Warriors of Blue moon

I woke up the next day and removed the bandages and just as I had expected my skin had completely healed, thanks to my quick wolf healing. I led back down and decided to sleep some more I wasn’t feeling hungry just yet and I lacked the motivation to have anything else to wake up for… no people and no responsibilities.

When it reached around noon I finally decided to wake up and have some fruits I had collected to eat. I got dressed and grabbed all of my bloodied bandages and left my cave, I walked for a few minutes then dug a deep whole and put all of the blood stained items in it then covered it back up, so the scent wouldn’t be tracked easily. But it occurred to me that I couldn’t keep chucking out my clothes..

No… I needed something airy but something I could wear over my clothes every day and wipe clean… I looked around at the forest hoping something would catch my eye that I could fashion into something… but how the hell am I supposed to make some sort of wipe clean clothing garment in the middle of a forest... sure I’ve made weapons and traps but all that was made from wood and stone… all things that I was surrounded by.. I saw trees with massive leaves on them, but what am I going to do with that...I’d end up looking like Tarzan! and besides most of the leaves also had small holes in them, so blood was bound to still get through and get on my clothes anyway.

Then an idea struck me, I looked around and, in the distance, I saw a cliff, I ran toward it and ran to the top at fast speed. I got to the top feeling hot and sweaty, and I gulped most of the water from my canister. Then using all my focus, I looked around carefully eyeing every gap in the trees amongst the forest, at first I didn’t spot anything... but as I squinted harder and peeked further, far in the distance I could just about see tall buildings… it was a faded view, but I could see them nonetheless, it was a village or town, that’s it…. that my chance. I had money that I stashed in my bag before I left the pack, hopefully they had something I could use.

I ran back toward my cave but stopped at the lake, I splashed my face and rubbed it clean. I went back to my cave and rubbed my skin in more lavender to stop me from smelling like sweat. I put on a clean black top, grabbed my bag and my sheath and left to make my way toward that village.

After what felt like at least an hour, and I had eaten more fruit I started in a light jog to get there faster... I didn’t want to speed run and get all sweaty again, so I had to keep my pace light. It took a while to get to it but there it was... I hid behind some trees that lined what turned out to be a small town and I was in the perfect spot because the streets were lined with shops. I felt nervous though. My kind were not allowed to live amongst humans unless you had chosen to mate with one but even if you did then you were never allowed to let your wolf out, you had to keep them at bay and pretty much live as if that part of you didn’t exist... of course, wolves and humans did roam around together sometimes but only for small periods of time, like at a restaurant if they hosted for both wolves and humans and some shopping cities had both too. But I’d never been to a human town before, so I started to sweat with nerves.

I unstrapped my sheath and my bag and tucked all of my $250 in my pocket, I quickly climbed up a tree and hid my stuff near the top. I jumped down, took a deep breath and made my way out onto the street, trying to not look to nervous or out of place. I looked around for a second and saw a shop with what looked like waterproof camping gear. I crossed the small road and started to walk down toward the shop when I passed a small store with different kinds of hats, I grabbed a khaki cap to cover some of my face and my sweaty hair.

I took it into the shop and paid for it barely looking at the cashier, I walked back out put the hat on and kept my gaze low so people wouldn’t notice my bright green eyes, I reached the shop and luckily, they had all sorts of equipment and clothes here. I saw a pair of black waterproof trousers and I grabbed two pairs. I could cut one pair and have them as shorts and keep another pair long for the rest of autumn and winter. There were rain macks that just went over your shoulders and big jackets.

I found a small jacket that was more like a raincoat, the material was perfect, everything could easily be wiped off. I grabbed three, all in black, the sleeves were long, but like the shorts I could cut the arms off one for the summer and keep the others long. then I spotted black flat faux leather boots, oh those would be easy to keep clean too! I looked down at my boots and already they were muddied and worn looking, so I grabbed two pairs. Then a pair of pliers, a pair of large scissors, a small sleeping bag that was neatly and tightly wrapped up in its little bag that would be perfect now it’s getting so much colder!

I held all my stuff and finally made my way over to the counter, the cashier started ringing everything up as he tried to make small talk ”ahh nice choices here... you off camping then?”

"uhh yes... in a few days" I lied

“Ahh anywhere nearby?”

“umm actually my friend has planned the trip all I know is we’ll be camping”

"oh, I see, well that sounds exciting... a nice little adventure"

"yes” I fake chuckled ”sure” I rolled my eyes at his chit chat, just wanting to have my stuff and get out!

"You know I don’t think I’ve ever seen you around here, I thought I knew most people that lived here"

“well, umm I’m actually just passing through, I saw this shop and thought I’d just get all that I needed here”

"Ahh well I’m glad you did, this is good quality stuff it’ll see you through”

‘one can only hope’ I thought to myself but I just smiled politely and took some money out of my pocket as he bagged my stuff. I quickly paid the man grabbed my bag and left before he could ask me anymore questions.

I walked back toward the treeline when just a few yards in front of me I saw a confectionary shop and all of a sudden, my mouth watered at the thought of something chocolatey and sweet...fuck it why not? I couldn’t resist.

I went into the shop and started picking up different chocolate bars, one after another as my eyes caught all my favourite ones... when at the corner of my eye I noticed a bakery counter. I went over and asked the lady to bag a jam and chocolate doughnut and some freshy baked bread, I headed over to the cashier and paid for my stuff as she put it into a bag, I grabbed it and headed out… luckily she was too busy chewing on her gum and fluttering her long eyelashes to bother asking me any questions or even look at me.

I didn’t want to push my luck any further and get distracted by any other shops, so I walked straight back to the forest.

Once in the safety of the trees I turned around and stared out at the village, at all the people and the busy-ness of it, the shops, the restaurants, the friends and families that walked about together. Funny how much of an outsider I am now that I can’t even walk into a restaurant freely anymore or just have a normal conversation with people, go shopping, have a drink... I forced myself turn away and climbed up the tree to gather my stuff I had left there, I dropped back down and put my food bag in my rucksack, heaved it on my back and started to make my way home... but at least today I actually looked forward to it. I couldn’t wait to get back and taste my new foods.

I got to the cave and put my stuff in but I took a few treats out of the bag and decided instead I’d find a tall tree and feast on some of the food and fresh bread while watching the sun set... I hadn’t watched it for a few weeks, and I was starting to miss it, the sun set was the only thing that made sense out here, the only thing that was unscathed by the ugliness that lurked in the forest.

It was nice and quiet, and I felt a ping of happiness and calm as I watched the sun glow and slowly lower in the sky, it was even better tonight now I had nice food to eat… food that I won’t be able to eat again in a long time, I couldn’t be tempted to keep going back to that village. I savoured every bite, every piece of my treats, it was as if I had a small piece of something normal from the outside world... something that made me feel a little...less rogue! and at least it was a bit of a different way to spend my evening.

Two months later

Autumn was coming to an end now and the bitter cold was creeping in, even the sun was greeting me less and less with each morning. I was sleeping slightly better now, although I think the sleeping bag helped, it was thick and warm, It even made my little cave feel a little more cosy.

I had finished cooking and eating the rabbit for breakfast then tidied away the fire pit. I sauntered around to gather more dry wood for the next few fires as I had used all the previous ones I had collected and without choice, my mind went to my family, wondering how they were now. What happened after I left? Do they miss me every day like I miss them? How do they manage having to live close to the Melvic family?

The sudden snap of a twig halted my thoughts and bought me back to my surroundings. I stopped what I was doing and pulled out my sword. I looked around and perked my ears up for any more movement... but I needn’t look for long when several skinny and bony men and women came out from behind the trees and stood together grinning at me... One of the four woman spoke first as she put her hand to her stomach and started to rub it ”mmmm, just looking at her is making me ravenous”

"it’s ok dear” a tall man kept his eyes on me but grinned “we’ll be feasting on her soon enough”

“Then what are we waiting for" another skinny man growled “LETS EAT” he shouted as he darted toward me ′fuck’ my brain shouted as I grabbed a dagger out from my sheath that I had made and I threw it, I aimed for his head and it got him within a second, his feet left the ground as his body flung back and slammed onto the mud. One down six more to go! They all snarled and started to run toward me, so I turned and ran, I looked back for a mere second to see two were faster than the others, as they were nearing on me, I jumped and grabbed a branch above me and swung over it kicking two of them in the back, they flung forward, but not enough to floor them. I dropped down from the branch and stabbed one with my sword in the back, drew it out and stabbed the other as he turned around on to attack.

Three down three to go.

Two women and one man were left! I grabbed another makeshift dagger and threw it at the man’s chest to slow him down, the women fiercely ran toward me screaming ”lets fucking kill her" in a rage one tried to grab my throat but I ducked and sliced her thighs, I swung my right arm toward the other woman who was just about to bend down to sink her teeth into me and I stabbed her in the stomach with my sword until it went all the way through and poked out of her back. I quickly pulled it out as she clutched at her bleeding stomach and fell to the ground.

The woman who’s legs I wounded was hobbling toward me and the man who had ripped my shabby dagger out of his chest was stomping toward me seething with anger ”I’ll fucking kill you bitch" I ran toward him and jumped right over him I span round and sliced him across his left side as he turned to face me, I then pushed my sword into his stomach and my dagger into his throat ”I don’t think so you ruthless fuck" I said looking at him in disgust as I pulled the dagger and sword out, letting him fall at my feet. I looked to the woman who could barely walk ”you can leave and live or you can die...which one?” it was as if she didn’t even hear her options she just ran toward me “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH” she screamed at the top of her lungs, she reached out with her claws out, she didn’t even look at my sword, I stood there she ran right into and it stuck right through her ”I’m..gonna...kill...you. .bitch” she spluttered on the edge of my sword. I pulled it out and she fell to her knees, blood spilling out of her mouth, then finally collapsing onto her back.

I rolled my eyes and looked around me, as the stench of metallic filled the air. They were all definitely dead now.

I made my way to the lake, took off my sheath and my boots and jumped in and just let the water wash over me...another pair of stained clothes.. I really need to sort those waterproofs I bought. but this water was so cool it soothed me as it washed through my hair and my sweaty bloodied skin.

I stayed there for what felt like an hour, when I finally got out, gathered up my boots and my sheath and made my way back home in my wet stained clothes. I got changed into a clean top and shorts and quickly went out to bury my wet ones.

I cooked a squirrel and had some of my fresh bread with it. I felt calmer as I breathed in the fresh forest air and ate my food without constantly looking around or listening out for any sounds.

When I had finished I put out the fire, hid it and just sat beneath the trees outside of the cave and watched as the sky got dark and the stars came out to shine. I spent some time just looking at them as they filled the entire sky, marvelling at how billions of them twinkled so beautifully, it made me feel so calm and lucky to see such a magnificent view with no noise apart from the faint sounds of crickets and an owl here and there. I started to feel sleepy so I went in my little home, set my trap, tucked into my sleeping back with one arm out holding my sword as always but tonight I pulled the sleeper right up to my neck as I snuggled tightly into it.

********

Several months later

I stared at the flat wall in my cave as I drew another line with a small stone, The mark added to the rest I had done to keep track of how long I had been out here for.

thirteen months! Thirteen months going rogue. I had a little thought of what I was like when I first came into the forest by myself and I smiled a little, I never thought I would have survived as long as I have and to have learned what I have. I have come across so many hungry spineless rogues now, I’ve lost count of how many I’ve had to kill. How many daggers and spears I’ve made, all of them I’ve used to end lives.

I used to be so scared about ever having to face one but now I have faced so many that it’s become nothing to run into them now. If anything, it has become so easy to take them on. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s how predictable they are. They all charge without thinking, to them it’s just play and eat… they’re always so cocky and so damn sure they can use me for their entertainment and food, it’s their arrogance and greed that gets them so easily killed, and I realized I stopped being so on edge quite some time ago.

I got my sheath on with new daggers slotted in and my sword, dressed in my armour and strapped on my boots, I pulled up my hood and tied a black cloth around my mouth and nose to keep my face warm and headed out to brace the cold. Frosty morning Grass crunched under my black boots as I checked my many traps. I had made new ones and set up more further down from my cave in hopes id have better chance at catching food, but it was still sparse, however, I had managed to kill a few birds only yesterday, but the little meat would only last me until tomorrow.

I knew I’d have to spend the day hunting and hopefully I’d catch something big. I went back to my cave to collect my Bowe and arrows then ran further downstream where the land was more littered with trees and longer thick grass a good choice of place for the likes of deer and fox to roam around... I finally reached the quiet area and led flat onto my stomach into the grass, I looked around scanning for movement and noise, when I knew there was nothing already here, I pulled out my Bowe and readied an arrow. I kept low and remained quiet and still.

I had been in that same position for what felt like hours and I could notice the dimly lit sun in the sky move and disappear further and further behind the clouds, I started to give up hope and sat down behind a tree still looking out for anything to come by but more time went by and still nothing, then without even realizing I had leaned my head against the tree and started to dose off.

Seconds later my eyes quickly blinked open in alarm and I realized where I was and that I had stupidly drifted off right in the middle of the forest and made myself completely vulnerable to rogues. I quickly sat up, gathered myself and forced my eyes to open properly.

Just as I was shifting onto one knee, I heard a swish in the grass, my eyes shot to where the sound came from and not far in front of me was a fox, looking for scraps to eat. I quietly readied my Bowe and held it up lightly against my face and stretched the Bowe strap with my arrow ready to shoot. He stopped for a moment as he sniffed the air, and I took that chance to shoot him in the neck. Quickly grabbing another arrow, I shot him once again in the neck as he fell to the ground. I kept low and went over to the animal that was now dead, just as I was about to haul him over my shoulder, I could feel another presence. I twirled round still hidden by the long grass to see a deer sniffing a tree nearby. grabbing two arrows I quickly put them both to my Bowe and shot at it, then I grabbed a third and shot it in the chest so It could die quickly just as I did with the fox.

I picked up the fox and headed over to the deer and the thought occurred to me to how I was going to get both of these animals back to the cave, a deer was more than heavy enough on its own.. hmm ok I’ll chuck the fox over my shoulder and drag the deer back even though the thought of dragging the poor thing made me feel even more guilty than I already did for killing the poor thing..

I was thrown out of my guilty thoughts by the sudden sound of a high-pitched scream. I looked to the direction I heard it from, but I couldn’t see anything in view. I waited a few seconds then heard it again with what sounded like a cry, and it sounded desperate... ”no don’t do it” I warned myself ”just go home”

"What if its someone in trouble" my wolf intervened

“I know, I know, but we shouldn’t go looking for trouble!”

"You know you’ll feel bad if we don’t at least check it out?”

After a few seconds I agreed ”ok, your right, we’ll stay hidden, low and quiet...lets go" I said to her as I ran and kept myself hidden..

As I got closer, I could hear muffled cries which sounded female, and more than one. I could hear it coming just past some big rocks, I climbed up and I could hear what sounded like men laughing coldly and I could predict what was most likely happening. I got to the top of the rocks and peered over and just as I had thought, there were two women whimpering on the ground and pleading to be spared while four men laughed, grabbing their hair and sneering about which one they wanted to fuck first and who looked the tastiest to eat. My blood started to boil as I hauled myself on top of the rocks, I stood there and looked down at them, they were too busy with their disgusting thoughts and having too much fun scaring the women they didn’t even sense they were no longer alone.

"well, well, well what do we have here" I spoke up, to that all four men stopped and looked up at me, One sneered as he slowly stepped away from the women and toward my direction.

“mmm, looks like we have another one… were gonna be eating well for winter" I could already smell the dirt on this bastard and feel the evilness in his voice as he spoke.

"How about you all fuck off and leave these women alone”

"who the fuck are you to tell us what to do” another dirtbag spoke up striding over.. only to gain a smile from me. ”what’s she smiling about” he said to his friend ”she thinks we’ll just walk away, dumb woman, you’re going to go last so you can watch all the fun we have then it’ll be your turn”

“Oh, shut up” I said annoyed as I rolled my eyes “you sound just like all the others”

“Others? what others?”

I stared at them as I slowly drew out my sword slowly so they could take in how long and sharp it was “all the other motherfuckers that I have killed one by one… and I’ll kill you all just the same”

The other three men laughed but the one man that had just spoken to me looked a little uneasy, clearly, he was thinking I might be as good as my word!

After one of the men stopped laughing, he looked up at me ”oh yea, why don’t you come down and fucking prove it"

I held out my sword, grabbed a dagger from my sheath and jumped down from the rocks throwing the dagger into the head of one man, then sliced the neck the man who I came face to face with as I landed. leaving only the now scared man who I could see was contemplating on running and another man who was already coming over to me with a defiant look, like he alone could stop me.

As he went to tackle me I ran, jumped up over him, turned and kicked him in the back making him tumble forward I ran after him and jumped on his back, pulled out a knife and I slit his throat, Letting him fall dead underneath me as I stood and turned to the last man, He quivered and started to run, so I threw the knife into his back, his body jolted then he fell to his knees.

He was trying to crawl away as I walked over to him. I grabbed his face and made him look at the two women ”how does it feel? hmm? Are you having fun playing? You men disgust me” just as he was begging for me to let him go, I wrapped my hand around his head and snapped his neck in one swift movement. He fell limp to the ground and I took the knife from his back, picked up my sword and looked to the women who were now huddled together on the ground shaking.

I put my weapons away and slowly walked over ”it’s ok you don’t need to be afraid of me... what are your names?”

A redhead spoke up first ”I’m… my name is... Roseanna and this... this is my friend Emily”

“Well, hello, my name is Le… umm, May… are you both rogues?”

“Yes, but only a week ago”

“Why, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Well, we don’t have any family at our old pack, and for some reason one by one they all started to turn against us so we decided to sneak off one night and leave... we’re heading to the Ash Valley pack, the Luna there, she was best friends with my mum, but… but we have no car or anyone to help us, they started saying we were practicing witch craft and we knew it was only a matter of days till we’d be arrested so we had to leave”

"wow… so I’m guessing you were innocent, as in you weren’t actually into witchcraft?”

“No, we weren’t at all” Emily finally spoke ”Our parents were really close, and they died a few years back, a large pack of rogues attacked our pack one night and they were among some of our people that died but whereas others had aunties, uncles or older siblings we had no one. So, we worked as many jobs as we could and lived together but a few months ago people started to act different around us and we eventually started losing our jobs”

"So, your all alone? nothing to defend yourselves with?” I asked as I couped down in front of them

“Well, we do have two friends" said Roseanna “Daniel and Alec, they’re the only ones who knew we were innocent, we’ve known them since we were kids, they’re out here with us, they ran away too, their families were some of the ones that turned against us, but they refused to abandon us”

“Oh, ok so where is this Daniel and Alec?”

"They went to hunt for food, we haven’t eaten much since being out here”

"Yes, unfortunately with this winter, it’s going to be tough to eat... are your men strong, are they able to fight?”

“Oh yes” said Emily eagerly “they used to be warriors for our old pack, so they know how to fight, we told them we’d be fine if they hunted, they didn’t want to leave us but we needed food”.

I nodded my head as it swam with thoughts to their predicament “ok well I have food that I can give you now and it can feed all four of you for a few days if you ration it" and I handed the girls a dagger each. ”I’ll get it now, but I need to know you have something to defend yourselves with while I’m gone” they nodded as they took the daggers.

I quickly looked around and saw a bush in front of two large rocks and some trees ”come” I told them as I stood up and nodded toward the bush “hide behind there in between the rocks and keep quiet and hidden, that way if anyone passes by they won’t notice you”.

“ok” they both nodded anxiously as they squeezed in behind the bush. I quickly moved the bodies one by one and chucked them over the rocks I had previously climbed up. Once I had moved all four, I ran down a little hill that took me back down rather than climb back down the rocks. I got to where I had left the animals and luckily, they were both still there which must mean no one had come by. I chucked the fox over my shoulder and pulled the deer along by its hoof and moved as quickly as I could toward the women.

I got back to where they were hidden, I took a few moments to check we were alone before calling them out ”Roseanna, Emily, it’s me you can come out now”

They both slowly came out from behind the bush, and I dropped the fox to the floor next to the deer, they both just looked at it in awe “you four can have all this. if you cut it and cook it properly it’ll last you around five days”.

Roseanna looked at me confused ”but...isn’t this your food? you hunted this… what will you eat?”

"Don’t worry about me I still have some bits left that’ll keep me going for a couple of days and besides I think you need this more than I do“.

“wow” Emily smiled gratefully “I can’t believe there’s someone like you out here, you saved us and now you’re giving us all of your food”

"well, I shouldn’t be a rogue either but I am, so I know how your all feeling right now, but you do need to toughen up and quick, you have to adjust to survive. From now on if your alone you cover yourselves in mud and hide as best as you can, behind bushes, rocks, trees whatever you can find that will keep you safe. always keep weapons on you and don’t be afraid to use them, It’s always a matter of life or death out here”. they both just nodded, taking on everything I was saying.

Twigs snapped and I could hear muffled voices that sounded male.. ”get back" I commanded as I got out my sword… two men came into my view and spotted me, their eyes widened then both started to run toward me ”COME ANY CLOSER AND I WILL KILL YOU BOTH" I shouted

"No wait, wait, that’s Daniel and Alec” Roseanna called, and she held my arm. I lowered my sword but still kept my guard up as they got closer.

"Rose, Emily are you ok, are you hurt? Get away from them” one of the men ordered as he gave me a cold deathly look.

"No were ok” Roseanna reassured him as she ran over and hugged him, followed by Emily who stood beside the other man “she saved us, four men found us and were going to kill us but she came just in time and killed them all”

Both men looked at me in doubt “she did” one pointed at me with a mocking look on his face “all by herself”

“YES” shouted Emily ”she did, stop looking at her like that” she demanded

I gave the men a crooked smile ”I chucked them over the rocks if you don’t believe it”

One of the men walked over to the rocks and climbed up. He jumped back down and turned to his friend ”there’s four of them down there, all dead”

“SEE I TOLD YOU” Emily shot at them as she folded her arms angrily “and she’s giving us her food” she nodded at the animals a few yards away from us.

“Why? why are you giving us your food?” One of the men asked

"Because I wanted to make sure the girls would be ok, they said they’ve only been out here for a week, I thought you could do with a decent few meals. But if you’re going to be so rude perhaps, I should just take it all with me instead”

Their eyes widened ”no. no were sorry" the man spoke up ”sorry were just, tired, hungry, angry, were trying to keep safe and eat. it’s just been hard”

“Yes, clearly I know what it’s like to be out here which is why I wanted to help; I’ve given the girls a couple of weapons but you two could do with some as well”. I grabbed a few arrows out of my sheath “here, these would be good to kill rogues and to hunt close up. you can’t walk around with nothing at all, its dangerous out here. I’ve already told the girls how to stay unnoticed, don’t leave yourselves so out in the open again”

The men nodded as they put their arms protectively around Roseanna and Emily.

"And if you struggle to hunt anything, there are plenty of pears growing, heat them up and they will actually keep you full for the time being”

"Well, we are very grateful for all you’ve done” one of them said meaningfully. ”How can we repay you?”

"Just stay alive and get to where it is your headed to safely”

“Why don’t you come with us" Emily gasped cheerfully ”You don’t need to be out here alone, come with us”

I smiled at the warmth that radiated off of her and her eagerness, but I shook my head ”it’s ok, I have somewhere I want to go back to so that’s where I’ll be headed soon”

Emily and Roseanna nodded their heads ”as long as you’re sure” Roseanna questioned as she came over and put her hand on my arm

“I’m sure” I smiled ”anyway I better get back, but please keep safe. If your ever in trouble just follow that lake ” I pointed to the frozen lake that was in view not far behind them ”follow that down till you reach a water cove and scream for me, I’ll hear you, I’ll be close by”

Emily and Roseanna smiled ”thank you so much for all you have done for us" Roseanna said gratefully

"We’ll never forget it, or you” Emily added.

“goodbye” I smiled and pulled my hood over my head, I turned and ran back down the steep hill and all the way home.

Even though I was now going back empty handed I felt good knowing that all four of them had a good meal to look forward to and I hope for them they get to the Ash Valley Pack very soon and without any harm.

I got back into my cave and lit up my small stone stove to heat up some water and while I waited for it to heat up, I feasted on pears and some left over bird I had cooked the day before. I got undressed and placed my armor to one side, when the water was warm I washed it over myself with old top I was using as a cloth and scrubbed myself clean.

Once I was dressed in clean clothes I washed and rinsed out my leather armour with the rest of the water then hung it up to dry. with my door traps ready and my sword by my side, I got into my sleeping bag and curled up inside, hoisting it right up to my chin pushing any thoughts of my thirteen months away from home and let myself drift off to sleep.

*******

Food was still scarce, but winter was now easing up and even though spring was sure to come soon the trees were still bare, and settled frost still covered everything in its path, however the lakes and streams were starting to thaw, so it wouldn’t be much longer, and we’d have access to fish again. My traps were not catching much and the most I could hunt was bird, it was so rare to come across deer or fox, perhaps because so many of us had been hunting them.

I had let my wolf out a lot more often now, she wasn’t as fussy as I was when it came down to what we ate or how it was killed, she would just tear into whatever she caught her eye on while I just stayed back and allowed her to do what she needed cause at least it kept us full.. Today she wanted to run, and I was tired of the same old hunting game, I left the cave and shifted as her warm thick Grey and silver fur covered our skin, I could feel the cold stiff mud on the bottom of her large, padded paws.

She tipped her nose in the air and let the icy breeze flow through her fur as we both took in the fresh air, then at once she took off in a flash jumping and ducking through the forest. We both felt free just as we always did when we went for a run. It didn’t take long for her to find us food here and there, a squirrel, a bird and today we were lucky enough to come across a badger. She slowed down as she sniffed around with our bellies nearly full then took off up a steep hill running further and further through clusters of tall frosted trees and all of a sudden she came to a halt and right in front of us were several smallish pools of water with steam trailing above them with nothing but trees and large rocks surrounding them.

It was quiet with just the trickling of the water and the birds tweeting in the trees around us, we both agreed to take a better look, It was too inviting not to! She slowly padded forward, and we could smell the fresh hot water, she moved closer to one of the pools in front of us and peered into it, she carefully touched the water with the tip of her nose. It was warm, like a freshly run bath. Although we were still in wolf form, she retreated back to allow me to take over, we looked around to make sure we were alone and then we shifted back. I dipped my toe in as I let out a satisfied sigh.

I slowly stepped in, then dunked my whole body in, even my face and my hair as I slowly moved around the pool. I don’t know where this water came from or how it was so warm but all I could think was all these months through autumn and winter I had been heating up small pots of water when this was here the whole time… readymade baths and its tranquil surroundings.

As much as I didn’t want to leave, I was very aware for this was new territory, we didn’t know if anyone came by or how often and without my weapons and being completely naked I felt too vulnerable and exposed, but I mentally told myself, next time I could come more prepared cause if this place isn’t well known to others we will definitely be coming back… nearly every day if it’s safe enough, this is just too incredible to pass up. I finally forced myself to give up my hot bath and stepped out, we quickly shifted back into our wolf form and headed back down the hills. She managed to find another three birds on our way back so when we got home, we were full and satisfied.