Survival. Vengeance. Rage. It was all that was left of her when the dust settled and the adrenaline faded. Soleil still recalled that ill-fated night vividly. The chilling howls of the beast. The fearful screams of her companions. The terrible crunching of bones and flesh as the monster tore their bodies apart. She could still remember the way her heart sank as each lifeless body was strewn across the camp. Even in the pitch-black darkness of the forest, she could not forget the amber eyes of the beast that had once been her captain.

Soleil jolted awake. Her heart hammered in her chest, and it took a moment for the paladin to calm herself. The familiar sight of Vynx asleep at her side brought the woman back to reality. On the other side of him was the slumbering Hilde, curled up closely to the hunter. They were no longer sharing a lavish bed at the Rose Garden but rather a small tent that could barely fit the three of them. The night air chilled her even with the trio huddled up in their blankets and bedrolls. Soleil allowed herself to sink back under the covers and sighed.

Only one more night until the full moon, she thought to herself. Soleil stared at the creased ceiling of the tent while imagining the moon and starry sky on the other side. One more night until their mark would show himself. One final opportunity for her to avenge her fallen comrades. Her scars were practically aching under her clothes, as if her body could already sense the coming effects of the moonlight. Soleil willed her mind to empty its thoughts, but she could only see the werewolf more vividly each time she shut her eyes.

"Having a bad dream?" Vynx's voice interrupted the silence with a gentle whisper. As Soleil turned to face him, the hunter was already keenly watching her. 

"... Yeah. Just remembering that night again," Soleil replied. "It's nothing new. Don't let me keep you up."

Vynx yawned and pulled her closer against his side. His hand stroked her hair in a soothing manner until her body relaxed. "It's alright to be scared, Sol. You don't need to hide it."

"Who said anything about being scared?" she grumbled. "Anxious, maybe, but I'm not afraid of another werewolf."

He had to wonder if that was the truth. Sure, they had taken down packs of werewolves before, but this time, their target was a man who had also been her superior in the army. Vynx questioned whether her head was in the right place, especially with how pensive the paladin had been ever since they arrived at the Cobalt Mountains. "We'll be fine. Just focus on staying in control; if you want to master those werewolf powers, then you need to keep your emotions in check during the transformation," Vynx reminded her. "As such, wouldn't it be better to get anything off your chest now, before the full moon?"

Her face scrunched up in annoyance. She hated acknowledging that he was right. "I'm just… worried that something will go wrong," Soleil muttered. The fears were not unfounded. They were fears she had carried with her ever since that night—fears that she would lose control and harm her companions exactly like the man she condemned. Wrapped beneath the worries was another unexplainable weight in her chest, a hint of dread for the confrontation to come. At last, she mumbled, "I know this is just another hunt like the dozens we've done already. I guess I'm just not used to it being so… personal."

"Taking out some nameless monsters is always different from cutting down someone you know. I get it." Vynx rubbed her shoulder tenderly with his thumb. "Even if you hate them with every fiber of your body, there's always some sentimental part of your brain that questions if what you're doing is right…" The hunter spoke as he recalled faces from his own past, remembering both the victims he had been forced to end and the enemies he relished in defeating. A strange hollowness always followed when it was all over—the reality that he had erased yet another person permanently from his life.

The paladin could see the solemn look in Vynx's eyes. She had believed that someone as experienced as him would have discarded such sentiments by now, but it was clear that Vynx still held on to every memory from his long life. Her expression hardened. "This is what he deserves after what he's done. The kingdom will be better off with one less monster threatening its people," Soleil said, even if it was only a shallow justification to placate her holy vow.

"You can just say that you hate his guts, Sol." Vynx chuckled dryly.

"I fucking hate his guts," Soleil scowled. She gripped the blanket and pulled it up to her nose while she glowered.

"Then that's all you need to focus on. Don't worry about the rest of us; I'll make sure the others don't end up in harm's way. Tomorrow is your battle. You know what to do." Vynx couldn't help but smirk as his werewolf companion simmered in determination. It might not have been his best advice, but there was no need to complicate the mission at hand. 

The sight of the mountain village peeking through the rows of coniferous trees came as a relief to the weary travellers. The trip had been arduous to traverse on foot, and Vynx knew that the ladies were eager to check into a tavern and warm up by an actual fireplace. While Sophia was able to hitch a ride in his pocket and Laven had stayed within his shadow, he could tell that Hilde was exhausted from the uphill climb to the remote town. Rays of afternoon sunlight reflected from the snow-covered rooftops of houses, and Vynx identified the single tallest building in town as the local inn. 

After paying for the biggest room, Vynx helped unpack their bags and immediately slumped into the armchair by the hearth. Durable as his body was, he still appreciated the feeling of his toes thawing out by the warmth of the fireside. "We've still got some daylight to burn before nightfall. Once we're ready, we should split up and ask around town about our target," he suggested.

"What is this guy's name anyways?" Laven appeared next to the hunter with her arms crossed. "You haven't exactly told us anything about him besides the fact he killed your old squad." 

Soleil furrowed her brow and grumbled, "His name is Garreth Mond. I doubt he's still going by that moniker, so keep an eye out for a tall, well-built brunette man with amber eyes and a scar across his nose." 

"Can't you just sniff out other werewolves? You all have that wild dog smell, after all," Laven sneered.

Grinding her teeth, Soleil did her best to ignore the succubus's mocking expression. "I'll be tracking him, yes, but the cold air makes it harder for scents to travel."

"What should we do if we find him?" Hilde questioned. "I mean, assuming he's still human when we do…"

"Do not engage. We'll meet back here after the sun sets and deal with it from there," Soleil said firmly. 

Vynx watched the paladin's stern features and finally nodded. "Sounds like a plan. I'm with Laven perforce. Hilde and Sophia, you two stay together. Soleil—"

"I'll be fine by myself." 

"I know. Just take care, alright? If you find him, give us a signal, and we'll be there as soon as we can," Vynx insisted. He removed his gun from its holster and held it out to Soleil. "Bring this with you too. It's already loaded with silver bullets." 

Soleil widened her eyes as she gazed upon Vynx's pistol. He had never let anyone touch the gun, let alone borrow his prized weapon. "Are you sure...? I'm not exactly the best marksman." 

"Just take it." Vynx pressed the grip into her hand and chuckled. "Consider this my way of going with you, even if I'm not there." 

The paladin regarded him silently. At last, she nodded and slid the pistol into her belt.

Laven had been correct about tracking werewolves. 

Picking up her target's trail was straightforward when she knew where to look. Soleil had withheld a minute detail from the rest of the party: the fur trader in the capital mentioned that his supplier lived outside of the village and only came into town once a week to sell. While the others were preoccupied with speaking to the townsfolk, Soleil searched for trails leading into the forest and followed the path that smelled of wolf. 

Soleil's thoughts wandered as she marched along the snow-covered road. Another set of footprints seemed to lead towards town, but they appeared smaller than the average man's. Still, the scent along the trail was unmistakable, and she trudged forward until she arrived at a clearing. A lone wood cabin stood beside neatly stacked piles of lumber with a steady column of smoke rising from its chimney. The paladin approached, keeping her right hand hovering close to the hilt of her sword and Vynx's pistol firmly clasped in her left. 

As she arrived at the entrance, she paused. The cedar door before her was the final barrier between her and her mark. There were only a few more hours before nightfall, and the call of the full moon was already singing in the back of her mind. Soleil rapped harshly against the wood and waited. 

A few heavy footsteps rumbled from behind the door before it opened to a frustrated fellow in a tunic and leather vest. "Ugh, did you forget something? I told you not to come back until tomorrow morning—" 

Click. 

Soleil pressed the barrel of the gun at the man's throat. Glaring up at the woodsman, she met the familiar amber eyes of the man whom she had once known. "Captain Garreth." 

"S… Soleil?" Garreth froze. He kept his gaze locked on Soleil's as he cautiously raised both hands at his side to show that he was unarmed. 

"Don't move." 

"It's… really you." His voice wavered for a second before he squared his shoulders again. "Listen… I'm sure you have questions. Just let me speak," Garreth said.

"Not really. I've waited these last four years to rip your throat out." Soleil narrowed her eyes. At this range, even she couldn't miss.

"Then why haven't you shot me already?"

Garreth's commanding tone made her tense. Soleil felt her finger tremble over the trigger. 

That was enough for the man before her to smile wryly. "... Come inside. It's cold out there." Garreth stepped back and turned to stride to his kitchen counter. "I'll fix up some cocoa. Got a new tin I've been meaning to share." 

Soleil cursed herself for her hesitation. She stomped into the cabin, shutting the door behind her with a hard slam. Silently, she inspected the cottage for any weapons. The scent of smouldering wood and animal skins hung heavy in the room, but aside from a few tanning knives and hunting daggers, there was little else that he could use to attack her. The paladin stood stiffly between the kitchen and the leatherworking table, keeping her gun fixed on the man. 

Garreth was calm as he scooped two spoonfuls of cocoa powder into a tin mug. He then removed a kettle from the fireplace and filled the cup with steaming water before giving it a stir. "Sorry, we're out of milk right now. Was planning to grab some later this week, after…"

"After the full moon?" Soleil scoffed. 

"Yeah. You know how it is." Garreth offered the mug to her. When Soleil remained unmoving, he shrugged and brought it back to his own lips to take a long gulp. 

"How many others have you killed since then?" 

"Just livestock and wandering beasts. I've kept to myself since I left the army." The man sighed and leaned against the counter as he spoke, his deep voice heavy and wracked with guilt. Garreth was no longer the charismatic and bold captain that had once led their squad through hell and back on the battlefield. His hair and stubble had grown out since their days in the army, and the brunette locks now held a few streaks of grey. "I know you must hate me after what happened. You have every right to. But… believe me when I say that I never meant to hurt you or the others."

Soleil gritted her teeth. "You killed them all. Reginald, Hayden, Machie, Layla… Their blood is on your hands, Garreth," she reminded him with a scowl. The faces of their former comrades flashed through her mind, and her arm shook in growing anger. 

"I know. I know what I did." Garreth clenched the metal cup in his hand and muttered, "I thought I would be able to stay away after we set up camp… but I didn't run far enough." A wave of emotion washed over his worn features, and his head lowered in remorse. "When I regained control, all I could taste was their blood. It made me sick… so I fled and never looked back. I laid down my sword and swore never to kill another human." His broad shoulders slumped, as if weighed by the memories of his past. After a long silence, he raised his eyes again to Soleil with a comforted smile. "I… didn't know you survived, Soleil." 

The paladin growled, "I became a monster. All because of you!" Her vision began to blur in her fury. For years, she had questioned his betrayal. How long had he hidden his curse from them? Why had he left her alive? As the answers all came to light, his explanation only incensed her more. The room was rapidly darkening as the sun disappeared behind the horizon. Soleil seethed in anger, the primal rage in her bubbling higher with each passing word. 

"... And I'm sorry. For everything." Garreth set his cup down and faced her. "If you want to kill me, then I understand."

"How much longer do we have to wait?" Laven propped her chin in her hands as she leaned against the bar counter in exasperation. The succubus, currently clad in her human disguise, watched Vynx with an impatient pout as he chugged down a tankard of ale next to her. 

"Until Soleil gets back or we get a signal," Vynx replied. He maintained an unbothered expression even as his foot tapped impatiently against the floorboards. The party had reconvened at the tavern after questioning the locals about their wolf problems, only to learn that aside from a few missing farm animals, they had never lost anyone to an attack. It was surprisingly good news, though Vynx still had a bad feeling about the whole thing. 

The vampiress at his other side slowly drank from her flask of cow's blood. "The moon will be out soon," Sophia whispered. 

"All the more reason to let her do what she needs to do out there," the hunter stated. "I promised to keep you all safe. Soleil's a tough cookie; unless she needs our help, I know she'll be fine." He allowed himself to be distracted by the platter of pot roast served by the innkeeper and began scarfing down the hot meal. Vynx imagined that their werewolf companion would be pretty hungry by now. He just hoped that she would be sated regardless of the outcome.