Morning sun shone upon the snow capped mountains. The heat melted the snow as glittering water droplets fell from the tip and started flowing in the stream.
It's the start of a great new day, after a night devoid of struggle. But a snapped out tree beside the mountain and deep giant footprints tells something else...
"Is it necessary?", a voice could be heard. It was none other than Abu's voice. His voice was filled with unwillingness. He was sitting on the ground with a devastated look.
Before him, the old man who was busy stuffing food and necessities in a leather bag paused. He looked at his son with a gaze as if he was looking at a fool.
"It's not necessary, if you wish death that is.", he said.
At that time, Gabu came out of the cave with a tired face. Dark circles under his eyes expose his sleepless night. With narrowed eyes, he looked at others and said, "What are you doing, baba?"
"I am going to the Bai tribe for something important. Watch over the house with your brothers."
Gabu was jolted awake by what he heard. His narrowed eyes widened and he spoke with a shivering voice, "You leaving? Take us too. What if warwoff come again?"
Abu sneered at his brother, "Even someone as big as you are afraid of some dogs? Shame, shame. But don't worry, those wolves only hunt at night, in full moon, to be exact."
Gabu sighed in relief after hearing this while ignoring his ridicule.
The old man on the other hand looked at this scene with mouth a gap. Was this the same man who wouldn't let go of his leg just when he was about to leave?
"Both of you are making unnecessary noises. What's there to be so afraid of some werewolves. You can kill one easily just after your totem ceremony. Didn' you see how that dog ran away after sniffing little power from me? They should be afraid of us, not the other way around." The old man was quite annoyed with their cowardness. So he decided to give some hope to his young kids.
What he said isn't wrong. After a successful totem awakening, they possess enough power to kill the Werewolf. But he also hid some important details.
Werewolves don't hunt only on the night of a full moon. They hunt for prey on a daily basis to maintain their hunger. But when the full moon's silvary light spread it softness, it acts like a trigger for werewolves. Special night needs a special offering. And that night, they hunt not for food, but for blood. They crave for "special" blood, and this craving is etched in their instinct.
And the worst of all, they always hunt in packs. Bigger the target, larger the pack. They are also natural hunters when it comes to coordinating attacks. These facts can't be overcome with power alone.
Burning his inner thoughts, he headed towards his destination,"I am going, kids. Take care of the house."
"Ok, baba. Come back soon." Gabu chimed.
"I will," he promised.
**
Two brothers continued to stare at the path as the silhouette became smaller and smaller, and finally couldn't be seen anymore.
On a snowy path, a feeble figure slowly walked ahead, leaving footprints behind. His shoulder-length hair, neck length beard swayed in the chilly wind while cloths made of wool protected his body. Using the war halberd as a walking stick, he carefully walked through the snow filled uneven terrain. By the time he crossed the mountain range, it was already dark everywhere.
All he could see was a vast plain filled with Jhau Trees stretching ahead- consumed by darkness. Silence imbued chilly wind that can send chill down to one's spine prevailed. As if angry mother nature is saying, "It's bedtime naughty boy. Go to sleep, or freezing ghosts will come to eat you."
In response to the mother's threat, the old child pretended ignorance and continued to move ahead.
But- even his tenacity reached its limit. Old man, who valiantly marched forwards in such a harsh condition was now catching his breath with great spasm. He stabbed the halberd's staff in the ground to keep balance while glancing at the dark sky and planting his wobbly legs in snow.
The night sky filled with black made the earth colored in white, how ironic.
"Even someone like me,The berserk Dracul, has such days. How ironic!" He mumbled.
His knees touched the ground as his legs finally gave up. Closing his eyes, he took in the cold air in rhythm. Memories flooded in his mind, her smile colored his world and happiness of the past touched his beating heart, caresing it, as if saying, "It's okay to give up. You have tried enough, now take some rest."
Just as his body was slowly cooling down,
"Come back soon, baba," Gabul's cheerful voice jolted his memories. That big guy, who grew up to be bigger than him, was an eternal child for him. He remembered, his children, the fruits of his love, are still waiting for him. No matter how grownup they were, they were still too weak to be left on their own.
For their sake, he can't give up yet.
'He can't give up yet.'
'He has to live for them.'
'Even if he has to sacrifice~
-The last thread of Humanity that's left!'
The body that was kneeling on the ground twitched. His grip on the halberd continued to be tighter. Black totems continued to emerge on his wrinkled skin one by one. After taking a deep breath, he finally opened his eyes.
Instead of darkness, what greeted him was a world dyed in deep red, but not deeper than his ruby eyes.
"I will be breaking my promise, love."
In a frozen lake, a silhouette dived into the freezing cold water with a bare body
His skin is as white as snow, embracing tightly packed muscles- a body full of vigor. The cold water lustfully touched his war body, creating a misty scene.
He bound his long hair, making it a ponytail. Then proceed to shave his long beard with a sharp rock.
Then, behold! A view pleasant to the very eyes came into existence. With a sharp jawline, high nose and distinctive facial features, he is a handsome creature by every definition of aesthetics.
After a pleasant cold shower, he dried his body with the radiating energy from the totems drawn on his skin and wore the shabby-baggy sheep clothing, turning himself into a barbarian.