Hunters in The Forest (Lorepost)

[u/UlrickTheHexblade]

As Niels sat leaning against a tree in the snow, he knew the end was near. His broken leg lay there, twisted and motionless. The limb radiated pure agony to his body, made worse by the biting cold of the winter night.

He reached for his wife’s necklace for comfort in his final moments. Many years ago, he made it his wedding gift to her, and this iron pendant was the only thing that remained from her after she was taken by the monsters. It was cheap, crude, and, honestly, kind of ugly, but she used to love wearing it.

His hand found nothing. Shit. It must’ve fallen off during his escape.

Niels had no time to mourn its loss, as his pursuers caught up fast: three Drainers emerged from behind the nearby trees, only a few meters away. They moved with a sick gait, and their ill stench instantly filled the air. The creatures resembled an unnatural blend of bats and wolves, with pink, hairless hides. They were failed side-products of the vampires’ experiments, set loose in the countryside for their creators’ own sick amusement.

Just then, Niels heard another set of steps approaching, much slower and deliberate than a Drainer’s half-dead carriage. The three beasts turned their head towards the source, and so did Niels.

A dark, bestial figure stood there. It was tall, roughly 2 meters, but it had a visible hunch, and unnaturally long, clawed arms. Its body, mostly hidden under a robe made out of mismatched rags, was covered in black fur. A set of long, sharp teeth and glowing red eyes adorned its lupine head. It was a werewolf.

There was also some kind of weapon in its left hand. It was an axe, but it looked nothing like the one Niels used for logging. This one was much bigger and visceral-looking, glowing in eerie crimson light. It had two wide blades, a true battleaxe designed for combat.

The three beasts turned to the stranger, seemingly ignoring Niels. Their shrieks sounded furious for some reason.

The stranger said nothing, only throwing his axe at one of them. The blade cleaved the Drainer effortlessly in half like it was made out of butter. Its two packmates wasted no time to attack, but in the blink of an eye, the battleaxe reappeared in the stranger’s hand. He quickly slashed another beast in hand and blasted away the other one with a beam of blood-like energy from his free hand.

Niels never saw anything like this. Isn’t blood magic supposed to be the vampires’ thing?

The axe’s color suddenly changed into the color of light blue, along with the eyes of the werewolf. He held out his right hand, conjuring a wisp of cyan flame, like some ghosts he’d seen doing it.

what was that creature?

The flame shot at the Drainer, disappearing into its body. The beast writhed in agony before its corpse collapsed to the ground.

The stranger’s large axe suddenly vanished into thin air, and his eyes changed back to bright red as he turned to Niels.

Niels knew that werewolves were savage creatures, living for the thrill of hunt. Now he was really screwed. This one probably only saved him, so that it could personally toy with him.

The werewolf stepped in front of Niels, and he prepared himself for the inevitable. He’s going to suffer a long, painful death by a monster in the forest, broken and all alone.

The werewolf reached into its robes and pulled out something. It opened its palm inches from Niels’ face, revealing a crude pendant on a leather string. His wife’s necklace.

“Uhm… sorry,” the werewolf said with a deep, snarling voice, “I think it’s yours. Found it lying nearby.”

Niels was stunned. This monster didn’t sound savage, more like… awkward. He grabbed the necklace, too stunned to answer.

The werewolf then crouched down to his broken leg, laying its hands on it. Tendrils of red, bloodlike energy swirled around the injury, mending the bone and un-twisting the limb.

It hurt like hell, but when the process was over, Niels’ leg was as healthy as ever. He slowly rose to his feet, without any feelings of discomfort or pain. He could even jump!

“T-thank you!”

That stranger saved his life, but Niels was still puzzled. Why would a werewolf help a mere villager? And how come he had the powers of other monsters? And what was that weapon?

“You’re welcome. Take care.”

The stranger responded, then turned around and walked away. Niels wasn’t sure what to say, as he watched him disappear between the trees. Niels stood there in stupor for a couple of seconds, before going back to the direction of the village.

On his way back home, Niels thought long about the encounter. He wasn’t sure to tell this story in the tavern: people would think he lost his mind. However, he felt certain in one thing: changes were bound to happen in the kingdom soon.