User blog:AloofComputer/The man who walked alone: Chapter 5

A/N: Warning: See title

Chapter 5:Dark deeds

A cloaked figure strode through the woods. It reached a hill, where a tall tree made it an ideal observation spot. Kneeling before the tree, he rubbed his hands and boots with soil. Climbing in silence, under the cover of darkness, he reached the top and climbed on the small hunter’s outpost.

Kneeling down, his hand traced the scratch marks on the wood. “Harpies… werewolves… “ he sniffed the air “and succubi. Hmmm, popular observation post.” He climbed down and planted a magical seal under the platform, and with an incantation he set it to explode after a specific level of monster’s mana was in the vicinity. He climbed down, careful not to leave any clues, such as even a single hair; werewolves were tenacious trackers, and had a sharp sense of smell. He looked at the palace towering over Lescatie, it’s purple glow even brighter than when he last saw it.

Alatar left quickly; it was certain that his smell would be already picked up by one of the werewolf patrols. The trap at the observation post would buy him some time, in order to get ready for them. He didn’t have to wait for long. Tonight was a full moon, at mating period, so the werewolves were especially horny. With luck, he could take out three or four of them. However, if the pack was large, it would be time to leave. And fast.

A group of ten werewolves rushed, the alpha sniffing the air. Alatar watched with a small magical monocular four of them climbing a tree with extreme speed and agility.

Something flashed red, and a fire flower bloomed in the night sky, a testament to the tenacity and the defiance before the monster city. The explosion killed all four of the climbers, and scattered the others around. Unfortunately, the alpha female was not one of them, and quickly regrouped and riled up the rest of them. Sniffing around the tree, she picked Alatar’s smell.

“Yes, mutts. Come to papa”

With a howl, the pack followed the smell. Rushing through the forest, they quickly saw a cloaked figure standing amid the trees.

“There he is! He’s mine!”

The werewolves howled and rushed forward, rushing to be the first to rape. Their leader, however, lagged behind. She sniffed the air again. Damn that bitch, she will be a pain.

“ No! Stop!, It’s a trap!” the alpha exclaimed, but the trap had already sprung; various fine threads rubbed with soil and leaves to cover their smell, had already snapped, and the red flashes signifying the detonation of the magic explosive seals danced in the forest’s shadows. The resulting explosion, while not a fiery inferno like that on the observation tower, was far more lethal; concentrated with pinpoint accuracy, it blew its victims’ bodies apart, even with minimal damage to the trees. The alpha’s fur raised upright. She was alone, and very, very distressed. Her pack was gone before her eyes. Tears started streaming from her eyes, and a sorrowful howl ripped the night. She turned to the cloaked figure with eyes full of hate and lust. Just for this, she’d rape him till he died, day and night.

She approached cautiously, slowly and quietly, looking for traps. The figure didn’t move at all, despite her growling. That only meant…

“A decoy!”

She had been had. This was just an tree’s branch, covered with a piece of fabric that someone had wiped his sweat on. Still, she could use it to track the man. She took a deep sniff of the fabric, and started sniffing the air.

“I swear, sometimes you mutts can be annoying as hell.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">The werewolf spun around, flashing her teeth. Before her stood that man, his scent was unmistakable. His black cloak made it harder to spot, but under the moonlight her heightened senses picked him up clear as day. She licked her lips.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Oh, human, you are so gonna get raped to death for this!”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">The man didn’t respond, and just stood still. The werewolf feared he might have another trap set up, but he was standing amid the explosion area. She growled, and took a charging stance.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> Surely, there was not another trick. Then why was she hesitating? Why were her instincts telling her to run? Why was her heart beating so fast? The answer came to her as a total shock: fear. This man brought to her feelings of fear. Not lust, nor anger. She dug her claws deeper in the forest ground to calm herself. There was no way a man would cause her to be afraid! She was the alpha of a werewolf pack, proven time and again!

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">She launched herself at him, as strongly as she could.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">The man began moving before she even jumped, just as he saw her leg muscles contract. While sidestepping, he threw his cloak in front of him, which caught the werewolf’s drawn claws. The pull was strong, and the cloak ripped a bit, but it managed to put a spin on the werewolf’s body, causing her to lose control of her jump and hitting the tree behind him back first.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">The unexpected impact drew the air from her lungs, and caused her to stagger for a second. That second was enough. She felt the man’s boot, still smelling of dirt and grass, on her throat. She looked at the man’s face; those eyes held no hesitation, and no mercy.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Please” she gasped. “I have a family-”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">The silver sword flashed, severing her head. Alatar wiped his blade on the decoy’s fabric, before sheathing it. Monster’s blood can be a big giveaway. Throwing one last glance at his handiwork, replied to the wide eyed severed head of the werewolf.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“So did I.”

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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“This can’t be… are you sure-”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Of course I am sure! What, do you think I’d mistake their bodies for chicken?!”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Calm down, Vanessa” The werewolf was clearly agitated enough, but still tried to control herself. “I am sorry, Lady Primera.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">The leader of the werewolves of Lescatie started pacing up and down. This was highly disturbing, enough to take her mind from her lustful thoughts of copulating with her husband. This was serious. Someone was disturbing the peace, killing her pack. She would have to examine the scene closer, to determine if they were under attack.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Vanessa”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Yes, my Lady?”

“Call full alert on all packs. The males are to be protected inside the dens. Call lady Wilmaria and Lady Mimil, and lead us to the scene.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Yes, my Lady.”

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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“So, here is where it happened.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“I really hope you have good reason for dragging us all the way out here, Primera. I was about to pounce on Elt-”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Can it, Mimil. This is serious. Dead serious. And who are these? Your escorts?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Just a bit of tutoring, Primera” Wilmaria answered. “Neither I nor Mimil plan on staying on power positions all our lives, so we train our successors! It will be worth it, as we will be able to spend even more time with-”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“ I get it” Primera snapped. “Now stay focused. I lost an entire ten member pack here. It started as an explosion on the observation platform, so I sent another unit to investigate. They returned with these news.” Primera’s wolfish features seemed grim, as she faced the scene. “That’s why I need your help. Mimil, you need to look for clues regarding the explosives. Wilmaria, you do the same for the battlefield. I have ten werewolves slain, and not a drop of human blood. This could be an invasion for all we know.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">Her grim tone had a visible impact on them. Wilmaria and her succubus escort began searching the battlefield, while Mimil and her witch escort started looking at the explosion areas.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">Willmaria studied the body of the beheaded werewolf. According to Primera, this one was the alpha of the pack. Following the tracks from the exploded outpost and taking careful note of everything in between, she explained to her aide:

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“… and see here, Veronica, the bruise on her neck? Someone was stepping on her before the killing blow.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Disgusting cowards.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Quiet now, you are here to learn. The marks on her back look like she was hit with a large blunt object, or was somehow slammed to the ground, which I doubt; the werewolf girls are very good at controlling their movements, but still… hmmm, what’s that between her claws? Some sort of fabric? We may be onto something here. Look around, see if there’s anything that liiks like… dark linen.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> Curious, very curious, this method. The rest of the pack were killed by explosives, yet this one seemed to have been confronted in melee, and at least grabbed the clothes of the perpetrator… her train of thought got derailed, as she thought of ripping Elt’s clothes and mounting him on a moonlit night in the forest…

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">A sudden cry from her aide broke her trance. Veronica clutched a piece of fabric, sniffing it intensely.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“ What was that, Veronica? This isn’t what I told you to look out for… hey, are you all right?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">Veronica was sniffing the fabric lie a werewolf in heat. It couldn’t be… but she wouldn’t forget that smell, ever. Her body ached and throbbed, and her breathing became ragged and erratic.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Come now girl, this isn’t the time for this!” Wilmaria scowled.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">Veronica turned her gaze, now unfocused, and flashed a lecherous grin to her tutor. “I know who he is.”

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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">P.S. Chapter 5 is out. The plot thickens? This is getting too serious. Hmmm.... Criticism welcome.