Kashvi woke with a start; she could sense other bodies close by. She leaned up and looked over to the werewolf. Mateo was sitting in the same spot but his eyes were open and fixed on Kashvi. He looked alert and Kashvi was pretty sure he could sense them too.
Kashvi nudged Devon awake and clamped a hand over his mouth to keep him quiet, she tapped him twice on the wrist which was their signal for 'danger'. They had worked out some wordless ways to communicate early on after the curse, so as not to alert wolves with keen hearing to their presence.
Kashvi felt Devon tense underneath her, his hand was already reaching for the switch blade he kept tucked in the back of his jeans. Kashvi peeled off Devon and stood up warily, her fingers wrapping around the handle of her machete, one eye still trained on the werewolf.
She wondered if there were other wolves nearby if the werewolf would move or make some noise to attract them? If that would even be beneficial to him?
Devon rose up into a crouched position as Kashvi laid a steadying hand on his shoulder. Suddenly, the werewolf jerked his head to his right, looking behind her. Kashvi swung round, machete drawn only to come face to face with a loaded crossbow.
"Don't move," instructed the crossbow holder. She was a young woman, she looked about the same age as Kashvi and Devon with dyed green hair scraped up in a bun. From behind her, appeared two men, both holding guns, another woman came out of the trees to their right holding a bow and arrow.
"Who are you?" asked one of the men gruffly. He was stockily built and had a gnarly scar across his cheek. "And what the hell are you doing with a werewolf?" He pointed his gun towards Mateo, who snarled loudly, his eyes flashing gold.
"An Alpha?" the man lowered his gun, looking surprised. "How did you manage that?"
Kashvi pursed her lips and huffed, she looked back at the green haired girl,
"Get that arrow out of my face and I'll consider telling you."
They were hunters, humans who banded together to hunt werewolves, they moved from settlement to settlement, they were merciless and ruthless by reputation.
Kashvi had only encountered a handful before and that was on the road. The girl introduced herself as Ruby, her father had been killed by a ronin wolf two months previous and she had only just joined this group of hunters a few days ago. The others were called Bill, Cameron and Trudy.
"Where are you heading with him?" Trudy asked, gesturing at Mateo after they had all settled down and weapons had been grudgingly lowered.
"A human settlement I've heard of that's north of here." Kashvi replied, she felt tense. She didn't know what the hunters were going to do, whether they would want to put the wolf down there and then or what.
"To sell?" Ruby asked, staring at the wolf like he was a curiosity, "Been a while since I saw an Alpha. He should fetch you a high price."
"That's the idea," Devon grinned.
"We should travel together," Bill suggested, still fingering his gun, "If you're willing to split the recompense? We need to reach a settlement soon anyway to restock provisions."
Kashvi nodded thoughtfully. She doubted the hunters would take no for an answer and she could always do with the added weaponry on their side. They would have to traverse Chimera country before reaching the settlement. Kashvi looked over to Devon; he was already talking animatedly to the hunter Trudy about longbows.
"Agreed," Kashvi said and noted a relieved smile crossing Ruby's face.
"We should get moving then," Cameron announced. "Cover as much forest as possible today, out into the plains tomorrow."
"Ugh - you sound like Kashvi!" Devon grinned.
"Is he well restrained?" Ruby walked over towards the werewolf, nudging him with her foot. "You had wolfsbane ropes?"
"Collected the flowers myself," Devon announced proudly to the clearing.
"Impressive," Bill commented, "but why hasn't he tried to change into Alpha form?"
"His injuries," Kashvi cut across before Devon could answer. She didn't want to have to explain the hex. Hunters were known for killing witches as well as wolves. "They were made by magic so he hasn't healed enough to change yet."
Kashvi looked over at the werewolf, catching his eyes as she lied, but Mateo remained grimly silent. She walked over to untie the rope, handing it to Devon. Trudy shot her an incredulous look,
"Shouldn't the person who can see, be the one holding onto the lead?"
Kashvi shrugged, "Devon has managed so far."
"Again, impressive," Bill remarked drily, staring at Devon's clouded eyes with interest.
"Let's go," Ruby announced, "clearings are dangerous to linger in." With that she led the way into the thick of the trees.
Devon was still chatting happily with Trudy, who was offering warnings as to any approaching obstacles, so Kashvi quickened her pace so as to catch up with Ruby.
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