Soldier

It’s been years since I found Leo in the woods as a pup and now he is big and less playful. He has a wild side to him that I only see when we hunt for food. I finish packing our things when Leo’s tail starts to wag and his big blue eyes open.

“Good morning Leo, ready for another day of adventure, hunting and fighting?” I said, naming off the things we do every day.

His head pops up and he gets up, coming over to me and licking my face. I laugh and pet him. We start walking north towards the old Fallen Castle. Years ago the palace was attacked and there was a fight for the Sword of Truth. They say within the Sword of Truth lies every past, present and future event and it can show whatever its seeker needs or wants to see deep down.

It’s mid-afternoon before we can hunt anything but something catches my eye. It’s a deer. I don’t normally hunt deer but today I will have to make an exception. I draw my bow and arrow, aiming it at the deer until I am lined up perfectly. I then shoot, but miss. I look at Leo who gave me a look.

“What? You know how I don’t like shooting deer. If my mom found out I shot at a deer I would be dead and it’s not that easy to hunt with a bow and arrow,” I say, frustrated.

We continued to walk until I spotted a bunny and a bird. I quickly shot the bird and slowly came up to the bunny. The arrow sailed through the air hitting the bunny, killing it instantly. I look at Leo as he brings me the bird then chases after the bunny. I waited there for a second until I heard Leo growing at something.

“ Leo what did you find?” I ask, walking towards him until I hear a loud powerful growl. I stop, grabbing my bow and arrow and going over to the tree that allowed me to see what was going on. What I see strikes me. It was a boy on his hands and knees, his eyes glowing a deep red fangs showing. I keep my arrow drawn and pointed at him. Leo stops growling and starts to back away from the boy who stands up high and proud.

“You can come out now,” he says.

I curse under my breath, stepping out of behind the tree pointing the arrow at him. He turns around with a big grin on his face.

“Who are you and what do you want?” I demand, keeping the bow steady.

He doesn’t answer me but I see his eyes travel along my body, observing me. I take the chance and do the same. The boy has jet black hair, emerald eyes that sparkle like diamonds, and biceps that show through his white tunic. A sword is attached around his slim waist and he has black pants and black boots. He has pretty nice clothes for a peasant boy. He must be a noble, or a soldier at the castle, or maybe even a servant at Joule Palace.

“I should ask you the same, miss,” he says.

His words cut me from my thoughts. I sent him a glare, one that has saved my life but also keeps my secret. “I am not playing around. I have better things to do than babysit a noble so tell me who you are! What do you want? And why are you following me??!” I’m getting agitated.

“You’ll find out so-” He’s cut off by Leo, who lunges for him, knocking the boy down.

I cautiously walk towards the boy, poking him but he doesn’t move. I look at Leo, smiling.

“He’s unconscious,” I say, putting our things down and grabbing a rope, tying the male to a tree. I unpack our bedding and tent and start to make a fire. By the time I got the fire going it’s dark and we were out of firewood.

“I will be back soon,” I say to Leo.

He has been keeping an eye on the boy for hours now like he might just run away. I got as many pieces of wood as I could for the food. When I got back I found the boy awake trying to get out of the rope. Leo just watched him which surprised me. The boy gets loose and looks at Leo, raveling up his rope and sitting back down by Leo who sat there happily wagging his tail.

“Are you ready to come out or do I have to get up and get you?” He says, making me shiver.

I came out of hiding, my hood hiding my face as it always does. As I round the corner I saw Leo calmly sitting by the boy. WHAT IS HAPPENING?!?!?!?! The boy smiles at Leo, and turns towards me.

“Are you ready to tell me who you are?”

“I guess I have no choice after all once you find out who I am you will regret knocking me out and tying me up,” He says, a smirk plastered on his cute face.

I am not convinced that I will regret tying him up but I am convinced that whoever he is, he is a powerful being. I roll my eyes at him and wait until he tells me who in the world he is. As I wait I notice his eyes change color again. The only type of creature I know of that changes eye color is a…. wait a minute. The fact that Leo is calm around him, his change of eye color, the unhuman growl, fangs!...

“YOU’RE A WEREWOLF?!?!?!” I exclaim.