Chapter 3: Beast

I sneak through the trees quietly and quickly. The shepherds know of my presence. My only job is to take down the creature's that been killing the livestock. I watch as the shepherd boy walks around with his stick. A hound runs around making sure sheep stay within sight. Off to some distance, two other shepherds guide their cows to the river nearby.

I hear a purring noise and turn to see a wild bloodhound some paces away. It's bigger than the normal bloodhound. This bloodhound must be some sort of shifter. It looks like a panther and a bloodhound had a little fun. I growl, causing it to looks straight towards me. Before it has time to register who and what I am, I tackle it.

We roll into the open, scaring the sheep towards the shepherd boy. The shepherds round up their animals and watch as the bloodhound and I roll around tearing into each other. The animals making noises in scared protests.

The bloodhound bites into my shoulder, causing me to yell in pain. I feel my face heat up with anger as I bite into the bloodhound's neck with my own teeth. It yelps and tears away. I roll to my feet and spit out fur, blood, and flesh. We slowly circle around, looking for any way to attack one another.

I see it glance towards the forest and attack. The bloodhound swings its huge paws, nearly scratching my face in the process. I slam against it and channel all my power into burning the damn thing alive. The bloodhound begins to howl and roll around in the attempt to put out the angry flames eating at it. I run after it as it heads towards the river.

I pounce and land on its back. I lock my legs around it and link my fingers together. I raise my arms and bring them down on the bloodhound at full force. It makes a final yelp before stumbling. I jump off and watch it crash and skid onto the river bank.

My wounds have already more or less healed. My hair needs a good brush through and I need a change of clothes. I watch the bloodhound become sand. The wind picks up and sweeps the sand into the river. A spiritual hybrid? I step back and turn towards the direction of the shepherds.

The wind whispers unintelligibly. I turn and head towards the awaiting shepherds. The animals spread out again as the realize that the danger has been dealt with. The three shepherds yell on happiness. They congratulate and thank me as I pass them and head towards the village. I run my fingers through my hair the entire time.

Back at the village, the village women provide me with clothes and the morning news. The elders gossip over their drinks and knitting. I sit on the porch watching the kids play around. Today's one of those days travels don't come. Apparently, travellers think that every eighth day they should stop traveling and rest for the day.

"Have you heard?" A woman with huge breasts and a build most men would envy asks as she sits beside me. She's in her early fifties and the village blacksmith and engineer. Her black hair has already started to gray up. wrinkles have started to form on her skin toughened by years of work. She's dressed in an old night dress with patches on it, a leather apron, leather gloves up to the elbows, and steel toe boots. She's tied her hair up in a tight bun. Her kind hazel eyes watch the children.

"Heard what?" I ask. Despite my height, I seem significantly smaller than Helga.

"News arrived while you were dealing with the threat. Prince Benjamin and his two babysitters are coming here to put an end to the rumors of the Beast." I frown.

"How did the news get here so fast? It takes three days to get here from the capital." Helga laughs.

"A messenger came on one of those fancy horses. He said they'll be traveling by foot. He also gave me this." Helga hands me a scroll. She responds for the village when I'm not around. No one messes with her unless they want flat fingers.

"What's this?" I ask, picking off the wax with the king's crest on it.

"Orders." Helga says and smiles. Before getting a full view of the contents, I roll the parchment back.

"I'll take a look later." Helga smirks and nods.

"You know... There's plenty of young men who would like to put a smile on your face." Helga says. I smile and shake my head.

"What men? They're all boys to me, Helga. I was alive even when you were just born. I was alive before–"

"But you still can love. Maybe...Maybe this prince will–" I throw my head and laugh.

"That boy is nothing but a reminder of his own mother's mistake of defying the Huntress, Helga. What can the kid do?"

"Why did they send him?" I stay quiet for a minute.

"If the most renowned hunters didn't stand a chance against me. What can some kid with unblessed royal blood do?"

"He could tame the Beast. He could fill in the hole in your heart." Helga responds. He could be what the Huntress warned me about.

"There's no point in insisting, Helga. I loved once and it was ripped away from me a long time ago." I say and stand.

"What happened to him? Are you afraid to love again?" Helga asks, standing to meet me in the eye even though I'm two heads taller.

"Gather the children for lunch." I say and walk towards the mess hall.

I carefully peel of the wax off of the parchment and hold it out in my hand. I toss the wax into the small collection I've been keeping in case I ever need wax for candles. I unroll the parchment and begin to read.

"Stupid kid." I grumble once I finish. He's been sent here to die. The king isn't sure if the Beast is real. But if it is, he hopes it'll kill his youngest son. The one he believes took his wife's life. Fire erupts around the parchment. I pull my legs against my chest and wrap my arms around them.

He want me to do his dirty job. Like hell am I doing that! I'll scare the kid off along with his bodyguards. I'll make them believe there's something worse than the Beast. There is. And it's right underneath the fine walls they live behind.

The prince is to confront the Beast alone and no interference can be given. That includes his own bodyguards. If the prince so happens to fail and dies, the bodyguards are to eliminate the Beast and return with the dead prince. Does she know? What does she expect me to do?

"Damn it, Azora. Couldn't you had drawn him to you instead?" I growl. I look out of the cave entrance and watch as the last rays of the sun disappear. I slam my head against the cave wall and allow tears to stream down my face as my bones begin to grow and shift.

I groan and claw at the floor as my clothes and skin are torn through. I howl, alerting the orphans to not come in until I fully shift. I howl against as my spine arches up. That serves as an alert to stand out of sight.

I shake my head as saliva drips down from my razor sharp teeth. I give out a final howl as my body fully becomes the Beast. I stay still on the cave floor as the children begin to filter in. They fall onto their knees and begin to massage my body. It hurts more than helps. But I don't want them to know.

I'm not good with kids like the Huntress is. But I wish I could've at least had one kid before he died. These kids are what I have. And I'll tear apart anyone who even dares harm them.