Chapter Fifteen: Giving Chase

Guilden revealed himself from his foxhole. Chrysanthemum remained fixed, silent.

"You did well, my girl. Go home and be safe. I shall be to them both soon enough."

At the time she was not sure what he meant, but trusted him, since he too was a ranger like myself.

And with a few short words, he gave chase.

Chrysanthemum, however, did not give chase, nor did she do as she was told. Rather, she remained there for sometime, taking everything in. Her mind flashed back to several nights again, even before my visit. Her father had entered the cottage looking ghostly pale, and barely able to utter a sound. He had gesticulted about something he had seen. Later that evening a visitor with a horridly burned face arrived, seeking medicine as well as giving some of his own. His medicine had not worked and now the Sage's health was on the decline. She herself had gone after that strange medicine man to set things right and demnd a cure. The man had told her "All would be well so long as her father kept his end of the bargain."

She returned home to find her father back to himself, but when word of my arrival came to him, he explained that I was giving chase to a beast the medicine man had released. They were to aid me, but none too much. It was all very confusing, and Chrysanthemum was not sure what to make of the happenings. I, though rude, dirty, gruff, had done my best to keep all involved safe.

Then this man, Guilden arrives from the city. He seemed more the clean cut hero that she was hoping for. and so she asked him to follow Kinningson and help him hunt down the wolfman, as well as look to this medicine man with the burned face.

~~

Guilden now had given chase, and had proven the swifter of the two Rangers, for in half a day's travel he had nearly caught up with me.

Our meeting was strangely like a prior rendevous.

"Still hunting the wolf?"

I was silent.

"The girl asked me. No hard feelings. It seems this is beyond the supernatural, and nearly beyond our own powers. Two are better than one."

I could not deny that. I still had wished to do it alone.

The wolfman at that moment was lapping water in his wolf form but a quarter mile away, in plain view of the rangers.

Guilden notched an arrow.

I felt a desire to rip the bow from his hands, but knew that jealousy caused by my own failings could and should not give into anger.

But the anger felt good and real. I quelled this terrible surge within and marvelled at it.

I was brought back from my thoughts, when a clear cry was heard from the pool.

Together we dashed through the bushes and after the wolfman, now wounded once more.

I felt the rush of the chase take me over, and something new as well.

I sprinted past Guilden and pulled my ax back behind my head; I threw the weapon forty some yards into the neck of the beast.

Guilden slowed to a halt.

"Kinningson...well done." He composed himself.

I, however, took my chance to race to the body. I drew my axe and raised it again, for a beheading.