To Hunt A Wolf

Survival. That was my only focus as I drove myself forward through the trees. My survival. Every organism on this planet has a drive to live at any cost. From predators of the north to the parasites that inhabited their hosts. Hell, even sickness and disease had a drive to survive through spreading from host to host. Survival was also driving the humans who were chasing me just now. To them, either they survived, or I survived. So I ran. Eager to prove them wrong.

The funny thing was, most of these people forgot we had co-inhabited the same village for years. Most of them were my friends and neighbors. I had been to their homes and shared meals with them as they had been to mine and shared a meal with me. Did that matter? Not a bit. That was before they knew my secret. Before they believed that I was a demon possessed shifter who had come to take their souls to the pit. Or worse. Tempt them, twist them, infect them with the same vile demon they believed resided in me. They seen the change as a curse, but to those who had access to their wild nature, it was a blessing.

So how did they find out I had a duel nature? By accident and some sick twist of fate and circumstance really. I was in church of all places. singing my hymns in the pew when I made eye contact with a gentleman who was new to our village. I wasn’t normally interested in new comers, they either died out or they integrated into our society and I would run into them sooner or later. It was usually best if I didn’t draw too much attention to myself.

This man piqued my interest, however. I didn’t understand why, but I was drawn to look up everytime he was near. I followed his scent before I knew that it was his. I wanted to be where he was and to be near him. It wasn’t as serious as it sounds honestly, it wasn’t a driving need, more like an instinct. An awareness of him the likes of which I had not experienced with any other human before. He was interesting to me without having to do anything interesting.

The attraction must have gone both ways, because that fateful day in church, he approached me. I did not approach him. That would have been improper for me to approach him.

“Scuse me ma’am,” His voice was sweet, deep, with the accent of the southerners. It dripped like honey from his lips.

I blushed, despite myself, “How can I help you?”

“Is this seat taken?”

“It’s not, would you like to take it Mr.-? I waited for him to introduce himself.

“Hansel, Mavric Hansel, and what may I call you?” He stepped into the pew and took a seat next to me close enough to be familiar, but not so close as to be improper.

My heart was beating so erratically inside my chest that I was afraid that I would fumble my words like a flustered schoolgirl. I smiled and put on the face of a society woman, willing myself not to stutter.

“Missy Collins, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance Mr. Hansel.”

“Charmed Miss Collins.”

Good Lord, I was going to be distracted by this man the entire sermon, not that it would be an unwelcome distraction, mind you. Everything was going smashingly. We were both pretending to pay attention to the sermon, trying to pretend we weren’t hyper aware of each other’s presence. Until he handed me the hymnal.

He handed me the hymnal book and brushed my fingers as he did so. A familiar dropping sensation filled my head as I dropped into my body and my mind hazed over. I didn’t catch it at first, the first part of the change was always the most pleasurable, until the ache of loosening joints cam into play. When I felt that… Well needless to say I panicked.

I stiffened, my whole body going ridged. I was trying to hold my body together.

“Miss Collins?” Mr. Hansel looked at me with concern but instead of assuring him that everything was fine, the popping sensation had me doubling over in pain.

What the hell was happening? It wasn’t the full moon, it wasn’t even night time, but the change was coming fast and there was no stopping it.

“Good God, what is going on here?” The priest had come up to see what the commotion was. A ring of onlookers was staring at me collapse to the floor and writhe in pain.

“By all that is Holy, a demon has infested this woman! Werewolf!”

In my wolf form, I shook out of my dress and petticoats, staring at the mob that was now encircling me. My human rationality at war with animal instinct. I was cornered but these were my friends and neighbors. I wanted to escape, I didn’t want to kill anyone.

With a snarl and bared teeth from me, the crowd parted and I was given an opening to escape through the door. I’d have a decent head start before they grabbed pitchforks and rifles.

I bolted out the door and into the woods wondering what the hell triggered me to shift in the daylight. Brushing that mans had did something to me. Something that I couldn’t fathom. And whats worse, I tore through my best sunday dress.

None of the villagers dared to come out after me so after a little while I slowed down enough to think through my wolf brain. Normally when I shift, I become all animal with no thoughts of my human life. The wolf takes control. As this is no ordinary shift, I’ve been allowed to keep my human thoughts. I circled back to the village to watch.

On my way back through, there were footprints. Someone was tracking me. Interested, I followed the prints. They smelled familiar, but I couldn’t place the memory.

As the scent on the track grew more condensed and I was getting closer to the source, I slowed and began scenting the air. I wanted to come up behind my tracker and surprise him, I didn’t want him to hear me coming and have a chance to prepare for me.

I came up on him then. Hansel. Mr. Mavric Hansel was the man tracking me. What in the world was going on.

All too quickly, I felt the change coming back over me. The loosening of my muscles and the stiffness in my joints as they began to open for my shift back to human. Again, I ran. Quieter this time, I wanted to remain hidden which was harder as a human. I had a feeling Mr. Hansel wouldn’t be gentle with me after finding me as a human.

Night came. I made my say back to the village under the cover of darkness. I needed clothing, supplies, and maybe an explanation as to why touching a man made me shift,and why he was now hunting me.

I didn’t dare going back to my cabin. If they were looking for me, my home is likely the first place they would look. I found some clothing hanging on the line, a simple dress that I was able to slip into quickly.

The town was quiet, everyone seemed to be back in the church, talking about me.

“I hired you to find the wolf!” It was the mayor of our small town. Zachariah Brown.

“And I Found your wolf.” It was Mr. Hansel, “ I got rid of your wolf, that was not part of the deal.”

Mr. Brown got in Mr. Hansel’s face. Mr. Hansel didn’t back down, he simply stood there and faced down the mob with board nonchalance.

“I wanted that demon on a pyre, you will not be paid until the wolf is burned!”

We had a deal Mr. Brown. If you wish to go back on your word, I’ll have to put that into my report. If you find dissatisfaction in the work that a hunter does and refuse to pay, the organization will take that to mean that you no longer wish to hire us.”

Mr. Brown paled and took a step back despite his bold words. “No longer wish to hire you? You wouldn’t dare withhold your protection from a town at siege from the demonic.”

“My dear Mr. Brown, I can and I will. In fact it is required of me as a hunter to report on the happenings of this hunt. To do otherwise would be dishonest.”

Mr. Brown’s eyes narrowed on the man before him. “I will have it at your door in the morning, at which point, I would expect you to take your leave of us.” He said through clenched teeth.

“Very good, I’m glad we were able to come to an acrimonious end to our contract. I look forward to seeing you and my money in the morning. Good evening Mr. Brown, folks.” Mr. Hansel tipped his hat and excited the church but when he stepped onto the ground, he paused as if he could sense me watching. After a glance around the woods and a shrug, he walked on. Whistling as if unbothered in the slightest.

I slept in the woods that night. It hadn’t been the first time and I’m certain that it won’t be the last. It was however the first time that I allowed a hunter so close to me without noticing first. I heard the crunch of his boots as he stopped in front of me.

“Don’t run,” he said crouching over me.

Like a caged animal, I froze keeping my gaze locked on his. His demeanor was calm, reassuring. As if he wanted me to stay put but he wouldn’t hurt me if I chose to leave.

“I need you to hear me out.” He offered his hand which I eyed suspiciously, “I realize what happened the last time you touched me and I recognize the leap of faith it would be to make contact again.” He didn’t remove his hand for a few more seconds until it became clear I wasn’t going to take it. I did not trust this man.

“Fair enough,” he stepped back, allowing me the space to get up on my own. “I owe you an apology and an explanation,”

Mr. Hansel told me about the organization that he works for. To Hunt A Wolf. THAW for short. At first glance, THAW looks to be an organization of hunters, however their mission is to protect the supernatural, maintaining that all creatures are created under God and deserve to be treated as such. They serve and protect humans and creatures alike.”

“And you believed exposing me and running me out of town were the best way to accomplish that?” I asked in disbelief.

“I believe it was the best way to keep up my appearance as well as protect you in the process.” He threw down a sack of coins, “That, is part of my fee. I charge a large sum so that you can start again in another city.”

I stared at him. This was a joke, it had to be. “How did you make me turn?”

Some herbs and a little moon magic. Not everyone in THAW is human.”

I thought about it for a moment, he seemed genuine so I reached for the money.

“Take it and run, you’ll have no more trouble from me.”