The chatter of the other inn patrons buzzed around them. While Laven and Sophia brooded with Vynx at the bar, Hilde was speaking excitedly to a woman knitting by the fireplace. "Do you think they'll be a boy or girl? Have you chosen a name yet?" 

"Aha, I'm hoping for a girl, but my husband is betting on a boy," the woman replied. A warm smile played on her lips as she patted the baby bump under her dress. "Either way, I'll be happy so long as they arrive healthy and hearty." 

Hilde knelt by the expecting mother. "I shall pray for a safe delivery and blessed future for you both." The priestess beamed as the woman gave her an appreciative nod. 

"Thank you, Sister Hilde. Are you and your party staying long?"

"Oh, you can just call me Hilde. As for us, I believe we'll be in town for a few days…" Hilde answered carefully. "What about you? Shouldn't you be at home right now, Caroline?"

The woman let out a small chuckle and picked up her knitting needles again. "My husband's off on another hunt, so he wanted me to stay in town until he gets back. Just in case I need any help." 

"I see… I hope that he returns safely then." Hilde cast a worried glance at the glowing moon hanging in the night sky. 

"He always does." 

The hours ticked by with no word or signal from Soleil. The group was getting restless, and none of them seemed keen on sleeping early that night. As the other tavern patrons returned to their respective chambers or homes, only Vynx and his companions remained in the common room. 

With no townsfolk around to eavesdrop, Vynx spoke up. "You should try and get some rest, Hilde." He knew that the cleric was drained from their long day of travel.

"Will you go out and look for her if I do?" Hilde asked. She was unusually standoffish as she squinted at Vynx. 

The hunter winced and rubbed the back of his head. "Well, it's not like I need sleep… and if anyone should be responsible for bringing Soleil back safely, it should be me."

"I know that you want to protect us… but you aren't the only one worried about Soleil." The cleric frowned. Hilde could tell that Vynx was the most antsy out of all of them, but in order to keep his word, he had chosen to stay back with the group rather than follow Soleil.

"Ugh, I'm sick of this. We're coming with you whether you like it or not," Laven scoffed and let her form melt back into darkness, sinking to the ground and merging with Vynx's shadow once more. 

Vynx opened his mouth to protest, but the determined stares from Hilde and Sophia made him fall silent again. There was no easy way to shake off the ladies once they had seen through him. At last, he exhaled and said, "Alright, you guys win. Just stay close to me, and don't let your guard down." The ivory moon was in full view, and Vynx made sure he had his silver dagger on hand before heading out. He only hoped that he would have no need for it once they found Soleil.

The group had barely left the village when they heard a mournful howl echoing through the forest. It did not take long for them to find the trail of footprints leading to the lone cabin, nor more than a single glance to tell that it was empty. From the window, Vynx could see that the fireplace had recently been extinguished. As he tried the door, he was surprised to see it come open with a small push. "The door's unlocked," he muttered. He stepped inside and inspected the empty cottage, peering through the darkness for any sign of their paladin. To his dismay, a set of recognizable armour had been left on the floor in a haphazard fashion. 

"I don't smell any blood in here, but I suppose that can only mean they took this outside," Sophia said. 

"A duel to the death, huh?" Vynx knelt down and chuckled grimly under his breath. He found his flintlock pistol under the steel breastplate, right next to Soleil's sword. The hunter wasted no more time and collected the weapons. "We'll have to come back for her armour later. Sophia, can you follow their scent?" 

"I believe so. It practically reeks of wolf around here," the vampiress stated. With that, Sophia took the lead, following a pair of footsteps into the thick of the forest. As soon as she heard another howl, she charged ahead towards the source of the sound. Even in the frigid night air, the scent of blood grew stronger the deeper they went.  

Vynx followed behind, keeping Hilde's hand in his as they dashed through the snowy thickets. His vision at night was on par with Sophia's, but he had to remind himself that Hilde was less adapted to seeing in the dark. Fortunately, the moon provided enough light for him to keep Sophia in view, and eventually, they caught up with the vampiress. 

In a snowy glade, a werewolf howled at the skies. Each cry rang through the air, long and sorrowful in its timbre. The werewolf's fur, marred with claw marks and blood, had a shade of brown reminiscent of Soleil's hair. At her feet, a larger werewolf lay in the snow, its life wavering as its chest rose and fell in strained breaths. A particularly nasty gash was visible across its torso, the silver fur surrounding the wound now dyed with deep crimson. 

"Soleil…" Vynx knew her werewolf form well. He could only assume that the fallen wolfman next to her was Garreth from the scar running across his muzzle. 

The female werewolf snapped her head in their direction. A look of fury returned to her features, and a feral growl emitted from her throat. She glared at the group, her posture shifting to a hostile stance as soon as Vynx took a step closer. 

"She doesn't recognize us right now," Sophia warned. While their companion had learned to avoid attacking her and Vynx in the past, it seemed that what little self-control she had was now lost to primal instinct.

"That's what I was afraid of," Vynx mumbled. Still, he had a job to do, and he took another step forward unflinchingly. The beast before him was infuriated, but she was still Soleil at the end of the day. They were too close to the village for comfort, and now that she had seen them, running was no longer an option. Vynx reached for his dagger the moment Soleil began to charge at the hunter in rage.

To Vynx's surprise, black robes suddenly appeared before him, and a clang of claws against bone resounded through the air. Hilde's reaper had manifested between him and Soleil, blocking the werewolf's attack. It emitted a low groan and caught Soleil's other arm when she lashed at it again. The reaper's skeletal hand refused to let go of the thrashing werewolf, even as Soleil growled and tore at its robes with her fangs. 

"Hilde?! What are you doing?" Vynx moved back to prevent the cleric from coming closer, but she only pressed forward. 

"Forgive me… I have to do this." Hilde pushed Vynx's arm away and ran towards the werewolf collapsed in the snow. While her reaper kept Soleil distracted, she dropped to her knees and placed her hand over the wolfman's chest, urgently whispering her healing incantation. 

"Hmph, she really is too soft," Laven's voice scoffed in the back of Vynx's mind. Yet the shadows under the hunter began to shift, and the succubus reappeared at his side. "Allow me." Raising her hand in Soleil's direction, Laven murmured a spell of her own. Her eyes glowed violet, and with each word, the werewolf's anger began to wane. While Soleil struggled to pull away from the unmoving reaper, her head lolled forward as her body tottered on its feet, fighting both the skeletal being and Laven's magical enchantment. But once Laven finished the spell, Soleil's eyes gradually closed, and she sank into a deep slumber. 

Vynx was astounded by his companions' quick thinking. His shoulders relaxed, and he pulled his hand away from his knife. "Good job, you two. If it were up to me, I'm not sure if I could have stopped Soleil without harming her," he admitted. Vynx went to Soleil's side to check her wounds, kneeling down into the snow while his hands ran over her bloodstained fur. To his relief, none of the injuries were deep enough to be fatal, and he had to wonder if that was by intention. He finally turned his attention back to Garreth and pursed his lips. 

"... We're too late." Hilde's voice trembled as she removed her hands from the werewolf's chest. Though the gash had closed, the wolfman did not stir. His eyes remained closed in his final rest. 

"I'm sorry, Hilde," Vynx faltered. It had been his decision not to interfere in Soleil's fight. He had convinced himself that this hunt was necessary—both to protect the village and to quell Soleil's vengeance. The fallen werewolf resembled nearly every other he had slain in the past, but Hilde's quiet sobs still tugged at his heart. Maybe Soleil had been lamenting this outcome as well. 

The silvery dawn greeted them once they arrived back at the log cabin. Vynx had somehow managed to haul Soleil's werewolf form with them through the forest; while thankful for his unnatural strength, it was still not easy carrying a seven-foot-tall creature back in one piece. Thankfully, Hilde had taken care of Soleil's injuries, and the werewolf's exhaustion kept her unconscious even once Laven's spell wore off. The hunter lugged his sleeping companion through the door with one final grunt of effort before setting her down on the bearskin rug near the fireplace. 

Hilde shut the door once they were all inside. She cast her eyes down in guilt as she noticed a set of unpainted wooden toys on the workbench. "I really hate to barge in like this, especially after…" 

"Yeah, it doesn't feel great." Vynx sat down next to Soleil and lowered his eyes. "At least now, he's free from the curse. Here's hoping he gets a better lot in the next life." As the sun's rays peeked through the frosted windows, he watched as the werewolf's fur contracted and her bestial form contorted with an unsettling crack of bones. Within seconds, Soleil shrank back into her human form, covered in only the ripped undergarments she had left with. 

"Ngh…" The paladin groaned weakly. Though her wounds had healed, she still felt every ache and tear from the transformation in her body. Her eyelids fluttered open groggily. The memories of the night before were hazy in her mind, yet she could still taste the coppery tang of blood in her mouth. As her vision focused on her surroundings, she was met with Vynx's familiar smile. 

"Morning, Sol. You sure had one hell of a night, if I had to guess," Vynx greeted her with his usual chipper tone. It may have sounded more forced than he would have liked, but he was genuinely glad to see her back to normal. 

"... Hey," Soleil awkwardly addressed the group. 

"How are you feeling, Soleil?" Hilde asked in a gentle whisper.

The paladin sat up and rubbed her neck, wincing. Every part of her body felt like it had pulled a muscle. "Like crap, honestly, but that's usually how it goes with the full moon," she grumbled. Soleil glanced around the cabin, somewhat disoriented, until she noticed the tin mug sitting on the kitchen counter. Then, like a tidal wave, the memories of the night before came crashing back down on her. "Fuck. It's over, isn't it?" Her words were more of a statement than a question. The solemn look in Hilde's eyes was enough to confirm that the taste of blood in her mouth was not just some animal's. It had been Garreth's. 

"Mission accomplished, right? You killed the big, bad, traitorous werewolf," Laven sneered. "I'm sure you'll sleep much easier now that he's gone." 

"Laven, that's enough." Vynx shot the succubus a stern look. 

Soleil buried her head in her hands. "That's right. Now the only shitty werewolf left is me," she sighed. There was no joy to be felt when her target had surrendered himself to her judgement. Garreth had done nothing to rebuke her accusations, yet in the end, Soleil couldn't even bring herself to shoot him. The only way she knew how to settle her vendetta was as beasts. "I gave in to my hatred. It was easier that way. I didn't even try to control myself once I transformed," Soleil hissed. She gripped her face as she recalled Garreth's sombre compliance and their final conversation heading into the forest. "He… asked me to continue keeping this kingdom safe. To help… keep his family safe."

Hilde knelt in front of Soleil and pulled her into a tight hug. The cleric said nothing as Soleil finally crumpled, swallowing harshly as she fought back tears. 

Vynx got up to retrieve Soleil's armour. The metal was dull and worn from years of battle, the golden paint on its edges now chipped in many places. He set the pieces next to Soleil and then placed his hand on her shoulder. "Garreth was a soldier too. Most don't get to choose how they'll die, but at least you found an honourable way to end things." Vynx had to give them that much respect. Gilded words like "honour" had never meant much to a wanderer like him, but a dignified death was better than being hunted as another monster.

The hunter hardly ever stayed for funerals. They were far too melancholic for him, but he knew that it would not be right for them to skip town without informing Garreth's wife. Ultimately, Vynx relayed her husband's passing as an unfortunate werewolf attack during his hunt. The woman was startled, but she took Vynx's words with a reserved acceptance. It was the story that he would give to the rest of the village, and no one doubted a report from a seasoned hunter such as himself. There would be no body to bury, and Caroline seemed to understand that more than anyone else. 

In reality, Soleil and Hilde wanted to pay their respects, even if the truth was more bitter than they could bear. As Hilde stayed by the weeping widow's side through the procession, Soleil maintained a resolute gaze while the townsfolk carried a wooden coffin containing Garreth's old armour and sword. The two watched as the funeral rites were carried out and, with heavy hearts, offered white carnations once the burial was over. The attending visitors departed one by one until only Vynx's party and Caroline remained. 

Wiping her swollen eyes, Caroline looked up at Hilde with a weak smile. "Thank you for your kindness, Hilde. And thank you, good hunter, for looking out for our village. I should also head home now," she said. The woman bowed courteously to Hilde and Vynx. 

"No, we didn't do anything worth praise." Hilde shook her head. "Please take care and get home safely, Caroline." Her lower lip quivered, but she kept her smile as best she could while she bid Caroline adieu. 

Soleil stood in silence as the woman in mourning attire walked by her. In her guilt, she finally understood her captain's decisions. She wanted to turn away from it all and run. But as Soleil felt Vynx's hand on her shoulder, she forced herself to look forward again. Their mission was far from over. A cold emptiness had replaced the festering vengeance that had burned inside her for years, but that too would numb in time. As one vow came to an end, a new one had taken its place.