Dark was the night with a sky full of clouds that shielded the land from the moon’s pale light. It was the perfect time for creatures of all kinds to slither out from the shadows from which they hid and greet the open with their presence. This was a dangerous time, for the creatures hunted down any poor souls that happened to be venturing where the darkness lurked. They relentlessly devoured these poor souls, and some, even devoured their own kind. These creatures were not ones known to this world, and could not be seen by most. ‘Tis as if they were completely invisible, simply because they could not be seen by the residents of this world. But, there are some exceptions…

These otherworldly beasts could not escape the eyes of holy beings such as gods and angels, their enemies with equal power. They were complete opposites, for the angels represented the light and beauty in the world, whilst the creatures represented the darkness and chaos. One could never manage to best the other, only manage to temporarily drive one back, simply because this world could not live without both darkness and light. One could not exist without the other, like two sides of the same coin. But that didn’t mean some didn’t try to defy these laws and destroy the other, hence forever locking darkness and light in an eternal battle.

One of those beings ventured out in the open, fearing not of the creatures which surrounds them. Yes, the were completely aware of the otherworldly beasts, and could see them clearly as day, for this being was a holy one. They are an angel, with wings of the purest white and a heart that shined like the sun. A woman was the angel with exquisite beauty and elegance. Long honey hair was held up high then left to drop and dangle in a ponytail. Her eyes of amber, like the golden shine of raw honey, focused on her task ahead without any fear. Instead, they were only laced with determination and confidence.

None of the beasts dared to challenge her, for they knew very well who she was and what she was capable of. It was they who feared her. But that didn’t keep them from their evil ways. They still wished to tear her beautiful flesh and devour her holy soul. Such a feat was uncommon amongst their kind, for such low leveled beasts to devour the soul of an angel, something so much greater than them. You see, there are many different kinds of these creatures, each a different caliber than others. And the ones which traveled in groups such as these were the lowest leveled ones, for they weren’t strong enough to handle a powerful foe alone, whilst others had the power to challenge many angels at ones, and some, could take on gods.

And so they stuck the the shadows, slowly following and intently watching the angel as she walked alone, as if they were waiting for her guard to drop so they could attack. After all, managing to kill an angel would earn them high praise from their ruler. But this angel was not so foolish as to let her guard drop, not even for a moment. She had been trained by the most powerful angel she knew, whom also happened to be her father. She knew exactly what to do when in enemy territory. And since these specific creatures could not help her in finding what she was looking for, challenging any or even attempting to catch one would only be futile. Such low leveled creatures knew nothing more than to devour and obey. Interrogation was useless. But there was another reason she did not challenge any as well. Simply because she was one angel in enemy territory. They were being wise by keeping their distance from her, but clearly they did not see the full extent of their advantage. Low levels were not the brightest of the bunch.

Hours passed, and the clouds scattered until they had completely vanished. But before the moon could even be seen, the sun was peaking over the horizon, and the creatures had gone. But the angel remained, walking steadily ahead and following the path that led to what she hoped was the nearest town. Being an angel, she was capable of going longer without any rest than normal people, but she was only half angel, so she still had limits. Sleeping during the night was not an option, for that was when the creatures would emerge, so she had to sleep a little during the day until she reached somewhere safe.

Though she didn’t fear the creatures in their presence, she heaved a sigh of relief in their absence. Now that the sun was rising she was safe enough to try resting, at least a little. She was weary from all of her traveling, and from what little sleep she managed to get here and there. Thankfully, there was a lone tree standing near the road; a perfect place to try resting a little. She pressed her back against the thick trunk of the tree and allowed herself to slide down, until she was sitting on the grass covered ground. Her head laid back against the tree, her hands resting in her lap, and she closed her eyes, allowing the gentle breeze to lull her. She cared not what passerby’s might think, seeing a beautiful woman such as her resting at a random tree. Some might even think it was dangerous, simply because anyone could walk up and steal from her or cause her harm. But despite how it looked, she wasn’t asleep. She was only getting a little rest for a few minutes. Just a little rest…a little…Zzzzzz

The monuments were further apart out here, and less frequently encountered. In the wide plains of Bohar, it was much easier for him to walk as a beast than as a man. It allowed him to cover more ground in a shorter span of time, and his senses were sharper. As long as he was wary, he could avoid trouble. The main disadvantage of this form was being unable to wield a weapon effectively, limiting him to close-quarter combat. The tall grass hid him well as he padded along on all fours, with ears alert and nose to the ground. The wilds were a dangerous place for travelers, and every now and then there would be one traveling alone. As part of his rounds, he would keep a lookout for wayward folk who had strayed from the main routes and watch them from afar. If they needed help, it was his responsibility to assist the best he could. Since it was easy for people to misunderstand the intentions of an armed man or a large timber wolf following their movements, he would stay a good distance away.

There had been rumors of trouble along this part of the plains, and he had been searching for unusual activity since early morning. He hadn't caught a single whiff of any people so far, and he was about ready to call it a day. It was then a new scent came to him on the wind, one somewhat familiar. Was a traveler who had wandered from the roads? It didn't have the same smell as the herding tribesmen, so he quickened his pace to see who it was. The lycanthorpe came upon the origin of the scent–a lone figure beneath one of the trees that dotted the flatland. They were sitting as far as he could see, but they weren't moving. With careful steps, the large wolf drew closer. He could hear the sound of steady breathing, and with the way their head fell it would appear they were asleep. 

Not wishing to startle them, Walter found a shaded spot within sight of the solitary figure and laid down. He would wait until they were rested, before continuing on. For now, he would keep watch over them. Whoever this person was, they must be quite bold to travel by themselves across the wide expanse stretching between the north and south of the continent.

    A distant rumble of thunder woke Ramiel from her light sleep. Groggily, she opened her eyes and raised her head to look around. For a moment her vision was blurred from sleep, but it became more focused and clear within a few moments, and she wasn’t pleased by what she saw. The sun was already on the opposite side of the sky than when it had begun to rise, and thick, dark clouds were rolling in. Not only had she accidentally fallen asleep and slept far too long, but a storm was coming. Ramiel may have been half-angel, but she had the most terrible luck it seemed.

With urgency, and a few silent scoldings towards herself, she stood from her spot against the tree and started on her way again. Hopefully she would be coming to a town soon, otherwise she would get caught in a bad storm. With a wary glance towards the sun in the sky, she gulped. The creatures would surely return within the coming night, and if the storm was still around by then, creatures of greater levels might come along, for the storm clouds offered extra darkness to the night by hiding the moon and stars. That was the last thing she wanted. She was part angel, yes, and was very powerful on her own and completely capable of taking care of herself, but she couldn’t do things a full angel could. And taking on a higher leveled creature was something she couldn’t do. Well, it was her own mistake for sleeping so long. Now she had no choice but to trek on and hope she finds a safe place to stay for the night.

As she started down the road once more, her large wings brushing the ground behind her, she began to notice something. There was something out there, hiding within the grass. At least, that’s what she thought, for she heard the grass moving oddly. Something the wind couldn’t do. Perhaps she was just paranoid. Either way, she decided it was best to keep her guard up. Soulstealers from the Abyss weren’t the only dangers out there.

The winds stirred, and the large timber wolf raised its head to the sky. The drifting trail of moisture and petrichor was faint, but steadily approaching. Rain was coming, he could smell it. The part of him that held a beast's nature sensed it a little while before the clouds started rolling in. Walter was considering changing form, but thought it over. He didn't particularly like feeling soaked, but on all fours he could find cover much faster. He should get a head start before the weather caught up to him. Hours had passed as he kept a quiet vigil over the sleeping traveler, but now it was time for him to leave. 

The lone traveler who had taken a rest was now awake, and as they stood his eyes widened in surprise as two large wings unfurled from behind them. An angel? He had seen many beings with bodies bearing parts of an animal, some more beast than man. Yet, he had never seen such a great wingspan. Surely this person would be able to fly like the birds of prey. The smell of the storm was stronger now, and for a moment he thought the traveler had stopped to look in his direction. He had been hoping to avoid detection, but he would have to give up concealment if he wanted to stay dry. Shifting now wouldn't be wise, so he would warn the person of the weather's change the only other way he could. Rising to his feet he breathed in, filling his lungs as his muzzle pointed to the sky–letting loose a long, drawn-out howl. A wolf's cry echoed across the open plains like a trumpet blown for all nearby to hear. Then, he took off in the direction of the last shelter he remembered suitable for a person. 

He didn't know how they would interpret his call, or if they would follow his lead. Walter looked over his shoulder as he entered a steady pace, watching the traveler's shape grow smaller the further he trotted. Perhaps they would think on the birds and beasts of the field and their ability to sense change in the environment coming. If time was kind, he would arrive at the campsite he had set up the night before and wait out the rain.

    Down the dirt road she walked, growing more anxious as the storm moved nearer. For a moment, she thought of trying to quicken her pace so that she might arrive at the nearest town quicker, but the idea was quickly abandoned. She was still tired, despite how well she slept earlier, and so she didn’t have much energy. Not near enough to run all the way to her destination, especially when she wasn’t even sure if there was a town at all.

Finally, she stopped walking. Her head hanging low, hands clenched into tight fists of frustration. Only if she could fly, she would be able to escape the storm before it even came. But unfortunately, she couldn’t. Not as well as she used to. It seemed to her that now she had no choice but to stay out there during the storm. And silently she hoped she had enough strength to fight off any higher leveled beasts should any arrive. That was when she heard the howl.

Her head spun in the direction of the sound, her heart almost dropping with fear that the creatures might’ve already come out. But that wasn’t it. Her eyes caught a glimpse of a hairy creature running off, and immediately she realized it was a wolf. And so she relaxed. Ramiel had fought creatures far greater than golems and trolls. She had no reason to fear a wolf. But, why did it howl then scamper off? She couldn’t make any sense of it. Animals were always confusing to her.

Then realization hit her like a wave. Like people, animals sought shelter when a storm was present. Perhaps she could follow this wolf and it could lead her to a place where she could stay safe for the night. With a smile to herself, she strayed from the road and ran after the wolf.

The tent he'd pitched days ago was around here somewhere. Following the scent trail he had left, he picked up the pace to jog faster. He had to get there before the rain fell, or he'd lose the path. Finally, he found it. A small camp nestled by a few old trees that provided a little shade from the sun and rains. The campfire was cold, and there wasn't much else. Walter was tired already, so he went over to the covered pot of leftover stew and stuck his snout in it. Licking the pot clean, he entered the tent and burrowed under the blanket, poking his nose out the other side. Stretching his entire body, he let out a long yawn before curling up to sleep. This was the best way to sit out rainy nights. The fire wouldn't stay lit no matter what he tried, and he didn't want to keep waking up every hour to keep it going. He hoped that the traveler would find this place. Staying out in the rain would make one more susceptible to illness. He would wash up and hunt for more food tomorrow. For now, he just wanted to sleep.

When the half angel came upon Walter's camp, she would find the signs of someone having lived here for a short time. There would be no sign of any people present, and Walter's current form would be easy to miss underneath the wool blanket. The lycanthorpe's beast form was fast asleep, only leaving the tip of his nose and tail uncovered. Every now and then his tail would twitch, but aside from that he was quiet. Rain began to gently fall, pattering against the dry soil. The earthy scent of soaked earth mixing with rain would wash over everything, bringing down the temperature to a slight chill. The first rains of Terra were here. Soon new growth would spring from the plains, and with it would come the animals who grazed. It was a good time to hunt and forage after a long Glaciem. 

The only oddity about it all was that a beast was making use of a man-made shelter. The weary tracker hadn't considered the thought crossing the traveler's mind before he drifted off to sleep. He chose to keep his current form to prevent further misunderstanding, planning to leave when they weren't aware and return in human form. People were still wary towards the strange and unfamiliar, and it would be best to keep things peaceful.

    The storm drew dangerously close, and it was the worst time for Ramiel to lose sight of the wolf. It traveled far faster than she, and it had a decent head start. How was she to catch it now? Day had already ended and came twilight, and the storm was almost overhead. Desperately she searched and searched, until she happened upon a set of prints in the earth that obviously belonged to a dog, a large dog. Her feeling of despair which weighed heavy in her heart soon sprouted to new hope. She followed the prints, and found that she had not been far off from a small camp someone had made. It seemed to her that someone had been living there for some time, yet, there didn’t seem to be any signs of people. 

Ramiel had noticed that the prints had stopped, and she began to wonder what a wolf was doing in a place man-made, but her curiosity was quickly set aside. There were more important things she needed to worry about, such as the storm, and what might follow. So, saving her curiosity for later, she tucked her wings together the best she could so she could slip inside of the tent. There was a blanket, to her delight, which would offer her warmth in the sure to be cold night.

Closing the tent to the best of her abilities, she sat further back with the blanket covering only her legs as she pulled them up to her breast, and curled her arms around them, not even noticing the wolf was fast asleep next to her. Her amber eyes were locked on the entrance to the tent, hard and intense. A tent was hardly enough to protect her during the night from those beasts, but for now, it was all she had. And a mental note to herself, she would have to thank the wolf for leading her there should she ever see it again, no matter how silly that seemed, as well as apologize to the camps owner for spending the night without their approval, and knowledge.

Yet, what if they never returned? Surely they didn’t find a more suitable place to live and just leave their belongings here. Perhaps something happened them. And at this thought, a slight chill crawled up her spine as her muscles tensed. Was she taking advantage of the belongings of a deadman? No, no, she shan’t think such things. Perhaps they just got caught up doing something and hadn’t made it there yet.

Yet again, another thing she would have to figure out later. As for now, she could see that the sun had finally gone down, and could hear the wind picking up. Thunder clapped so loudly one would think their eardrums might burst, the lightning flashing so brightly it shone the camps surroundings. Certainly not a normal storm. But so far, there seemed to be no signs of any of the creatures. Surely though, it was only a matter of time. And she was prepared.

Sleeping through the whole night, when he opened his eyes the rays of daylight were peeking through the clouds. Half-sitting up, he lifted his head to pick up a stranger's scent and sounds of breathing next to him. Ears twitching, he turned and nearly jumped out of his fur. Someone had fallen asleep right next to him and he didn't even know about it until just now! As the fogginess of sleep was fading, he remembered what happened before he came back to the camp. The color of the resting person's hair jogged his memories further. So she really did follow him back here. It was a relief that she had been able to get out of the rain. By the large puddles on the ground and smell of wet earth, last night had been one downpour of a storm. The fire was out and needed relighting, which would be easier said than done now the embers were completely snuffed. Finding dry kindling after a rain wasn't going to be easy. 

Slipping out from the covers, he was careful not to wake her. A careful eye showed him he had left paw tracks back to the tent in his tiredness, so he'd have to take extra caution in choosing how to come back. Walter didn't want others to know he was a lycanthorpe, and keeping her in the dark would make things less awkward for both of them. Even though he was in the form of a beast, he was still a male. Taking the direction that had the most overgrown plants and grasses, he walked away from the camp by several paces, doubled back on his tracks, and even made the trail gradually disappear. Once he was satisfied with the misdirection, he make sure not to leave any new ones on accident before shifting back to his human form. From there, he went to search for something to start up the fire. 

A few hours passed and he was coming back with an armful of bits and pieces he managed to find. Having left things a mess before sleeping, he'd have to clean the pots before cooking. Taking a bite of dried jerky, he let it sit in his mouth as he went to work. Humming, from someone else's perspective the hunter who had set up this camp had just returned and was unaware of the stranger in the tent. Walter chose to wait for her to rise on her own, then ask questions. A bit of smoke signaled the start of a growing fire, and he fanned it to coax it to grow. Lighting the tufts of dry grass he then added bark and weeds to keep it going. 

By the time the fire was burning strong, he had clean pots ready to boil some water. He had some cornmeal flour that had stayed dry, and with a bit of salt and lard he could make them into cakes. In times like these, he missed baked bread and the comforts city folk had. But he was used to traveling the road, and the city became cramped after a while. Leaving the fire, he moved to gut and clean some rabbits he had caught. Lucky for him they came out from their warrens to graze on the fresh grasses sprouting from this week's showers. Once the water was bubbling he'd toss the meat to boil and begin making the corn cakes. It was about time he had a hot meal after hours of toil.