The forest thrummed with an energy that neither Lamb nor Wolf had encountered in millennia. It was alive, pulsing with a vitality that seemed to mock their very existence. Every step they took through the undergrowth seemed to resonate with the world itself, as if the forest was aware of their presence—and aware of the one they hunted.
For the Kindred, this chase was unlike any other. Their quarry did not run out of fear or despair. He left no cries of anguish, no scent of desperation to follow. Instead, he left a trail of life.
---
Wolf's claws dug into the earth as they paused at the edge of a clearing. He sniffed the air, growling low in his throat.
Wolf: "This spirit thinks itself clever. Leaving its mark as if to taunt us."
Lamb moved silently beside him, her silver hooves barely disturbing the moss beneath them. Her bow rested lightly in her hands, her gaze fixed on the clearing ahead.
Lamb: "It is not taunting us, Wolf. It is guiding us."
Wolf snorted, shaking his massive head.
Wolf: "Guiding us? To what? Another pointless game? Life always ends, Lamb. This one is no different."
Lamb did not respond immediately. Instead, she knelt, running her fingers over the soft grass. Tiny flowers had bloomed where Fox's presence lingered, their petals glowing faintly in the moonlight.
Lamb: (softly) "He is different."
Wolf growled, pacing in a slow circle around her.
Wolf: "Different or not, he cannot escape us. We are the Kindred, Lamb. Death incarnate. Life may run, but it always falls."
Lamb stood, her gaze unwavering.
Lamb: "Then let us see where this chase leads."
---
As they followed the trail, the forest seemed to come alive around them. Trees that should have been ancient and gnarled were lush and vibrant. Streams that should have run dry sparkled in the moonlight, their waters clear and cool. Even the air felt different—warmer, more inviting.
Wolf was restless. The vitality of the forest set his instincts on edge, sharpening his senses to a razor's edge.
Wolf: "This place is unnatural. Life clings to it like a parasite."
Lamb, however, felt something else. The vibrancy of the forest stirred something within her—a faint echo of curiosity, even wonder.
Lamb: (thoughtfully) "Perhaps this is not life clinging to him, but him breathing life into the world around him."
Wolf stopped, his yellow eyes narrowing.
Wolf: "What nonsense are you speaking, Lamb? Life cannot exist without death. He defies the natural order."
Lamb: "Does he? Or does he remind us of what came before?"
Wolf growled, his claws scraping against a nearby tree.
Wolf: "Enough riddles, Lamb. Let us hunt."
---
The first sign of Fox's presence came at dusk. They found a small clearing where the grass was softer than silk, and the air was heavy with the scent of blooming flowers. In the center of the clearing stood a single tree, its branches heavy with fruit.
Wolf sniffed the air, his growl low and dangerous.
Wolf: "He was here."
Lamb approached the tree, her eyes scanning the ground. A faint shimmer lingered in the air, like the last traces of a dream.
Lamb: "He is close."
As they moved deeper into the forest, the trail grew more vibrant. Flowers bloomed in their wake, their petals glowing faintly in the twilight. Birds sang songs they had not sung in centuries, and the air was filled with the hum of life.
Wolf was agitated, his instincts pulling him in every direction.
Wolf: "He's toying with us. Leading us in circles."
Lamb's grip on her bow tightened as she scanned the horizon.
Lamb: "No. He is leading us somewhere. We must be patient."
Wolf growled, his claws digging into the earth.
Wolf: "Patience is for prey. We are hunters."
---
As night fell, they came upon a glade bathed in moonlight. The air was still, the only sound the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze. At the center of the glade stood Fox, his back turned to them as he knelt beside a small stream.
Wolf crouched low, his muscles coiled like a spring.
Wolf: (whispering) "He doesn't even sense us. Foolish prey."
But Lamb raised a hand, her voice steady.
Lamb: "No, Wolf. He knows we are here."
At her words, Fox stood slowly, his movements deliberate and unhurried. He turned to face them, his mask glinting in the moonlight, and spread his arms in a gesture of welcome.
Fox: (playfully) "Ah, my dear Kindred. I was beginning to think you'd lost my trail."
Wolf growled, stepping forward, his claws gleaming.
Wolf: "We are not so easily evaded, spirit."
Fox tilted his head, his golden eyes gleaming behind the mask.
Fox: "Evaded? Oh no, dear Wolf. I left my trail precisely so you would find me. After all, what is life without a little pursuit?"
---
The tension crackled in the air like a storm waiting to break.
Wolf: (snarling) "Enough games, Fox. You can run no longer."
Fox chuckled, the sound warm and disarming.
Fox: "Run? Why would I run when the two of you are so delightful to converse with?"
Wolf lunged, but Lamb's voice rang out, stopping him mid-leap.
Lamb: "Wait."
Wolf turned to her, his eyes blazing.
Wolf: "What are you doing, Lamb? He mocks us."
Lamb stepped forward, her bow held loosely at her side. Her gaze locked with Fox's, unblinking.
Lamb: "You want us to follow you. Why?"
Fox's demeanor shifted, his playful tone softening.
Fox: "Because you are not merely hunters, Lamb. You are something greater, something... essential. And I want to understand you."
Wolf scoffed, his claws scraping against the ground.
Wolf: "Understand us? What nonsense is this?"
Fox's gaze lingered on Lamb, his expression unreadable behind the mask.
Fox: "Life and death, Lamb. Two sides of the same coin. I wonder... do you ever tire of being only one side?"
---
Before Lamb could respond, Fox stepped back, his form blurring at the edges. The air around him shimmered, and with a burst of light, he was gone.
Wolf roared in frustration, his voice shaking the trees.
Wolf: "Coward! He flees again!"
Lamb lowered her bow, her gaze fixed on the spot where Fox had stood.
Lamb: (quietly) "No. He is leading us. The chase is not over."
Wolf growled but did not argue.
Wolf: "Then let us hunt."