Hunters Appear

She woke up slowly opening her eyes. Zeev was spooning her, gently letting out a snore behind her head. She could feel his warm breath on her nape. It made her feel secure, comfortable, and happy. Never did she imagine someone would come and love her. After a long time of loneliness, she finally had, what she wished for.

Zeev woke up, he already knew she was awake. He playfully bit her neck and quickly gave her a kiss as well. It tickled her and she giggled. After Patty disappeared in the bathroom, he recalled, what had happened yesterday. With the arm over his eyes, a smile appeared on his face. He was satisfied with the bloody outcome of his actions, but she never had to learn about it. The revenge was done, danger avoided, and she could live peacefully from now on.
A week passed and they went for shopping in the village center, where a marketplace is situated. Slowly walking in the crowd Patty noticed Roman selling apples on the market. They made eye contact, but as soon as he looked into her eyes, he broke it off and made a sad glance at Zeev. Something was wrong, she could sense it.

Patty swirled Zeev and was pointing at some things, while whispering. "Keep smiling, even after what I will tell you. I can see Roman, but something isn't right. He seems to be terrified. Probably someone in close range making him uncomfortable. We should avoid him for now."

After they both returned home, Patty pretended to forget something to buy and ran out to the market once more. Roman's reaction rubbed her the wrong way, so she "wanted" some apples. She picked five and went to pay. Roman looked at her, but didn't say anything unrelated to her shopping.

Another man, whom she didn't recognize approached them from behind the counter. She greeted and smiled at him. She noticed how Roman flinched, as soon, as he came near them. "Hello there, buying some of our apples?" His fake smile didn't go well with Patty. "Yes, I wanted to try them, especially now, when the season is already over. I wanted to make an apple pie."

The man put the apples into a bag and was handing it over to her. Somehow he accidentally touched Roman's hand, he yanked it the opposite side. As he passed it to Patty he grabbed her hand. "Oh! You have such tiny hands?!" She was surprised, not sure what it was about, but she let him and played along. "Tiny human, tiny hands. My little disadvantage." and giggled a little. After she went straight home.

Zeev was a little worried and when she came back with the apples he got a little angry. "You went back despite telling me it's dangerous to go near him?" She sighed. "It is for you, not for me." She explained the whole thing and Zeev frowned. "Did he have a ring on his hand?" She nodded. "I guess it was a silver one." Her face changed, it clicked in her mind. That ring; Roman's reaction to the touch. "Ooow!"

Zeev expressed his concern. "I think he was a hunter and is searching... for me." She was confused. "Why would they do that?" He knew, they were probably after him. Maybe they found out about those two killings, which he did a week before. He needed more information. Zeev chose to be patient. He knew, that if he went near the village now, they would catch and most likely kill him.

Few days later, at night Zeev sensed something outside. He went on the balcony. Patty was scared and tried to pull him inside. She was worried about those hunters. Outside in wolf form, sat across the road in the darkness a werewolf, but until now an unknown to Patty. "It's Miroslav, we should let him in. I think he has a message from Roman." Patty hesitated, but obliged.

All of them sat down in the living room. "Why did Roman send you, instead of him coming in person?" Miro, now in his human form, started to explain. "The hunters came to us, because of fresh killings, which they tracked coming from our area. And since they know us, they know only one anonymous werewolf in this part of the country. They came to search for you. This is the second time. The first time they took it as an accident, but now the hunters plan to put you down. You mean too much trouble for them."

Zeev wasn't that shocked, but Patty's whole world suddenly crashed down once again. "What second time? What killings? What have you done? Why did you keep me in the dark?" She almost choked on those words. With a guilty face, Zeev turned towards her. "The first time Miro meant, the one hunter, who shot at you. I have killed him out of rage. The second, well, it was revenge... for you."

With eyes like a deer in headlights looking directly into Zeeve's. "Those men... who killed my father? Those are the second... ?" Zeev nodded. She couldn't believe it. "Why did you do that? It wasn't your place to make such a decision behind my back?! Because of that, you are in danger!"

Zeev tried to console her, putting his hand over her, but she pulled it back. "What now?! What is going to happen now?" Miro glanced at Zeev. "You should probably lay low, or even leave this area. This time they are here for longer; camping out in the woods and near our village. So be aware of them! I am done here and have to go now. Both of you take care!"