Eclipse - Chapter 2
Having been reunited with her friend and teacher, Princess Nala and Wolfsbane set out from Pavv, leaving the Emerald Gates behind them, and beggining their journey north over the Cobalt River. The desert had given way to towering mountains and a winding dirt path running through them like a gentle stream. Just beyond the Emerald Pass is a small canyon where the Cobalt river flows to the east, cascading down hundreds of feet to the canyon's base into a miniature lake surrounded by a green and yellow redwood forest. A lone stone bridge crosses the expanse at its closest point, presenting the pristine environment below from a unique perspective perhaps 400 feet up. Nala took in the sight with grief in her eyes. Here in this landscape so different than her home, the events of the past week finally started to settle in her mind. She leaned against the bridge and took a deep breath, then turned towards Wolfsbane, her savior. He seemed fairly composed despite all that had happened.
"So, where is your clan?" Nala asked her tabaxi mentor. "We are well secluded from the rest of the world. We like to keep to ourselves. They are somewhere in the Ironwood Forests, where we won't be disturbed," Wolfsbane replied.
"What are they like?" asked Nala. "Oh you will love them! Everyone is super chill there!" explained Wolfsbane, "We don't really have any rules so people just do whatever." Nala raised her eyebrows skeptically, "Really?" "Yes! It's very different from how you do things. It might take some getting used to, but I think you will love it!"
"You'll get to meet our leader and my mentor, Master Koda. He's a strict teacher but he knows what he is doing. He taught me everything I know," Wolfsbane explained as he began to drift into nostalgia. It had been almost four years since Wolfsbane last saw his clan of Blood Hunters. It's not all to uncommon for a hunter to leave for a while, as their line of work forces them to travel around searching for monsters to kill. In Wolfsbane's case, his hunt in the last few years led him to some dreadful places. For the last two years, he was employed by the Sultana as their go-to monster hunter. In proving himself multiple times as an ally of the Sultanate, he obtained a house there. The desert city life was new for Wolfsbane. Wolfsbane was a man of the wilds, and he never really had his own house before. His clan is far from any civilization, and he always dreamt of retiring into a log cabin in the woods where he belongs. He mostly just took the house to be polite and thus felt obligated to stay in it for a while as long as the Sultanate needed him. In truth, Wolfsbane was relieved to be back in the wild.
Wolfsbane could tell Nala was anxious. She was more quiet than he knew her to be. Her eyes looking away from him, and her arms held close to her chest. Perhaps a story would cheer her up.
Wolfsbane began, "Have I told you about this time I was sent to kill a vampire? I had tracked it down for weeks to this small town. I got there too late, though, the vampire had already ravaged through most of the town. I went to help this one woman in her home. Her baby was missing so I tried to help her find him. When we found the baby, it was alive, but I had a bad feeling. I told the lady that something was wrong but she took her child back to her. Have you ever seen a vampire baby? Not gonna lie, it was horrible to watch. The mom screamed as the baby ripped out her throat, blood was everywhere! I had no choice but to take my blades to the vampire baby. I swore that day that I would bring that vampire to justice. She's still out there somewhere..."
Nala's face was frozen in horror at the gruesome story. "That's..." There was a noticeable pause as Nala tried to think of a good word to describe her reaction. "That's... Awful." Wolfsbane managed an awkward laugh before a long silence while the two continued on their journey north.
Were it not for the rustling of the trees, the soft howl of the wind, and the chirps of the woodland creatures, it would have been pure silence between the two. The mountains were getting smaller and were soon hidden away beyond the canopy of temperate trees. A few hours later, the silence was broken: "Perhaps we can forage for some food here. It's getting late," suggested Wolfsbane, who was already starting to head into the forest. Nala was deep in her thoughts, unable to escape her doubts and insecurities. As she broke out of her trance, she just realized that the mountains were gone. "Huh?" she finally spoke. "You must be hungry. Come, you will have to learn a few things about living off the land like how we do it," said Wolfsbane, who at this point was already knee height in underbrush. Nala looked at the unforgiving flora before her, "Well, we do have some rations we grabbed before we left the town..." "Yes, but consider this a lesson. Come, let me show you." Nala shrugged and followed Wolfsbane into the forest.
They filled their bags with some natural roots and mushrooms. With a quick flick of the wrist, Wolfsbane was even able to snag a rabbit with a well thrown dagger. Nala watched as Wolfsbane set up their camp for the night. As he was setting up the campfire, he pulled out his sword, wiped it gently with a cloth and then slowly ran the sharp end of the blade along his palm. He wiped his blood on the blade and the blade began to shimmer with energy. Small flames began to curl up the sword, at which point Wolfsbane placed the sword blade-first into the pit of sticks, setting it alight. "Just one of many tricks of my order!" he chuckled.
Nala gazed into the gentle flame. She looked upon her companion, his dark fur barely revealed by the glowing fire. "Wolfsbane," she asked, "how did you get so strong?" The smile on Wolfsbane's face turned into a slight frown, then an awkward side smirk. "Well," he said, "I'm not that strong. But to get where I am now, it took a lot of practice and training and screwing up. Master Koda trained me when I was just a cub, so I had a lot of time to practice. When I started I had trouble controlling my transformations. It took many, many months before I started to feel confident in my abilities. Even now, I know I still have much to learn." Nala moved closer to Wolfsbane, listening with earnest. She replied, "About what had happened back at home... I couldn't do anything. All I could do was run and not look back. I hated that. I wish I could have done something." her eyes met Wolfsbane as she plead, "I want to become strong like you. Can you teach me how to become a Blood Hunter like you?" Wolfsbane frowned once again, this time with a serious look on his face. "Not gonna lie, it's not an easy process, Nala. It could take months, years even, assuming you survive. It took me years to get where I am now. But if that is what you want..." He looked at Nala, her eyes open with intent and purpose, and a hunger for revenge. He thought about this, about his promise he made to Nala's mother. He swore to look after her and to protect her. Perhaps the best way to protect her would be to prepare her for the worst. Everything he knew, he learned from his order. Perhaps they could teach her too. He gazed back at Nala and said, "Maybe we can talk to Master Koda. But yes. I can train you."
The day before the insurrection, Nala woke up earlier than usual to sneak into Fort Sere. Nassaire was running the early morning drills for veterans and new recruits alike. This was a regular occurrence; Nala enjoyed getting the extra practice with her blades and Nassaire usually did not mind and welcomed the opportunity to train the princess. She donned some basic gear and inserted herself in the line of soldiers doing their marching drills. "Looks like we have a new recruit amongst us," Nassaire said as he quickly noticed an unusually short, young, and familiar soldier in the ranks. "Perhaps they can demonstrate how to effectively approach and disarm an enemy with superior range than your own." Nala's been practicing this one and a surge of confidence swelled inside of her. "With pleasure!" she exclaimed, as she stepped up towards the Master General, who had picked up a shield and spear for the demonstration. Nala began her approach, strafing her target, sidestepping left and right to throw him off. She waited for her opponent to make a move, then lunged in to strike! Next thing she knew, she was facedown on the ground. "Don't be fooled by the weapon's size. Just because it has a long reach doesn't mean its slow to move," said Nassaire, as he helped the princess to her feet. "It was easy to trip you because you came straight on after I poised to strike. If it was a real fight, you would have been skewered by now. Your mother would be very unhappy with me if I did that." "Don't you have to prepare for today?" asked Nassaire. "You have a lot of people to talk to today, so you need to look your best. You shouldn't be here where you could hurt yourself." Nala sighed, "Ugh, you know I never cared much for suitors. Do I have to?" "That's a conversation for your mother. In fact, I bet she is wondering where you are now. You should head back before she comes for my head," Nassaire laughed. "Don't worry. Tomorrow, I'll have some time for your training." Nala sulked back to the Ivory Palace, where she would soon meet with her suitors. They came from all across Veridia in the hopes of securing her hand in marriage. This has been a royal tradition in the Al-Sharaf family for generations, and now it is Nala's turn. Nala wasn't too excited about the idea, but she figured she'd try to take it seriously since its tradition. At the very least, it would make her mother happy. "There you are," her mother exclaimed as Nala returned to the palace. "You need to get ready and put on your best appearance. Already the best tailors and stylists are waiting for you in your room." "What if I'm not interested in any of them?" protested Nala. "At least give them a chance. You never know, one of them might surprise you. I had to do the same at your age. Have I told you I rejected all of them, including your father?" Nala was shocked. "Really?" "It's true. I sent them all home. Only your father was persistent enough to keep trying. Just know that I'm glad you are trying to take this seriously, and you should not feel obligated to chose your partner today." That eased Nala's mind. She really did have no intention of finding her true love today. A couple of hours and dozens of rejected young suitors later, Nala was ready to return to her bed and sleep. "Your highness, one final suitor wishes to court you." One more to go, Nala thought to herself. She had set her expectations low and yet she was still mostly disappointed with the previous ones. Some were more exceptional than others, though. She was ready to get this over with. She couldn't hide her surprise when she found her final suitor was her childhood friend, Salah. "Hello, princess," Salah said timidly. It had been years since they last saw each other. Salah didn't even want to go at first. There is no way I could be with the princess, he had thought to himself. Yet, his father practically forced him to go. Salah wasn't sure if his father had his interests in mind, or if he had convinced him purely out of selfish reasons. Regardless, here he was, scared out of his mind. He certainly wasn't as rich or as charming as some of the other suitors, some of which were royalty from other nations of the world. He also wasn't poor by any means; his father owned a fair bit of real estate within Bekilk. It's the only reason he was friends with the princess when he was younger. Salah put his faith in his old friendship with the princess, and took his shot. "Salah? Wow, I wasn't expecting to see you here. It's been... how many years?" "I can hardly remember. Six?" Salah said, taking his seat next to Nala. He had made sure to look his best for the occasion. He tidied his curly brown hair, put on a nice suit, and proudly displayed his holy symbol of the Dawnfather. The two made some awkward small talk and some catching up. "Remember when you snuck out that one time and into my house?" reminisced Salah. "The guards accused my father of kidnapping you!" Nala laughed. "My mother was livid with me! I still sneak out all the time, she can't stop me!" "Salah," Nala began to ask a question, "I think I can guess why you came here." Salah's face turned redder than it already was. "Well," he began, "I figured since we knew each other, that maybe someone like me had a shot with someone like you. It's kinda silly though. You're a princess. You should be with a prince or something." "I thought you knew me," said Nala with a giggle. "I don't care if you are a prince or not. I'm... happy to see you again. Maybe we should catch up later." "Actually, you know what?" Nala said excitedly. "Why don't we go right now?" "Huh?" Salah was not ready for this sudden change of plans and didn't really know how to respond. He mustered up one word, "Okay."
The morning arrived with the sounds of forest birds and beasts, reminding Nala once again that she was far away from home. She followed Wolfsbane for a few more days before they arrived at the Hunter's Crossroads. Wolfsbane could not hide his excitement as he told Nala all about the people she'll meet. "Master Koda is a badass. He stays in his lycan form all the time because he wants to. Isn't that cool? There's also Ludwig. He's a tabaxi like me, but, not gonna lie, he's a bit of an ass. Okay, he's a real ass. It's going to take a lot of warming up to him. Don't worry, you'll fit right in." Nala was unsure what to make of this clan. Anxious thoughts built up in her mind. She'll have to see it for herself to put these thoughts to rest. The Ironwood Forest broke into a clearing alongside a cliff face, where a handful of huts, tents, and cabins rest. At the far end of the village, into the cliff face, is a vine shrouded cave. People wander through the village: some humans, many not. "Ah, home!" Wolfsbane cheered. His cheers were met with other cheers, as the people of the Hunter's Crossroads welcomed him back. Nala was met with odd stares wondering who the stranger is. Wolfsbane asked his comrades, "Is Master Koda here? I need to talk to him. Is he in the cave?" Wolfsbane's guess was right. He escorted Nala into the dark, lightless cave. It reeked of dead plants and beasts. Deep within, a glimmer of light fell through a crack in the cave roof, lighting a stone altar with a stone bowl atop it. Sitting next to it, in a meditative pose, was a large black and gray werewolf. "Wolfsbane" said the werewolf in a deep, wise voice. "I am glad to see you have returned safely. It has been some time." "Oh hey Master Koda! Long time no see," Wolfsbane said casually. The werewolf relaxed from its meditative stance, and raised its head to gaze upon Wolfsbane and the strange girl next to him. "Who is this stranger you have brought to our Order?" Still casual, Wolfsbane responded, "So long story, but this is Nala. She's a princess and her home was taken over by some cultist dudes so she had to run away but I promised her mom I would look after her so I thought I'd bring her here so she can become a blood hunter like us." Master Koda raised one of his lycan eye brows. "She wishes to become one of us?" He carefully looked over Nala from where he was sitting. "Can you attest to her abilities, Wolfsbane?" "Absolutely," Wolfsbane confirmed. "She has the spirit and I've trained with her myself." "Very well," said Master Koda, "I respect your judgement, but you do know she will still have to undertake a trial of strength to see if she is indeed worthy of the Hunter's Bane and this... responsibility we bear." Nala looked anxiously at Wolfsbane. "A test of strength? Like a fighting test?" "Sort of," said Master Koda "it is not just a test of physical strength, but also strength of willpower. It is very dangerous to ingest the Hunter's Bane. If you are not prepared, it will kill you." "I... see," worried Nala. "You are welcome to rest within the Hunter's Crossroads, Nala. Wolfsbane, you are to keep an eye on her at all times. If she truly wishes to become one with our Order, make sure she is ready for her trial tomorrow." One of the hunters showed them to an empty hut where they would be staying. Nala asked Wolfsbane, "What is this trial like? Did you have to do something like this too?" Wolfsbane relaxed in the rough bed. "I did. Not gonna lie, it's a little different for everyone but usually involves some kind of hunt. Koda will give you a target and a location, and you'll have to track it down and kill it. I had to hunt an owlbear. You'd think they are as cute and fluffy as they look but they are really just assholes. Finding him was the easy part - he was digging through what used to be someone's campsite. Gonna be real: Owlbear claws - they hurt a lot. After I killed it, on the way back, I found a baby one, lost in the woods. It was looking for its mother, which I had just killed. That made me realize something important, Nala. There is always a price for murder. We do not hunt for fun. From that day, I have always tried to reason with my enemies, and only put them down when I had no choice or if it was a danger to others. Everyone deserves a chance." Nala listened silently, but still thought about the people that took her home from her. Her hatred boiled inside of her and was about to burst. "Even the people who took everything from me?" she snarked. It was about a week ago that everything happened, but the two had been traveling for a while and the reality still hadn't set it for Nala until now. Wolfsbane calmly nodded, "Yes, but gonna be real, I didn't like them from the moment they tried to sell me overpriced holy water when I was hunting a vampire." "How do they deserve that chance?" Nala yelled. "When I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING! I was a princess! I had a comfortable life, a mother who cared for me, friends I could trust, wealth, and the freedom to do pretty much what I wanted!" Her rage could not hide the grief forever, as tears began to roll down her face. "Before, my biggest problem was paying attention to my mother's lectures on being Sultana, showing proper etiquette when we had visitors, or figuring out who I would marry when I was old enough. The day before everything happened, I had the most interesting day of my life. I thought that was the start of the rest of my life, and that things would be nice in the future. Guess I was right about one thing, except my life changed for the worst. Now look at me. I don't know if anyone I cared about is still alive! Or if they know I'm alive. I didn't have time to bring any money or food with me - if you weren't here I'd probably be starving by now. And I guess I can forget about ruling a nation and ever having people look up to me or getting married!" Nala could barely get the words out at this point. "See? Everything! Do you even understand what it means to lose everything?!" "Actually, I do." Wolfsbane responded with a stoic and straight look on his face as he got up and wrapped his arms around Nala. "The Hunter's Crossroads are not my original family. I can barely remember their faces, but I know I loved them. A pack of werewolves came in through the night. Slaughtered everyone. Burned down our homes. I somehow survived. That was when my werebear dad found me, and brought me here. I never had the chance to really thank him for what he did." In between tears, Nala asked, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you. But, aren't you a werewolf too? How could you be okay with that after what you went through?" Wolfsbane smiled, still cradling Nala's head against his chest, "Not gonna lie, sometimes the best way to beat a monster... is to become one. Or at least use their power against them." "You could never be a monster Wolfsbane." "That's what makes me different from them. My family never got the chance to survive. That's why I give it to others."
The day before the insurrection, Nala woke up earlier than usual to sneak into Fort Sere. Nassaire was running the early morning drills for veterans and new recruits alike. This was a regular occurrence; Nala enjoyed getting the extra practice with her blades and Nassaire usually did not mind and welcomed the opportunity to train the princess. She donned some basic gear and inserted herself in the line of soldiers doing their marching drills. "Looks like we have a new recruit amongst us," Nassaire said as he quickly noticed an unusually short, young, and familiar soldier in the ranks. "Perhaps they can demonstrate how to effectively approach and disarm an enemy with superior range than your own." Nala's been practicing this one and a surge of confidence swelled inside of her. "With pleasure!" she exclaimed, as she stepped up towards the Master General, who had picked up a shield and spear for the demonstration. Nala began her approach, strafing her target, sidestepping left and right to throw him off. She waited for her opponent to make a move, then lunged in to strike! Next thing she knew, she was facedown on the ground. "Don't be fooled by the weapon's size. Just because it has a long reach doesn't mean its slow to move," said Nassaire, as he helped the princess to her feet. "It was easy to trip you because you came straight on after I poised to strike. If it was a real fight, you would have been skewered by now. Your mother would be very unhappy with me if I did that." "Don't you have to prepare for today?" asked Nassaire. "You have a lot of people to talk to today, so you need to look your best. You shouldn't be here where you could hurt yourself." Nala sighed, "Ugh, you know I never cared much for suitors. Do I have to?" "That's a conversation for your mother. In fact, I bet she is wondering where you are now. You should head back before she comes for my head," Nassaire laughed. "Don't worry. Tomorrow, I'll have some time for your training." Nala sulked back to the Ivory Palace, where she would soon meet with her suitors. They came from all across Veridia in the hopes of securing her hand in marriage. This has been a royal tradition in the Al-Sharaf family for generations, and now it is Nala's turn. Nala wasn't too excited about the idea, but she figured she'd try to take it seriously since its tradition. At the very least, it would make her mother happy. "There you are," her mother exclaimed as Nala returned to the palace. "You need to get ready and put on your best appearance. Already the best tailors and stylists are waiting for you in your room." "What if I'm not interested in any of them?" protested Nala. "At least give them a chance. You never know, one of them might surprise you. I had to do the same at your age. Have I told you I rejected all of them, including your father?" Nala was shocked. "Really?" "It's true. I sent them all home. Only your father was persistent enough to keep trying. Just know that I'm glad you are trying to take this seriously, and you should not feel obligated to chose your partner today." That eased Nala's mind. She really did have no intention of finding her true love today. A couple of hours and dozens of rejected young suitors later, Nala was ready to return to her bed and sleep. "Your highness, one final suitor wishes to court you." One more to go, Nala thought to herself. She had set her expectations low and yet she was still mostly disappointed with the previous ones. Some were more exceptional than others, though. She was ready to get this over with. She couldn't hide her surprise when she found her final suitor was her childhood friend, Salah. "Hello, princess," Salah said timidly. It had been years since they last saw each other. Salah didn't even want to go at first. There is no way I could be with the princess, he had thought to himself. Yet, his father practically forced him to go. Salah wasn't sure if his father had his interests in mind, or if he had convinced him purely out of selfish reasons. Regardless, here he was, scared out of his mind. He certainly wasn't as rich or as charming as some of the other suitors, some of which were royalty from other nations of the world. He also wasn't poor by any means; his father owned a fair bit of real estate within Bekilk. It's the only reason he was friends with the princess when he was younger. Salah put his faith in his old friendship with the princess, and took his shot. "Salah? Wow, I wasn't expecting to see you here. It's been... how many years?" "I can hardly remember. Six?" Salah said, taking his seat next to Nala. He had made sure to look his best for the occasion. He tidied his curly brown hair, put on a nice suit, and proudly displayed his holy symbol of the Dawnfather. The two made some awkward small talk and some catching up. "Remember when you snuck out that one time and into my house?" reminisced Salah. "The guards accused my father of kidnapping you!" Nala laughed. "My mother was livid with me! I still sneak out all the time, she can't stop me!" "Salah," Nala began to ask a question, "I think I can guess why you came here." Salah's face turned redder than it already was. "Well," he began, "I figured since we knew each other, that maybe someone like me had a shot with someone like you. It's kinda silly though. You're a princess. You should be with a prince or something." "I thought you knew me," said Nala with a giggle. "I don't care if you are a prince or not. I'm... happy to see you again. Maybe we should catch up later." "Actually, you know what?" Nala said excitedly. "Why don't we go right now?" "Huh?" Salah was not ready for this sudden change of plans and didn't really know how to respond. He mustered up one word, "Okay."
The morning arrived with the sounds of forest birds and beasts, reminding Nala once again that she was far away from home. She followed Wolfsbane for a few more days before they arrived at the Hunter's Crossroads. Wolfsbane could not hide his excitement as he told Nala all about the people she'll meet. "Master Koda is a badass. He stays in his lycan form all the time because he wants to. Isn't that cool? There's also Ludwig. He's a tabaxi like me, but, not gonna lie, he's a bit of an ass. Okay, he's a real ass. It's going to take a lot of warming up to him. Don't worry, you'll fit right in." Nala was unsure what to make of this clan. Anxious thoughts built up in her mind. She'll have to see it for herself to put these thoughts to rest. The Ironwood Forest broke into a clearing alongside a cliff face, where a handful of huts, tents, and cabins rest. At the far end of the village, into the cliff face, is a vine shrouded cave. People wander through the village: some humans, many not. "Ah, home!" Wolfsbane cheered. His cheers were met with other cheers, as the people of the Hunter's Crossroads welcomed him back. Nala was met with odd stares wondering who the stranger is. Wolfsbane asked his comrades, "Is Master Koda here? I need to talk to him. Is he in the cave?" Wolfsbane's guess was right. He escorted Nala into the dark, lightless cave. It reeked of dead plants and beasts. Deep within, a glimmer of light fell through a crack in the cave roof, lighting a stone altar with a stone bowl atop it. Sitting next to it, in a meditative pose, was a large black and gray werewolf. "Wolfsbane" said the werewolf in a deep, wise voice. "I am glad to see you have returned safely. It has been some time." "Oh hey Master Koda! Long time no see," Wolfsbane said casually. The werewolf relaxed from its meditative stance, and raised its head to gaze upon Wolfsbane and the strange girl next to him. "Who is this stranger you have brought to our Order?" Still casual, Wolfsbane responded, "So long story, but this is Nala. She's a princess and her home was taken over by some cultist dudes so she had to run away but I promised her mom I would look after her so I thought I'd bring her here so she can become a blood hunter like us." Master Koda raised one of his lycan eye brows. "She wishes to become one of us?" He carefully looked over Nala from where he was sitting. "Can you attest to her abilities, Wolfsbane?" "Absolutely," Wolfsbane confirmed. "She has the spirit and I've trained with her myself." "Very well," said Master Koda, "I respect your judgement, but you do know she will still have to undertake a trial of strength to see if she is indeed worthy of the Hunter's Bane and this... responsibility we bear." Nala looked anxiously at Wolfsbane. "A test of strength? Like a fighting test?" "Sort of," said Master Koda "it is not just a test of physical strength, but also strength of willpower. It is very dangerous to ingest the Hunter's Bane. If you are not prepared, it will kill you." "I... see," worried Nala. "You are welcome to rest within the Hunter's Crossroads, Nala. Wolfsbane, you are to keep an eye on her at all times. If she truly wishes to become one with our Order, make sure she is ready for her trial tomorrow." One of the hunters showed them to an empty hut where they would be staying. Nala asked Wolfsbane, "What is this trial like? Did you have to do something like this too?" Wolfsbane relaxed in the rough bed. "I did. Not gonna lie, it's a little different for everyone but usually involves some kind of hunt. Koda will give you a target and a location, and you'll have to track it down and kill it. I had to hunt an owlbear. You'd think they are as cute and fluffy as they look but they are really just assholes. Finding him was the easy part - he was digging through what used to be someone's campsite. Gonna be real: Owlbear claws - they hurt a lot. After I killed it, on the way back, I found a baby one, lost in the woods. It was looking for its mother, which I had just killed. That made me realize something important, Nala. There is always a price for murder. We do not hunt for fun. From that day, I have always tried to reason with my enemies, and only put them down when I had no choice or if it was a danger to others. Everyone deserves a chance." Nala listened silently, but still thought about the people that took her home from her. Her hatred boiled inside of her and was about to burst. "Even the people who took everything from me?" she snarked. It was about a week ago that everything happened, but the two had been traveling for a while and the reality still hadn't set it for Nala until now. Wolfsbane calmly nodded, "Yes, but gonna be real, I didn't like them from the moment they tried to sell me overpriced holy water when I was hunting a vampire." "How do they deserve that chance?" Nala yelled. "When I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING! I was a princess! I had a comfortable life, a mother who cared for me, friends I could trust, wealth, and the freedom to do pretty much what I wanted!" Her rage could not hide the grief forever, as tears began to roll down her face. "Before, my biggest problem was paying attention to my mother's lectures on being Sultana, showing proper etiquette when we had visitors, or figuring out who I would marry when I was old enough. The day before everything happened, I had the most interesting day of my life. I thought that was the start of the rest of my life, and that things would be nice in the future. Guess I was right about one thing, except my life changed for the worst. Now look at me. I don't know if anyone I cared about is still alive! Or if they know I'm alive. I didn't have time to bring any money or food with me - if you weren't here I'd probably be starving by now. And I guess I can forget about ruling a nation and ever having people look up to me or getting married!" Nala could barely get the words out at this point. "See? Everything! Do you even understand what it means to lose everything?!" "Actually, I do." Wolfsbane responded with a stoic and straight look on his face as he got up and wrapped his arms around Nala. "The Hunter's Crossroads are not my original family. I can barely remember their faces, but I know I loved them. A pack of werewolves came in through the night. Slaughtered everyone. Burned down our homes. I somehow survived. That was when my werebear dad found me, and brought me here. I never had the chance to really thank him for what he did." In between tears, Nala asked, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you. But, aren't you a werewolf too? How could you be okay with that after what you went through?" Wolfsbane smiled, still cradling Nala's head against his chest, "Not gonna lie, sometimes the best way to beat a monster... is to become one. Or at least use their power against them." "You could never be a monster Wolfsbane." "That's what makes me different from them. My family never got the chance to survive. That's why I give it to others."
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