5

The guards scoured the forest, their eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of Penelope. Her father had ordered them to bring her back, no matter the cost.

The leader of the guards, a burly man with a thick beard, signaled for the group to split up. "We'll cover more ground that way," he growled, his voice low and menacing.

They continued to scour the forest, their eyes scanning every inch of the dense underbrush and towering trees. They searched high and low, calling out Penelope's name as they trudged through the thick mud and tangled vines. But despite their best efforts, there was no sign of her.

Penelope's father paced back and forth in his chambers, his face twisted with anger and frustration. He had ordered the guards to find her, and yet here they were, returning empty-handed.

Penelope's father, Uther, was a strong and powerful leader. He was a fierce and determined man, known for his courage and his ability to lead his pack through even the most difficult of times. He was a tall and imposing figure, with broad shoulders and a stern countenance. He had a sharp jawline, and his hair was dark and short. His eyes were a piercing blue and often filled with a fierce determination. He was respected and feared by his pack members, and he commanded their loyalty.

"She can't be found, my lord," one of the guards reported, bowing his head in apology.

Penelope's father slammed his fist against the wall, the sound echoing through the room. 

"Where could she have gone?" he growled. "She must be found. I will not have my daughter running off like a common criminal."

As the guards retreated, Penelope's mother sat in the corner, wringing her hands in worry. She had tried to speak to her husband, to calm him and assure him that Penelope would be found, but he would not hear it.

Penelope's mother, Yvonne, was a gentle and kind woman. Despite her husband's fearsome reputation, she was known for her compassion and her ability to connect with others. She had a warm and friendly demeanor, and her smile was infectious. She was a small woman with a petite frame, and her hair was long and blonde. Her eyes were a soft brown and they expressed her caring and kind nature.

"She must have run away," Uther said, his voice filled with contempt. "She cannot handle the news of her betrothal. But she will learn. She will learn that her place is here, with her pack."

The guards continued to search, but as the hours passed and there was still no sign of Penelope, the anger and frustration in the pack grew. Her father was furious, her mother was beside herself with worry, and the entire pack was on edge, waiting for news of their missing member.

But as the day continued to go down and down, it became clear that Penelope was not coming back. And as the pack struggled to come to terms with her disappearance, they could not help but wonder: where could she have gone? And why had she left?

The guards trudged through the dense woods, the canopy overhead blocking out most of the sunlight. The underbrush was thick, making it difficult for them to move quickly. They pushed aside branches and ducked under low-hanging leaves, calling out Penelope's name as they went. Their voices echoed through the forest, but there was no response.

As they searched, the guards grew increasingly frustrated. The woods were vast and seemed to go on forever, and they had no idea where Penelope could be. They searched every inch of the forest, from the deep valleys to the highest peaks, but there was no sign of her.

The woods were eerie, with twisted branches and moss-covered rocks. The sound of leaves rustling underfoot and the calls of birds, but it was silent as if all the animals had fled. The guards were on high alert, knowing that they were not alone in the woods, but there was no sign of Penelope.

They searched until the light began to fade, and still, they had found nothing. As the guards returned to the pack, they were weary and defeated, their faces etched with frustration and disappointment. They had not found Penelope, and the pack's leader was furious with them. The guards knew that their search was not over and they would have to go back to the woods again and again until they found her.

Penelope's father was furious when the guards returned empty-handed. He ordered them to go beyond the boundary, into the dangerous territory where their greatest enemies, the Lycans, were known to roam. The guards hesitated, knowing the risks of venturing into that area, but they knew they had no choice.

They set out early the next morning, their weapons at the ready, their hearts pounding with fear and determination. The boundary was a treacherous place, with rocky terrain and thick underbrush. They made their way cautiously, scanning the area for any signs of Penelope or the Lycans.

***

Penelope's father was furious when the guards returned empty-handed. He ordered them to go beyond the boundary, into the dangerous territory where their greatest enemies, the Lycans, were known to roam. The guards hesitated, knowing the risks of venturing into that area, but they knew they had no choice.

They set out early the next morning, their weapons at the ready, their hearts pounding with fear and determination. The boundary was a treacherous place, with rocky terrain and thick underbrush. They made their way cautiously, scanning the area for any signs of Penelope or the Lycans.

As they searched, the guards were on high alert, their senses heightened as they listened for any sounds that might indicate danger. But despite their vigilance, they found no sign of Penelope or the Lycans.

Edgard stood before the guards, his face etched with determination. He knew that they had to find Penelope and bring her back to the pack, no matter what the cost. He knew that the Lycans were out there, waiting to attack, but he refused to let fear stop him from rescuing her.

"Listen up, men," he began, his voice strong and steady. "Penelope is out there, and we need to bring her back to the pack. We know that the Lycans are out there, and they're a formidable enemy. But we're not afraid of them. We're the best guards in this territory, and we're going to find her."

As they searched, the guards were on high alert, their senses heightened as they listened for any sounds that might indicate danger. But despite their vigilance, they found no sign of Penelope or the Lycans.

As they were about to give up, they found her lying on the floor, unconscious.

The chief guard, Edgard, immediately rushed to her side and picked her up, cradling her in his arms. 

He ordered some of the guards to scout the area for any other guards that might have been with her.

The guards searched frantically, calling out for their missing comrades, but there was no response.

As they made their way back to the pack, the guards were filled with a sense of relief and dread. They had found Penelope, but at what cost? The fate of the other guards who were with her remained unknown, and the fear of the Lycans loomed over them.

The other guards searched frantically for the missing guards, their hearts heavy with fear and dread. As they ventured deeper into the woods, the signs of a struggle became increasingly clear. Broken branches and trampled underbrush littered the ground, and the sounds of birds and animals had been replaced by the eerie silence of death.

As they rounded a bend in the path, they stumbled upon a gruesome sight. The missing guards were lying on the ground, their bodies torn and bloody. Their weapons were scattered around them, and it was clear that they had put up a fierce fight. But it was not enough to save them from the merciless attack of the Lycans.

The guards felt a wave of anger and sorrow wash over them as they looked upon the lifeless bodies of their comrades. They had been killed in cold blood, and the Lycans had shown no mercy. The guards knew that they had to bring the news back to the pack and seek revenge for the fallen guards.

As they made their way back to the pack, their hearts were heavy with the weight of their loss. They were filled with a burning desire for revenge, and the need to protect their pack and their people from the Lycans. They knew that the pack would mourn the loss of their guards, but they also knew that they could not rest until they had avenged their deaths.

Edgard held Penelope tightly, his heart pounding with fear as he assessed her condition. Her face was ashen and her breathing shallow. He could see the bruises and cuts on her body, evidence of the struggle she had endured. He knew they had to get her back to the pack as soon as possible, but the fear of the Lycans was ever-present in his mind. He growled with the urge for revenge as he swore to retaliate.

As they made their way back to the pack, the guards kept a watchful eye out for any sign of the enemy. The tension was palpable, and the silence was only broken by the sound of their footsteps and Penelope's labored breathing.

As they finally reached the pack, Edgard rushed to the healer's quarters, laying Penelope on the bed. The healer examined her, his face grave as he looked up at Edgard. 

"She needs rest and care," he said. "But she will survive." He said before a smug smile appeared on his face. 

Edgard let out a sigh of relief and thanked the healer. He then immediately went to report to Penelope's father, his mind still racing with the events of the past few hours. He told him of Penelope's condition and the fate of the missing guards. Penelope's father was relieved that his daughter was safe, but his heart was heavy with the loss of his guards.

When Penelope's father, Uther, heard the news of the missing guards and the discovery of their bodies, he was filled with fury. His face twisted with anger and his eyes blazed with a fierce determination. He couldn't believe that his guards had been killed so mercilessly, and by the Lycans, no less. He knew that he had to take action, to protect his pack and seek revenge for the fallen guards.

As soon as Uther received the news of Penelope being found, he immediately rushed to the healer's place along with Penelope's mother, Yvonne. Yvonne was filled with fear and worry, her heart heavy with the thought of her daughter being hurt and alone in the woods. Her siblings were asked to stay behind. 

The healer's place was a small, secluded cabin located deep in the heart of the pack's territory. It was surrounded by a lush garden filled with medicinal herbs and plants. Inside, the cabin was dimly lit and smelled of various oils and herbs. It was quiet, with the only sound being the soft murmur of the healer's voice as he tended to his patients.

Penelope was lying on a bed in the corner of the room, her body covered in cuts and bruises. Her face was ashen, and her breathing was shallow. The healer was next to her, his hands moving skillfully as he tended to her wounds. He looked up as Uther and Yvonne entered, his face grave as he spoke.

"She is alive," he said. "But she is still in critical condition. She needs rest and care."

Yvonne rushed to Penelope's side, tears streaming down her face as she took her daughter's hand in hers. Uther stood by, his face etched with concern and anger.