Urgent Matters

     In the two days that followed Charlotte's solo excursion into the forest, she went on to hone and experiment with her own newfound ability just as Will had been doing for days prior. However, unlike Will, she pushed herself only to the point of significant exertion rather than complete exhaustion. She would always ensure that safety was her first priority despite her intense desire to hone her skill. She practiced consistently for those two days, doing her best to understand her ability as best she could despite the countless questions that had been lingering in her mind since the day she had discovered it. The most prevalent question that remained in her thoughts during that time was the question of her ability’s source. After Will had discovered his own power, he attempted to put the curious sensation he had felt earlier that evening into words. He described it as a tingling sensation that steadily grew more intense as the light he saw within himself gathered in his legs. His legs grew warm, and it was as if fiery sparks raced through his blood, running hot throughout his body. Then, upon pushing downward with his legs to leap into the air, he felt an unbelievably intense heat, explosive and white hot, coursing through the entirety of his lower body. It seemed to sear his insides, startling him with feelings foreign to him, but it was exhilarating. Though, as one might expect, Will did not explain things in a manner quite as eloquent as this. One of his more notable descriptions of the event was, in his own words, “...badass and exciting”.

     Regardless, Charlotte did her best to follow along with his… “colorful” explanation. Thinking back to it, she had hoped it might allow her to better understand her own power—that strange, flowing something that she had felt both within the trees and plants of the forest, and within herself as well. However, recalling his explanation only seemed to confuse her further. The things he had described sounded nothing like what she had experienced at all. In fact, it was as if the two sensations were polar opposites entirely. So, left with no other option, she trained and experimented on her own. She had spent those two days wisely, and to her pleasure, her understanding of her abilities grew.

     She practiced in her spare time, as well as during the daily requests the two of them took on together. She even took on additional small requests of her own to complete, so as to avoid relying on Will and his physical enhancement while also attempting to strengthen her connection with nature. Charlotte indeed spent a fair bit of time in the forest, as was necessary. All so she could be better prepared for what she thought was likely to come in the future. Feeling prepared would put her at ease, so she worked diligently for those two days. One peculiar thing she had noticed while out in the forest, however, was a distinct decrease in the number of small animals and monsters that typically resided there. It wasn't as though they had disappeared completely, but she certainly saw less of them each day. In the end, she chalked it up to the creatures simply hiding from her as she trained. What unnerved her further was what occurred during the most recent evening she had spent practicing. It was a deep and distant howl, the call of some far-off beast in the depths of the forest. The sound lasted for but a moment, but it sent an eerie chill down Charlotte's spine before fading into the night. She found it somewhat concerning, but she assured herself that everything was surely fine and returned to her business.

     In the time she had spent seeking to develop her power, she made several useful and intriguing discoveries. She had heard other hunters speaking of something peculiar on multiple occasions. Something called “mana”. It was something she had been vaguely familiar with in the world she and Will originated from, but there, it was purely a work of fiction. From what she had heard numerous others mention on the subject, it appeared that mana was that strange something she had felt flowing within the countless plants of the forest. Apparently, it was a well-known fact that all living things in the world could generate and store mana within them. For humans as well as most of the other humanoid races, a practice known as mage craft had allowed them to conjure and control incredible phenomena by harnessing the mana stored in their bodies. To Charlotte, the concept was entirely absurd and fantastical in nature, something she could previously find only in books, movies, and videogames. However, in the world she and Will now resided in, it was an undeniable reality she would need to accept to understand the world as a whole. So, with her newfound knowledge, she resolved to continue her training and experimentation in the days to come.

     Following that, she had believed the coming day would be no different. She planned to practice and experiment with her ability just as she had before, expecting no interruptions. That morning, she awoke feeling well-rested and quickly readied herself for the day. She met up with Will as they both exited their rooms at about the same time, and the two of them proceeded down to the Inn's dining area for breakfast.

     Annette, or “Miss Annette” as the pair called her, greeted them with a warm and welcoming smile as they came downstairs and sat down at the counter separating the kitchen from the seating area. She was the owner and proprietor of the Inn as well as the cook, preparing warm, hearty meals for those looking to fill their bellies. Day or night, she would cook for the good hunters and visitors that frequented the Inn, taking pride in the smiles her cooking and hospitality brought them. The pair had grown quite fond of telling her all about their exploits as novice hunters as they ate in the evening, and she listened each and every time with a smile. Truly, she was the very definition of the word “comforting”, though that was no reason to think her a pushover. While she was more than happy to show hospitality to those that were struggling or going through a rough time, what she would not accept was blatant disrespect toward the Inn or her patrons. Will and Charlotte had seen that first hand when a drunken townsperson grew a bit too rowdy at his table and nearly started a fight with another patron. Annette simply grabbed her cast iron frying pan, still hot from the open flame she had been cooking on, and threatened the man with it. He immediately ran out of the Inn, serving as a clear demonstration of why no one in their right mind would ever get on the kind yet stern woman's bad side.

     The two of them had not been seated for even a minute before Annette placed two wooden bowls in front of them with a smile. They were filled to the brim with a hearty breakfast stew made with sausages, potatoes, and a few different spring vegetables. Seasoned only with salt due to the luxurious and exclusive nature of spices in the world, the dish’s flavor was not especially pronounced or complex, but the immense care taken in its preparation was clear. 

     “Here ya go, you two!” she said cheerfully, her smile brightening further. “I figured you'd be coming down about now, so I made sure to have something ready for ya. Enjoy!”

     Will and Charlotte both nodded gratefully and began eating the stew with gusto—Will even more so than Charlotte considering the near animalistic manner in which he scarfed it down. The two were grateful for every bite, right down to the last morsel. Once the two had finished their portions, Charlotte slid her bowl and spoon toward the other side of the counter with a content sigh.

     “Thank you, Miss Annette,” she murmured in satisfaction. “It was delicious.”

     Will, on the other hand, was not finished eating. He reached toward Annette with a muffled grunt, empty bowl in hand.

     “Seconds, please!” he requested, the sound dampened as he spoke with his mouth full.

     Charlotte turned to look at him with incredulity, letting out a sigh as Annette took the bowl from him with a spirited laugh. She found his display ill-mannered to say the least, but Annette did not seem to mind in the slightest. She turned around and moved to refill his bowl with a second helping of stew, feeling quite happy that Will enjoyed it so much. She quickly ladled the additional helping of stew into the wooden bowl before turning back to Will and setting it down in front of him once again. The atmosphere in the room was wonderfully calm and comfortable as Will prepared to scarf down his second serving of food, but his enjoyment was cut tragically short as a hunter burst through the front door and called out to the pair. An almost deafening crack of wood against wood was heard as the doors collided with the wall as they swung open. He had been sent by the Hunter's Guild to fetch the two of them immediately. There was an emergency.

     Charlotte and Will were required to attend an urgent gathering of all available hunters at the guild hall immediately. There was no time to waste, though Will was certainly loath to leave his food behind. He glanced between the piping hot bowl of stew and the hunter that had come to fetch them, alternating between the two multiple times as if debating which was more important. Charlotte, however, was having none of it. She pulled him up to his feet and gave him a serious look, telling him without the use of words to stop fooling around and get moving. Seeing this, Annette spoke up to reassure him.

     “Don't worry. I'll have this put away nice and safe for ya until ya get back. Come back safe, ya hear?”

     Will sighed deeply before nodding and exiting the Inn with Charlotte. The pair followed behind the hunter that had come to get them, entering the guild hall where a fairly large crowd was already gathered. Most of the guild’s hunters were there from the look of things, and with the arrival of Charlotte and Will, the guild staff seemed to deem the moment right to begin their urgent announcement. Laura, the guild receptionist spoke first.

     “May I have everyone's attention, please?” she said, projecting her voice so that everyone in the room could hear. “The Hunter's Guild is issuing an emergency request for all available hunters! I repeat: we are issuing an emergency request for all available hunters! This is an issue of utmost importance, and everyone gathered here today is required to take part! Those who refuse will be immediately stripped of their hunter certification! In the event that such a thing occurs, they will be unable to register with the guild again for one full year!”

     Will and Charlotte looked at one another in shock. The thought of losing their certification and being unable to register with the Hunter's Guild again for a year was enough to make them quite nervous. More than a few of the hunters that were gathered inside the guild hall seemed to share that same sentiment. Everyone in the room was on edge, and for a moment, the silence was so complete that one could theoretically hear a pin drop clear as day. Laura, upon looking over the nervous expressions shared by nearly all the hunters in the room, let out a sight and stepped back. Taking her place at the front was an older man, seemingly in his thirties. He had short forest-green hair with longer bangs on either side of his head that framed his chiseled face. His face was clean-shaven, and he gave off an air of eloquence reminiscent of someone of high birth. Additionally, upon looking closer, Will and Charlotte were surprised to find that the man had long, pointed ears. He was an elf, and it appeared that he held the position of Guild Master for this town's branch of the Hunter's Guild.

     The man spoke loud and clear, his tone even and unwavering as he addressed the crowd.

     “Hunters! Some of you know me already, but I will introduce myself again for those who are not familiar. I am Garme, the guild master here in this branch of the Hunter's Guild. I'll keep this brief. You hunters are tasked with hunting and slaying a vampire wolf!’

     Murmurs from various other hunters around Charlotte and Will could be heard. Many seemed to be frightened or anxious, others unsure, and a scarce few were even excited. The two of them, however, had no knowledge of what a vampire wolf was. They simply looked on in confusion as Garme continued his briefing.

     “I'm sure many of you are nervous, and for those who are not aware, allow me to explain what a vampire wolf is capable of. They are powerful and frightening beasts, even larger and more dangerous than midnight wolves. They hold the power to mark those they injure with a unique brand of magic. Similar to a vampire's ability to turn those they bite into their kin, the vampire wolf can use its magic to control the minds of those they have marked, turning them against their comrades. It is a horrifying power indeed, capable of defeating even a battalion of trained knights. However, the beast's presence cannot be overlooked, as it is causing terrible disturbances in the forest's ecosystem. It is likely the reason a midnight wolf was spotted in the area approximately two weeks ago. With this in mind, know that all hunters that take part in this request will be compensated fairly for their work. The fangs and pelt of a vampire wolf are worth a hefty sum, after all. All participating hunters will receive fourty gold coins upon completion of the request.”

     Garme allowed his words to sink in for a moment, just about every hunter in the room suddenly seeming more motivated. A single gold coin was enough for a commoner to live off of for almost a month, so for them to receive fourty gold coins for a single request was unheard of. Will and Charlotte shared a look of uncertainty as they debated whether the request was truly worth accepting. Then again, denying the request would mean they could no longer work as hunters. That was a setback too great for them to risk, so with a mutual understanding between them, they returned their attention to Garme.

     “Alright,” he continued. “All those participating in this emergency request are to remain here. Those who will not be participating are to relinquish their hunter tags and leave immediately.”

     The two of them watched as a few frightened hunters dropped their guild tags on the floor and walked out of the guild hall. Garme watched as well, disappointed, but not upset by their decision. It was only natural to fear such a creature, but he was grateful for the many others that stayed, Will and Charlotte among them.

     With that, the route the group would be taking to the wolf's den was explained thoroughly before all the participating hunters set off at once. The den was deep within the forest, deeper than either of them had ever been before. After some time, the group neared the vampire wolf's den at last, the tension among them palpable. It would not be long before they met the creature face to face, and it would be no small task to slay it. Each and every hunter present was well aware of the risks. If any of them were to sustain injury during the battle, they could then be turned against the rest of the group at any moment, resulting in increased chances of suffering casualties. For Will and Charlotte, it was going to be their most difficult undertaking yet, but they could not afford to waver. They had no choice but to push forward. Otherwise, how could they ever hope to gain the strength needed to save the world from destruction in the future?

     After just a few more minutes of walking through the dense forest, the group finally arrived at the cave said to house the vampire wolf. The plan of attack had already been laid out before their departure. As there were no skilled magic users among the hunters, they were left with no choice but to split into two groups and have one lure the vampire wolf out of its den. They would cover each other and do their best to avoid sustaining injuries while the other group staged an ambush outside of the cave's mouth. To better accomplish this, the first group would use several monster lures in order to avoid delving too deep into the wolf's den. The lures were made with horned rabbit meat and miscellaneous monster parts, so it was sure to lure the beast out if all went well.

     Once everyone was assigned to a group, they were ready to put the plan into action. Will had been placed with those in charge of luring the beast from its den, while Charlotte would be working with those staging the ambush outside the mouth of the cave. Everyone knew their roles, and at last, the first group began to cautiously enter the cave while the rest waited outside. Charlotte could only hope that Will would not do anything that might get himself or the other hunters hurt, or possibly worse.

     Will proceeded forward with his fellow hunters, every one of them keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. They could not afford to be taken off guard before the plan truly began. The path into the cave was long, but they eventually arrived in the main chamber, and there it was. Standing before them, it was a sight horrid enough to make one's heart stop on the spot. A towering, lumbering beast, its thick and wiry fur coat darker than the night itself. Their surroundings were lit by dim torchlight, and to them, the creature resembled a hulking shadow. The very essence of darkness with piercing scarlet eyes that seemed to see right through them, through their very souls. It was standing over what was presumably a mass of bodies, prey the creature had hunted over an extended period, likely including a few hunters that had apparently gone missing over the course of the last few weeks. The cave was dead silent, save for the shaky breathing of a few terrified hunters. For a moment, it was as if time stood completely still, and Will held his breath as he waited for either man or beast to make the first move. Then, just as he felt like he could not take the horrible silence any longer, the sharp sound of claws grazing stone could be heard throughout the cave. The towering shadow lurched forward, and in an instant, the battle had begun.