Chapter Text
Thumps of footsteps and ragged yells filled the darkened woods. Scarlett lugged her injured body on all fours, paws digging into the ground under her. Fur matted and her vision swirled with every heavy step that she took.
Sick bastards were just in for the thrill of the hunt.
Sure, she shouldn't have been roaming the village so freely but she had done it countless times. Always in her human form and nothing else. That is until someone took note of her fangs on a particular full moon and ran her out. Scarlett would have left them be if only they hadn’t gone after her. She wouldn't have dug her maw into the man's jugular and left him to bleed if only they hadn’t shot her in the side. None of this was her fault. She acted on pure self defense.
Well most of it at least.
So here she was being hunted like rotten prey in her beast form. Blending in with the night thanks to her ebony black fur that coated her back. The only thing that truly gave her away from being a creature of the night was her gleaming dark red eyes. Bright and striking. Filled with distrust and fury for the world. Fitting for a rogue like herself. An outcast that was thrusted out from her own pack. Her own mother. Left to fend for herself with teeth bared and hate for the world she was forced to live in.
For Scarlett refused to die off and rot in this sad excuse of a world. She’ll show those that thought lowly of her that they were wrong. Completely and utterly wrong.
First thing first; she needs to survive from this without bleeding out half to death. Shouts of the men growing closer caused her nostrils to flare in aggravation. Side burning like wild fire but she pushed on. It was either that or have a bullet through her head. The latter option didn’t sound too pleasant in any form.
Noise catching on the scent of something old and lavender. Flowery sweet with a touch of maturity to it. It was pleasant in a way that Scarlett couldn't explain and definitely not human. Despite the warning signs blaring in her head, carelessness still abides her to follow the scent. A better option than standing around and getting caught.
Trekking further into the inky woods with her only intent on following the scent like a trail. Barely even comprehending where she was even going, ending up deeper than she’s ever ventured on her own. Weary body passing by moss and greenery that looked too oddly well kept for it to still be part of the woods. Delirious mind not even noticing when the ground under her turned from dirt and fallen leaves to a stone path.
The smell of plants surrounding her and mixing with the original scent she had been tracking. A faint sound of running water could be heard some ways ahead but the pain on her side was becoming unbearable to stand. Transformation slowly wearing off as she left behind a clean trail of blood in her wake.
Slumping against a white beam from a gazebo that Scarlett can’t fathom remembering how it even got there. Or if it was even there to begin with.Bare body spent and bruised. Balance slipping as she came crashing down on the wooden floor of the gazebo. The only thing keeping her from getting any more filth on her skin. Dark red liquid staining the floor of the elegant structure that she laid to temporarily rest in. Feeling half sorry for the poor unfortunate soul that would have to clean up the mess after her.
Black dots swimming against her vision as slow ragged breaths left her lips. She had to move, leave and get out of here before the men found her. Trying to pull her body upright or to at least drag herself but to no avail. There was no energy left in her to do much but stay crumbled on her side.
A new unfamiliar scent hit her nose; just barely registering the rich earthy aroma. “Ah, what a surprise. Roi du Poison would be enamored to meet you,” was the last thing that had entered her ears before fading to black.