Chapter 1

(Please excuse my writing and grammar mistakes, English isn’t my first language)

Alaric Dawnsworn

“Damnit, why do I have to do this?” I grumble to myself as I trudge through the snow. I was born into a family of hunters, so naturally, I have to hunt as well.

I hate it.

I can’t just kill an innocent animal. Let alone a human being. But my father would disown me if I ever refused to do what he wants. And that would bring me shameful looks of everyone in the village.

My eyes scan the forest. The darker it’s getting the harder it is to tell if the silhouette in front of me is a tree or a person wanting to rob or murder me. 

Maybe this is my last day alive. Maybe a creature from all those creepy stories really exists and kills me. Who knows? Though, I doubt they exist. I mean, really? A wolf that can transform into a human? Very realistic.

My steps come to a halt as I hear wolves howling. Shit. There are wolves in the woods? Uh huh, definitely my last day on earth.

I take an arrow and string it into my bow. Just in case. Slowly, I walk through the forest. Careful not to make a sound as I walk. A small shadow rushes past me.

I spin around, my heart pounding in my chest.

My eyes spot the source of the noise and I sigh, more at ease now. A bunny. Thank God. A small, relieved smile forms on my lips as I make my way home. Dad will yell at me again for not being able to hunt something, but fuck him.

My eyes are finally getting used to the dark as I walk home.

The forest really looks creepy at night. I prefer it during the day. Then it actually looks beautiful and peaceful.

I see a fox a few meters from me. My brows furrow. Something is wrong with it. Carefully, I approach the animal.

I expect it to run away. Flee from me. But it doesn’t move one bit. I take a good look at the fox.

Aw, the poor thing is hurt.

“Hey, buddy,” I say softly, not to scare it. “I’ll take you with me, ‘kay?”

I lift it up in my arms. “What happened to you? You’re so hurt that you don’t even have the power to growl at me.”

I make my way home with the fox in my arms, trying to ignore the creepy sounds from the dark forest surrounding me. Thankfully, I arrive at home after not too long.

“Oh my god, Alaric, what happened?” my mother says. She loves animals and it physically hurts her to see other creatures injured. She’s a sweet soul. Unlike my father.

“I found it in the woods. I didn’t find food, though,” I admit with my head lowered, ashamed.

“Oh, shush. You know I don’t care if you hunt something or not. And your father is out anyway. He’ll get something to eat. Let’s take care of the fox.”

I love my mom.

We walk to our “nurse room,” how we like to call it. There are only a table and a few medical supplies inside.

I gently lay the fox on a blanket on the table.

“Oh, she’s shivering,” Mom sighs. “Poor thing.”

“She?” I look at Mom.

“Yes, she. Look—” Mom gestures at the animal’s stomach. “She’s pregnant.”

I saved a fox mama. Yay.