Chapter 4: The Journey Begins

The night was covering the forest in almost pitch darkness. The woman proudly walked with only a small lamp as a source of light. Perseus has no problem seeing clearly in the dark; his eyes pierces through the darkness like it’s not even there.

The zeta followed her closely, like a loyal house pet. Perseus marched behind them, observing her. She was wearing a bonnet covering her long bright red hair. She was wearing winter clothes; her dress covered her entire torso and feet, too modest for his taste.

“Hey, zeta,” Perseus called out. “You smell that?” The zeta looked back at him and just nodded without saying a word. The smell of rotten flesh was wafting from the forest, surrounding the beaten path they were walking on. Perseus felt giddy with excitement at the introduction of new challengers.

Ghouls are stalking us. Five, maybe more, he informed the zeta. The girl is yours; the ghouls are mine.

For the second time that night, Perseus transformed back to his wolf form. For somebody other than an alpha, transforming multiple times in a day will be detrimental on their physical body. An average werewolf can only shapeshift twice a day, while he can turn at will any time he wants.

He smiled to himself and sprinted towards the direction of the ghouls. He nimbly traversed the trees in the dark, precisely tagging each ghoul with his sharp senses. He pounced on the first ghoul he reached. The pale creature did not even have a chance as he swiped his claws to its neck. It was dead even before it hit a tree trunk with its papery body. Perseus howled with excitement. “Come at me!” he taunted the ghouls around him. The night creatures shrieked at him, and collectively attacked.

***

“What’s happening?” Selene asked Archibald, who was walking beside her. The muscles on his bare torso were taut with alert. He was constantly sniffing at the air while watching over the darkest part of the forest.

“Ghouls,” he answered quickly. “The creatures seemed to have smelled you and are now trying to attack. Perseus intercepted them to keep them away, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

Selene should have felt scared but somehow, the presence of these two werewolves – regardless of her feelings towards their kind – made her feel at ease against the dangers lurking in the dark.

“Can he defeat them?” she queried, but she already knew the answer. After all, years of living in a werewolf town, and reading books about their culture gives her enough information to believe an alpha can fight any creatures living under the sky. Archibald looked at her and just nodded.  They continued walking; Archibald never dropped his guard.

“So, why did you go after me?” Selene curiously asked. “What would a werewolf like you gain from protecting a human like me? Wouldn’t you lose your friends if they realized you chose to mingle with me?” She saw him actively gathered his thoughts. He looked comically like a child trying hard to give reason to his actions after the fact. She almost chuckled at the irony of seeing a naked adult looking childlike trying to answer a question.

“I just thought you needed help,” he meekly said. “And, it’s not like I have anything to lose. I have no parents and I have no friends.”

“Why did you even consider helping me? We’re not even friends,” she interrogated. She only knew the man as a patron of the library where she worked. They never spoken with each other; their only interactions were the casual acknowledgement of a nod or a glance. She did not realize how he was somewhat like her.

She knew even before that this man is one of the smartest werewolves in town. She saw the books he often read, and she can’t even comprehend most of them. So, seeing him actively engrossed in her questions made her feel special in a way.

“Your situation caught my curiosity,” he started to explain. “You’re a human living in a werewolf town. I saw how you were treated since you were a child, until you grew up. You were invisible to many. Nobody even acknowledges your presence. And I was there to saw how unfair it was for you.

“I saw how the townspeople disregarded you despite the death of your parents. That was just heartless. So, maybe I pity you? Perhaps, I want to see your side of the story? Or I got tired of my people’s actions? Now that I am thinking about it, maybe I’ve always wanted to go out of that town, and I was only waiting for a chance to go. Maybe you’re just an excuse for me to leave?  I’m not sure, really. I only know that I am not ashamed of the decision I made. Going with you felt right and natural.”

Selene looked at Archibald with newfound respect. She never knew someone other than her parents ever felt concern for her. She suddenly felt an urge to hug him; but she stopped herself. I can’t break down again, not this time, she thought.

“To tell you the truth,” he continued. “I’ve been watching you since we were children. I’ve always wanted to be a friend. But I can’t seem to find the will to do it. I have always been a shy kid. I can’t articulate my words well enough when communicating with people. This is actually my first time talking this much. I am quite shocked hearing my voice say so much words. But I’m glad I could say these things.”

She felt the sincerity in his voice, and it filled a part of her heart that was emptied by loneliness. She smiled at him, while keeping the tears from flowing freely down her face.

“I appreciate your thoughtfulness, Archibald,” she confessed. “I can’t express how much your words are to me. You are the only one in town, except my parents, that somehow looks at me without shade. I am at my lowest right now. I just lost the most important people in my life. I feel lost and… I just…” She can’t keep the grief in check anymore. She could not control her tears and sobs.

Archibald looked at her warmly, and the urge to hug him overwhelmed her again, and this time, she relented. She ran towards him and hugged him tightly. His sweaty body sticked to her like warm rain, and his smell filled her head and numbed her thoughts for a while. He awkwardly laid his broad arms around her and tapped at her back.

Selene let go of Archibald. “I’m sorry,” she politely said.

“You have nothing to be sorry about,” he replied. “You need somebody right now, more than ever. I am here to help you, Selene.”

“Thanks for being here,” she told him with a smile. She can’t see much of Archibald’s face because of the darkness, but she could feel him smiling back at him. “Can we be friends?”

“I’d love to,” he said.

A dark figure suddenly flew in front of them in the dark. Warm liquid splashed at their faces as the thing smashed at a nearby tree.

“Oops, sorry,” Perseus amusedly announced. “Didn’t see you there.”

Selene and Archibald wiped the blood off their faces and faced Perseus who was again, transforming back to his human form. Blood covered his hands, as was his face was covered like a war paint. His pants were even more tattered.

“What did I miss?” he said.

***

“Nothing,” Archibald reported. “No ghouls came here, except that one,” he pointed at the corpse of the ghoul Perseus threw at them.

Perseus laughed proudly. “Well, what can I say? Ghouls are no match against these,” he flexed his biceps to show the bulge of well-toned muscles, before kissing them.

Selene turned away after the remark to continue walking, and Archibald followed her.

“Hey,” he called out while catching up. “Was that it? No thanks?”

“Thanks,” Selene said with finality.

 “How about you?” he looked at Archibald.

“What?” he asked.

“What will you say when someone gallantly killed ghouls for you?”

“Thanks?” he reluctantly answered.

“Are you asking me?”

“Thanks,” he finally said.

Perseus laughed and put his arm over Archibald’s shoulders. “Oh, man. Fighting really gets the blood flowing,” he whooped. “That was fun.”

Archibald never felt any surge of pleasure from fighting. He was only obligated to train during his youth as part of his upbringing. He felt more comfortable in the presence of books than with weapons and blood.

“So, I heard most of what you were talking about,” Perseus whispered. “You know, with wolf ears and all. And I found your story interesting.”

“I only told her what I felt, and I have no intention of slandering the pack,” he explained calmly. “I—”

“No, no, no,” he stopped him. “Don’t explain yourself. I am not mad at you; I am amused. You and the girl really are a pair, you know. And while I was away, I was thinking about this,” he pointed at the three of them. “I was thinking what’s happening here. And I realized, wouldn’t it be a hoot if I accompany you two? I smell an adventure ahead and I want a share.”

Archibald was bemused. “Won’t you be missed back in town?”

“Oh, fuck them. It’s boring there anyway. There’s nothing to do but wait for the grandfather to die of old age. For all I know, he’ll live for another 500 years.”

Archibald has nothing to say against his decision, so he just nodded. “Are you going to tell Selene your decision?”

“Should I?” he asked. “I’m the alpha. I do what I want. I never ask for permission.”

Archibald nodded and looked at Selene and saw an emotionally hardened woman. He admired her perseverance and the will to fight overwhelming odds. She’s a strong woman, but she’s not invincible. She would need him, and he’d make sure he will be there.