Chapter 2: Mission: Slaughter

Just about hours when my mother died, my auntie, who is Polo’s husband, and Rendall’s mother died too. Her body was found near the lake and the lower body was also shattered into pieces. I saw Polo grieve and then go back to hunt the one who killed her wife and he also promised to kill the werewolf that killed my mother.

The hunt failed and the werewolves they killed have no idea about what happened.

After a week of grieving, I tried to be useful in the house by bringing woods for the fireplace. Polo and Finn are on the beer stalls and Rendall, who has the same age as mine is still sleeping. While gathering the dried branches, I heard a small rustle.

I pause for a moment as I try to feel the environment that I am in. My heart is beating so fast and my hands are trembling, I think I know what is the reason behind the rustles. When I turn around, I saw a huge werewolf who was about to hit me with its sharp claws when Rendall suddenly ran towards me and stabbed the werewolf on its right leg.

Whining in pain, the werewolf howled and tried its best to run away.

“Are you okay?” Rendall asked and looked at my whole body trying to look for wounds or scratches, he sighed when he found nothing.

“I am f-fine,” I replied.

It’s like when I saw my mother lying on the ground, I cannot do anything aside.

“A-are you not afraid of them?” I genuinely asked, we’re at the same age but he acts as he can kill a werewolf.

“Why would I? I was trained to kill one.” He picked up the branches I dropped on the ground and motioned me to walk with him.

On our way home we saw Finn and Polo at the porch, with tobacco on their mouths. When they saw us coming, they immediately threw the tobacco and used their hands as a fan to remove the smoke.

“We heard the howl and we know it is wounded, did you protect her?” Finn asked Rendall which then the young boy replied with a nod.

“I wasn’t able to retrieve my spear,” he added, Polo promised to buy a new one which made Rendall smile.

“T-teach me,” I almost dropped the dried branches when I unconsciously butt in. I stood firmly; this is my resolve.

The three of them looked at me, however, their expressions are different from each other.

Polo is nodding, Rendall is looking dumb, and Finn is smiling.

“Once we started training you to be a hunter, there’s no going back.” I nodded at what Finn said and since then, I became a hunter and a part of the Ambrose family.

After taking a bath, I immediately went to the beer stalls to look for my father.

“Father it’s almost dinner,” I reminded him which he immediately understood by standing up and bidding goodbye to his beer acquaintances.

 “We’ll have dinner at the Lamb,” I nodded with what my father said and we both walked until the ends of the busy stalls and tents of Guala.

Lamb is the eatery here in Guala that serves good quality meats. From chicken to boar, boar to deer, deer to lamb, and lamb to cows. Sometimes, crocodile meat and horse meat are added to the menu.

“Hi, Mrs. Lamb.” We sat at the two-seater table near the counter.

“Raffi, I heard about the hunting competition, congratulations!” She said as she handed out the menu for today.

“Thank you, Mrs. Lamb.” I saw Mrs. Lamb looking at my father who is now busy looking at the menu.

“Did your father give another heart-warming speech?” We both chuckled because the people in Guala knew how my father’s words transform when he’s drinking beer.

“Please enough of teasing me,” Both Mrs. Lamb and I laughed at my father’s pleading.

“I’ll just get your orders done,” Mrs. Lamb cheerfully said and walked back to the kitchen.

Now, at my age and my skills, I am planning to find the one who killed my mother and kill as many werewolves as I can. I want them to feel what I felt when they killed my mother, losing someone you love is forever carved in your heart; I am not kind enough to learn the art of mercy.

I fixed my posture and closed my fist before facing my father.

“Father, I am now prepared to go on my mission.” He stopped drinking his water and looked at me. I cannot tell how he took my statement but he sighed.

“I cannot stop you nor I can join you,” he said as a form of surrendering or giving up in trying to stop me.

“I only need two hunters!” I exclaimed, I know he’ll approve and just the approval alone makes me happy.

“You are excited and this is the first time I saw you like this Raffi,” he said in amusement.

“Stop the hunter discussion, here’s your food.” Mrs. Lamb interrupted us with lamb steaks, roasted boar, kale salad, and two glasses of lemon juice.

We were both famished so we paused our hunter discussion and proceed to the best part which is eating.

I picked the roasted boar meat and it melts in the mouth. Although the meat is darker than normal meat, boar meat has this sweet and tangy flavor when smoked and grilled. Kale salad is made with kales, oils, and some nuts which are the perfect palette cleanser.

After we finished our dinner, we decided to talk about my mission while walking home.

“Do you have enough gears?” my father asked.

“I think what I have is enough,” I also used some of my rewards for the previous years to collect and enhance some spears, bows, and knives.

“I know I already trained you for this kind of battle,” he paused and look at me.

“Your mother and I are proud of you, Raffi.” He lightly tapped my shoulders and patted my head.

I smiled at what my father said, he treated me like his own since the day they took me with them, and never once did I feel like I am excluded. The Ambrose’s took care of me like a real family and I will always be grateful for that.

That is also one of the things that push me to continue this plan. I do not want to lose my second family because of werewolves. I will hunt them and be their nightmare as long as I am alive. My heart is burning with rage and this kind of burn cannot be extinguished by mere water.

“Thank you,” I gently replied.

“But I need Rendall to be one of your companions,” in a firm tone, he stated.

“Why?” I planned this mission so that my family will not be in danger and yet my father wanted my cousin to come with me.

“He knows the Domlur more than you’ll ever know,” and I suddenly remembered about Rendall being told stories by her mother before he sleeps.

“If your cousin agreed, I’ll approve of it.”  He then walked away.

“Wait!” I said as I run trying to follow him. I stopped when I realize that he wanted me to ask my cousin right now.

“See you later, father!” I bid my goodbye and started running in the opposite direction of our home.

Rendall and Polo build a house near the lake, where my auntie and Rendall’s mother died. The house was built with fine oaks and some cement. It was not as big as the house we’re living but the porch is facing the lake which makes a good scenery for every full moon. The freshwater illuminates the light from the moon and it just became magical.

The front door has a bronze door knocker which is made by the best smith in our tribe. It makes the house unique and modern in its way.

“What do you need?” Rendall asked after using the door knocker 5 times.

“I need you,” I plead.

“For what purpose?”

“Just come with me and we’ll go to Quinn’s.” I grabbed his hand and run.

Quinn is our childhood friend and Rendall’s first love, if she’ll be one of my companions, I think Rendall will agree to join me.

Quinn is living at the furthest part of the forest; she is knowledgeable in herbal medicines and also knows poisons. She is like our very own mage in this tribe, she also knows how to hunt which she put the poisons to use.

“Now, what are you two doing at my house?” even though Quinn is full of suspicious thoughts, which can be told by her expressions, she still let us in.

Rendall’s ear is starting to get red which makes me smirk, the only weakness of this boy is facing her crush.

“You both know my lifelong mission, right?” they nodded in unison.

“I am proud of our skills and individual talents –” I was about to give all the compliments I know when Rendall interrupted.

“We’ll go with you.” He then looked at Quinn who is now trying to encapsulate the whole idea.

“Y-yes!” Quinn answered and then smiled at me.

“Are you guys sure? If you don’t want to, I can find -” this cousin of mine loves interrupting me.

“A lifelong mission should be fulfilled with your friends and cousin.” Rendall butted with a wink.