It never ended.

Even though she had made her stance on it quite clear and had made a good stride in taking out a single group of lycans it wasn’t long before she was told of another group that had taken the place of the last that she had dealt with. Sure they were likely using a different hideout but their territory was that of the old ones. These ones were obviously more clever as well; never letting someone see them enter an area so much as just popping up out of nowhere.

It wasn’t nearly as difficult to get people to help her this time around at least; she was able to get people to talk with nary but a word about what she intended. What the lycans were doing and what they were taking. It wasn’t just food that they were hunting, they were taking jewelry, money and in some cases weapons. Everything they took could be sold or auctioned off somewhere. Nothing mythical but older stuff that was good for a quick bit of cash.

Nothing that was easy to track unfortunately. So the first few days were pretty cold; it was even harder to try to track them out in the field. They were exceptionally good at hiding their tracks. Both as humans and as a wolf. But eventually… her patience paid off a week or so later. They got a little bit too big for their britches and made off with some kind of heirloom from a local; some kind of amulet with a fiery motif.

All lucretia had to do was wait for them to try to sell it; which in itself didn’t take long. The good was probably considered ‘hot’ to them but it didn’t seem to matter. They likely didn’t care due to thinking they’d be fine if someone went after them.

It was even better that Lucretia was able to pose as a buyer, using the implied reward from the owner of the heirloom as a claim to getting the amulet back. Her demand was just to meet the sellers in person. She wasn’t expecting them to agree or for all of them to show up.

Once Lucretia arrived at the meeting place she immediately knew something was up. It was dead quiet just like her first hunt in the area and the woman glanced around. There wasn’t a soul in sight, no birds were singing and the usual symphony of the night wasn’t playing. Either they knew what she intended or…

”You hunters are always so bold… but did you even stop to think how little this really matters?”

The deep gutteral voice that belonged to a towering behemoth of a monster rang out; stepping around a corner with one claw dragging along the side of a building. They were out of their territory sure but they were practically radiating confidence. But to lucretia she knew that confidence was a slow but insidious killer. One that lucretia knew would get her someday.

The wolf in front of her was no doubt the alpha; given that the snickering coming from behind her probably belonged to his accomplices. Lucretia spared a glance to find not one, not two but three other werewolves that were now forming a ring around her.

Slightly larger than the last pack but definitely a bit more threatening. No children that had lost themselves to the beast; no traps or spare weapons on the ground. Just cruel gazes and bared fangs.

Lucretia didn’t really have the words to put into place of how frustrating it was that she figured they wouldn’t realize she was a hunter from the get go. Resigning herself to a fight that she was hoping ot have the upper hand of Lucretia took a moment to collect herself…

Before stomping on the ground, sending a magic seal up and down her body in rapid succession. Her arms taking that tell tale armor of ice that she summoned up last time. Sure it left a lot of her wide open and the Lycans would probably use that to their advantage but they likely weren’t expecting her silence in the matter.

They used claws and fang, which meant for the larger ones they’d use their reach and brutish strength. But that would be nothing if lucretia didn’t let them use it. Hearing the cackling of the smaller ones and the surprised growl from the larger Lucretia wasted no time getting to work.

She felt the raking claws of one of the smaller ones on her shoulder, looking to cut into her back. Spinning on her heel she’d bring her fist around in a brutal arc; meeting the Lycan’s skull. She was gifted with the sight of the lycan tumbling back even as he ripped into her. It was probably enough to daze them but not outright put them out of the fight. No that was her next step. The Alpha would let the others do the work of wearing her down; at least that was what she was given as she noted that he had folded his arms. Watching her fight the others with a bemused smirk. Figuring her dead. What was one woman against three lycans?

The next two attacked together, one bringing it’s claws to bear against the armor that had knocked it’s friend silly. But lucretia drew herself back, a magical seal producing itself at the end of her fist. Before she rocketed it forward. Punching an ice shard directly into the other’s chest; she could tell she hit something important with how the lycan crumpled to the ground without a word. It must have been a younger one or she really just got lucky.

The second one’s strike took her extended arm and shattered the remaining use of Overture away. She’d have to wait a few moments before activating it again, which was not something the other lycan was going to give her. So she had to be creative or at least tough it out. Letting the other Lycan claw at her, gashing her front and into her arms time and time again. Up until it started to lag and she was able to summon her ‘arms’ again.

The remaining lycan used this time to bite into her shoulder, figuring it safe. But lucretia’s armored grasp gripped around it’s neck and she started to squeeze. Waiting it out until the wolf started to cough as her thumbs dug into it’s throat. Once the bite had lessesened and the clawing wasn’t so bad she’d kick it away from her. Grunting again as she felt the fangs drag themselves out of her. That would smart in the morning!

Not hesitating as the Lycan started to rise Lucretia would draw back again, that self same seal appearing on her prime hand. The lycan had maybe a moment before an ice shard was embedded in it’s skull. The Lycan crumbled to the ground and she’d spit to one side. Turning about to find the alpha practically looming over her.

”So maybe you have some skill, but damn are your tells easy. Really think I’m gonna let you use that spell against me? Might as well give up.”

”Fat chance.”

The lycan alpha snarled and Lucretia found herself launched off her feet; not unlike the first alpha. Though this one hit a fair decent bit harder and a little more consistent in terms of how far she went. They had about the same strength, but this one’s claws felt like they went a bit deeper. She’d growl and push herself off the ground. Getting back up as the alpha slowly walked forward.

She could tell he was going to try to take his time with her; but honestly with her dealing with the others first she knew that she’d have to get creative with dealing with him. She was glad she had the armor on her arms, else this likely would have gone poorly. Spitting on the ground the Lycan looked like he was expecting her to run. Instead? Lucretia would close the gap, drawing her fist backwards. He’d snarl; figuring that she would be using this chance to use the spell.

But this was her offhand, the one that dealt that sort of thing was her primary! So instead of producing an ice shard all this did was knock one of his teeth out as she collided into the side of his head. Having the wolf staggering backwards. In return though he’d give her a vicious claw across the chest. Causing lucretia to wheeze. But she was in the perfect stance for… well. Letting her primary hand get that seal and shooting the shard forward. Aiming for the throat of the werewolf.

Though she was a bit off with the lycan jerking his body to one direction. The shard just grazing the throat of the lycan rather than going straight through the center. His grin was apperant but with the way that she was standing she was able to bring around her next fist into that smug face. Knocking out his dominant canine and a few of the other lesser teeth. Spitting and growling the alpha wiped his face; using that moment lucretia would scoop up the fang from the werewolf.

He wouldn’t let her get away with that unscathed and lucretia felt herself go airborne again. Crashing down on the pavement with a grunt of pain. She could feel her offhand arm be knocked out of it’s socket with the force of the strike. Definitely wasn’t going to be good for her if she couldn’t get that back in. But she had bigger fish to fry.

With the alpha walking to her, Lucretia used the time to try to push herself up. But the alpha seemed to have other plans. Gripping around her neck with one hand he’d slowly lift her off the ground. He was a fair bit taller than she was whichw asn’t a surprise with how lycans worked.

”I’m going to enjoy gutting you like a fish.”

”You’ve got it all wrong.”

Lucretia snarled and brought up her primary hand with the fang in it; the rather sharp natural weapon punching through the neck of it’s former owner without much difficulty. It seemed this one wasn’t as tough as the other but stronger instead. Lucretia found herself launched a third time as the alpha struggled to remove the now firmly embedded fang in it’s neck. It wasn’t long until it staggered, slumped to the ground and with a light tap from lucretia fell over.

Werewolf or not, a fang through your neck still meant death and she was going to use that to her advantage. Glancing around she realized that the first lycan had gotten up. Looking over the situation; when it looked like it would flee… Lucretia drew herself back and let it have the same taste as the others.

A clear cry of pain and it’d stumble to the ground. A ice shard protruding from one of it’s legs. Lucretia slowly walking over as it dragged itself up on a wall. Sputtering and snarling at her before she put a boot into the same leg that her shard was sticking out of. The wolf howled and she’d use that to punch it in the side of the head. Knocking it out cold this time. She wouldn’t leave him unattended though. Kneeling down and bracing herself to twist the neck; albeit a little slower due to how she was running out of steam…

Though the snap of the neck was still as prominent as when she dealt with the first alpha it was somehow less satisfying. She’d sigh a bit and sit back against the wall amidst all the lycan bodies. She didn’t see the amulet that they had stolen on any of them; being told that the darned thing was made out of gold? Well…

”Must have already sold it… oh well I guess.”

It just meant that she wouldn't get a reward for the amulet. For the lycans on the other hand? She'd have to poke around and talk to other folks...