The female wolf led a comfortable life. She didn't have friends or family to keep her confined to one place, so she never had to worry about getting caught or in a conflict with a snobbish person. So during her journey to one of the few neighboring Twain villages, where humans and beasts coexist. She came across a desperate cry, scouting the woods, she didn’t seem to notice anyone.

“Hello?” She called out, unsure if she simply imagined it. She waited until the wailing sound got louder. Running towards the sound, she stopped and spotted a wounded human at the bottom of the muddy slope. He must have fallen due to the heavy rain a few nights ago. She thought.

Even though she isn’t cold-blooded to those who are in need of help, she felt an ambivalent ambiance from that man. As if it’s telling her that she should just leave the wailing human to the wild beast that dwells in the forest. His screams though made her want to aid the poor weakling.

She was caught in a cloud of persuasion, wondering whether she should just leave him to die or help him. She’s a good wolf, but she has her reasons to not help humans outside the beast's borders or any of the Twain villages. “What to do. What to do.” She caught herself pacing around in a circle.

As if – it – was fate, a tree stump appeared from nowhere as she was hastily ruffling her fur between her ears, thinking of just leaving the man behind out in the woods. She lost her footing after tripping on uneven gravel, causing her to plummet down.

She tried to find her balance, grabbing anything she could, twigs. Gravel. Dirt, she had no tight grip, she used her claws, yet something was making her unable to grab anything. Telling her to let herself continue to fall. So that’s what she did, she yielded her body to whatever it was that was telling her to listen. As she felt the bumps of the ground within each roll, it might be possible, that she was going to get bumps herself.

Finally, after what felt like forever, she opened her eyes. It felt kinda squishy and soft, but smelly as a wet dog. She was on top of a pile of natures trash, that seemed to be howling in pain. It was the human that was crying like a feline beast in heat. She just fell on this human.

Raising her head, she looked as far as her minor injuries could allow. She has always crossed this path to get to this Twain village. It was strange how that stump randomly got there. It must have been due to the rain. She imagined to herself.

Now she was forced to aid both herself and the human that sounds like he was in heat. Tossing him over her shoulder, she brought him to a little vacated hut she rarely used and helped the human onto the bed. There she was able to tend to his injuries. With the items she had on hand, the human was able to make several paper talismans, which he had her gather its power source from the morning sun, to charge them up.

Although her injuries were minor, the human, on the other hand, seemed to have a swollen leg and also a broken rib, that she caused, but that wasn't the first thing the wolf noticed; it was his eyes. They didn’t seem as if he was human, but that’s only if you paid close attention to it.

Left or right, no matter where she went around the hut, he hasn’t seemed to avert his gaze from the wolf. He never spoke to her, besides to ask for the items he needed, or when he was hungry.

When he first saw the wolf, he looked more stunned, then terrified of her. She was of course a purple wolf, with not much of her kind left. If only her wristband and cloak hadn't torn, she wouldn’t be exposing bits of her fur right now.

“I noticed you weren't equipped with much. You were headed to the Twain village nearby, right?” She noticed that he was taking his time to answer a simple question, even though she had pressed the empowered paper to his body. The paper doesn’t have the ability to make him muted. “Even if there are no wild beasts in this area, the landscape will be unstable during the harsh rainy season.” Again, he didn’t speak to her.

After helping him to the bed, she assumed he was also heading to the village, as she was, before his fall. Now, fearing he might be one of those assholes, that stalks the ones that want harmony between human and beast around any Twain village.

They’re the ones who follow their noses where they believe they can make a profit from the souls they capture. Even if they’re hurt, or they lost everything, it doesn’t matter to them if you are a beast or human or a rare wolf in general, they will hunt to sell. Solely for pleasure and fortune.

Not willing to take any risks. She hastily burned all the meager magic talismans she was forced to spend all morning gathering, and then headed for the door. With her possessions in her bag and a foot out the entrance door, she felt a yank in her white silk scarf, nearly causing her to choke and get her foot stuck onto something.

A brazen voice, resembling that of a sexually-excited feline, cried out, followed by another tug on her scarf, this time with more delicacy. With her throat in pain, she twisted her torso before her lower body. Ready to punch him, a groan came out from the weak human's mouth as he hugged his everything, causing him to drop to the ground from the pain. He was already weeping when she didn't have a chance to beat his face.

She cautiously kneeled above him. What’s wrong with this person? She observed him, pleading with her to stay and keep aiding him until he fully recovered. She had been trying to keep a neutral expression around him for some time now. She wanted to beat the crap out of him, but she’s a sucker for weak humans.

Just hearing a grown man cub groan on the floor while crying like a child, all because he wanted her to stay, she couldn’t help but giggle; it was all too sweet in her eyes. She didn't sense any malicious intentions from him. He seemed spoiled and didn't know how to ask properly.

Upon observing the sky, it was obvious that rain was about to come, and that it would be heavier than before. She was desperate to reach the village before the monsoon arrived; if she left now, she wouldn't make it. Initially, she agreed to stay until he was fully recovered, and until the monsoon season was over. They then planned to go their separate ways.

She was careful to keep her guard up during the early days she spent with him, caring for his injuries and rationing her supplies for both of them, but life was too cruel. She remained longer than she had anticipated. Although he was fully recovered and the season was calming again.

They became friends in just a few weeks, and within a year they had become intimate lovers in the hut. Everything was simply the result of an unfortunate encounter planned by none other than the human king of the eastern temple.

The same human who shares the same blood as the man she fell in love with. How did this happen, she repeated those words over and over again in her head. After hearing this, she avoided the hut and her lover, who concealed the truth from her. Her entire family has been persecuted, all because the king's younger sister wanted to wear their purple fur. The same king has also sought out war and wishes to exterminate all beast folk.

The prince still comes to visit the hut, he waited until dusk for the return of the wolf, yearning to be reunited once again. For an entire month, she stayed put in the village, never leaving. The prince would occasionally come to the village to gather food and supplies, and she would hide from him.

She cried herself to sleep that night when she discovered she was pregnant, unsure if she was happy or sad. When she was just a young pup, her family was taken from her. She scouted the lands with no pack, it was a difficult life for her; living alone in the woods or in empty huts was the only safest choice.

When a greedy bastard spots an egg-laying wolf, they will strive to capture it and sell it in the slave market for an entire bag of tokens. She was left with no other choice but to search for a new place to hide.

She now has one option: To travel to the city of the beast and search for a pack willing to accept her and her child. It was amusing how she, and the prince, fantasized about a life with no problems, a life with only harmony. If anyone discovered who the father of her developing fetus was, the war would come sooner if she lived in the beast territory. It was a choice she was willing to make because the child and herself might have already just become the king's property.

The following morning,

the preparations for the long journey to Beast City territory were set.

She was unsure if the prince is still waiting for her at the hut. Even

though he hid something so important for this long, she still wishes to

see him. Her feelings for him have yet to subside. She was unable to

believe if their first encounter was truly accidental or not, given the

impossible circumstances.

The wolf felt an overwhelming sense of grief whenever he crossed her mind.

Now leaving without hearing why he comes and waits for her, she needed

to know why. Why doesn't he simply send his men to retrieve her and be

done with it? Why does he need to occupy her head with all the memories

of the things they did together?

She needed to at least know and bid the prince farewell for good. The

frustration of having fallen for him kept her in the village for this

long; she should have left the first day she found out. Punching the

wall beside her, alerted a few eyes towards her. She kept her head low

and was panting, with her arm still raised in a strike position. She was

only further frustrated, but she's not sure if she's frustrated with

him or herself for being this vulnerable to someone.

Her family gave their lives to make sure she lives and for what, so she can

die as an adult for something stupid as being curious about this human

reason for waiting. Clawing her nails at the back of her neck, she

focused her attention on the pain, causing her to control her breathing.

She needed to talk to him, even if it was from a distance. After bundling her supplies back

onto her shoulders, the wolf left the village, heading towards the hut.

Assuming that the prince would be waiting for her to return.

She felt her walking pattern was off, and her knees were weak on the walk.

Am I nervous? She questioned herself, this was a first for her. To be

nervous of some weak human that sounds like a feline in heat. "Ha!" She

said to herself. "That's not possible, not one bit. Me a bit nervous."

It was ridiculous to think a beast would cower to a weak human.

She put all her thoughts and attention into what she had and would say to

him. She assured herself that she would not be swayed by anything he

might say to convince her to stay. She also knew she'll have to return

the pendant that holds a crystal that he gave her after she kept eyeing

it around his neck. He gave it to her as a thank you for treating his

wounds.

When she finally reached the top of the hills, she saw the hut surrounded by a

shallow fog, with light coming from the inside. He was still waiting, he

still hasn't given up on her. The anger she had earlier and the

nervousness all subsided in an instance. Just that possibility of him

still being in the hut that they gave character to make her happy.

With a grin on her face, she rushed closer to the hut, unwittingly hauling

her body as she threw open the door because she had removed her cloak

and scarf. The blood sank and a very noticeable chill crept in, as the

fur from her spine and tail puffed open. It was the king's guards and

not the prince that she met inside the hut. The words she intended to

say to the prince faded. For her problems just kept growing.

Spotting two men carrying lanterns that emit smoke to disguise the trails of

fleeting, injured or just to block any beast nose. Her entire life, she

has done well to stay hidden and near the beast boundary, away from any

regal snobs. She just showed these humans her fur. Now she knew, for

sure, that the human king has been interested in her for sending a few

of his soldiers into the beast boundary. Not caring if he starts a war,

all because he wanted to capture one dead breed wolf.

The prince must have ratted her out and was using himself as bait to lure

her back to the hut. The possibility of it being true broke her heart

even more than it already was. With tears seeping from her eyes, she

backed away from the human soldiers. Her palm clenched the door handle.

Taking a big whiff in the air to find her nose, to no avail, the prince wasn't

there. She hoped to locate the prince resting in the room behind the

men or if he was at least nearby to explain what was going on, but he

was nowhere to be seen. She looked at the lanterns, they were heavily

emitting smoke, because of it, she couldn't tell if he was around.

The realization has finally hit. The prince never truly cared for her, he

only used her for his amusement, and she was a fool to allow it to

happen. In an attempt to flee from the soldiers, she jumped out the door

and barricaded the doorway with a damp log that was meant to be put out

for firewood, once it dried.

Backing up slowly, she tailed her way back to Twain's village, abandoning all

hope that the prince ever loved her, including a majority of her

luggage, which she dropped when getting to the door.

She endured the Famine season and the Monsoon seasons each year alone. She

hid from all kinds of dangerous beings, she definitely didn't need

anyone, not even a prince to save her. "The only mistake that was made

was falling in love with him." She should have just left him to die, she

cried out. Or, better yet, eat him while he was down and weak.

The pain in her chest aches from the thought of her murdering the prince,

but it hurt more when he ratted her out to his father. She came to a

halt when she realized it was safe to rest and recover. She tossed her

bag and satchel near a smooth rock and slid on it. Perking her ears, she

adjusted her breathing, looking back at the trail she went to she

noticed the vast distance she built with the soldiers of the human

kingdom.

She peered up between the forest's trees, noticing the morning light finally

filtering through the foliage. She took another whiff of the environment

to check whether she was alone, but the smoke from the lanterns and the

thick mist of the forest fog wasn't doing her any favors.

Her sense of smell had become obstructed. Those lanterns can blind a

beast's nose for a few hours or up to a few days. The wolf attempted to

think of the best way to get away from those wretched humans, but all

she could think was the soldiers hiding and waiting for her in any

situation she thought of.

"Cross the border and be trapped there until I grow old, or dye my fur to

blend in with the locals and be free to go where I want in the land I'm

familiar with, in the Twain villages." Unsure, she hesitated to decide.

Pulling a silver token from within her pocket, she scratched a shallow indent

with her claw. Instantly, as the wind howled and the early bird flew in

the sky, she flipped the coin, praying for the best outcome for her pup

and herself. She was now betting her life on merely a flip of a coin.

With each spin the token took in the air, the coin was able to collect a few

particles of light through the thin fog. Casting some sort of moving

image in front of her eyes, as if telling her where she would be

heading. It felt as if this being almost had the same presence as the

other a year ago before she fell and met the prince, it had slowed

time, she thought.

It was dazzling, yet something seemed to be encouraging her to emigrate on

the path it picked for her, not to look back. Memorized, by the strange

aura, she finally realized that the decision had to be taken fast;

there wasn't time to toy with a coin for much longer.

Placing the token in her arm after snatching it from the air. She made up her

mind, she wasn't going to listen to the thing telling her to go to the

village. The last time she did turn into her running from the king's

soldiers.

The shallow mark was assigned with her going back to the village and waiting it

out, while the other half urged her to live a safe life growing old with

her pup. Even if that meant that they'll be trapped to never leave the

walls.

Lifting her paw, she saw no indent; she was already aware of the course she needed

to take. With all that had transpired thus far, she felt happy she had

made a decent decision.

She gathered her

belongings and headed for the border. She was finally leaving her past

and the prince behind. Even though she didn't carry much, she was aware

that traveling for four days straight would be a difficult feat for her.

At the moment, she can't get the king out of her mind. He knows where

she'll most likely be heading, and may already have his knights residing

near the border. Even if she chose to take the long route, it will be

too tough for her to walk up the mountain alone. She'd consider the coin

again, but she doesn't want to slow down any longer. She must be on the

road at all times, and once she arrives, she will be able to rest until

a pack takes her and her pup.

When the wolf noticed a stream of water heading towards one of the mountains

on the fourth day, she needed to stop and immerse her weary, throbbing

feet in the cold water. Fortunately, she was only a few minutes from the

border, and her only break came when she fled away from the knights

near Twain's village. She needed it. Despite the fact that her feet felt

refreshed in the water, she was exhausted.

She knew she couldn't stop for long. She splashed water over her face and

arms and rose swiftly to continue her soon-to-be-ending torture of

traveling without rest. She fumbled around her satchel and plucked an

apple from within, but as soon as she bit into it, her hands smacked her

in the face from a rope tightened around her wrist. When she shifted

her head around, she spotted the king's troops.

They did indeed pursue her; in terror, she kicked one of the knights as far

as she could and ripped a chunk of flesh from the other. She dashed

away, leaving one of the bags behind. She tried to disentangle her

wrists from the ropes, but it was useless since the rope possessed

magic. She had no option but to leave it like is until she could get

close enough to the border, but first, she needed to get out of the

forest and into a broad view where she could be seen or heard.

Unlike humans', beast folk have stronger eyesight, hearing, and a good scent,

all she needs to do is get close enough to be detected. She ran as fast

as her sore feet would allow but kept tumbling to the ground. She didn't

have much support to keep her stable for much longer. She quickly

discovered that the rope coiled around her wrist was draining all of her

energy and slowing her down considerably quicker. She was now panicking

more than ever.

With her good eyesight now being depleted, her vision became fuzzy. She

strained her sight towards the direction of the border. She could see

the wall and a few beast-men heading towards and out of it; relieved and

in tears, she turned around and realized the knights weren't far behind

her. She had no option but to stop struggling. Recovering her breath,

she stood where she was, gathering as much energy that was around her as

she could before the knights could lay their dirty hands on her. She

inhaled deeply and howled as fiercely as she could to warn the other

beast folk.

When I said that everyone in the next village near the border could hear the

screaming wail of the wolf, I wasn't kidding. Even the knights had to

stop to plug their ears, they were scared of the wolf's wrath. Taking

another big breath, she howled vigorously towards the border walls,

alerting all the beast folk about the king's knights, who were too close

and coming to take her away. She slumped to her knees, and she

painfully sobbed. All of her energy has gotten stolen. She can no longer

move much further.

Soon after the wolf collapsed from exhaustion caused by the ropes, she was

apprehended by the humans, who were terrified by what they had just

witnessed from the wolf.

"She moves alone, and yet for a wolf to have that much power alone is

incredible." She overheard one of the knights standing over her speak

just before she blacked out.