«Silence... Silence... Footsteps, she's coming»

— how do you know Aloide Clairvaux? — said the same voice that had welcomed her to the cabin.

Alice looked around, she was tied by vines to a chair full of termites.

— how do YOU know i know her? — she searched in her mind for the name the woman had told her and, when she remembered it, her face went pale — Aveline.. Clairvaux.

The old lady narrowed her eyes and turned to a cauldron in a corner of the room, the green light emanating from it softly lighted up the walls around it.

— i ask you again, kid — she walked up to the cauldron — how do you know her? Do you know where she is?

Her voice sounded almost desperate.

— i know her because... Uhm... — she sighed — why should i tell you?! How can i be sure you wont hurt her?!

— HURT HER?

Aveline spun around furiously and launched towards her with a speed surprising for her age.

She shaked her from the shoulders for a second, until she let go of her and seemed to calm down.

— will you tell me? — the woman said with a deep, menacing voice that made Alice's blood run cold, but besides her fear, she shaked her head in denial.

With a sigh, The Lady once again turned around towards the cauldron and approached it before speaking.

— i didnt expect to have to do this, i thought you'd be... Smarter.

She said, filling a wooden bowl with the liquid from the pot, shaking it lightly.

As she understood her intentions, Alice started to squirm, trying to untie herself from the chair.

— get away from me!

Aveline slowly walked towards her while she whistled a melody.

— im gonna have to see it with my very own eyes — she said taking her chin in her cold and wrinkly hands.

«what does that mean?!» thought Alice in pure terror.

Being forced to drink the substance from the bowl, her vision went blurry and, suddenly, she found herself surrounded by an intense darkness.

But after a few seconds, she woke up, infront of the river, infront of Aloide... And infront of herself, holding a crossbow and shaking.

«what... What is this? A memory?»

Alice couldnt hear what those fragments of her memories said, the words they spoke, her ears seemed clogged.

A voice rumbled in her mind; Aveline.

— youre a huntress...

«she's seeing what im seeing? How? Is she...»

— oh, and youre her friend — ended up saying the woman.

— can you hear me? — tested Alice.

— of course, little huntress.

«ugh, why does everyone call me that?»

— Aloide and me... We know each other yes, we get along i guess, she has helped me.... sometimes. — she said awkwardly

— where is she? Where is she hiding?

— and why do you want to know that?!

In the exact moment she finished saying those words, a sharp pain attacked her mind.

— I make the questions here, young one. — replied Aveline with that deep voice from before. — now tell me, where is my sister?

«... Sister?»

Her mind blurred again and the pain came back, making her close her eyes in agony.

When she opened them, she saw a different scene; the discussion she had with Aloide that morning.

Once again, the voices came clogged to her ears, but she remembered what she said pretty well.

— your village was... Attacked?

The lady's voice suddenly turned calm, sad even.

— yes, they burned it all down to ashes, they came out from nowhere... — she let out a little sigh — i still cant understand the reason...

Her mind blurred again, but without pain.

Everything around her turned in a dark, deep void.

When the next scene formed infront of her eyes, she took longer to recognize it, but it was her home.

As she looked around, she saw her father, without any bottle around him, which seemed weird to her, she didnt remember him not drinking.

When turning to the other side, she saw herself.

Many, many years ago...

In a cradle...

Next to her mother.

From her mouth came out a choked gasp, almost hyperventilating.

— how are you doing this?! — Alice said with desperation — get me out of here!

— let me see why you keep this memory in the back of your mind...

She saw her mother standing up and walking to her father, this time she did hear what they said, Aveline wanted her to

— Leo, its time, i have to go...

She was happy to hear her mother's voice after forgetting it many years ago, but her happiness dissapeared almost entirely at her words

Her father stood up and walked up to her mother.

— so soon...? — he asked — you barely show any signals, we can still hide it-

— Leofric, no... Alice wont be safe if i stay.

«what are they talking about...?»

Leofric nodded with a sad expression.

— you decided then? I keep the girl?

Her mother nodded too.

— i cant force her to be a wolf so young, she cant decide for herself...

«be a... What is happening? Why do i dont remember this part?»

— WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY HEAD?! — she screamed.

— im only showing you the truth.

Her vision was surrounded by darkness once more.

«No, No! Let me see!»

The moment she opened her eyes, she was back in the cabin, with Aveline infront of her, her eyes wide open.

Alice felt a cataract of tears fall through her cheeks.

— your mother... — started the woman. — ... Youre a Dubois

Before she could reply, a loud noise came to her ears.

As she turned around she saw Aloide, who, with her enormous size, had destroyed the wall and stepped into her sister's den.

Had she came looking for her?

— AVELINE! — rumbled the hoarse voice of the wolf. — let that girl go, now.

Her voice sounded intensely menacing, something that surprised Alice, she would never speak to her brother like that...

— sister... — in contrast, Aveline's voice showed relied and even happiness. — finally... We're together again! Ive been looking for you...

— i know — replied Aloide — and ive been avoiding you, witch.

Aveline seemed visibly hurt by that comment.

In that moment of weakness, the wolf launched towards Alice, giving the chair she was tied to a powerful bite, making sure not to hurt her, freeing her from the vines.

Once free, she looked over to the lady for a moment, seeing the pure rage in her eyes.

The room began to be surrounded by a green glow.

— out we go — said Aloide right before taking her by the hood, tearing it slightly.

The moment they were outside, an lime explosion sent both of them violently flying over the snow and, as Alice hit the ground, she lost consciousness.

***

«silence... Silence...»

— Alice — said the wolf towards the inert body of the child — kid, wake up...

No response.

It had been hours since they escaped the witch already, they had a few injuries because of the explosion but Aloide was able to take Alice and run back into the forest.

They were now in a cave, the wolf lady watched the entrance and the huntress slept in a bed of skins, plants and feathers.

«i hope she's comfortable...»

The scene began to seem to domestic for her.

But what couldve she done? Leave her unconscious in the middle of nowhere?

Aloide sighed.

«im not cut out to be a mother»

***

The chaos in Alice's mind contrastated with the peaceful cave.

She looked around and only saw darkness, it was exactly like what Aveline had done in her mind.

But there wasnt a voice tormenting her with her memories this time.

«she was a witch...»

That would explain a lot of stuff; the herbs, the cauldron.... The cauldron made it kinda obvious.

She didnt know what to think, what should she even think? She didnt completely understand what was happening.

Her mother was a werewolf? Her father hid that from her?

Her father trained to hunt her?

She began to wake up.

As she opened her eyes she saw Aloide, sitting at the entrance of the cave they were in.

— Aloide?

The moment the wolf heard her voice, she turned around and ran towards her.

— Alice, for the gods, are you alright? — she had never heard Aloide use that tone before, so soft, worried.

— i think im alright, but my arm hurts...

She had a few bleeding cuts on her shoulder and hand, it didnt seem too serious, but she was losing blood.

— we need to heal that... Somehow.

— what if i go to that town Maud went to...? — she suggested, slightly doubtful — the girl i was with this morning...

The expression in the wolf's face showed preocupation.

— you know i cant accompany you there, right?

Alice nodded and stood up, still slightly weak, her legs hurted.

— before you go... — started Aloide — i found this in the river, take it.

From a corner, the wolf took Alice's crossbow, frozen and weathered, but could still work.

As she left it at the huntress' feet, her eyes lit up with happiness, happy to finally have her crossbow back in her hands.

After saying goodbye, she strolled out of the cave and started walking.

In her mind remained the doubt, how would she find that town?

Maybe, and just maybe, following the smell of smoke and fire would help her.