Blood and Luna

Mikhail gripped even harder the straps of his leather pack, one long look at the forest taking his golden-tinged eyes. The night was quiet, too quiet. He shifted his stance on the wet ground, carefully each step. He deliberately moved silently, as any slip would lead to disastrous repercussions so near the enemy base.

"This was not the greatest plan," he said to himself. "Vampire borderheading. Gosh, Mikhail.Really."

The shadows were angry for it was already nightfall. And he had previously estimated that he would be travelling for some time,But he couldn't stop now. Ever since the faint outline of the vampire region had appeared on the horizon, it had been like a destination in a mirage about to disappear.

In the distance, he could hear a growl, low but lingering all the same. As his heart began to race, he froze completely in place. As he inhaled the blended air, he could clearly tell that there was a wolf nearby, although dosed in an uncomfortable rest. It was far too weak, almost ghostly, and that uneasiness forced him to stand still with his bones rigid as if made of wood.

Another growl followed, sharper and more commanding. This time much nearer. With the further descent of the moon's diameter into the darker half of the globe, the cut shape of the dagger around his waist gleamed due to the silvery tint, so moving slow and forth was no longer an option."Show yourself," he called out, voice steady but low.

Mikhail was now face to face with the beast who could possibly empty him of his last breath. An enormous werewolf without a hint of care or decor was staring him down. Any empathizing anger which the patchy golden fur had for Mikhail was now sweeping through its bloodshot eyes. A rogue.

"Though I smelled a coward, the rogue sneered, voice guttural but human enough to be understood. "What's a pup like you doing this far out? Lost?"

Mikhail didn't flinch. "Not lost. Just passing through."

The rogue chuckled, a sound that sent a chill down Mikhail's spine. "Passing through? Don't lie to me, boy. No one crosses this border unless they're desperate. Or stupid."

Mikhail tightened his grip on the dagger. "Maybe I'm both."

The rogue's grin widened, revealing jagged teeth. "Bold. But boldness won't save you. This is my territory now. Do you want to pass? You pay the toll."

Mikhail tilted his head, forcing a smirk. "And what's the toll?"

The rogue sneered, abruptly assailing without warning.

Mikhail had barely been able to react and had been rolling to his aside when the claws' slash had managed to breach the space. The rogue was fast-faster than Mikhail expected. He jumped up and turned around, facing the growling monster.

His words escaped as did any emotion, "This is reckless,," but Mikhail remained focused and determined to bring the split.

The thief responded with a shout, and hurtled forward once more. Mikhail dropped low and thrust outwards with his knife. The weapon found its target, carving into the rogue's flank.

The rogue screeched in pain but didn't stop. He threw a huge arm, hitting Mikhail across the body and sending him thwack into a tree.

Pain came alive in the flanks of Mikhail, but he clenched his teeth and moved himself upright. "Fine," he spat, wiping blood from his mouth. "You want a fight? Let's fight."

The rogue hesitated for a moment, sniffing the air. His bloodshot eyes narrowed. "You smell like the pack. Alpha's blood runs through you, doesn't it?"

Mikhail didn't answer.

The rogue snarled. "You're one of his pups. I should've known. I'll enjoy ripping you apart."

Mikhail's eye gold flashed, instincts reanimated, wolf-like. "You can try."

The rogue lunged again, claws slashing. This time, Mikhail was ready. He parried first and then suddenly (he) spun behind the thug and pushed his knife into his back. The rogue screamed as he swung and Mikhail received the blow, but he already knew that he had to move, landing a really powerful kick to the back of its knee.

There was a snarl from the rogue when he had fallen, but in a moment he was up again. He spun around, his claws flashing as he grabbed Mikhail's arm.

Mikhail hissed as the claws ripped his sleeve and went into the flesh. He smacked the rogue's jaw with his elbow and fled.

You're quite skilled, the rogue panted with blood streaming from his wounds. "But still not skilled enough"

Mikhail smirked and said that his chest was still swollen with the breath. "There's no question about it - let time show us."

The rogue charged again, but this time, Mikhail didn't retreat. He confronted the attack face-on, by applying his inertia to bring down the deviant to the floor. They wrestled, rolling around in the dirt and foliage, all striving to hit the winning lick.

Mikhail's strength was waning. He could feel it-the rogue's weight pressing down on him, the sting of his injuries slowing him.

"Getting tired, pup? The rogue taunted, his claws inches from Mikhail's throat.

Mikhail clenched his teeth as best he could and managed all the remaining energy he could have in reserve. "Not yet."

With a flood of work, he wrenched, turning the madman over on his back. Before the beast could even react, Mikhail thrust his dagger into its chest cavity.

The rogue's pupils grew to the size of saucers, and a creepy, devil like growl burst from his throat. It was when Mikhail managed to spin the blade, and the thug's body dropped into the ditch.

For a moment, Mikhail didn't move. He remained crouched on the body of the rogue, his chest oppressed, and the smell of blood inundated his nostrils.

At last, he got up hobbled, and pulled out his dagger. His arm hurt despite the fact that the rogue's claws were gone into him, and yet he did not have the time to think about the wound. The look on his face and the impassive way in which he sheathed the weapon told the whole story.

"Idiot," he grumbled, looking down at the rogue. "Could've walked away."

A pleasant gust of wind replaced the whispering of the leaves. Mikhail's eyes squinted. Vampire.

He turned around and examined the darkness carefully. The smell was hard to tell, but he knew it was there. Someone was watching him.

"Come out," he called, voice low but firm.

No response.

Mikhail took a step forward, then another. The scent grew stronger, closer.

You've been watching me," he hissed, growling. "Show yourself."

Still, no response.

Mikhail's fingers were dying for his dagger to reach them. Still, he persuaded himself to be calm, "Alright," the tone of his voice was colder then. "Crouch down in the shadows and never let me see you for the rest of your life unless you want me to end it,"I won't hesitate too.

A light laughter lingered around and about the trees, ghostly. "You're quite the fighter, wolf."

Mikhail's blood ran cold. The voice was feminine, soft, and unmistakably vampire.

Before he could respond, a figure stepped into the moonlight.

Her skin was as pale as a ghost, yet her silvery eyes were shining like stars. It was an otherworldly beauty, almost like an illusion. However, the single thing he could not take his eyes off was the blemish on her cheek, a memory he was too familiar with.

"You..." Mikhail's voice trailed off, his golden eyes narrowing.

The woman looked aside with a subtly curved lip of a smile. "You have covered a long way, wolf. Nevertheless, you are nowhere near where you should be for safety."

Mikhail clenched his jaw, his hand resting near his dagger. "Who are you?"

The woman's grin broadened, but there was no friendliness in it. "Someone you are better off not to have met."

Before Mikhail could react, she disappeared into the shadows, letting him be alone amidst the moonlight forest.

"Just keep moving," Andrea's voice failed her, sounding barely above a whisper. As she sprinted through the never-ending woods, her breathing became progressively quicker and more shallow.

Like a dramatic movie, the during her nightmarish ordeal became an endless pooring stream. Thunder roared over her head and jolted her with lightning speed like a battering ram while the rain poured in thick streams. Each droplet she felt on her skin soaked every ounce of life from her body too. It took tremendous effort to maintain my balance. Yet, worst of clamping down was an option. She glanced over her shoulder and almost instantly regretting it.

"Sigh," she gave a faint mumble as despair knotted her insides. "They're getting closer. "She felt her lungs tighten with fear. It would have been next to impossible for her to pinpoint the exact overall size and number of people whom she could dimly recognize through the shroud of dense fog, but she logically estimated three, perhaps even four, men would not be too far from reality. She felt clawnnic proportions of malicious delight emanating through the shredded silence of the forest filled with harbonos hoots.

"Stop," she independently compelled her body, "Don't ever turn you face in the reverse direction not even for a millisecond." The words streamed endlessly in and out like a constant wave crashing giddily to the shore and roaring in with its unwavering strong contrasts while sustaining energy as her legs burned from exhaustion.

She always assumed it was endless and lack of cover was provided by the large trees. The dense howling of the wind constantly drowned out the sound of her predators aiming their guns, but Andrea knew better than to be overly confident that they wouldn't hit over-wise aim.

"Do you think you can run from us, demon? A deep voice called out, mocking and cruel.

Andrea flinched at the word. Demon.

I'm not-" she began, but the sound went to a stop. Protesting was pointless.

Another voice, sharper and full of malice, chimed in. "Stop wasting your breath, girl. You're ours."

With every pump of her heart, her power unimaginably diminished and her pulse battered violently against her ribcage, furiously screaming through her clenched fists. The sheer terror that encapsulated her overwhelmed in ideal insidious terror beyond lucid imagination.

An arrow whistled cutting through the empty air that suspend just above her head.

She tossed herself sideways, hitting the ground roughly in the mud as the arrow lodged itself in a tree trunk just inches from her head.

"Close, boys! She's slowing down! one of the men shouted, his voice full of triumph.

Andrea scrambled to her feet, her knees shaking. For a second the whole world tipped over, but she forced herself to get up and go. She couldn't stop now.

The men weren't giving up, their footsteps growing louder and closer. Another arrow flew past her, grazing her arm. She hissed in pain but didn't slow down.

"Keep shooting! She can't run forever!"

Andrea's lungs ached, her eyes watered from the rain and fatigue. Her mind raced. I need to find a way out. There has to be a way out.

But no escape presented itself.

"Why me?" she whispered, her voice breaking. "Why now?"

Just as a sharp thunderbolt illuminated the sky and showed what lay in front of us, a sheer drop.

Andrea's steps faltered. Skidded to a halt at the edge of the cliff, and her boots propelled a loose torrent of rocks down into the black hole at its base. A.

"No," she breathed, staring at the valley. The drop was massive, the bottom swallowed by shadows. She couldn't see a way across, no path, no bridge. Just an unforgiving void.

Her legs gave way, and she turned to face her chasers.

"They're here," she muttered, her voice trembling. "They're right here."

The guys slowed down as they got closer, their outlines now more defined. They were five armed with bows and arrows. Their leader stepped forward, grinning wickedly.

This is the end of the line, honey," he murmured with satisfaction through his voice.

Andrea's eyes darted to the cliff behind her, then back to the men. Her breath hitched. "Stay back," she warned, though her voice lacked conviction.

The chief drew back his bow and shot towards her heart. "Oh, I'll stay back. You've nowhere to go anyway."

The rest all laughed, their bows aimed at her too.

Andrea's chest tightened. She looked back over her shoulder at the pit, and her gut sunk at the idea of leaping. I can't. I'll die.

The leader sneered, stepping closer. "You know what I like about you vampires? You're all the same. You think you're invincible. However, as soon as we approach, the fright in your eyes? Priceless."

"I'm not afraid of you, Andrea snapped, though her trembling hands betrayed her.

"Sure you aren't. He nodded to one of his men. "Shoot her."

Andrea's eyes widened. "No-"

It struck her shoulder, the arrow coming far too swiftly for her to evade. As she backed away, pain coursed through her body, though it was a mere stretch when compared to the icy numbness that was flooding from the wound.

"Poison," she muttered, her voice almost a breeze. "It struck her shoulder, the arrow coming too swiftly for her to evade."

The leader grinned. "Goodnight, demon."

I'm going to clear the fog. If I don't, I'll lose balance, but my legs won't let me do so. I'll just end on my knees if things go south." She reasoned with herself as her knees crashed into the floor.

Sharpness flooded through her legs, forcing her to clear her vision while spinning around her. She began gasping at ground the more her legs lost strength fighting the pressure.

"There's no escape," an unknown voice echoed to her, "next to you, there is a cliff, you won't survive jumping over."

Andrea's digits pressed into the earth as she reluctantly stood. Her legs shook, the field of view blur at the periphery, but she wouldn't stop.

As they drew closer, she could discern parts of them. "If you're willing to kill me, do it with everything you've got is what I'd answer. If you're going to kill me, then put in a bit of effort."

The leader chuckled. "Oh, don't worry. We will."

Andrea made a stumbling backward step, her heel falling off the cliff edge. She wavered, her arms flailing for balance.

"Jump," she whispered to herself, her heart pounding. "Just jump."

But she couldn't do it.

The men raised their bows again, and Andrea knew she was out of time.

Andrea was pushed out of reality by searing heat as the poisonous arrow struck her. With every breath, electricity buzzed insisting her that breath should be the final. Each limb of her body began deteriorating, growing weaker with every passing moment.

nobody cares, it's pants because it's just a cliche joke. You chuckle a lot which enchants we have no care given." But rest assured fighting the lose a win that l would be left to me aids would be rough. The rest... Would be shit.

The last thing she saw right before falling into the abyss of darkness was the ringleader's smile and his ominous sounding laughter in her ears.

"We've won."

Andrea fell into the pit, stiff, and the wind whistled in her ears.

This is it, she thought, her vision fading. This is the end.

---

Andrea woke with a jump, her body drenched in sweat. Her hand flew to her shoulder, searching for the wound that wasn't there.

It was a dream," she murmured, her pulse still thrumming. "Just a dream."

But the fear lingered, gnawing at her like a shadow that wouldn't let go.

"Was it? she muttered, staring out her window at the storm still raging outside.

The voice of the wolf cried a long way, and Andrea felt chills all over their body. The dream felt too real, too vivid to dismiss.

But underneath, she just couldn't get over the conviction that it wasn't just a dream. It was a warning.

The forest was alive with tension. Moonlight streamed down between the dense crown, creating shadows on the circle of werewolves standing within.

Mikhail stood among them, arms crossed, his golden eyes scanning each face. This plan is mad," he said, gravely but resolutely.

"Reckless or not, it's our only shot, " snarled Viktor, a towering werewolf with a scar running down his cheek. "The situation with vampires is getting more and more desperate every day. Getting noticed by them is almost the same as being already dead."

Mikhail shook his head, his jaw tightening. A war would be just like a suicidal mission if we didn't know what we were going to confront.

"You're scared, aren't you? The vampire ruler stepped closer, his teeth appearing prominently as he grinned mockingly. "The great Mikhail, scared to fight."

A low growl rumbled in Mikhail's chest, but he held his ground. "I'm not afraid of fighting. I'm afraid of stupidity costing us lives. There's a difference."

Enough," Lukas, the pack doctor, snarled his voice interjecting into the building tension. "We didn't come here to fight each other. We came to take action."

Mikhail turned to Lukas, his expression grim. "And what action are we taking, exactly? Charging into a death trap?"

Lukas sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We've got intel. Vamps patrol weaken the northern area of their kingdom. If we hit them like a war machine, hard and fast, we can cripple them before they even understand what's going on,"

"And if the intel's wrong?" Mikhail shot back.

"It's not," Viktor snapped.

Mikhail raised an eyebrow. "Really? And where is such a piece of information drawn from?"

The group fell silent. Lukas hesitated, then said, "A source."

"A source?" Mikhail repeated, his tone dripping with disbelief. "You mean someone we don't even trust?"

The only thing left is to distrust, "said Lukas quickly. "We are losing this battle, Mikhail." Or have you forgotten?"

"I've got it on my mind," said Mikhail, his voice bristling. But also, let's been cautious before we go about jumping into things without thinking through the worse consequences of our actions.

"Then maybe you should stay behind," Viktor sneered.

Mikhail moved a step closer to Viktor, his eyes glow of gold. Mikhail was losing control and getting irritates: "Be careful, Viktor. You're just pushing me to the limit."

"Enough!" Lukas barked, stepping between them. "We don't have time for this. We move at dawn. If anyone has a problem with that, speak now."

The group exchanged uneasy glances, but no one spoke.

Mikhail clenched his fists, his mind racing. Something about this felt wrong. Too rushed. Too risky.

"All right," he said reluctantly, his voice sounding cooler. "But if it goes wrong, you will be the one to pay for it."

---

The forest hours later was eerily serene. They have split up to scout the whole area, leaving Mikhail and a few others, who were lurking on their border, to wait near the edge.

Mikhail walked on tiptoe, his senses advanced. A very light smell of rain drifted on the wind thread, it was mixed with the earthy aroma of the forest which also was here.

"This doesn't feel right," he muttered to himself.

"What doesn't? Asked Jonah, a younger werewolf who had been assigned to stick with Mikhail.

"Everything," Mikhail said. "The timing, the plan, the so-called 'source.' It's all too convenient.

Jonah frowned. "You think it's a trap?"

"Yes, it's too good to be true," Mikhail replied.

Jonah hesitated, then said, "Don't you ever think that what we are doing could be the wrong way?"

Mikhail, stopping his pacing, confronted the speaker, and his golden eyes with narrowed menacing look mimicked like that of a ready to attack dog. "What do you mean?"

Warfare back and forth, year to year. What's the point?" Jonah said quietly. "We're just killing each other, and for what? Territory? Revenge?"

Mikhail fixated on him, taken aback by the query.

Before he could answer, a piercing howl shattered the stillness.

Mikhail's heart leaped. "That's Viktor!"

Jonah's eyes widened. "Do you think-"

"Stay here," Mikhail ordered, his voice sharp.

"But-"

"I said stay," Mikhail growled.

He raced straight into the woods, his senses throbbing with the threat around him. The howl originated from the east, in the vicinity of the patrol way.

He felt the smell of blood immediately after leading the run and it was as if he was suddenly struck by a very hard punch in the stomach.

"No," he muttered, picking up speed.

He broke into a clearing and came to a standstill.

Viktor, with all his might, was in the midst of the dirt in a very pell-mell state; blood ran out from underneath him, reddening the area. Recovery from the trauma of his injury led to throes of uneven breathing.

"Mikhail..." Viktor rasped, his voice weak.

Mikhail dropped to his knees beside him. "What happened?"

Trap... Viktor, now and again, suddenly let out a coarse sound and organized a mishmash of blunders that frightened me so much, that fear tore through the hope already. "They knew we were coming... ambush..."

Mikhail's blood ran cold. "Who? The vampires?"

Viktor shook his head weakly. "No... someone else..."

"Who, Viktor? Who did this?"

But Viktor did not respond. Slowly, his eyelids drooped and his limbs fell limp.

"No!" Mikhail yelled, and his voice was very loud in the forest.

The noise of rustling came from the trees Mikhail had just left behind and he immediately turned with his claws coming out just by habit.

"Show yourself!" he snarled. There was silence for a while. Then, a figure emerged from the shadows while Mikhail was watching in astonishment.

Mikhail's eyes widened in shock.

"You..." he whispered.

The figure smirked. "Surprised to see me, Mikhail?"

Mikhail's claws flexed. "What are you doing here?, Obviously," the person replied, in a tone dripping with disgust. "Cleaning up loose ends." You betrayed us, Mikhail said, his voice low and dangerous.

The figure tilted their head. "Betrayal is such a strong word. I prefer... strategic realignment." Mikhail's golden eyes blazed with fury. "You're going to regret this. "The figure chuckled. "It would be fun to see you try it out." Before Mikhail had time to make a move, the figure dashed, with the speed of their moves being impressive.

Mikhail nearly got hit by the claws, which barely missed his face, when he dodged the figure's blow. He answered with a powerful punch, but his opponent easily misplayed it.

"Mikhail, you've lost your touch," they teased.

"Fail to stop talking," Mikhail spoke out softly, the muscles tense, ready to attack.The fight was ferocious, a blast of claws, fangs, and growling. The battle in Mikhail's veins raged on as the thundering heartbeat in his ears was accompanied by all his efforts, but the stronger and quicker foe was still ahead. "Is this all you've got?" asked the figure mockingly, pressing forwards with a series of strikes he was using to back up Mikhail's defenses.

Mikhail was hit and his back was hurled against a tree and so he said under his breath, muttering to himself. The figure stepped closer, their eyes gleaming with triumph. "Looks like this is the end for you, Mikhail."

Mikhail's mind raced. He refused to die here, not like this. When the figure brought its claws down again for the finishing move, Mikhail aimed at an unguarded spot. He bent down and swept their legs away from underneath them.

The figure hit the ground with a grunt, and Mikhail seized the opportunity to pin them down. "Who sent you? " he demanded, his claws pressed to their throat.

The figure grinned, even as blood trickled from their lips. "You think this is over? This is just the beginning." Before Mikhail could respond, the figure twisted out of his grip with inhuman strength, disappearing into the shadows.

Mikhail got up on shaky legs, ragged gasps for air drawing forth from his body. He stared at the corpse of Viktor, and guilt and rage swirling in his belly, he looked down. This doesn't end here," he mumbled, his golden eyes flashing. Somewhere in the distance, the sound of a wolf's howl echoed through the night.