Lena: The Bread Winner

Chapter 2

The Truth in Shadows

The first rays of dawn spilled over the snow-dappled rooftops of Blackthorn as Lena stepped into the village square. The echoes of the previous night’s encounter still lingered in her mind, the glowing yellow eyes of the werewolf etched into her thoughts like a vivid nightmare she couldn’t shake. But this was no nightmare. The beast had spoken, not with mindless snarls or growls, but with words—words filled with meaning, regret, and a strange familiarity.

Around her, the villagers were already gathering, their voices carrying a nervous energy. The attacks had grown more brazen, and speculation hung thick in the air. Farmers with weary faces recounted finding their fields trampled and livestock reduced to bloodied remains. Hunters claimed they’d seen strange tracks deeper in the forest—footprints far too large to belong to wolves. Even children, usually carefree in the early morning light, played subdued games, their laughter muted by the tension gripping the village.

“Lena,” called Father Ewan, the village’s aging priest, as he approached her. His wrinkled face bore a deep frown, the lines around his eyes more pronounced than usual. “You went into the forest last night, didn’t you?”

“I did,” Lena replied, her tone steady. She didn’t elaborate.

Father Ewan’s gaze searched hers, as if he could see the truths she withheld. “And? Did you see anything? Anything... unnatural?”

She hesitated. Her instinct was to protect Kael’s secret, though she couldn’t fully explain why. Maybe it was the humanity she’d glimpsed in his eyes, or the haunting sadness in his voice. Whatever the reason, she knew the villagers wouldn’t understand.

“Wolves,” she said finally. “A pack. Bigger than usual, but wolves nonetheless.”

Father Ewan nodded slowly, though doubt flickered in his expression. “The elders think it’s a werewolf,” he murmured. “A guardian spirit bound to this land, cursed for eternity. Do you believe such things, Lena?”

She met his gaze evenly. “I believe in protecting my family, Father. That’s all.”

The priest sighed, his shoulders slumping. “Be careful, child. The forest holds many secrets, and not all of them are kind.”

As the day wore on, Lena returned to her cabin at the edge of the village. Jonah and Elise greeted her with their usual enthusiasm, but she couldn’t shake the weight of her encounter. After ensuring they were occupied—Jonah chopping firewood and Elise sorting dried herbs—Lena grabbed her crossbow and slipped away.

She returned to the forest, her steps purposeful but cautious. The daylight offered little comfort; the trees loomed like silent sentinels, their branches swaying in the biting wind. She replayed Kael’s words in her mind: “A prisoner of this forest. A guardian turned monster.”

What did he mean? And why did he let her live when he could have easily killed her?

Her search stretched into the afternoon, her breath fogging in the crisp air. She followed no clear path, relying on instinct and the occasional broken branch or disturbed patch of snow to guide her. Hours passed before she found him.

Kael stood in a clearing, his massive frame silhouetted against the golden light of the setting sun. He wasn’t hiding this time, nor did he seem surprised to see her. His yellow eyes met hers as she stepped into the open, her crossbow at the ready.

“You came back,” he said, his voice low but unmistakably human.

“I want answers,” Lena said, her grip on the crossbow tightening.

Kael tilted his head, his ears twitching slightly. “And if I don’t give them? Will you shoot me?”

“I’ll do what I have to,” she replied, though she wasn’t sure if it was true.

He chuckled softly, a sound that was more unsettling than comforting. “You’re brave, I’ll give you that. But you wouldn’t stand a chance against me.”

Lena’s jaw tightened. “Then why didn’t you kill me last night?”

Kael’s amusement faded, replaced by something more solemn. He looked away, his gaze shifting to the trees. “Because you’re different,” he said finally. “You don’t reek of greed and fear like the others. You fight for more than yourself.”

Her brow furrowed. “What are you talking about?”

He turned back to her, his glowing eyes locking onto hers. “You want the truth? Fine. Once, I was a man like you—a protector of this land. My name was Kael. I was sworn to guard this forest, to ensure its balance and harmony. But the people grew greedy. They took more than they needed, cutting down trees, hunting animals to extinction. The spirits that watched over this place grew angry. They punished me for failing to protect it.”

Lena felt a chill that had nothing to do with the cold. “The spirits cursed you?”

Kael nodded. “They turned me into this,” he said, gesturing to his monstrous form. “A guardian, yes, but also a monster. A warning to anyone who dares disrupt the balance again.”

She stared at him, trying to process the weight of his words. The villagers’ encroachment on the forest wasn’t new. Each year, more trees were felled to build homes and clear farmland. Hunting had grown more aggressive as winters became harsher. Yet she had never considered the cost to the land itself.

“So the attacks... the killings... they’re not out of malice?” she asked.

Kael’s expression darkened. “I do what I must to survive. But make no mistake—if your people continue their path, they’ll destroy this forest. And then, they’ll destroy themselves.”

Lena’s mind raced. She had spent her life protecting her family, doing whatever it took to keep them alive. But Kael’s words forced her to confront a truth she hadn’t considered: survival at the expense of the forest might doom them all.

“There has to be another way,” she said quietly.

Kael studied her for a long moment. “Perhaps there is,” he said finally. “But it would require courage—and sacrifice.”

“What kind of sacrifice?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he turned and began to walk away, his movements surprisingly graceful for a creature of his size. “Come back tomorrow,” he said over his shoulder. “If you’re serious about finding another way, I’ll tell you then.”

Lena watched him disappear into the trees, her heart pounding. She didn’t know what kind of sacrifice Kael meant, but she knew one thing for certain: she couldn’t ignore his warning.

That night, she sat by the fire with Jonah and Elise, her thoughts distant. Her siblings chattered about their day, oblivious to the storm raging in her mind. Could she trust Kael? Was there truly a way to protect both the forest and the village?

As she tucked Elise into bed, the little girl looked up at her with wide, curious eyes. “Are you okay, Lena?”

Lena forced a smile and brushed a strand of hair from Elise’s face. “I’m fine, sweetie. Get some sleep.”

But as she stared into the dying embers of the fire later that night, she knew the truth. She wasn’t fine. The weight of the village, the forest, and the curse rested squarely on her shoulders.

And she had no choice but to bear it.