ONE

A red-faced Reylin huffed as she heaved a dirty sack full of hay over her shoulder. Heavy boots trudging two inches into the snow-covered ground a moment later, towards the beaten-down shed.

She exhaled a shaky breath as a particularly cold chill ran down her spine. She frowned, tugging at her thick fur coat with nimble fingers covered in black cotton gloves that may have seen better days.

"Rey!"

Her attention snapped over to the little curly-haired boy waving frantically to get her attention, a toothy grin spread on his reddened cheeks.

Rey smiled and waved back at him with her free hand, only looking away when he turned back to his friends who were playing in the snow. She shook her head and quickened her pace towards the shed so she could get her little brother indoors where it's warm before the little troublemaker catches a cold.

Pulling open the rickety door of the rundown shed, it made a loud creaking noise. She walked in and dropped the bag, ripping it open and emptying the contents on the stack of hay beside a brown horse. She stroked its mane, and it neighed enthusiastically as though it were excited to see her.

"Hi, Max," she smiled and patted his neck as he began munching on the hay she'd stacked up. Closing the doors of the shed behind her, Rey walked back to where her brother had been playing with his friends.

"Beau!" she called, turning around in circles when she found no one; it was eerily quiet in the snow-covered clearing.

She exhaled a shaky, fogged breath, listening carefully if she'd hear the crunch of snow under the feet. "Beau, come on out, playtime's over," her heart began to thud loudly in her chest.

She didn't want to assume the worst and wanted to keep up an optimistic front. Rey heard rustling in the bushes just behind her and froze.

The sound was followed by a very low growl, which shook her to her core. "Lycan," she seethed as realisation dawned on her. Slowly she pulled the silver dagger stashed in the waistband of her pants, gripping it tightly and facing the beast that had emerged from the trees.

It had matted brown fur and razor-sharp teeth, but more importantly, it wanted her dead. The beast stalked closer to her, slowly circling her like it would its prey, its sharp canines pulling back into a deadly snarl, and its amber eyes trained on her. Rey stood her ground, ready to fight or die trying.

With a powerful growl, the beast attacked with sharp claws ready to slice through flesh, but Rey sidestepped it just in time, sending it tumbling through the snow. Her speed took the beast by surprise, but it quickly shook it off and attacked again with a deadly speed, this time going for the throat.

Rey dodged the attack, finding its weak spot and slicing its belly open. The beast tumbled to the ground with a whimper.

The snow-covered ground quickly turned crimson as the beast struggled to take another stance due to excessive blood loss, as the cut wasn't healing fast enough.

It eventually stood and faced her; this time its movements were slowed, and Rey went for the kill, plunging the silver dagger into its neck and slowly pulling it out. She exhaled a shaky breath when the beast breathed its last.

She stumbled away from the dead beast, her hands covered in blood. Her heart thudded in dread when realisation dawned on her that there would be more. Lycans never hunted alone but in packs, and she feared for her brother's safety.

Without wasting a second, she ran in the direction of their cabin in search of Beau, only stopping when she heard the sound of horses. Rey hid behind a cabin, praying they wouldn't sniff her out.

The thundering hooves of the horses passed, and she came out, carefully manoeuvring between houses. She smelt the smoke before she saw the blazing fire; her whole village was burning to the ground right before her eyes.

There were Lycan soldiers everywhere; a few were on horses; she could make out dead bodies of humans scattered across the small village. The ones left alive were being lined up like cattle, pushed and prodded like they were nothing. Tears threatened to spill, but she breathed through them.

She still hadn't found Beau, not from where she was hiding. She knew she had to get closer, and although the smoke from the fire would probably mask her scent, she still had to be careful.

She was about five cabins away from her own, which would have likely been raided. She thought carefully about her next course of action; if she were to make it back to the cabin and get caught without finding Beau, what then?.

Fear gripped her at the thought of Beau being captured or, worse, winding up dead. Her fingers shook, but Rey couldn't tell if it was from the cold or fear. Gripping the dagger tightly in her fist, she blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall.

"Ok, think, Rey, where would Beau go?" She whispered, shutting her eyes tightly as she racked her brain for the answer. Her eyes snapped open when she realised where he could be.

"Shit," she cursed and scrambled up from her crouched position behind the cabin. Whipping her head from left to right to check if the coast was clear, she quickly made her way back to a small lake just a few meters behind the tree line.

She'd usually take him there in the summertime; it was their little secret spot, and he loved it. She darted towards the trees, exhaling in relief when she was sure the trees would camouflage her. It wouldn't stop the mutts from sniffing her out, though.

With that thought, she quickened her pace, panting when she came to the banks of the frozen lake. "Beau!" she whispered and yelled when she found the area empty.

"Oh God no," she sobbed when she realised he wasn't there. Clutching her knees, she tried to control her breathing and tears.

Movement in her periphery snapped her back to reality; taking a step back, she clutched her dagger and took a fighting stance.

The bushes rustled a little, then a head of curls popped up. Rey paused before realising who it was. Rushing towards Beau, she pulled him out from behind the bushes he'd been hiding in.

"You scared the hell out of me, Beau," she admonished, hugging him tightly.

"I'm so glad you're safe."

"Don't leave my sight ever again; promise me right now!" she said with tears in her eyes.

"Pinky promise," Beau muttered, holding out his pinky finger to seal the promise. Rey smiled sadly and held out her own pinky, joining it with his tiny one. "Now, come on, we have to go," she rushed out, rising from her kneeling position. With their hands joined, she led him deeper into the woods in hopes of getting away and not getting caught.