The Hunt

Wilworth

We walked in silence. Megan didn't have a lot that she carried, I didn't know if she had her own place or she was a light traveler. In fact I didn't know anything about rogues, only that they were cold blooded murderers. Rogues were suppose to be the worst of us, they only formed alliances to destroy families, towns, packs they had no purpose. They were loners, they were weak and here I was walking alongside one. I glanced at her, she walked with purpose, there was some fire in her eyes. I'm sure she saw a lot of things being out here by herself. 

I felt a stabbing pain in my rib, I stopped surprised to still feel any pain. Megan told me I slept for three days. I must have been fully healed by now, but being banished by my pack must have slowed my healing. 

"You were really bad when I pulled you out of the river." Megan was looking at me, I could see pity in her eyes and I held back a growl. She wasn't my enemy but she was also not my pack.

"I should have healed by now. I guess not being in a pack must have affected my powers." I continued walking and she followed.

"Your powers have nothing to do with being in a pack." She spat as she said pack. I looked at her and she turned to look at me her black eyes held my gaze. How could anyone hate being in a pack?

"You must have been a rogue for a while." She looked down and my muscles relaxed.

"It's been a year. It was hell the first week. I didn't know what to do, then the freedom got to me and realized there was nothing I couldn't do I was my own alpha." I smiled she must have always wanted to be an alpha, who wouldn't. "Then I got myself in some trouble and realized that you can't get far being by yourself. I made some alliances here and there with rogues but they always had revenged and destruction in mind."

So a rogue that doesn't want to destroy and kill. I let out a small sigh of relief. I was beginning to question my alliance with a rogue, I didn't think on her intentions but as long as they weren't murdering I was in the clear.

"So you never though of taking down your pack?" A test, she must be smart enough to see it coming. My intentions need to be clear from the start as much as her knowledge and company are useful I'm better off without a murderer.

"I thought about it." She was looking at me and I saw the honesty in her eyes that same fire. Great. "I plotted and planed then I realized I had nothing to gain and everything to lose." She looked away.

"How do you survive out here? With no pack and no allies?" 

"I work."

"What kind of work?"

She rolled her eyes and smiled.

"It's all honest work. Sometimes it's hunting, or tracking. I've gotten pretty good at that. I started out with small game but got smarter and I can take down a small deer by myself." I whistled in surprise, of course a small deer was no problem for an alpha but any other wolf needed a pack for anything larger than a fox. "The town has a couple of witches that pay good money for simple things bird feathers, claws, fresh blood, hair, things like that. You know I never asked for your name." I looked at her with a questioning look, the question was so simple yet it felt strange being with someone who didn't already know my name. People always feared me back home they knew who I was and what I was capable of. It didn't help that I was also a smart mouth.

"I'm Kendra."

"You'll get use to it." She had a sad look in her face that said otherwise, but I gave her a small smile. "Well welcome to Wilworth."

It was small, the houses looked simple there was some that were more elaborate than others but they were all made out of the same material wood, stone, mud. The roads were dirt and horses waited impatiently for their owners to finish their shopping. There was a market in the middle of town with people selling things I've never seen before.

"Love spells, get your dose of love spells for the month." A vendor yelled.

"Rat's teeth. Fresh rat teeth for any spell or potion."

I looked at Megan who seemed amused at my confused expression.

"They just sell magic?" I asked her.

"Everyone's got to make a living." She took off her bag and made her way to a nearby vendor. He was skinny and had a large tattoo on his arm. His hair was blonde and had dark orange eyes. Megan tossed the bag at him and he caught it. His hand had different type of rings and was missing his little finger on his left hand. He reached inside his vest and my muscles tensed up which didn't go unnoticed as the man saw me for the first time with a look of greed in his eyes. He tossed a small pouch to Megan which she opened immediately.

"Where's the rest?"

"You're late. You don't get the rest." 

"I had something come up." She placed the small pouch in her pocket. 

"Does this something have a name." He looked at me again.

"Kendra." Although wolves are the only ones who can feel the tension of eye contact I've never backed down. My father and mother are the only ones I've ever bowed down to, and even then I take my sweet time. 

"You must be really new here. I'm Rainer." He extended his hand and I took it. "Firm grip you got there and your eyes aren't changing as fast as others, you must have done something really bad to get banished."

He got right to the point and it surprised how little fear he showed. Maybe he must be the one new to my sort of people. Megan grabbed my arm and pulled me away.

"Thanks again for the business if you have anything else send a raven." Megan began to walk away with her hand firm on my arm.

"You'll be hearing from me soon. I hope your new friend is looking for work too."

Megan let my arm go when we were out of sight from the market.

"What was that about?" I asked.

"Rainer is good for business but he deals with a lot of black magic. You don't want to give any information to that man. Your name was enough for him to burn you if he wanted to." 

"He can sure as hell try." Megan had a look of fear in her eyes and I decided to not push the topic. "Where are we going now."

"Home."