They sped through the forecourt, shot past the newly destroyed gate, and hurried over the drawbridge as they barreled into the narrow streets of Wysteria. Because it was still the early hours of the morning, the usually crowded lanes were empty. But it didn't mean people were asleep. Every house they dashed past had Wysterians lingering at windows or posted at doors, with all wearing the same horrified look. Hayden couldn't afford to let that distract him—the beast ahead had all of his attention. It had left the granite ground in a single leap and now ran riot over wooden rooftops. Midnight had to zigzag through several streets and alleyways just to keep up, and Hayden couldn't get a clear shot to sink an arrow into its skull. Hence, they continued their pursuit.
When the ground began to transition from granite tiles to snow-covered dirt, a cold realization hit Hayden in the gut.
"It's heading for the Venari!" He yelled over thundering hooves. "It'll lose us in the forest. We can't let it escape!"
Midnight snorted again, her head bobbing as she gradually picked up the pace. Hayden had the sinking feeling that the creature wanted them to chase it into the Venari, where they'd be easy targets for an ambush. Fortunately, there were no structures of any kind for miles between Wysteria and the Venari, which meant no obstructions and a clear target for his archery skills.
All of a sudden, there was another twist in the chase. Hayden's heart leaped into his throat when the beast stopped abruptly, turned around, and charged at him instead. It approached like a white, angry avalanche, quickly closing the gap between them with long strides. Any other horse would've fearfully reared and thrown their rider off as they fled for their lives. But not Midnight—she was a trained breed that only lived to obey her master's commands. Even if it meant riding towards a deadly mythical beast. Fortunately, that wasn't what Hayden had in mind.
Acting quickly, he reined his horse to a stop. Then he jumped off the saddle and smacked Midnight hard on the backside. "Go! Get out of here!"
She galloped away without hesitation, leaving Hayden and his bad decisions behind.
Taking a cold, deep breath, he gripped his bow and nocked an arrow, aiming at the werewolf which was only a few yards away now. As he held steady for the perfect shot, it suddenly became airborne with a powerful leap. The creature descended quickly, angling towards him with protracted claws and a snarl armed with large, sharp teeth. At the last moment, Hayden propelled himself forward with a roll, feeling the ground behind him rumble as it crashed into the snow. Armed and ready, he immediately spun around, finally releasing an arrow at his target.
The weapon whistled as it sailed swiftly, then it bounced off the back of the werewolf's head like a useless toy.
"What? How?" Hayden murmured with a shocked frown. The creature didn't even appear fazed, though it didn't seem to appreciate being poked in the head.
It turned around with a deep growl, towering over Hayden as it drew itself up to its full height. His hands moved in a blur as he fired three quick arrows at its wide torso, only to watch them rebound harmlessly to the ground.
Feeling defeated, Hayden retreated slowly, still keeping his eyes on the beast. It didn't seem in a hurry to attack—instead, it stood still, observing with cold, glowing eyes. Hayden assessed his options, then realized he had none. His horse was gone, his weapons were useless, and the creature had him cornered at an isolated spot far away from the kingdom. If help ever arrived, he'd be long dead by then. Being slaughtered by a beast he'd believed only existed in tales wasn't how he imagined he'd die.
The werewolf's right ear twitched suddenly, and its head moved in the same direction. Hayden's eyes followed as well, and he noticed a faint glow in the sky, along with clouds that were stained with the golden light.
"Sunrise," he uttered with realization. What had Aunt Niveria said about werewolves and sunrise again?
Without warning, the beast finally charged at Hayden. Instinctively, he held up his bow and arrow. But he lowered them soon after with a frown. It didn't attack him as he thought it would—instead, it sprang over him effortlessly and made its way into the Venari. Stunned, Hayden watched it go, unable and unwilling to chase it any further.
"My king!"
Hayden spun around, squinting in the direction of the voice. Just as the sun slowly streaked its light across the pale sky, several guards approached on horseback, riding in a formation across the barren land between Wysteria and the forest. It didn't take them long to reach Hayden, and a smile drew on his face when he spotted Midnight alongside them.
"Good girl!" He cooed when she got close enough, snuggling her muzzle.
One of the men leaped from his horse before it had the chance to stop completely. He rushed forward and took a knee to the ground, dropping his gaze low as well. "My king. Thank the gods you're safe. We came as soon as we could. Your horse helped us find you."
"Well, no surprises there," Hayden said, convincing himself that he had sent her to call for help. "Is everyone okay? Any survivors?"
The guard's hand fidgeted, and Hayden immediately knew something was wrong.
"Well?" He demanded as he stepped away from Midnight. "Say something."
"I'm sorry, my king," the guard said with a broken voice. "Some of the men were mauled to death, others sustained life-threatening injuries. One of which was your father."
Hayden's heart sank instantly. He barely made a sound when he asked, "What?"
"He's in the grand healer's chambers as we speak, my king," the guard continued. "But even he has given grim news—Lord Baustas might not live to see the sunset."