Chapter 1
Gently pushing the wooden door causing it to create a jarring sound, the girl with a red cloak walked into the dark cave. Outside the storm grew bigger and the sound of the thunder was screaming, it resounded throughout the sky, even when the cave was deep inside the mountain could not completely from the sound.
The girl brought the lantern to try to look around the dark cave but it was not helpful when the light emitted was too dim, the fire inside the lantern was too weak and seemed to be able to turn off at any time.
BANG.
The sound of the back door closed violently caused the girl to startle and immediately turned around.
"What the…"
Thought that nothing happened, but the girl immediately felt a look behind her back. When she returned, the girl quickly discovered a tall body standing in front of her and a bright yellow eyes were staring down at her.
“Ma-"
Before she could finish her sentence, the massive figure immediately lunged forward and mauled the girl.
———
She’s lost, the sky is gradually turning into orange, but Nobara still haven't found the way out of the forest.
"Fucking Yuuji" Nobara cursed "Wait til I got out of here I will definitely kill you, you idiot"
Everything start with Yuuji, because the job is to help fulfill every clients requirements, Yuuji this morning received an order to looking for a herbal flower in the Western forest. Well, maybe call this was the job doesn’t sound right, because before the three started a new day with breakfast, a man knocked on the door while constantly calling Yuuji's name. The man, according to him, introduced himself as Sakamoto, said that his daughter was sick and he desperately needed a herbal flower that could only be found deep in the Western forest. Mr. Sakamoto asked Yuuji because no one dared to accept this task because of rumors of a bloodthirsty wolf, called Montus residing there.
But the problem is, yesterday Yuuji has received an order that to help look after a herd of sheep and another searching task in the swamp in the Eastern forest, and god, these two are the most time-consuming things this such job can have. And while stupid Yuuji could refuse, he was too nice and kind, so he could not refuse that man's request.
"No"
"Why? You don't see him so pity?"
"It was your job, Yuuji, you accept it, you do it. Don't bother me and my weekend”Nobara picked up the meat into her mouth, not looking at Yuuji's disappointment face.
"Megumi?"
"Sorry, I had an appointments with some of my patients already"
After what Megumi said, Yuuji sigh disappointed and slipped his head down on the table.
"If you are busy like that, just tell him Yuuji, he will understand."
"But Mr Sakamoto looked very happy when I accepted his order, I didn't want to disappointed him" Yuuji sit straight up and turned to Megumi "And you already heard it, no one accepted Mr. Sakamoto's task, if I refused him too, no one gonna help his daughter" one again, Yuuji turned to Nobara "So please Nobara, help me with this, I promise I will do everything you say"
And Nobara, as always when Yuuji showed that stupid puppy's eyes he alway use to ask for something, she had no choice but sigh.
"Fine"
"Great!" Yuuji raised a fist up and was happy as if he had won something "So you'll look after the sheep for me, right?"
Yuuji initially asked whether Nobara could help him look after the sheep, because of course, no one in this town didn’t know the story about the Montus wolf live in the Western forest.
"No, I will receive that searching herbal flower task, but with a condition -" And although Nobara is very appreciated for Yuuji mean well, she will not take care of those foul sheep or ruin her dress by going to the swamp, especially when compared to that man's amount of money " - the money for this will all be mine"
And that's the reason why Nobara is here, lost in the forest and still hasn't found that stupid flower.
Damn it, if it's dark, the search will become even more difficult.
The more she thought about finding the flower before dark and finding a way out of here, Nobara's footsteps became more urgent, she crossed a bush and then discovered that there was no way in front of her.
"Fuck!"
As soon as she reacted to the fact that there was a cliff in front of her, she didn't have time to grab anything to hold on to, Nobara kept falling down the tilting cliff, her whole body kept hitting the hard rock and only stopped when she landed. After many strong collisions, her head gradually lost consciousness and she immediately fainted.
Gritting teeth at the pain she began to feel when her consciousness gradually returned, Nobara slowly opened her eyes to look at the ceiling.
Why does the ceiling have this color? Well, more work for Yuuji.
Thinking so, Nobara continued to close her eyes and then opened them again when she realized that something was wrong. Isn't she still in the forest?
Immediately sat up, Nobara continued to grimace because of the pain all over her body.
"Hey, be careful, you won’t want to move hard after that fall"
A strange voice came out of nowhere, Nobara immediately turned her head to the side where the voice emitted, her face full of vigilance.
"Is that the look you use to look at me after I helped you? That so impolite"
Despite what the other said, Nobara was still wary and she clenched her hands (because she had no weapons or anything to hold, damn it, her crossbow was still in her bag and now she didn't know where her bag was), without any weapons and her whole body seemed to will collapse any soon, Nobara felt like a pitiful wounded cat now. Despite that, she still tried to be scary, she was also ready to attack if the other rushed over, because she couldn't help but recognize who the other was.
“The wolf in the Western forest" Nobara said as she looked at the wolf's ears and the scars extending from her face down to her neck and finally hidden behind her clothe, she became even more wary "Montus. What do you want from me?"
Compared to Nobara's vigilance, the other still continued to sit still on the floor and just sigh, she put one hand on her thigh and rested her chin on her palm, her face was not very impressive and she bored looking at Nobara.
"As I said, you are so impolite compared to the story I have heard about you. Maybe a 'thank you for saving me' would be great, don't you think?" She snorted "And Montus? What kind of name is that? Your villagers have always called me like that?"
Nobara was dumbfounded.
“You not gonna...eat me?" She know this question is stupid, but Nobara still can't help her curiosity.
"No, I already ate a guy earlier"
She blinked a few times, Nobara raised her eyebrow to look at the woman.
"Just kidding" and she raised her hands to show that she was just joking "It's just a rabbit, and I don’t have an appetite for human flesh"
Okay…this is not the answer she expected. But because the other looked honest and didn’t seem to be threatening, Nobara put her guard down a little bit and looked around. She quickly realized that this was a cave, although it was a cave, it was kinda clean and a little more spacious than all the caves she had ever seen, if she had to be honest, Nobara think this place would probably look even better than her room if it were decorated with a few more pieces of furniture.
"I'm still waiting"
Being interrupted while looking around, Nobara turned to the voice again, but this time she was no longer as alert as before, because of the space here or because of the woman’s attitude, she didn't know.
"Uh…thanks. I guess"
"You’re welcome, Little Red Riding Hood" at this moment, that boring face finally showed a smile.
"Ugh, don't call me that" when she heard this familiar name, Nobara frowned in annoyance.
"Why? Aren't you the little girl in that story?"
"I mean, yes I'm that girl, but it's just, ugh, it makes me feel really uncomfortable" Nobara said "It's just…, well, don't call me that, I'm not a little girl anymore, I'm already 19 and I also have a name"
"Oh, okay, so what's your name?"
"Nobara, Nobara Kugisaki... And,uhm, you?"
"Maki" Maki said and then stood up "By the way, there is a glass of water on the table behind you, just drink it if you feel thirsty"
Noticing that her throat had been dry for a long day, Nobara turned to take the glass of water on the table (although it was said to be a table, it was actually just a log) and drank it.
"You're quite lucky Nobara, when it was just a tilted cliff and not too high" Maki said as she approached her, ignoring Nobara's expression when being called by first name (she was just a little surprised, she didn't hate it or anything, though) and took the bowl on the table behind her back "If it was a steep cliff, you would have died right away"
"Not talk about you saved me. So you mean that instead of hitting my head and die immediately, I will be luckier to die because of being eaten by wild animals until there is only a hideous body left?" Nobara rolled her eyes and looked at Maki slowly sit down on the couch, in front of her when Nobara sat leaning against the couch hand "Yeah right"
Maki chuckled at her sarcasm, only now when Nobara saw her smile, she completely let all her guard down and looked at that smile. And for a moment, Nobara thought it was probably the most beautiful smile she had ever seen.
"Okay, maybe not. But that's not what I mean, what I mean is—" said Maki as she pulled Nobara's arm to looked all the bruises on it, then she took the wet gauze bandages (Nobara don't know if she should call it a gauze bandage, because it was just a long piece of cloth) and has a rather strange smell wrapped around her arm "—at some of the steep cliff, at of the foot of it, there will be a hole under which is full of sharp stakes"
"A trap?"
"Yeah, hunters often take advantage of cliffs to drives a hard-to-capture prey down the cliff and cause it to die immediately" after finishing one arm, Maki signaled her to give the other "So, compared to that, you still think being eaten by wild animals is the worst?"
"If this is the way you comfort me after I just woke up after falling off the cliff, then you are terrible at comforting others"
"Thank you"
"That's not even a compliment" Nobara rolled her eyes but then burst into laughter soon after.
Although Maki still bow her head while wrapping bandages around Nobara’s arm, Nobara swear, she could see Maki eyes secretly looking up before returning to work and the corners of her smiling mouth became a little wider.
"Okay, in a few hours the bruises on your arm will disappear right away"
"What is this?"
"Just a piece of cloth soaked in the crushed marigold leaves, although it may not be as effective as applying them directly, but to some extent, it still help" Maki said "And about the bruises on your body and on your cheek, I also picked a few flowers and put them in your bag, after return to your house, you can do the same"
After what Maki said, Nobara immediately raised her hands to touch her face, except her face seemed to be a little dirty, there were no scratches at all. There was only a bruise on her left cheekbone that cause Nobara instantly retract her hand when she touched it.
"Damn it"
"Don't worry, it's just a small bruise, it's not even that bad" Maki said, then got up and walked towards the door opposite Nobara and opened it, where there was a small dark road that she couldn't see anything even if she try to "Let’s go Red"
So now she call her with a nickname huh, but Maki doesn't call Nobara like a child anyway, so she probably will ignore this.
"Go where?" Nobara raised her eyebrow, tilted her head to look at Maki.
"Go home of course. I will take you home, you got lost before falling off the cliff, didn't you?" Maki turned around to take the burning torch and looked at the girl "Don't forget your red cloak and the bag on the hanger"
Maki pointed to the side and the turned her back to leave. Huh? Why Nobara didn't notice the hanger that was lying there from the beginning?
"Hey wait!" Nobara quickly turned around to put her feet down and put on her shoes that soon being removed by Maki when she still be unconscious.
"Hurry up Red, this kindness has a limit and I will let you go back alone"
"I already heard that, don't rush me!"
Answering unpleasantly, Nobara stood up and immediately felt the ache of her whole body. The pain cause Nobara stagger and she had to lean on the back of the couch for a while before she could adjust and stand up straight.
"Are you okay Nobara? Can you walk?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, just a little dizzy" although her whole body aches when she started moving to the hanger before walking to Maki, Nobara still chose to lie. She’s very good at lying about this, had a lot of experience with it, but for some reason when she saw the way Maki's eyes looking at her, Nobara felt like she had been seen through by her. But Nobara glad that Maki did not expose her lie and just turned around and walked away and Nobara followed her.
The road is quite narrow to be able to walk side by side but it is wide enough to walk just by one like that, the road is not too long but the darkness seems to make her feel like the road never ends, only when looking at the light from the torch and Maki's back makes Nobara feel a little more secure.
And when the two already outside, Nobara realized why Maki have to urged her like that. The sky was dark, the stars were scattered all over the night sky and the moon shone in front of her eyes.
"How long have I been unconscious?"
"A few hours" Maki said "Enough for me to pick some flowers and use them for you"
"Shit, at this point, it will definitely past midnight when I get home”
"Uh huh, that's why we have to move right now. Come on"
Still holding the torch and walking forward, but this time Nobara walked to Maki left side and noticed that she immediately changed the torch to the right hand.
"You know, Maki, you’re really not like the one in the rumor at all"
"Is that so? What kind of rumor they spread about me, then?"
"That you are the reason why very few people dare to come to this Western forest, because you are a vicious wolf, who will kill and eat anyone you meet" Nobara said while trying to recall the oral words she had heard "They also said that you once slaughtered a group of hunters just because they had captured your prey. The only one who survived all thanks to a teammate had sacrificed to help him escape, even though he now not very intact anymore, had said that you had massacred all of them very brutally and—why are you laughing?"
Nobara raised one eyebrow, she turned to look at Maki who was laughing inexprehensiblely.
"I-is that all the things they say about me?" Maki asked while trying not to laugh again.
"Well actually, there’re still a lot, but that's all I can remember" Nobara shrugged, then snort "But with the way you laugh like that, I can guess that it's not true, isn’t it?"
"Oh, why do you think so?"
"Well, you know, I don't mean everyone, but most hunters are just a jerk who just like to show off and make up stories. They always weave false stories just to flatter themselves as heroes"
Maki blinked at her for a while, looking a little surprised and wanted to laugh, but then she just smirk at the answer.
"Well, that's true"
"Besides, I don't think you're that kind of wolf, bloodthirsty and savage, I mean"
"Ah, so what kind do you think I am?"
Although the two of them were still walking forward, Maki's eyes were still looking at Nobara and Nobara turn to look at her.
Even though there are scars stretching on Maki's face, they still cannot hide the clear sharpness on her face, a seductive pride and an undeniable charm, especially when under the silver moonlight, Maki’s beauties become even more prominent. There is no denying that although she is still very beautiful now, it is easy to imagine how gorgeous Maki would be if she were not covered in those scars. And above all, for the first time she mind to looked at it, Maki's amber eyes, the golden eyes couldn’t be faded by scars, the eyes seemed to glow under the night sky almost embarrassing all the stars and the moonlight. They look so charming, so attractive that Nobara seems to fall into their realm that couldn’t escape but to sink deeper and deeper.
Pretty, Nobara think.
The more she look at it, the more the thoughts of how gorgeous Maki is become. But luckily she was able to swallow those words before they could pour out of her mouth and make the conversation become so awkward, instead Nobara let what came out was just "Kind"
"Kind?" Maki exclaimed in surprise before brush out laughing.
"Is there anything funny?"
"No, no" Maki shook her head and said while not hiding the fact that she was holding back her laughter "It's just that, this is the first time I've heard someone talk about me like that. It made me a little bit surprised"
Oh right, because Maki is the vicious wolf in the Western forest, the dangerous foe and the terror of most people in the town. Even Nobara, before she knew Maki, although she didn't believe in the hunters' words, she couldn't swear that she herself had never thought those kind of things about Maki, especially when she already saw an empty left eye socket and other traces on that survived hunter.
Rubbing her neck, Nobara glanced away and lowered her voice a little "Sorry, for looking at you like that at first"
"It's okay, I don't mind" then she was silent for a moment before continuing "To be honest, you're quite different from what I thought too"
"Yeah I know, this is not the first time I've heard that. Besides, you’ve already said it, that I am more impolite than you think"
Maki chuckled at Nobara's eye roll and annoying voice.
"Well, it's true that I said that. But that's just a small part, I mean other things"
"What?"
"Your eyes when you first saw me, it looks like they will kill me right away if I try to do something"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I mean, compared to the story I've heard about you, I think your first reaction when you meet me will be fear and try to run away, or hate and want to kill me or something, but surprisingly you don't seem to have those things at all"
"Didn't you just say that I looked like I was going to kill you when I saw you?"
Nobara tilted her head and ask, only to see Maki shaking her head before answering.
"No, at that time, your eyes didn't look like those hunters' eyes at all, although it looked threatening, I knew you were just defending yourself" Maki paused for a moment and then turned to Nobara with a smirk "Although you knew I was the wolf who had killed a lot of people and you don’t even have a any weapon at that time, you still wanted to fight? You’re crazy Nobara"
"Okay, that rude. And I know that myself, you don't need to talk like that"
"No, you get the wrong idea, I didn't mean to criticize or anything, it’s a compliment actually......don't look at me like that, I'm telling the truth"
"You’re so weird, Maki"
When she finished saying that, Nobara thought Maki would say thank you like last time even though this wasn’t a compliment, but what she received is Maki bumped into her hip, causing Nobara to stagger to one side, if it weren’t for Maki holding her back, Nobara would have fallen into the bushes next to her already. When Nobara frowned and looked at the one who had just bumped into her, she saw Maki smiling and looking at her with interest.
"What was that for?"
"If I say it's a thank you or an apology, will you believe it?"
"Of course not, obviously you just want to tease me!"
"Oh no" still keeping that smile, Maki wasn’t even try to hide her fake surprise and her teasing voice "You see through me already?"
It's strange that Nobara doesn't feel angry or annoying or anything, because if this was Yuuji, he might be wrap in bandages and have to lie on Megumi's treatment table by now. It's quite strange that Nobara feels like laughing but has to hold back and pretend to be angry, Nobara is very good at this.
"Knock it off, you should feel lucky because you helped bring me back"
"Oh, so I'm really lucky, am I? Maybe I should kneel down on one leg and kiss your hand to thank you like a princess, right? Or do you want to kiss your cheek? Which one do you think is more sincere huh, Red?"
"Okay, okay, you’re already sincere enough when you said that, so please don't do that kind of things" Nobara laughed right after, maybe she not very good at this but whatever.
From the corner of her eye, she could see Maki looking at her, her golden eyes were as soft as the smile on her face, and Nobara decided to ignore Maki's waving tail.
Just like that, the two continued to walk and said nothing more. Nobara doesn't know why, although just a few minutes before when she came out of the cave, she had to shudder because the cold of the night, but right now she felt very warm. She don't know if it's because Maki's warm hand is still holding her hand or something else, but at this moment Nobara thinks she will never be able to forget this feeling.
The way back to the town is not too long, although it is still enough to make Nobara's legs quite sore when walking continuously for so long (Nobara wondered why she could travel so far and still not be as tired as when she came back?).
"Okay, Red, I can only take you here, the rest you have to go on your own, but don’t worry, just a little more and then you will see your town"
Nobara nodded and was about to continue to walk, but then she stopped, her hand was still holding Maki's hand and Nobara turned to look at her hesitantly.
Nobara wanted to ask Maki if the two of them could meet again but then felt that this question was stupid, obviously only she could decide to meet again because Maki could not enter the town without being discovered. Besides, Nobara is not even sure if Maki wants to see her again, it's not that Nobara is not confident about herself, on the contrary, her confidence sometimes makes her misunderstood as an arrogant person. It's just, if she was a hunted wolf, Nobara will definitely limit meeting people as much as possible, not to say about meeting a stranger in the forest and helping them, if she was Maki, Nobara didn't think she would have enough trust they wouldn't tell the hunters the location of the cave. Maybe Nobara should ask in another way like wanting to repay the favor or something, but then she is not sure Maki will agree.
And it’s seem like because Nobara thinks too loudly or because Maki can read minds (she quite doubtful about this), but she just smirks while saying.
"Don't think too much Red, it's late now, just go home. Then you can think whatever excuse you want"
"How—"
"Go home Nobara"
In the end, Nobara could only pout and do what Maki said, take a few steps, she didn’t forget to turn around and wave her hand and say thank you.
"Thanks for helping me and taking me home Maki"
Maki nodded, she waved goodbye and turned her back to walk deep into the forest.
Nobara looked at her back for a moment before Maki completely disappeared behind the bushes, she let her breathe out and then looked up at the night sky through the dense trees, inhaled the cold air of the night and then turned to continue walking.
And Maki was right, just walking a little more and Nobara finally saw the light from the torches and the silhouettes of the night guard at the gate to the town.
Walking on the paved road inside the town, there are no light inside the houses and the ambience is also so quiet. She wonder why she don't pay attention to such things like this when she go with Maki?
Opening the wooden door and entering her house, Nobara didn't have time to wonder why inside was still bright and why the door was not locked, she saw Yuuji and Megumi in the living room and the two turning to look at her. Megumi was sitting on the couch while Yuuji was standing opposite, both of them seemed quite shocked to see her.
"Why—"
"Nobaraaaa"
Yuuji immediately rushed to Nobara and he spread his arms to hug her, but Nobara immediately stop him.
"The hell are you doing? Don't suddenly rush into me like that? Are you stupid or something?"
"But, but—"
"Where have you been, Nobara?" Megumi stood up from the couch and folded his arms, questioning Nobara in a serious voice as if he were a her mom. And Nobara couldn't help but notice the worried look in his eyes hidden behind his anger "Why are your clothes so tattered and covered in mud? And what is that bandage on your arms?"
"It's just a small incident related to the cliff, nothing too serious"
"Cliff?"
"Oh my god, are you okay Nobara? Is there any injury? Is there any fracture or bleeding anywhere?" Yuuji wanted to grab her arm to check but was still pushed away by Nobara "I'm sorry Nobara, I'm really, really sorry, I shouldn't have let you take this task—"
"Hey, I took this task, so it's not your fault okay"
"But—"
"Shut up Yuuji, if you say one more apology I will break your horns" of course it was just a lie, but it also succeeded in making Yuuji not say any more apology, but even so he still looked so worriedly and it made Nobara give in. She still didn't let Yuuji check on her, though, instead she raised her hand and rubbed his hair and smiled to reassure him "But thank you, for worrying and for waiting for me like that, you too Megumi, thank you"
Megumi didn't say anything but just rolled his eyes and turned away, but of course she still see the light pink on his cheek before Megumi looked back at Nobara, no more blushing and no more anger, but still have that worried look.
"So what happened?"
"As I said, a small incident. But if you want to hear it, not now okay, maybe tomorrow morning. Now I'm very tired and really need to clean up all the dirt on me"
Fortunately, Megumi understood and did not ask anything more, he just sighed and pointed back with his thumb.
"I'll prepare bathtub for you, just rest first"
After saying that, Megumi left immediately.
"Okay, thanks" Nobara said, but she didn't go instantly but turned to Yuuji and said "Yuuji, I can't find that flower, sorry"
"Oh that okay, I'll look for it tomorrow, just seeing you safe is already enough to me right now" this time it was Yuuji's turn to smile to reassure her, he patted her on the shoulder and continued "Oh right! You've been walking all day like that, you probably haven't eaten anything, right? I'll cook some dishes for you so that you can eat after taking a shower okay?"
"Sounds great, then rely on you, you’re a savior Yuuji"
Hearing that, Yuuji smiled brightly, he raised his two thumbs before turning his back to go into the kitchen.
Damn, Nobara loves her boys so much, but of course there's no way she gonna say that in front of both of them. No way.
When it was all done, Nobara tiredly dropped her back to her bed, enjoying the softness and comfort after a long day.
Looking up at the ceiling, Nobara sighed, in this quiet space she recalled Maki again. Recall the way those golden eyes glowed in the night, recall the smile that made everything around her like fade away. Nobara held out her right hand, the hand that grabbed Maki's hand, she remembered the warm from that larger callous hand that wrapped around her hand and the feeling of safety she felt at that time.
And in unconsciously, a thought appeared in Nobara's mind.
I want to hold that hand again.
Realizing what she had just thought, Nobara could imagine the blush appearing on her face right now, she dropped her hand on the bed and sighed. Turning her head to the side and seeing the bag she threw on the bed earlier. Oh right, Maki said there was a flower in Nobara's bag so that she could put it on the bruise on her body, maybe she should do it and then go to bed later.
Thinking so, Nobara sit up, she took the bag and dumped it to let those things inside fall out. If the things fell on the mattress were just a few of her personal belongings and a few marigolds, it would be nothing to say, but until Nobara noticed a flower that was different from the rest. It's not like a mutated one or anything, it's definitely a completely different kind of flower. Nobara curiously picked it up and considered it, after thinking for a minute she suddenly remembered something. Quickly got up (damn it, her body aches so bad) and went to her dirty clothes basket, she looked for the dress she had changed previously, put her hand into it pocket and then took out a photo.
Before going out to look for the herbal flower, because she didn't know what it looked like, so Nobara asked Megumi, who because he was a doctor, so he was quite familiar with these things. But instead of taking notes, Megumi took out a photo from the notebook that he used to record his medicines and gave it to her, Megumi also told her a lot of things later despite knowing that Nobara only left them from one ear to another without remembering them. But that's not the point, because the flower her hand holding look exactly the same with the flower in the picture.
"What the?"
Her lips suddenly curled up, Nobara couldn't help but break into a loud laugh.
"What the!" this is not something funny for Nobara to laugh like that, but for some reason she can't help it.
Turns out this is the reason why Maki could know she was lost, the reason why she urges her to go home so soon.
"You are such a weird wolf, Maki"
Once again dropping herself on the bed, her lips still couldn't hold back the smile when she looked at the flower in her hand.
Maki. Nobara really wants to see her again.