The breeze carried petals of oversized flowers in its wake, a smell of sweetness surrounding me as I tugged my cloak closer around the sides of my face. The petals that lay at my feet masked the blood stained path I walk upon each night. The moon mocked me with its full and scenic glow, the woods were alive tonight with its presence so demanding.

They say the sure fire way to know you’re being hunted is when it’s silent. Prey shouldn’t see it coming after all. With this backdrop of red, my otherwise garish hood was a perfect camouflage. I closed my eyes and listened closely, for any sense of life that lurked in the foliage beyond the path. I could sense it, the readiness. Like a beast waiting for the right moment to jump, but I was ready too.

I gripped my crossbow, finger hovering over the trigger as I stood my ground. I’d only raise it when the beast blew its cover, then it’d have no chance to but to be struck down by the silver tip of my arrow. I took a deep breath, I could feel it growing impatient, it was a hungry, savage thing after all.

I heard a branch snap beneath its paws, that was my moment. I turned in the direction of the sound and towards the beast as it bared its teeth at me, dripping with saliva and blood. My cross bow was ready in an instant, and I fired. The arrow nestled itself into the creatures chest, tearing past flesh and hide with ease. I wasn’t quick enough to avoid its downfall, the weight of the beast pinning me to the earth as it thrashed in vain for a few short moments. I plunged my crossbow into its jaws to keep them away from me. It didn’t take long for the bloodlust in its eyes to be replaced with cold nothingness.

I sighed and shoved it off me, ripping my arrow from its chest as I stood. As it lay there dying in the moonlight, I watched its body shrivel back into normalcy. The fur falling off in clumps, claws receding and body reconstructing in its final moments of life.

As the creatures face returned to that of a man, I felt that twinge of guilt again. It’s a shame that this, plague of sorts, keeps taking the people of my village. I knelt down beside him, the wound still in his chest, although much more hideous now that he’s no longer a beast. I sighed and got to work, pulling the man into my arms and carrying him off the path. I felt the eyes of other creatures on me, but they dared not interfere. I made my way to a clearing, passing by several makeshift graves from previous hunts. It was there I laid his body beneath the dirt, marked it with a pillar of stones, and finally some flower pedals from the towering flora surrounding us. With that I patted the earth where he now lay, and wished him peace from this curse.

I stood, pulling my hood off my face as I made my way back onto the path. The sun was starting to show its face over the horizon, obscured by the trees only slightly. Birds began their morning songs, and the weight of the world reminded me how tired I truly was in that moment. I turned back towards town, perhaps grandma would have something cooking for me by the time I got home.