Lord Arlund's Hunt

Arri looked up at her, tears streaming down her face, eyes full of pain. "Why do I do this to myself? Because the more immediate pain replaces the one farther off. The pain I cause myself by biting my arm stops me from thinking about things like....that..." She gestures to the door, and therefore the hall outside.

"The elf heads? Elves are extinct. It's sad, and creepy that they have them, but that's life. Do you really believe hurting yourself will fix the problem?" Isolde's face contorted into an expression of pain, and frustration.

Arri's expression took on a similar expression. "Don't lecture me, Isolde. Where's your proof that one of those heads wasn't hunted last month, or last year? How are you so certain they're extinct? Because you haven't seen one? They're probably in hiding because we hunted them to the point of extinction!" She realized that she was standing, and shouting at a superior officer, let alone her hero. She sat back down, looking at the ground again. "Forgive me...I spoke out of place..."

Isolde looked down at Arri. "You should learn to control your tongue." She spoke coldly, then turned on her heal militarily and left the room.

Arri simply stayed where she was on the edge of the bed, finding the ground far too interesting to look away. She stayed like that for a good long while.

The sun set, and night was deep on the castle. Isolde had not returned.

Arri hadn't moved, still staring at the ground. Her eyes were still red, but otherwise it looked like she was simply intently focused on the ground, even in the dark.

The sun rose the next morning and Isolde had still not returned.

Arri hadn't slept, but she had at least managed to lay down. As the sun rose she redressed herself, managed her hair, and walked out of the castle, eyes cast downward. She reached the door, stepping outside and into the morning air.

The Lord smiled, "Ah, welcome child. Knight-Commander had urgent business to attend to. She left you in charge of the hunt." He grinned, but something was strangely wicket about it.

Arri froze before saluting. "Yes, M'lord. It's an honor, thank you. When do we leave?"

"As soon as we can! I hate delaying in the hunt. You catch the best game in the early morning." He chuckled.

Arri nodded, moving her swords for comfort. "As you wish, m'lord. Shall it just be you, myself, and the hounds?"

"I believe I can hunt this one on my own, madam. It shall just be us." He readjusted his crossbow on his back.

Arri nodded, getting their horses. "Here you are, m'lord. Would like assistance mounting your horse?"

He chuckled, "I have no need of him. Come, walk with me."

Arri nodded slowly. "Of course, m'lord. Lead the way." She took place beside him and a step behind him. "Lead on, m'lord..."

The Lord led her into the woods, chatting idly. If he was indeed hunting, he seemed to care little about scaring off the game.

Arri kept mainly silent, offering one word responses and nods and shakes of her head. She managed to seem like she was enjoying herself, though in reality she was uneasy.

When they were deep within the woods he stopped, "Do you know where we are?"

Arri looked around at the trees. "No, m'lord. I grew up around the city. I'm not familiar with the rest of the country..."

He grinned, "Excellent. Then no one will hear you scream." His body shuddered and expanded, fur growing all over and his muzzle elongating. He howled, then lunged after her as a giant wolf pouncing upon his prey.

Arri's eyes opened wide, and she purposely tumbled backwards, drawing her swords as she fell. She pointed them upwards so that the wolf would land upon them as he pounced on her.

The wolf landed on the blade, shrieked in pain, then pulled it from his chest and flung it to the side, the wound healing.

Arri scrambled to her feet and backed herself up to a tree, holding her remaining blade between herself and the wolf. "L-Lord Arlund? I-Is this s-some sick illusion?"