The start of the longest hunt

It's dark outside. No moonlight nor any stars shining. The animal that ventures out at night is nowhere to be seen or heard.

-Kris POV-

*BANG*

I woke up, slowly looking at my door wondering what that was. Being curious I tried to get up but was stopped by an arm pulling me back. Ahri's arm. I'm surprised to see her soon close to me in my bed. That got me thinking, "Did we... no I remember her crying in my arms and passing out."

*BANG*

My head spun around to where the noise came from. I have a bad feeling so I removed Ahri's arm and went to check it out. The walk out of the room was quiet as to not wake Ahri. Hati is also awake and when entering the room she looked up at me from her spot.

"I can't smell anything."

"Just stay here Hati."

Walking through the room, I grabbed my bow and arrow and slowly opened the front door. Peeking through I see nothing but heard a rustle and a strange noise coming from behind a tree. Being as careful as possible I approach the tree, readying my bow as I got closer. It better not be a rabbit. I jumped to the other side of the tree, rolling across and aiming my bow at nothing. I sighed with my eyes and started walking to the house. As I turned around a figure stabbed me in my lower gut, whispering in my ear. The voice was familiar and sounded as pissed. "All you had to do was leave It alone but you didn't. Now looked what happened."

He let go of the knife as I fell to the ground. A look of horror and pain on my face. Oliver screamed to other men who have come out of hiding. "You two! Bring him."

Two other men grabbed each arm and threw me down next to Oliver who is now standing in the open, facing my house. I tried getting to my feet but was kicked by Oliver causing me to cough up blood. He then turned his attention back to the house and shouted. "I know you're both in there so you betta come on out or there's gonna be a lot of screaming!"

The pain prevented me from talking properly but I had to say something.

"N-no one... else *cough* is i-in there."

Oliver's foot came out of nowhere and made contact with my face. The force sent me falling to my back. He crouched down beside me and said in an annoyed tone.

"Do you think I'm that stupid? We've been tracking that thing for months and now when we finally gotta shot and getting it but then some jackass tries and gets in our way. Well, bad news for you. I'm tired of people getting in our way."

He turned his attention back to the house and waved his hand. The same two who dragged me held me down at the gunpoint. Oliver took a deep breath before screaming at the top of his lungs "NOW IF YOU TWO WON'T COME ON OUT, BY GOD I'M GONNA BURN THIS HOUSE DOWN!!"

A terrifying silence came as I watched helplessly to see what they were going to do.

"YOU'VE GOT TO THE COUNT OF FIVE... FOUR... THREE... TWO!"

The door opened revealing Hati on the other side. She slowly walked towards us while growling, showing off her canines. Oliver smiled as Hati slowly approached him. "Well well well. That's a fine Direwolf. I don't think I have ever seen one alive before."

He nodded, signaling for his men to get ready. The next thing I heard was a bang coming from behind and Hati howling in pain. She fell to the ground. Four men search the house for Ahri well the rest started tieing up Hati. The sound of crushing snow came from behind as someone came out from the dark. I was just able to see another man with a sniper rifle. The man's name was Charles as Oliver called out to him. "Good job Charles now, we got two rare specimens."

Not long after Hati fell the men who went inside came out with an unconscious Ahri. There is a blood trail rolling down the side of her face. The pain started causing me to lose consciousness and it was getting hard to hear what Charles was saying. "What now boss?"

"Burn it down, we're leaving."

That was the last thing I heard before a complete blackout.

I see, feel and hear nothing. All there that is around me is a black void. I whisper to the emptiness not expecting an answer. "w-where am I-I"

"Well to answer that question, you are in your mind."

I looked frantically around trying to spot whoever replied but I can't find anyone.

"Who are you?! And why can't I see you?!"

"Just look again."

The voice is feminine, dark, and menacing, it sounds as if it's getting closer with every word. I slowly turn to meet the source of the voice and what I see only confused me. It is a Shade Wolf staring at me. I had to take a step back, only because I remember my first encounter with one but why is one here. I had to ask, "Are y-yo."

It interrupted me. Seeming to know exactly what I was about to say. "The very Shade wolf you killed? Yes, I am."

"Why are you here?"

"Because you kill me."

"I don't follow."

The Shade Wolf got closer and as she walked her form started to change. From walking on four limbs to two and losing all of her furs to reveal a suit of black and blue. She also decreases in height to meet me at eye level. Her snout disappeared and her ears shrunk. She walked right up to me with a seductive smile and no longer was she a wolf but a beautiful woman.

"First off my name is Lykos so you know what to call me. Second I'm here to help you. Third I'm here because you absorbed my soul."

"I... still don't follow."

"Aww poor little one doesn't know what's going on."

She said while running a finger up the side of my neck and resting her hand on my cheek. "Shade Wolves absorb the souls of our prey. Those souls allow us to stay young but it also allows us to obtain abilities. The only catch is what goes one way goes the other. When you killed me you unknowing absorbed my soul so now the power only given to the Shade Wolves is now yours."

"Why?"

She tilts her head with a confused look on her face.

"Why what?"

"Six years and this is the first time I see you... why?"

"Because you have never had a near-death experience. You should count yourself lucky that you possess such a useful ability. You are stronger. faster and can handle more than before. It's pretty much the only thing that has kept you from dying. Even though you had your own abilities but they were not enough."

At this point, my confusion just grew. "I don't see how strength and red-eye can stop me from dying."

Lykos sighs, "This is going to harder than I thought. You don't just have those two, you have also adaptability. Now don't mistake it for regeneration because it's going to be a while before you fully heal."

"Okay... So how long will I be stuck here."

Lykos turned away from me seemingly in thought or concentration. After a few minutes of nothing, she looked back at me to find me sitting. "You should be waking up soon."

As she said that, a white light appeared behind me pulling me towards it. At first, I did nothing but a thought came to mind and I struggled to get a few more seconds.

"What else am I able to do!"

"Don't worry you'll hear from me soon."

I can feel everything again. The cold snow surrounding me, the wind blowing against my skin, and the knife still embedded into my abdomen. The pain made it difficult to slowly get up on my knees. I see the horrible sight of my house burned to ash. Looking around I see the little mound of snow that I made and slowly but painfully, dragged myself towards it. My breathing got heavier with every pull of my arms.

Now by the mound, it looks as if it were a natural feature which is a good sign. It means that the stash is still there. After some time removing snow, the stuff I buried layer exactly where I left them. A leather bag, my first spear, and my first bow, and the nail head arrows. I stored all of this in case of the current situation. I grabbed all of the things and stood up with great difficulty. The pain reminded me that the knife is still in me and through gritted teeth, I pulled it out. Taking a few steps to regain my balance. The knife has a weird symbol on the hilt that I have never seen before. I knew that it belongs to the group those bastards were apart of but it looked... demonic.

I took one last look at my destroyed house before running through the pain along the tire track. Leaving my home to save Ahri and Hati.