"Between Wolves and Hunters"
Zaira, determined to uncover more about the mysterious link between the human-like beasts and the forest, crossed beyond the red-marked boundary set by the hunters—a broken bridge wrapped in warning tape.
"To go past the edge, to see those werewolves... different from the mindless wolves we condemn to death. What truly separates us?" she asked herself.
She brought with her a basket filled with fruits and rabbit meat. She'd been doing this for weeks, hoping to spot a survivor. Her heart pounded—not just from the dangers of the woods, but from the curiosity these beings stirred inside her.
"You're persistent, hunter. Do you really believe a few berries and meat can undo centuries of hatred?"
Zaira spun around. A man stood before her, draped in a bear hide. His blond hair shimmered in the moonlight. His golden eyes seemed to read her soul, his calm demeanor unsettling in its serenity. At his side stood the same being from before—the tall, robust black wolf—watching every move she made with cold suspicion.
"Sanathiel," she whispered sharply.
"Say nothing, Salomon," Sanathiel said, lifting his gaze to meet Zaira's. "I've come to end bloodshed, not continue it. Vengeance can't be the only answer anymore.""I've killed many like you... but none have ever spoken with their eyes."
"If there's a way forward, I'll find it," Zaira replied plainly.
Salomon huffed.
"You're naïve, human. Your kind only knows how to destroy."
Her suspicions were confirmed: the black wolf could speak. Sanathiel raised a hand to calm him.
"Don't be so harsh, Salomon. Maybe this hunter is different."
Zaira stepped forward despite the thick tension in the air.
"I'm not here to wage war or enslave anyone. I just want to understand."
Sanathiel studied her, weighing every word.
"Understand? Then tell me, Zaira—the name they call you by—would you betray your own people to protect mine?"
She hesitated. The question struck her deeply, as if he had peeled back the layers of her mind. His commanding tone and intense gaze made the silence that followed feel unbearable.
Then Sanathiel lifted his cloak, revealing his face. He wasn't just a wolf—he was a man. A truth Zaira had only guessed, now fully revealed.
She covered her mouth, a quiet gasp escaping her lips. Her body trembled as if trying to reject what her eyes couldn't deny. Sanathiel noticed her vulnerability, his gaze fixed on the conflict reflected in her eyes.
Suddenly, rapid footsteps broke the moment. Zero emerged from the trees, bow drawn, eyes locked on the werewolves.
"Zaira! Are you alright?" he called, voice steady but filled with concern.
Sanathiel stepped back, lifting his hands in peace.
"We're not your enemies... at least not tonight."
Beside him, Salomon growled low, but Sanathiel held him in check with a firm, silent command.
"Let's go, Salomon. We've seen enough."
Sanathiel gave Zaira one last glance before melting into the forest shadows, Salomon close behind.
"What were you doing out here?" Zero asked, lowering his bow, but not his worry.
Zaira looked away.
"Trying to understand them. Not all werewolves are monsters, Zero."
He sighed, stowing his weapon.
"Whatever this is... Falco won't be happy when he finds out."
Days later, while collecting herbs near T-Sea Lagoon, Zaira once again felt Sanathiel's presence. This time, he emerged from the water, his bare chest glistening in the sunlight.
"You should be more careful, Zaira. These woods aren't safe for a hunter alone."
She turned her gaze, blushing.
"I didn't expect to see you here."
Sanathiel smiled faintly—barely a curve of his lips—but it left her disoriented.
"Why do you keep coming back?"
She met his eyes, trying to stay composed beneath his piercing stare.
"Cover yourself, please," she muttered, looking away.
He raised an eyebrow, amused, and passed by her with the calmness of a breeze. He always kept the perfect distance, but his presence alone made her pulse race.
"I want to invite you and Salomon to dinner," she said, voice steady but trembling faintly. "It's a chance to prove we can coexist."
Sanathiel froze, turning toward her slowly. His golden eyes caught the moonlight.
"A hunter inviting two werewolves to dine among her kind? That sounds... dangerous."
"Maybe it is. But if we never try, we'll never know if it's possible," she answered, holding his gaze.
He studied her in silence, searching her face for truth—or weakness. Finally, he nodded. The smile faded from his lips.
"We will attend."
"Stay away from us, woman," Salomon growled from atop a boulder, interrupting the moment with clear hostility.
Zaira shot him a defiant look—but before she could respond, she slipped and fell into the lagoon. Her clumsy fall broke the tension.
Surprised, Sanathiel chuckled softly.
"Don't worry, hunter. We're not as dangerous as you think... at least not tonight."He reached out—not mockingly, but to help her."You've got more courage than balance, hunter," he murmured, smiling for real this time.
Dripping wet and fuming, Zaira watched as the two disappeared into the woods. Her invitation had been accepted—but she knew this was only the beginning.
When Sanathiel and Salomon arrived at camp, the atmosphere turned taut. The hunters eyed them with suspicion. Some raised weapons, but Falco lifted a hand.
"If they're here, it's because Zaira asked. No one moves without my command."
Dinner was a tense exchange of glances and guarded words. Sanathiel remained composed, replying diplomatically to Falco's probing.
"We don't seek war, but we won't allow ourselves to be wiped out either. We only want to live in peace."
At the end of the table, Ibrahim didn't hide his disgust.
"Peace? That's a fantasy. Werewolves are nothing but beasts."
He exchanged a glance with two hunters. No one noticed—except Zaira. A cold weight settled in her gut.
Sanathiel met Ibrahim's glare with ice in his voice.
"Your fear says more about you than it does about us."
Tension rose, but Zaira stepped in.
"This isn't about fear or hatred. It's about finding a way where no one else has to die."
That night, after dinner, Falco confronted Zaira alone.
"Are you sure about this? If things go wrong, you'll be the first to pay."
Zaira looked at him, unwavering.
"I'd rather risk everything than keep watching us kill each other."
Falco sighed, rubbing his face.
"You're just like my mother. Always choosing the harder path."
Before departing, Sanathiel approached her.
"If you ever need me, Zaira, just call. I'll do whatever it takes to protect you."
She nodded, a strange warmth blooming in her chest.
After Sanathiel and Salomon returned to the forest, Zaira stared up at the moon. A dark thought drifted across her mind:
"What if I'm wrong? Even if this all ends badly... I want to know I tried something different. I don't want to be remembered as just another hunter."
That doubt followed her back to camp, where she overheard Ibrahim whispering to two others:
"She doesn't understand what's at stake. If she sides with those beasts, we'll take her out too—protege of Falco or not. Understood?"