Mount Baronveil, Home of the Weres

"Captain, are you sure you'll be alright to leave on your own?"

My apprentices frowned at me and I nodded. "I can't let you join me on this one. But if you keep guarding our posts, then I'll share to you half of my bounty that I will be receiving from the King."

"Has the King sent you to another dangerous mission again?"

I gave her a smile and crossed my arms. "Don't worry about it, and besides, we are doing this for a living, aren't we? I would have to work hard in order to eat something."

"When will you be coming back, Captain?"

"I don't know. I will need a couple of weeks to scout their territory before I can get what I needed to do. Don't worry. I'll be quick."

"A couple of weeks isn't quick, Captain!"

"I know, I know... Sheesh." I took my usual red cloak and wrapped myself with it. I tied the ribbon and placed my crest on my chest and tapped my boots. "But I'll have to go now if I want to come back any sooner, don't I?"

"We guess so..."

They heaved a deep sigh and pulled me into a tight hug. I wrapped my arms around them and closed my eyes. They were like a family to me.

And it is the very reason why I cannot take them along.

I didn't want to lose someone again.

"Stay safe and get back home in one piece, okay?"

"I cannot promise that." I told her truthfully and gripped harder. "But I swear that I'll try."

I let go of them and tightened the belt around my waist. I was to go in the carriage that the King had sent for me. I will be departing to the North to scout the woods.

The King has instructed me to be careful and stay low at all times. Of course, I would. I mean, what good would it do to me if I didn't, right?

I should be extra careful. If I cannot wipe every Were then at least I would have their Alpha dead.

I walked towards the carriage while pulling out a case of medicine from my belt. I took a pill and popped it right on my mouth.

I didn't like the taste of medicine before, but as soon as I grew up, the bitterness of it had long faded. Every day, I had to take two pills- one for morning and one for night.

I took it after that tragedy happened.

The tragedy that took everything from me.

I had something inside me. A disease, nay' even my grandmother called it a curse. And I wished I never had it, at all. If I didn't have it, I would've been able to save them back then.

If only this disease of mine just didn't trigger that moment– I would have not lost everything.

This medication was used for me to prevent that sudden paralyzation. My muscles would become numb and my entire body would weaken if I do not take a pill. I've tried my best to tolerate this and I have been doing better each time I skip a pill.

I would always practice myself to take one pill and bring my body to its limits, and I can say that it is working, though, barely.

But I know I'm there.

One day, I won't need to take these damn pills anymore.

This damn disease.

I grit my teeth.

I swore to the heavens that I will find a cure to this, no matter what.

I closed my eyes as I stepped inside the carriage. I could remember that feeling of hopelessness as I saw nothing but blood. I remember that time when I froze out of fear and the basket of strawberries, cheese, and bread fell on the dusty grass.

I remember seeing my poor grammy being torn into half, her face anguished in horror. I remember when a woodcutter rushed over to me and pulled me away to his arms.

I remember the village being engulfed by flames. And then suddenly, not even halfway through, we were blocked by something so inhuman. So beastly that it made the woodcutter petrify.

I remember being told to run. But my knees fell to the floor. I remember when he swung his axe but it flew towards me– almost slicing my throat, but thank goodness it flew past me.

I stood up but my legs fall again. I tried to run, but my joints wouldn't obey. It was that stupid disease. I would've been able to save him. I tried to blink but all I couldn't dare to bat an eyelid at the creature– who snapped his head and drank his blood.

I remember when it walked towards me, reached out with its wet claws, and hungrily gazed at me. I remember my fingers grilling the axe and swinging it against his neck, and all of a sudden– I was bathed in its pitch-black blood.

I remember standing up and hearing it whimper. I remember smashing its head with the axe multiple times until I got tired. I recall sitting against its corpse while the hunters came late. I remember how petrified they looked when they saw my triumph.

I didn't know what came over me back then, but there was one thing that was for sure- I was meant to kill them.

I was taken home by a man by the name of Robyn, who claimed to be my uncle. I had nowhere else to go. My family was devoured. Nobody in the village was able to survive, and if some did– then they must have been turned into a werewolf already.

Robyn taught me how to hunt and take down even the mightiest of preys. Next thing I knew, his teachings paid off and even made me the Captain of the Wolf Hunters. I led two distinct groups. The hunter for the animal itself, and the hunter for the beasts.

I smirked and closed my eyes.

"Such unpleasant memories."

I allowed myself to drift back to sleep for the entire ride.

____

I woke up to this frosty feeling inside my chest. I open my eyes and was greeted by the subtle light of the lamps. I lifted up and scanned my eyes across the room.

"You're awake."

I looked to the side where a woman was. She was holding a steaming cup of chocolate like looking at me with a gentle face.

"Where am I?"

"This is the only inn left standing here in the North."

The lady pulled out a chair and sat in front of me. "The King has instructed me to accommodate you until you could finish your task."

"I see. Thank you."

She was a chubby woman with puffy red cheeks. In my assumptions, it must have been because of the cold. She wore two layers of thick dresses and handed me the cup of chocolate in her hands.

"Here, take this. It is cold here."

I take the cup in my hands and felt its warmness thaw away the frost. I smile. "Did the carriage's navigator send me here?"

"He didnt to disturb you while you were sleeping, so I had him carry you inside."

I arched my back to her. "Thank you so much."

I looked around.

The interior was made of wood and was creaky, however– its tranquility and fondness makes this place very comfortable to rest. I stared at the woman while sipping my hot drink.

"This a cabin, am I right?"

She nodded. "Yes, it is. I am sorry about it. It is quite messy around here. I did not expect to have guests this soon.

I shook my head. "Oh, no, no. It's fine. I can't help but ask though, you live here, am I not right?"

"I do." the woman nodded. "It's quite lovely here, you see."

"Are you not afraid?" I asked her, worrying. "The Weres are just around here, feeding during the night."

The woman smiled at me. "Of course, I am afraid, sweetie. I would see their shadows and silhouettes in the woods, and sometimes I can hear their howling."

"Then why have you not moved out?"

I look around the place. I used to live in these areas before I moved into the Capital. The Northern Woods, were once my home, and I remember how dangerous it was for me to return.

"I believe that I am safe in here."

Intrigued, I gazed at her and gave her a puzzled look. "You are safe here? How so?"

"I have planted these Wolfsbane flowers a few weeks ago. The Weres are allergic to them."

Wolfsbane. I've never heard of that flower before. But it does sound familiar.

"Wolfsbane..?"

"Yes. But we must be careful to touch them. They are poisonous for us, humans too."

"Then how did you manage to plant them?"

"I was given seeds by my husband who used to hike on the Alps. You are going up there, in the mountains, are you not?"

I look outside the window and nod. "Yes. I will be scouting the Woods."

"If you find my husband, would you please tell him to come home?"

The innkeeper's words cracked my heart. With my head lowered, I agreed. "Of course."

I grabbed my crimson cloak and wore it on my back. I placed my hood to cover my face and looked at her intently. "I will be getting to work now. Thank you for looking after me as I rested."

"Please be careful out there. And if you may, please take a stem of the flower outside. It will help you ward the wolves and the were."

"I will bring you wolf meat when I return home then."

"Werewolf meat?!"

"No, no. Just a normal wolf's meat." I chuckle at her. "I think Werewolf meat wouldn't taste good, considering how rotten and impure they are."

"I see. You're off to, then. Have a safe journey."

"Will do."

I arched my back to bow at her as a sign of gratitude and set off to get to work. I needed to do this as fast as I can. I just want to go home safely, as soon as I could.

___

The woods was hauntingly silent. I looked around to see any sign of life, but all I could see were thick blankets of boreal trees. The path was covered entirely by snow and I was worried that someone would find my footprints.

And my scent.

I looked ahead of me.

There it was. The Baronveil Alps. Soaring so high and mighty to the heavens above. The home to the notorious and feared Weres. To scumbags who took away and wiped out every village closest to these woods.

"Hungry bastards." I grit my teeth and leaped to the trees.

I guess leaving those footprints would be a good idea to taunt them. To tell them, that I, Red Riding Hood, is coming for their souls.

I smirked while dashing from branch to branch. I cannot let any more footprints in the snow. A few is enough to tease them of where I was.

Hours have passed and I still haven't found some sort of evidence that would lead me to where they were. It brought me to think that maybe, I was in the wrong location.

I took my compass out of my pockets and checked.

North.

Was the King wrong perhaps?

I placed the compass inside my pockets and rubbed my gloved hands. The gloves were given to me by the kind lady after I took a stem of her poisonous Wolfsbane.

The flower was gorgeous. I've only seen the plant in colored books but I have never seen one myself. I always thought it would look purple as seen in those books, but hers were different.

They had these indigo to sky-blue colored ones. At, first, when I stepped inside her garden– I thought they were beautiful icy crystals.

She told me to keep it inside my pockets or pin it on my clothes as the scent would drive them away. I chose to place it inside my pockets and I knew that the plant would be crushed inside. I couldn't smell its aroma, but I am sure that the Weres would. After all, their sense of smell is a hundred times better than mine.

All of a sudden, I could hear rustling from the thickets.

My body immediately tensed up and his behind the trunks. I peered slowly when all of a sudden– I crashed in the snow beneath.

I could feel my entire body resonate in pain as my head hit the rock. I tried to lift myself up and all I could see was the blood leaking from my forehead to the snow.

I turned my back only to see myself being surrounded by huge hairy, beasts with their fangs bare on mine.

Screw this! I'm gonna get killed!

I need to find a way to get out!

I glanced around, despite my vision spinning. I need to find an opening. Just an opening for me to bail out. But if I cant, then I won't have any choice but to fight.

The Werewolves found me and they were closing their distance upon my frail body.

"What's that smell?" one of them whispered to another with a low, raspy voice– as if his throat had been dry for years. "Is that an aconite?"

"Yes. Wolfsbane, as known by these measly creatures." another one replied.

I smirked.

Hah. I never thought this would work.

"It smells awful."

"Oh shut up. We have that all around the mountains. Were you not used to it?"

I proved my eyes around me. Fifteen. There are fifteen of them that had been surrounding me. The only weapons in my belt were my dagger and my favorite flintlock. I left everything else back in the cabin, in case the woman was attacked.

Darn this. I should've thought more of this.

It is fine. I have to calm down. I just need to take my dagger, tackle one in the neck and then stab him until their formation is lost. I will then find an opening to escape.

I slowly place my fingers on my belt and prepared to dash towards one of them whose angle perfectly opens a path in the woods. However, as soon as I stood up, my joints wouldn't respond. My knee failed to carry me and the dagger from my hand fell to the icy ground.

'What is going on with me?!' I thought inside my head. I could not even part my lips to threaten them not to come any closer.

My vision started to spin faster soon enough, the only thing I could remember was the painful thwack on my head and the feeling of being lifted above the ground.

"Let's take her in. Lord Riftan would be very pleased with us."