded werewolf to move faster.
"She shot me!" Mob cried out, pain evident in his voice.
I trained my sights on him once again, firing two more shots that found their mark, sending three pellets piercing through his resilient fur. He crashed to the ground, unable to rise again.
Leaping down from the trees, I landed atop Mob's immobilized body. Standing over him, I could feel his labored breath against my feet. Retrieving the other gun, I aimed it at the talkative one's exposed back and pulled the trigger. I would not allow him to continue any further. As long as one bullet found its target, their fate was sealed.
Elon remained the only one I had not shot. But I paid him no mind. His demise would come once I had finished dealing with the fool beneath me. Gritting my teeth, I clenched my fist around his thick fur, eliciting a pained grunt from him.
"Hello, hello," I greeted him with a twisted smile, positioning my dagger beneath his exposed neck. "How many lives have you claimed today?"
"No... no, please! The full moon forced this upon me! I cannot control myself once I shift!" he pleaded, desperation lacing his words.
"So, you blame the moon?" I raised an eyebrow, incredulous at his attempt to shift the blame. "Did the moon sink its teeth into the flesh of innocent people?" I scoffed. These creatures could be so foolish in their attempts to absolve themselves of guilt.
"You commit it. You sin it," I hissed, tightening my grip on the blade against his neck. His feeble attempts to justify his actions fell upon deaf ears.
"But the full moon-" he began to protest, only to be swiftly interrupted by my scathing inquiry.
"How old are you?" I demanded, my voice laced with contempt.
"Twenty-seven," he replied, his voice trembling.
"Twenty-seven and you still haven't learned to control your form during the full moon? You must be a complete amateur," I spat with disdain.
"I-"
"Shut it," I snapped, my eyes flashing with unrestrained anger. "I don't want to hear any more of your pitiful excuses. It might have been forgivable if you were a thirteen-year-old struggling to harness your power, but at your age? Don't play dumb with me."
Roughly yanking his head to face mine, I glared into his frightened eyes.
"I know that werewolves gain the ability to shift when they turn thirteen, and it takes them a few months to master it. You must be a complete imbecile or a hopelessly impotent fool."
"No, no, please..." he pleaded, his voice filled with desperation.
"Will your begging truly be your final words?" I sneered, my fury intensifying. These wretched, despicable creatures deserved no mercy. I would never forgive them for the pain they inflicted upon innocents. As long as they remained in my sight, they would face my wrath.
They would do well to fear the piercing gaze of my emerald eyes, for they held a clarity twice as potent as theirs.
"P-Please spare me!" he implored, his voice quivering.
"Spare you?" I let out a derisive laugh, contorting my features with mockery. "You should have considered sparing those poor souls before you devoured them. And now, here you are, begging before me like a pitiful fool. I find your shamelessness amusing, but I'm afraid I have no patience to indulge it. You are nothing more than filth, and your stench... repulsive."
he immobilized beast struggled futilely against its poisoned body. Even if it managed to move, I had no intention of granting it any reprieve. The smirk on my face vanished, replaced by a cold and emotionless expression. The darkness within me surged, intensifying the desire to end its miserable existence.
My blade pressed against the werewolf's throat, causing it to writhe like a fish out of water. It made feeble attempts to escape, but its efforts were in vain. Its eyes widened in terror as its head eventually drooped to the side. I reached out and gently closed its lifeless eyelids.
Straightening myself, I brushed off the dust from my clothes, observing as its dark gray-to-red blood oozed from its neck. I retrieved my dagger and swung it in a swift motion, allowing the blood to splatter and cleanse the blade. The black blood, a stark reminder of their impurity. Disgusting creatures.
Leaping back into the air, I caught sight of the remaining two werewolves limping in the distance. I blocked their path, a smirk playing on my lips. I fixed my gaze upon them, unwavering in my determination. The terror in their eyes and their tails tucked between their legs betrayed their fear.
Elon, seemingly aiding the other werewolf's escape, displayed his foolishness. He could have chosen to flee while he still had the chance, but instead, he decided to lend his assistance. How noble, and yet how utterly foolish.
"I hate to break it to you, but I believe this is where everything comes to an end," I declared, my voice laced with cold disdain.
"No!" Elon vehemently shook his head. "No, I'm sorry, please!"
"Sorry?" I scoffed, my voice dripping with contempt. "Did you ever feel remorse after tearing out the hearts of innocent people and quenching your bloodlust with their lives? Spare me your false contrition."
As I dashed towards them, Elon stood his ground, attempting to protect his friend. But I was no fool. I skillfully evaded his forceful claws, swiftly closing in on my target. With the distance between us settled, I drew my sword through the air and slashed at him.
I possessed enough strength to sever his head if I desired, but my poisoned blade would do the job just fine. I needed only to pierce their hearts or let them bleed to death. Elon fell to his knees, collapsing onto the ground. He felt his body growing numb, a fiery pain consuming him.
"No, don't kill him!" came a desperate plea.
But it was too late. I thrust my blade into his thick fur, feeling it sink deep within. Elon screamed in agonizing pain, and within moments, his consciousness faded away.
Turning my attention to the last remaining werewolf, I moved closer. "Beg," I commanded, my voice dripping with disdain.
"No, please," he pleaded, his voice filled with desperation.
I scoffed. "Can't even beg properly, can you? You wretched creatures can't do anything right. Instead of raising a herd of cattle, you chose to meddle with us humans. This is the consequence of sparking our wrath."
He shook his head, his voice trembling. "No... please."
I laughed mockingly. "My grandmother said the same words once. 'No, please! Don't hurt us!' But you creatures never listen."
Suddenly, a searing pain shot through my head. "Damn it, not now," I cursed under my breath. I didn't have time for this. If I couldn't finish off this wretch before succumbing to unconsciousness, things would take a dangerous turn for me.
I closed the distance and hurled my sword like a lance, impaling it directly into his chest. He let out a wretched howl before his voice faded into silence.
Feeling a throbbing ache in my head, I placed a hand to my temple. I could hear shuffling in the nearby thickets, but I remained unfazed. There was no scent of blood, so I knew it wasn't a threat of that nature.
Two figures suddenly emerged from the shadows and sprinted towards me. "Captain!"
I looked up, recognizing my apprentices. Although they were older than me, I held the title of their chief, which was a flattering position. It was unusual for a nineteen-year-old like myself to be given such authority, but my skill as a wolf-hunter was well-respected. However, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease about my position as a captain. Something about it didn't sit right.
"Captain, you don't appear to be injured, but your breathing is uneven. Did you take your medicine this morning?" one of my apprentices inquired.
I scratched the back of my neck, realizing my mistake. "Ah, crap. I'm sorry. I may have forgotten."
My apprentice sighed. "Very well, let's return to the palace immediately. You need to take your medicine and then we can meet with the King."
I raised an eyebrow, puzzled. What did the King want with me this time?
"Why? Is it urgent?" I asked.
"I believe so," he replied, glancing at his hourglass and smiling. "Let's go, Captain. You'll need plenty of rest tonight."