Without thinking about the consequences, I advanced towards the striking odor. I was aware that it was dangerous, it could be a trap to attract us, but I could not contain my curiosity or the protective instinct that dominated me at that time. The smell was in the vicinity of our home, needed to ensure the safety of our village.
Aiden didn’t try to stop me by sharing that same feeling.
The metallic smell grew stronger with each step, my wild instincts gained more strength and my wolf forced to keep control with me, which made my senses sharper and my vision improve during the course.
I stopped running when I arrived in a clearing known to me, where once there was a small village of Kitsunes, but now there was nothing left but ashes and broken bodies. The smell of blood expanded as we got closer.
My wolf growled inside me animalistically.
"I must leave. Set me free!"
— What happened here? — I asked myself looking at the place with my heart beating strongly, an anguish invaded my chest.
The cottages and tents were destroyed, and what was left of them were on the ground. There was no sign of life in that place, until the livestock and domestic animals were dead, I twisted my nose before that scene.
Kitsunes are creatures capable of turning into foxes and were frighteningly powerful but capable of being killed. Like our species, they felt more comfortable in nature. Foxes and wolves have always lived in war, but in recent years we have managed to achieve peace between our villages at great cost.
"This is terrible, who would be capable of such a disgusting act?"
Aiden and I started walking around the destroyed village. The metallic smell was strong, which would attract predators soon.
"I feel a lot of emotions here. It’s all so confusing, so many different feelings... I’m feeling suffocated."
— There was a fight here. — Aiden caught my eye. I turned my head towards him and saw him sniffing the air, using his Alpha skills. — I smell fear, hate and… The bitter smell of revenge. — Declared him approaching with a crease of confusion formed on his forehead.
"This massacre is not a good sign. Wouldn’t hunters stand a chance against this entire village of Kitsunes, who killed them? And for what reason?"
My attention turned when I heard a low groan of pain sound amid that destruction, I looked around listening to the sizzle again. I followed the sound and in a corner I saw blond locks on the floor.
I quickly walked there with Aiden, finding a shrunken woman near a burnt— out bonfire. She was naked and covered in blood. She had deep cuts all over her body. Her expression was pain, she could see how she trembled, she just didn’t know if it was cold or pain.
— Help me. — I heard her plead in a husky whisper. I crouched beside her and touched her head, feeling her pain and gasped low.
— Take it easy. — I asked quietly not to scare her. She moved and opened her eyes slowly, her eyes were blue as the sky in our heads — She needs help, her wounds are deep. He needs a healer as soon as possible. — He said, looking at Aiden, seeing him tense.
— Let’s take her to the village, Rebecca will take care of her injuries. — She finally answered with conviction, crouching beside the woman.
He took off his sweater and covered Kitsune, taking her in his arms then calmly, not to hurt her even more.
She let out a low grunt and squeezed her eyes, probably in pain. Even I could feel it, it was strong and intense.
— Take it easy, fox. We’ll take care of you. — Aiden reassured quietly in his ear, trying to reassure her.
I looked at my right side and my heart missed a beat, a bad feeling took over my stomach and I wanted to vomit. Before my eyes, I had the body of a dead girl. She was no more than twelve, and it broke my heart. I bent down beside him and turned his body full of cuts. His throat was cut and his clothes torn.
"How disgusting! What’s the point of all this?"
— What monster would do that to a child? — I whispered, holding her cold hand, her lifeless blue eyes were open. I felt my eyes burn, and a tear came down my face and fell on his clothes in rags. I took my hand up to her eyelids and closed them, feeling my stomach wrapped. — Finish it soon.
I held a breath.
— May the moon welcome you and make you rest in eternity, the green valleys under the moonlight await you, an immortal land waiting. Rest in peace, brave warrior, for your struggle has come to an end and the time for reward has come.
I recited the farewell prayer of our people, a prayer to the moon. I leaned on the little girl and kissed her forehead slowly.
The woman in Aiden’s arms was unconscious, but her heart was still beating, very weak, but it was beating, and it ignited hope in my chest.
She would survive, she needed to survive.
— Aiden, I can’t leave you here. The animals will devour you. — I uttered with regret, looking at the girl’s body, feeling a tight chest. She was so innocent and young, she still had a whole life ahead of her, but she was prevented from living.
— We need to go back, Hayley. Kitsune is very weak, she may not resist. — She insisted firmly. — We can prevent another innocent death, it’s up to you. — He said in an understanding tone. I looked one last time at the little girl’s body and felt my eyes burn again.
I lowered myself next to the fire and took two stones, rubbing them quickly until creating a spark. I lit the fire that was out and caught a burning branch, walking again to the dead girl.
I squeezed her lips. I threw the burning branch over her, watching the fire consume her lifeless body. It was the least dignity she could afford, that her body not be devoured by animals.
— I am so sorry.
Throughout the journey and the walk to my home, that tightness in the chest chased me without rest. I kept remembering the scenario of the destruction of the village of the Kitsunes and the murder of the entire clan. What happened did not make sense.
We were at peace, and the hunters hadn’t bothered us in months.
As soon as I stepped on my territory, everything changed.
My brother and I lived in a village among a dense forest, created for wolves. It was safer for everyone, including humans, since in all full moons we had no control over our wild instincts.
In our village we had everything we needed, and we were happy there.
Aiden and I were adopted by a couple of wolves and currently lived in the mountains in a small town in Washington.
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