The last success she had weighed heavily on lucretia; the ability to take out her kin was not lost upon her but she also knew that killing them over and over again wouldn’t be the final solution. She’d have to root around at the core and figure out what to do with those that wanted to start anew or didn’t want to conform to their chaotic way of life. She sat on the defensive wall of Dahlia, staring out into the countryside trying to mull this over. She was eating a strip of dried meat as a guard ran up; clearly out of breath as he had been trying to find her for quite some time. She’d turn her head; mildly surprised to see him in just a state.

Fishing out her waterskin she’d toss it to him and he’d thank her; taking a healthy drink from it before tossing it back to her. With his breath caught the young guard would start to explain what brought him here today… Which bought Lucretia’s undivided attention. There was a werewolf going around claiming to be the Lord of Beasts and that this ‘Lord of wolves’ was a pretender vying for the ‘throne’ that the werewolves had. She’d blink a bit as she realized that people probably thought she was royalty or some nonsense with a epithet like that.

What’s more he had a gathering of werewolves following him around; about ten or so individuals of varying strength that were willing to throw down their lives for him. But they were looking to set up shop in Dahlia and wanted to prove that they were the best by killing her; a protector of this place to make sure none would fight back. Sighing a bit lucretia would finish her jerky and look down from the battlements.

”Where abouts are they?”

”A little ways away ma’am. Small abandoned village to the east.”

Lucretia pondered this information; as of right now they were downwind from the eastern village. So they would know she was coming well in advance; she felt that this was a trick to get her to come out and the amount of werewolves was likely greater than whatever information this guard had. It was likely there was more than one leader type werewolf among them too. She’d nod her head and thank the guard, flipping a sizeable coin to him before hopping off the battlements. Sliding down the exterior wall and using a hand to slow her fall as she did so.

A few of the guards next to the gate were surprised to see her land in such a fashion but knowing who she was? They didn’t bother to ask what she was doing. They simply knew she was on the hunt with the way she took off. It’d take her a better part of the day to make her way to the village and what she saw made her realize the bustling community that she was about to walk into. There were guards, there were merchants, people here that were talking. Laughing. Acting like regular folks.

There were many scents and for those that would have heightened senses it would be hard to track anyone here. They were traveling like this knowing what they were doing and upon her approach the guards seemed immediately on edge. But they were regular humans; no overwhelming blood on their garb or their bodies. She’d walk past them, they already knew what she was here for and the fear she could smell on them… Well. To others it would be intoxicating but for lucretia it told her they didn’t understand what they did.

Getting to the center of the village she’d cast about; it was bustling and there was so much movement that it was hard to hear anything or anyone outside of the usual. She’d frown and rub at her chin; they had done this in anticipation. This place had used to be abandoned but they gathered enough people to make it a proper bustling village.

”Hard innit? To be around the prey like this when you’re so keen on fighting your own.”

Lucretia turned to the voice to find a rather imposing figure flanked by two other werewolves. They all had smiles on their faces; their fur was well kept and they seemed in good spirits. Like they already were going to win. Lucretia on the other hand was a warrior; battlehardened and kept herself clean to a point. But they certainly went overboard and were willing to do what was needed to make themselves look good. But seeing as they were… acting like this… Lucretia could at the very least play along for a moment.

”Lord of beasts I take it?”

”Me? Oh. Nonono. I’m the second in command, the one you have to get through to go to him. But I am here to escort you to him if you play nice.”

Lucretia eyed the two werewolves next to him; both of them sharing a glance and chuckling. Lucretia stared hard at the red haired werewolf, leveling her spear point at him which immediately threw off their grins and there was a shiver of fear through the three.

”I’m not here to play games. So either take me to him or I’ll find him myself.”

There was a certain level of finality that made everything hard stop around them. The fear that was felt from those under their protection. They enjoyed being herded like cattle. Likely not even realizing that they were being used for food nor were they likely figuring that they long term would never see proper freedom. The three werewolves shared a glance between one another and the ‘lead’ one shrugged.

”As you wish. Though mind you he’s a little different than the norm.”

”Aren’t we all.”

Lucretia was having none of this posing and the three would nervously lead her along. The bustling community had a strange air to it now and the werewolf would feel like something was off. Going through the only street in town they would go up to the largest building where there were more guards; more chatter and once inside? A large feast hall was to be had; food everywhere and there was a jovial air here compared to outside. At the head of the table sat a huge werewolf. One that would easily dwarf her as she was.

But that didn’t much matter to her; it was the fur that was strange. The blue coloration stood out in stark contrast to all the red, blacks and brown hair that she was seeing. She’d stand there in the precipice as the guards passed her from earlier. The leader looked up and for a moment there was this incredible tension before he relented.

”Ah! Lucretia Von Wolfenstein, Lord of Wolves. Of the Guild infinity wolves. What brings you here?”

”Your claims; your challenge. Your ultimatum.”

The few guards nearest lucretia edged away and the lord of beasts chuckled, standing tall. His hand going to a large metal club. The spikes that ran up and down it definitely were meant to puncture and maim. He’d adjust a bit and rub at his chin.

”Ah so you got my messenger! You already know what I want and come to me in such a manner? In my own hall?”

”I don’t play games, not when innocent lives are at risk.”

”Ah but you do play games! And we’ll play one.”

Lucretia’s stance adjusted a bit and she’d point her spear at the Lord of Beasts. His expression quickly fell and he’d blink as everyone in the hall were suddenly on edge. The sheer presence, the intimidation of this mage. One that had magic but seemed to either be unaware of it or didn’t bother using it was so powerful to the point to where she could claim a room all her own.

”There’s a sparring circle out by the edges of the village. Tell you what. We fight there so not to mess up this nice place.”

Lucretia’s eyes narrowed a bit and she’d nod her head; it was a short trip given the size of the town and the gathering of guards, townsfolk and curious merchants meant that they had quite a crowd to watch this fight. Lucretia stood on one side and the ten or so Lycanthropes stood opposing her.

”The people here have sworn their lives to me, so if you win it’s likely they’ll do the same to you.”

”I’m not interested in people swearing their lives to me. I’m only interested in their collective safety.”

The surprise that was etched on the faces of the werewolves and the murmur of the crowd was quick. There was shared glances and the blue furred werewolf blinked slowly. The lord of beasts was not expecting that and honestly why should he? A werewolf interested in the safety of their prey? He’d laugh a bit and his pack would do the same! He’d lazily spin his large metal club and mimicking her from earlier point it at Lucretia.

”Fine fine, they won’t need to anyways. Once I beat you, you’ll have to do the same or I’ll-”

”Kill me? Sure.”

The Lord of beasts practically recoiled at the ease of how lucretia brushed that idea aside; that she would even serve this person that wanted to make others work under him. He’d share a look with the others around him; the rest seemed really shaken by that lack of worry. The blue furred wolf stepped forward and tapped the club in his hand.

”And what about you? What are your terms?”

”If I win I plan on killing you and your pack before setting these people free. I don’t expect them to just give up without a fight either and I welcome the challenge.”

The werewolves save for the lord of beasts shared a laugh; Lucretia really thought that she could take all of them? There was a mixed reaction when there wasn’t any laughter coming from the leader. They’d just stare at one another and would nod.

”Aye. Like the ways our people do. You wouldn’t serve under one like me and I sure as hell wouldn’t give myself to a hunter like yourself.”

Lucretia spun her spear around and took her ready stance; the two of them would square off and without even so much more as a word would start. Blow for blow they seemed evenly matched, enjoying the fight as it spanned the night. By the first sunrise they didn’t even seem properly winded. Neither having a leg up on the other. But as the second day started each got a blow on the other. Lucretia’s shoulder and the Lord’s left eye. It had nearly been over right there but they continued on.

The third and fourth day were spent in mostly defensive postures on both accounts. But the fifth day? Was where their abilities seemed to differ. Lucretia barely seemed winded as though something was spurring her on and the lord was acting sluggish. Like he wasn’t used to being awake this long or fighting for this long. He was tiring and lucretia was winning out.

Blow after blow; loss after loss. His back to the ‘wall’ he’d make a massive swing. Looking to drive lucretia away but instead she’d slide under his strike and they’d share a moment. He lost. She had won. And that spear? Driven so hard through his belly up and out of his skull. There was a pause throughout the town that had been watching for most of it. They had a moment where that sound. That sound of realization that they were free. That they no longer had to serve the blue behemoth of a wolf.

Lucretia stood up and watched the body fall off of her spear. She’d clean it off and turn to the others; she was tired. She was worn out; they could still win they could still fight her and overturn this. But there was something intense about how she was staring at them. Like a second beast. A beast that would not give in or give up. They looked to rush her all at once. But something stopped that too. A thunderous fist of gold and white. A powerful swath of blows that killed every single one of them; the last that finally got to see what they were fighting turned out to be the first guard that interacted with her.

They’d stare at one another while he slowly slide down her spear to the ground. She watched the light drain from his eyes and she’d yank her spear out of his body. Turning to the others that were around. The human guards that had been more of posers than actual guards due to the nature of the wolves were slack jawed, the townsfolk seemed breathless and lucretia would turn to point at where Dahlia lay.

”Pack your things and go to Dahlia. I’ll be there shortly to see a smooth transition to it’s flock. If you have homes elsewhere I’ll pay for transport to them.”

Lucretia would let her lion form go and the hybrid would cease to be; her form would be well known by now so she wouldn’t care about it. Seeing the bodies of her kin around her and the now massive corpse of the lord of beasts… Lucretia stared and then sighed. She’d go about making a row of ten graves; the last to be buried would be the Lord himself. She’d mark their graves by the names she had heard and once done? She’d freeze the ground solid and step away.

”...There has to be a better way than this.”

[2289/2000]