Keeping secrets
Over a week has passed since Roxanne first laid eyes on the mysterious village in the woods. A lot changed, she changed… And the one who brought her in as well.
“Ahhh, I’m so exhausted!” Roxanne muttered in a tired tone as she entered Rita’s house
She looked spent, truly, as she dragged her feet and went to her room. Rita watched as Roxanne retreated to her chambers and she knew why.
It had been a week since Roxanne had started Werewolf training. The Wednesday of the previous week marked the first time Roxanne was indoctrinated into the Werewolf control art. Initially, she was excited and all fired up, raring to go. However, after a week of stress for her, she was already feeling the burden.
“Roxanne, are you too tired to eat?” Rita called out.
“No! Not at all! I’m starving!” Roxanne quickly replied.
“Heh, she’s always so energetic when it comes to meals,” Rita thought to herself.
After Damien had talked to Dax that night, they both entered the house and everyone had dinner. Since then, there has been no mention of Hunters. She was tempted to ask Dax about it, but she realised that if it was something she needed to know, he would have told her already. She decided to trust in his judgement.
Roxanne also took the hint and focused on her training instead. Since Damien was going to be in the village for a while, he decided to take up her training and see to it personally. Initially, this made Roxanne elated, but she eventually came to realize the torture behind his ‘good’ intentions.
After some time of idly lying on her bed, Roxanne went to take a shower, as was her custom after training. Though it was winter, Roxanne still loved her bath. The hot water made it all worthwhile, plus the warmness of Rita’s room made Roxanne’s body single with happiness.
She took her shower and met Rita in the dining area, where they both sat to enjoy their meal.
“As always, Rita… Your cooking is divine!” Roxanne smiled as she ate the lovely chicken salad, with the usual hot milk she enjoyed after such a draining session.
“So, how was it today?” Rita asked with an interested smile.
Rita always asked about her training every time she came back. Roxanne didn’t mind, after all, she had someone to vent all her experiences on. From the complaint of how Damien was too strict, to how she couldn’t understand the concepts he taught her, to how uncomfortable she felt with killing, Roxanne told Rita everything. The way things seemed now, it was as though they were sisters, best of friends.
“Ah, Damien was extra hard on me today. I guess it’s because this will be his last day in the village for a while again, but he took things too far…!” Roxanne groaned.
“Really? He never told me about it. Where did he say he was going to?” Rita retorted.
“Well, I didn’t ask. Though it seems he’s not the only one though. A lot of warriors are going with him as well… Also…”
Roxanne wondered whether she should tell Rita about what Asher had told her the previous night when they met.
“No, I probably shouldn’t… I still don’t understand it myself” She said to herself.
“Hmmm, I see… Dax also mentioned something about a mission he was taking that required him to leave the pack for a few days… This can’t be a coincidence. Just what is happening?” Rita thought aloud.
“Could it be what I think… I hope not… Dax, so that’s why you wouldn’t tell me. You’re going to kill again, aren’t you…? I’m sure you don’t want me to worry… You silly thing” Rita’s thought flowed.
The both of them respectively thought about their mates, wondering what exactly the mystery behind their actions was.
After the time Roxanne and Asher went to his father’s house, they met a few more times, each time, they would hardly talk… Just take walks or watch the village together.
She hardly knew anything about him, and the same applied to him. They both didn’t know what to talk about, so other than the little talks they made, and him asking about how she fared, they hardly said anything else. But, that didn’t mean they didn’t enjoy each other’s company. Roxanne didn’t know about Asher, but her heart always felt warm when she was with him, and she wished such moments would last longer every time. But, she was still bound by reality, and as such, their time together was limited.
The last time they met was the previous night. Asher seemed more distant than usual, so Roxanne asked him what was on his mind. He smiled at her and tried to make everything seem natural, but Roxanne knew he was troubled.
“I’ll be going somewhere tomorrow night… I probably won’t be back for a few days.” He finally divulged what he was hiding from her.
“Oh, is that it? Where are you going?” She asked, acting unaffected by the news, though she felt a pang within her. She would miss him.
“I can’t say. But, Roxanne… Where I’m going… I’m going to do some really terrible things there. So when I return, I may not be the same Asher you are seeing now” He spoke softly, a look of pain appeared in his eyes.
Roxanne knew he wanted to say more, but for some reason he kept quiet. She smiled, deciding to cheer him up a little.
“Pfft, what do you mean? You’ve always been a terrible person in my eyes Asher! You doing more of that wouldn’t change anything. You’re a stalker and a kidnapper, after all!” She said jokingly.
“Hahaha,” He let out a short laugh.
He looked at her and smiled, looking better than before.
“Thank you, Roxanne… You cheered me up. I’m feeling a lot better now”
“You’re so weird. You’re like the only person I know who would get happy from someone saying they are terrible.” Roxanne laughed too.
They both laughed as they watched the night sky. Asher looked at Roxanne, who kept her eyes fixed on the moon, unaware of his gaze on her.
For the past week, he had spent more time with her and they had gotten used to their company. The feeling he got when he was with her was sublime. However, the feeling he had was tainted by pieces of guilt within him.
While she had indeed cheered him up, would she still do the same if she knew what he was really going to do?
“I wonder… What kind of eyes would you use to look at me, if you knew the terrible things I would do… But it doesn’t matter. As long as it is for you, to keep you safe… To keep my lack safe, to keep the tribe safe… I will soil my hands no matter how terrible it may be.” Asher thought deeply.
The night ended and they went to their respective places. Asher, to meet with the members of his pack who would be taking part in the expedition. They all met at Rockwood Peak. Asher looked around and they were all complete.
Himself, Dax, Damien, and 90 percent of the warriors. They all had resolved looks in their eyes. They knew what they would be doing, the purpose for their leaving the village the next day.
“Everyone. It seems just like yesterday when I became Aloha of this great Pack. Back then, the opposition was so great that a lot of our members left us, abandoning our pack. Our numbers dwindled and our future looked bleak, yet you all stayed. You remained because you loved this lack, and you still do. Now, another dark cloud rises over us. You must all be aware of why you are here. The Hunters have been spotted by our scouts to be approaching our village from the northeast area. It will take them less than three days to reach us. Within that time, we must intercept them and exterminate them, no matter what. Now, I know the time of bloodshed has ceased for quite some time. Some of us have forgotten what it is like to dirty our hands with blood, to give in to our savage instincts and rip apart the enemy… However, I also know that we all love this pack and we have precious ones here. To protect those precious to us, we must fight.” Asher spoke, addressing the small crowd that gathered before him.
“And so I ask you all, will you join me and defend our pack? Will you fight with me?!”
Everyone cheered and raised their hands in support. They were ready to do whatever it took for their people.
“Good. Get all your affairs sorted out before the end of tomorrow! We move in the evening, before dusk!” Asher declared.
They all affirmed. He dismissed the meeting, and everyone left the Peak, everyone except Dax and Damien, as they remained behind to talk to Asher.
“Do you really think this is a good idea, taking all our forces to face the enemy?” Damien asked.
“He has a point… Leaving just 10 percent in the village, isn’t that going to arouse suspicion among the members of the pack?” Dax added.
“If we don’t take this much, we may not be able to subdue them. It’s fine if they suspect. We are doing this for them anyway, so they don’t have to face what we are going to do.” Asher replied.
“Have you told Roxanne?” Dax asked Asher, looking concerned for his friend and leader.
“Have you told Rita?” Asher responded.
Dax looked away, having a guilty look.
“Then you have your answer. I only told Roxanne I would be going away for some time, I’m guessing you did the same…?”
Dax nodded slightly in affirmation.
“You’re fortunate, Damien… You don’t have a woman in the pack yet” Asher smiled.
Damien returned the smile and shook his head.
“Doesn’t make lying to her any easier…”
The three men sighed.
Damien thought about Roxanne though, he was going to train her for the last time the next day, before leaving the village.
“I better put her to work!” He smiled to himself.
Everything was about to change… For everyone!
Roxanne slept after eating with Rita.
Dinner was not as fun as it had been previously. Dax wasn’t present, and Rita seemed to be in deep thought. Before sleeping she wondered whether Asher was wherever he told her he was going… And while she didn’t know why she had a strong and terrible feeling.
“Asher… Be safe…” She muttered as she fell asleep.
Unknown to her, the one who needed those words the most… Was her!