CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE (WAXING CRESCENT) Chapter Twenty-One: Unknown, Subtle Changes She regretted it, but since she had already talked, she braced herself up and continued. “They expected me to at least catch twice as I did last time.” He stared, then laughed after some time, showing his perfect smile. It was contagious. ‘That must have been the reason why they flock to him,’ Mallory deduced in her mind, trying so hard for her lips not to lift up. “That’s great!” He grinned at her and gestured to the river. “Join me, then.” She couldn’t say no. It would sound stupid after she just told him—indirectly told him that she’ll stay to fish with him. Meekly, she nodded her head, and they both traced back down the path towards the river. They sat a bit further from where they did the day before. “There might be no more fish there. Maybe others had warned them that there was a werewolf hunting for them.” Leofric reasoned out. Mallory humored him and went along. After sitting down

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE (WAXING CRESCENT) Chapter Twenty-Three: Hours Before the Full Moon “Say, Mallory,” Leofric asked while they were walking back to the pack.“Hmm?” Mallory briefly lifted her head to look at his back before looking back down. They were walking on uneven ground, if she was distracted even for a bit, she’d slip and throw all the fish away to the ground. And embarrass herself.“Are you free tomorrow?” He stopped to wait for her.“Tomorrow?” Mallory met his eyes, also stopping to continue the conversation. It was still early; the sun would go down two hours from then.“It’s the full moon,” he grinned. “I want to meet with you at the moon square in the evening. Let’s watch the Blessing Ceremony together.”“Ah—”Unconsciously, her eyes wid

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE (WAXING CRESCENT) Chapter 25: Foraging Mallory looked behind him discreetly. So, it was his team. Mallory nodded her head in her mind then looked back at him.He looked at her with great expectation twinkling in his eyes. It was hard to disagree. After some hesitation, she ended up agreeing and just found herself in front of an officer and listed her name on the list. She was given a basket and she went out of the hall with her mind still floating.“Let me do it,” Leofric took the red ribbon from her hand.“Sorry?” Mallory didn’t know what happened. She watched Leofric tie the ribbon on her wrist and saw his satisfied smile after.“There,” Leofric turned to his team who were looking over and nodded his head. “Let’s move out!”No one dared to say against his words. Everyone filed into a single li

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN (WAXING CRESCENT) Chapter 27: Questioning  “But Hazen invited me before,” Mallory said slowly. “Why would they if I can’t get in in the first place?”Oddny looked at her intently. “The thing is; the inviter will give the invitee proof—I don’t know what it is, that they were invited. Do you have one?”Oh, that’s probably why he still needs to see me… Mallory felt bitterness creeping in her tongue. “… No.”Oddny nodded her head. She saw her face easing for a moment before changing back to her stoic face. “Anyway, I got to go. See you later.”Clack.The door closed, leaving Mallory alone in that house.Mallory weakly sat back on her seat, looking at where Oddny had just gone out.“I was too late, wasn’t I?&rdquo

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE (WAXING CRESCENT)   Chapter 29: Conflict   A sense of disappointment with a mixture of irritation washed over her. It took a lot of dedication to control her expression, but somehow, Hazen noticed it this time. “Something wrong?” She asked innocently. “Was yesterday’s catch unsatisfactory?” “I did not fish yesterday,” Mallory stated plainly. “Why are you here?” She looked at Hazen. She didn’t change much since she last time saw her. Did she even undergo the Blessing Ceremony? Now that she thinks of it, it has been so long since she last saw her. Two weeks ago? She can’t exactly remember the date. Hazen pouted. "Why do you sound like I did something terrible? Anyway, I’m here because I want to invite you out!” “Invite?” Oddny asked, emerging out of nowhere. “To where?” “Hi there, little Oddny.” She grinned. “To eat out, of cou