The Old Ways

"I came to let you know I'll be leaving tomorrow." Stefania proclaimed, standing across from his desk in the study. Taking a good look at her, Tama tried determining whether she had been told anything by Dimitri, but ultimately concluded he saw no significant difference in her demeanor. So, his right hand chose well. He was all but prepared for scenes if she found out. "I came to Dorgoyl to spend time with you, and you chose to linger around that creature instead."

It would have been very easy to just agree. Yes, he wished to tell her, unlike you, dear sister, the creature isn't a two millennia-long pain in my backside. Alas, he had to note he wasn't on his best behavior as a host when it came to Stefania.

Without any intention to brag, his castles, wherever he was located at a time, were always well visited, open to all vampires, be they fellow nobles or simple travelers. Stefania was his own kin, and yet he really could do better – thanks to her own fault more often than not – but, he didn't want her to leave on such a bad note yet again.

"Do you know what I'm reading?" He asked and waved a letter, as if he didn't hear her previous remark.

"No."

"Response from Zmay. He is on his way to visit." Having sought her eyes, he offered a small nod. "You should stay."

"Sure," Sarcasm seeped into her tone as she crossed her arms. "It wouldn't be the first time he entertains me in your home. Besides, I don't want to be anywhere near that beast."

"The beast has to stay until Frey arrives. According to her, she's his adopted daughter. I'm waiting for him to confirm."

"Frey adopted a werewolf? That makes no sense. How did she even end up here in that case?"

"That's what she tells me. We'll wait and see. For the sake of us all, I cannot let her leave now." Having placed Zmay's folded letter back into its envelope and into a drawer, he faced his sister again. "Besides, it wouldn't kill you keep an open mind for once and have a look at her. She's quite interesting."

Clearly, he hit the nerve. Her brooding silence descended upon them like many times before, whenever he had tried to have this conversation in the past. She stiffened, defensively bringing her arms closer yet to her body.

"She isn't going to hurt you." He added, "I will be there the whole time, Dimitri too. Nothing bad can happen."

Nothing indeed could. Stefania didn't spend her centuries sitting idle, her physical shape was better than his, and she made sure to always carry some sort of weapon she could subtly hide in her dress.

"Let's dine together one night. Don't you think it's time to move on from that?"

Right about there was when a good portion of their fights broke out. He and his sister cared for each other as any siblings did, but neither tolerated the other prying into their life. Her facial expression told him as much. She looked as if she'd start screaming at him any moment now.

"Fine." She whispered instead.

"What, now?"

"I said fine!"

"Do you mean that?"

"Yes," She shrugged lifelessly, only to send him a stern look just a moment after. "But if you leave me alone with the werewolf, even for a moment, I swear I'll kill it!"

Chuckling, he stood up, going around the desk to reach her. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he offered a reassuring squeeze.

"Look at that. You really surprised me, sister." He grinned. "Of course, I'll be there."

A sudden flash of sadness appeared in her eyes and his smile wavered, completely triumphed by confusion as her palm gently landed on his cheek. She nodded, way more agreeable than he was used to.

"Alright. We'll dine together."

....

"I don't need a horse, or the carriage." Lorelei watched the animals and the procession he had organized for their hunting trip with open disapproval. "And what do we need five people for? They're all hunters?"

"No, they're our party!" Tama hurried to explain. "Two guards – we need to stay safe - a coachman, a cook, a cupbearer. Truthfully, I brought more people when I used to hunt, but for your comfort I reduced my group to its bare bones. Surely, leaving with any fewer companions would be ill advised."

"But," The girl approached the horse originally meant for her, and they measured each other up in distrust. "The crowd will scare the prey, this wagon alone is louder than a mill! And what do you need the cook and the cupbearer for? We'll cook our own catch."

"I need my blood wine, Lorelei. Vampire, remember?" He waved ironically. "There's no reason for us to make this more inconvenient than it needs to be. We'll set up a camp in a cave somewhere and then go hunting by ourselves."

"Fine." She sighed, allowing the horse to sniff her while they got used to each other. "But I haven't ridden since I was twelve, just so you know."

"That's why you'll be in the carriage with me. Come, now." Opening the door, he helped her up into the vehicle and entered after her. "There's no reason to deny ourselves basic comfort. I'll domesticate you yet, sweet Lorelei." He joked, but she didn't seem to appreciate it too much.

It took a quarter of an hour for everyone to get ready for departure, and then finally, they went. The help rode behind the carriage, the guards both at the front and the back, the two of them rested in the spacious vehicle.

The night was approaching its middle, and it wasn't certain how long it could take them to find a suitable cave for all of them to fit. They might not even begin hunting until the next evening. Tama knew in advance the werewolf would get impatient, but there was no way he'd allow her to go out without escort, which meant she would have to stick around and only come out at night with the rest of them.

The flame of the white candle that burned in its stand danced across every surface of the interior, and he noted his hunting mate had already curled up in the corner opposite him, sitting awfully quiet. A tiny smile made its way to his lips as he observed her. This time of night, so to speak, was a morning to his kind. After all the eons past, it was hard to imagine other beings slept at night and moved in daylight.

"Still not used to the night mode, Lorelei?"

Inhaling a sleepy sigh, she took a couple of moments to respond. She shook her head.

"Feel free to sleep." Tama added, taking a blanket that sat beside him and tossing it to her. "I'd sing to you, but I haven't been blessed with the talent. Only if you'd like a bedtime story I can be of use." He joked, watching her spread the blanket and pull it over herself. He did hope to spend this trip conversing with someone, but it is what it is, he thought. Her small nod caught him by surprise, however.

"I haven't been told a story in a long time."

Chuckling nervously, he tried recalling some fairytales he knew, but found he only really knew the point and a few memorable parts of each. Truth be told, he wasn't much of a story teller either, but a lady asked, and he was a knight, so…

"Do you happen to have a request?"

"I'd like to hear the story of us."

"Oh, so you want me to come up with one. Good, good…" Sighing, he cleared his throat and began. "There lived a handsome knight in a—"

"Not you and me!" Her drowsy expression frowned at him. "Vampires and werewolves. Why don't we like each other?"

"What, you never bothered to ask Frey?" He jabbed, not missing a chance to let her know he still thought she was lying through her teeth.

"I did, but he never told me. He said such story isn't for a child to hear."

"Fine, no harm in it, I suppose." If she turns out to be a liar or to pose any sort of threat later on, she wouldn't live long enough to tell anyone, anyway. "So…" He took a moment to decide how he should begin. "Our animosity is as old as our kinds are, and they… They're old as the first people."

"How old are you?" Lorelei interrupted.

"Hm… Two thousand years, more or less. We didn't keep birth records at the time, and honestly, I've lost count. Anyhow, werewolves. I would say they are best described as… traditional," He nodded, content with his own choice of words. "Legend says that old pagan gods gifted lycanthropy to their high priests and strongest warriors, granting them unnaturally long lives and strength, to keep their ancient traditions and customs alive forever. For, they knew that changing times, new ways would come for them." Raising an eyebrow, he made eye contact with the girl as she fought sleep to carefully listen. "And we did."

"You did?"

"Yes, vampires. My kind defies constancy. We pick and choose among traditions and beliefs; some we keep, some we discard, others we better – that is how the world moves forward. As such, we were always closer to human kind and found it easier to form alliances. Werewolves have since ever been feared."

Pausing to gather his thoughts, he took a bottle of wine from his leather bag. Pouring it in the moving carriage would be inconvenient, so he settled for drinking from the bottle itself.

"If it was up to them, the whole world would still be worshipping twigs and stones and wearing animal fur. They're far too set in their ways. When I remember how long it took us to enforce the one God across the continent! Even today, you'll find places where the old ways endure."

"You believe in the God?"

"Oh, no, sweet Lorelei. Of course not." He chuckled. "He is the deity that suits us best in these times. In the future, there will come a moment when we'll have to change again – in the name of progress, clearly."

"But then… You're faithful to nothing?"

"What use it there in being faithful?"

"How should I know? I'm not a scholar."

Her response made him laugh, and he nodded happily. "Indeed, you're not." He had to note it was admirable in a way, her lack of need to understand things that were beyond her. That seemed like a trait of a happy person. "Well, let's not linger on philosophy. That alone is the core of our issues with each other. Werewolves were the high priests and druids, and we were the Romans, the crusaders, the Vikings..." He finished with a shrug.

Lorelei yawned, snuggling closer to her recliner under the blanket. He couldn't blame her – despite being well rested he had a hard time not getting sleepy to the rhythmical bat of hooves, lulling clatter of the carriage and its gentle rocking.

"When did you become a vampire?"

"If you want to request another story, you'll have to tell me one first." He grinned.

"But you're not sleeping."

"Let's pretend I am." Checking to see if the wine bottle was well closed, Tama returned it to the bag, and lied down on his back, getting comfortable as if he would sleep. After another long yawn, Lorelei asked,

"What kind of story do you want to hear?"

"The one about the werewolf cub raised by a vampire?"

"Fine." She sighed.

.....

"You once said your mother was human?" Lorelei nodded. "So what was her connection to Frey?" Tama deemed that a good start to her story, as he's been wondering about her mother ever since she had first mentioned the woman. She looked at him as if his question was stupidly obvious.

"She was his wife."

"Oh… Silly me." He couldn't bite back his sarcasm. "You can't be the product of the two of them! How come she had you if she was married to Frey?"

"Apparently," She exhaled, pulling the blanket closer. "She was already carrying me when they got married. I don't know the details. Father never wanted to discuss it – not that we had much time for discussion when he learned what I was. He had thought I was his child."

"She wouldn't tell you, either?"

"She died while having me."

"Well, this is just getting better, and better." He shifted from his position onto his side to face her. "You're telling me Frey spent years raising you without figuring out you weren't a vampire? Could he not tell you didn't mind sunlight?"

"I never went into sunlight… Until he sent me away."

"How did he learn what you were then?"

"Is this a story or a questioning?" Her annoyed tone made him chuckle, and he raised a hand in an apologetic gesture,

"Forgive me. You have the word."

"I turned for the first time when I was twelve. Until then, father said there was nothing unusual about me."

"I wish I was there to see the look on his face." Tama grinned, unable to resist interrupting. "I'm sorry, go on."

"A few weeks after that happened, he told me we were both in danger and I'd have to leave and to tell no one about him or what I really was. His help found a farmer family in a nearby village, they raised me until I turned fifteen."

She paused to yawn, giving him a few moments to think about her story.

"Let me guess, you savaged someone's cattle and they chased you away?"

"No, I locked myself in the basement every full Moon," She shook her head, absently playing with the edge of the blanket, "I'd tell the farmer's wife I had," Gulping, she looked away, avoiding his gaze. "You know… Those days that women have…" He couldn't fight back an amused smile at her reluctance. "She believed I was hurting and spared me from work always. They're good people." Suddenly, she trailed away. "I hope they're still alive."

"How did you end up in the woods then?"

Her playful smile brought him to raise a curious eyebrow in wait for her response.

"That's a whole different story." She pointed out knowingly, and he sighed.

...…

"You've been told a story, aren't you going to sleep now?" He jabbed. In truth, he did enjoy the interest she was showing in his life. Being surrounded by fellow vampires, commonly he never had these conversations. Vast majority of them were alive to witness his deeds being done, and the others have already heard of them.

Her eyelids held on to dear life to keep her eyes open, but Lorelei shook her head in negation.

"I can't fall asleep now, I'm curious."

"Don't you know, sweet Lorelei, curiosity eventually comes to bite you on your little snout?"

"You're not funny."

"Oh, but you are." Grinning, Tama gestured in surrender. "Alright, I'll tell you how I became vampire."

"I heard you have a sister. How is that possible? I knew Dragon knights are turned to vampires as part of their initiation, but women can't be knights."

"Huh," Sitting up, he fixed his hair, tucking it behind his ear on one side. Taking the bag again, he reopened that wine. "So that's what you're after." After a long chug, he paused in thought, wondering how he should handle the situation at hand. "See, Lorelei, my sister hates your kind with passion. I'm not entirely sure she'd appreciate you knowing about her past…" Shrugging, he went on, "On the other hand, she'd want you to know why she hates you so much… "

"I haven't even met her." Lorelei sat up, body stiff and defensive, "How can she hate me?"

"She hates every werewolf, without exception." Before she could pose more obvious questions, he continued. "No vampire likes werewolves, per se, but we're able to contain ourselves more often than not. Stefania is different."

Frowning at his words, the girl appeared thoughtful, struggling to understand.

"Is she evil?"

Snickering, he shook his head disapprovingly at her fairytale logic.

"Only as much as you or I." Preparing to move on to the core of his story, subconsciously he felt his throat tighten as harsh memories awoke in him. When he spoke again, his voice lacked in its usual zeal. "The circumstances of her turning were very… unfortunate. I bit her myself. And as you might have assumed – it had a great deal to do with werewolves."

"How so?" Lorelei's knees were up against her chest, hidden and warm under the blanket, while her teeth nervously played with her bottom lip as her curiosity yearned to be satisfied.

"As our names reveal, we're Slavic. We come from a small tribe to the south, and like the rest of Europe, we had trouble with the Romans. They conquered lands, banned traditions, enforced their ways everywhere they went, but they were far too organized and, well, civilized for us to defy! To be completely honest, I admired them." Inhaling a deep breath, he drank some wine and cleared his throat.

Paying closer attention to the werewolf, he noted her green eyes simply devoured his every word.

"Epidemic plagued us at the time, both our parents were gone before we knew it, so my sister was left alone to care for me who was only fourteen. Behind her back, I joined the Legion." Nodding to himself as he recalled the long past events in the correct order, he took a moment to gather his thoughts. "It took two decades, and a lot of work, blood, battle, but I became a knight in the Order of the Dragon – the Caesar's most trusted." A proud smirk escaped him at the memory. "I didn't care one bit that I had to turn into a vampire – all the better, I thought!"

Going silent to catch a breath, Tama realized he needed a pause to think carefully and choose how he wished to disclose the rest of his story. The events that would follow weren't nearly as triumphant as the ones he had just told. The girl said nothing, still and regardful as if he had never stopped talking.

"News travelled fast… Well, faster than me, anyway." Focusing his gaze at the night view out the window on his right, he continued, "People of my tribe weren't happy with their youth joining the Legion, and me earning my title made me just another Roman in their eyes; an enemy – worse, a traitor. In the name of our gods, they wished to punish me, and who better for the task but werewolves." His eyes trailed back to Lorelei, who offered a mournful frown, still waiting to hear more.

"I was away, and even if not, twenty years of conquests made me hardened, powerful, influential. None would attack me. Stefania, though… She had just lost her husband in an accident, was left all alone with a household and a child on her hands…"

Subconsciously he began avoiding eye contact as long appeased rage bubbled inside him once again and he struggled to repress it. "They killed her boy. And her…" Sighing, he carefully picked his words. "They hurt her in the worst way one can hurt a woman." Excessive details were neither tasteful nor called for, and the girl gulped, grimly looking at the wagon's floor.

"She was just barely alive when I found her… I shouldn't have turned her, we're not supposed to do that – I had no right. But I was a newblood… It was still beyond my grasp that I'd get to outlive everyone I knew. I mean, I knew they'd die eventually, just not so soon! I counted they'd have at least a couple more decades to go – and when Stefania died, her son would stay, and his sons after him… I couldn't let her go."

Clearing her throat, the werewolf prepared to speak for the first time after a long silence.

"Do you regret becoming vampire?"

"No. I get restless, agitated… It's impossible to fulfill such endlessly long life. But no, I lived many good centuries as a vampire. I do regret making my sister one. I should have let her die… At least she'd be at peace."

His hollow laugh filled the interior with shocking suddenness, and he managed his usual unbothered grin as he regarded Lorelei once more,

"Well, that's two stories now. Sleepy yet?" Quietly, she only shook her head. "What am I to do with you, Lorelei? Should we take a walk and have something to eat?" This time she nodded, letting the blanket drape over her shoulders while he informed their party they'd be taking a break.

The cold air was very welcome, just like the chance to stretch his legs after a while. By his estimation, it was around three hours after midnight. They'd have to settle somewhere to hide from the morning soon enough. Without lingering too much, they finished the snacks they'd packed for the trip and were on the road once again.

Lorelei was fast asleep on the way, not having told that story she owed him. He'd get it out of her yet.

.....

"But I'll just be at the front!" The werewolf argued as if Tama's patience wasn't already well out the door. The daylight that even closely nailed boards and the thick drapes over them couldn't entirely keep out was bad enough. Joined with the needless and surprisingly warm weather for that time of the year, it made his entire party one collective lump of ire.

"I said no." He grumbled dismissively. Oh, and not to forget, he was on the verge of falling asleep, but couldn't get any peace of mind in worry the girl would run away. He had his guards, well, guard in shifts, but they were exhausted too. One little moment of inattention and they could lose the werewolf for good. Indeed, this whole venture looked like a very bad idea at the moment.

By the time any of them could afford to chase after her, she'd be too far gone to be caught up to. She knew the woods, she had the twelve hour advantage as they could only move at night. Giving her the benefit of the doubt despite the sympathy he had for her was out of question.

"That's not fair! I haven't done anything to make you not trust me!"

"Except for running around my castle as a werewolf and then saying your father was a vampire knight – the claim for which you have no proof, mind you!" Pinching the bridge of his noise, without much success, he tried to will the coming headache away. "Now better settle down. Don't make me bind you."

Turning away with an attitude, he went to his sleeping bag to try getting some rest. It evaded him for over an hour, but eventually he had managed to fall into a shallow sleep. Every now and then, his restless mind would involuntarily wake him, and he'd sit up to check if the girl was still there.

She was mostly isolated in one of the cave's many dark corners, and once he even spotted her chatting with the cook, and surprisingly enough, neither of them appeared to mind the other.

Eventually, the evening descended, and he was unwearied and prepared for that hunt they planned.

Hidden behind the curtain they had set up for personal needs, he changed from his current attire to a more convenient one. Since the girl refused to ride, he decided to go on foot as well, and hence had chosen light clothes he could easily move in while also receiving enough protection from cold and possible animal attacks.

His knife was safely sheathed at his hip, bow and quiver on his back, half of his hair tied back as to not get in his face. Coming out, he noted Lorelei was also ready, dressed in brown leather pants and fur fastened over her simple cotton shirt. Her brown hair was tied in a long braid, her belt holding a small knife and an axe.

Personally, he opted for long range weapons, but to each their own he supposed. She's been hunting for herself for a couple of years, so he saw no reason to advise her on the topic. Soon enough, they ventured out into the wilderness, leaving the help behind in and around their cave.

...….

The forest was colossal, foggy, and ancient. Thick clouds of mist wrapped themselves around the surrounding trees in slow, threatening movement. Its canopy was reigned by alder, birch and poplar, that let through dancing beams of moonlight. Thick layers of ivy wrapped themselves around the occasional tree, the forest floor adorned by blackened leaves, rotting branches, fallen trunks, all in the wonderful disorderly fashion which only nature can produce.

Erie noise of an owl echoed through the air, as well as the vermin in the leaves that ran ahead as the two hunters approached. Lorelei went first, he wouldn't risk losing the sight of her. After all, they were on her territory.

All of a sudden, she stopped, stomping the ground in a comically irritated manner, and turned to face him.

"I can't do this."

"Why? We came all this way to hunt, what is it now?"

"I can't even see a whole meter ahead!" She complained, allowing all of her disappointment to ring clear in her voice. "Ah…" A heavy sigh left her lungs. "At least I'm outdoors."

"And in great company." He couldn't resist stepping in. "Alright, sweet Lorelei. I will be your hunter. I'll catch you something."

"It's rut season, we should come upon a deer soon enough."

Well, it wasn't a tearful thank you followed by her limply falling into his arms, but it was an answer he more or less expected.

About an hour of following velvet trail, and taking cover in some bushes by a spring, the very first sound of animal grunting reached them. Offering Lorelei a meaningful look, Tama made a soundless step forward, to more easily see the deer when the time comes.

Uneasy feeling of vulnerability possessed him as he turned his back to her. The deer before them wasn't the one that left all the trails, he knew as soon as he looked at it. Its antlers were small and smooth. It was young. Better yet.

Silent as a bat, making sure his movements remain steady and slow, he took his bow and reached back into the quiver to take an arrow. He had to have gotten a bit rusty – it's been a while since he last practiced archery – but he was set on at least making an effort to get an instant kill.

The maple bow lay familiar in his palm, his arm habitually positioned the arrow, aiming for the space between the buck's antlers as it lowered its head to drink from the spring.

"Lorelei?" He whispered, so quietly he barely heard it himself. Still, the girl's expression perked up and she looked his way in question. "Try pulling something," As the animal moved, so did his aim, "And you're next," His fingers skillfully released the bowstring just as he'd said that; his claim supported by the immediate splash as the prey fell into the shallow water.

.....

Having been bathed in cheers over their victory once they returned to the cave, the coachman informed the party there was just enough of the night left to make it home if they packed up to go right away. Leaving the catch to the cook to take care of, Tama plopped down by their makeshift fireplace on the stone floor, ready to embellish the tale of his hunt to the point of bad taste.

"We could catch another one, I tell you." He claimed, as if anyone doubted or cared anymore for that matter. "Lorelei, what say you? Should we stay another night?"

Her insistence to sit away from the fire and warmth, instead lingering around the cook as the man cut the animal, was curious enough. Paired with a disinterested shrug as an answer to his question, it truly awoke his interest.

"Don't you wish to stay in your woods?" One more aloof reaction later, he stood up, about to announce his decision to everyone. "It's settled then. Prepare for departure."

While the others scattered to get ready as soon as possible, he made his way over to the werewolf as she pretended to be busy folding her sleeping bag.

"Leave that, come get into the carriage. You must be tired by now."

"I'm fine." Lorelei responded briefly, not bothering to even face him. He had to silence his chuckle. "I've decided," Finally, she straightened up and faced him, the wrapped bundle in her arms, "I want to ride back."

Tama could feel one of his eyebrows raise in question. He didn't really feel like playing a word game with her in order to get to the point this time around.

"I just warned you not to try anything. Do you truly believe I'd let you ride by yourself?" For an answer, he was given only silence. "Alright." A glint of surprise appeared in her green eyes. "We'll ride together."

Turning away, he headed for the exit and the horses, meaning to claim one for them and tell someone from the party to take the wagon instead.

As they were all settled to go, Tama got on his horse. It was black and large, easily able to carry more than one grown person at a time. One of the guards reluctantly helped Lorelei get on as well, so she was conveniently seated right in front of him, keeping her back unnaturally straight, stiffening each time it accidentally brushed against his front.

"Like a spider web, Lorelei," He whispered lowly, grinning as her skin evidently cowered from his breath. "The harder you try to escape me, the closer I'll hold you."

...…

Unable to decide whether he regretted conforming to Lorelei's choice of transportation, Tama had to note with a dose of merry maliciousness she definitely appeared to have. Evidently, she was upset with him and would twitch every time their bodies made contact – which was basically every couple of minutes. The animal trotting along the uneven dirt path simply made for a bumpy ride.

By then, it was very late in the night and her sleepiness was slowly but surely getting the best of her for over an hour at that point. Her shoulders would slouch, soon her head would follow, until the laws of physics sent her body leaning back, fate would have it, straight into him. That's usually when she'd wake up, immediately rushing to make what little space she could between them.

"Relax and sleep, Lorelei." He whispered, his amusement slowly beginning to turn into impatience. "You'll annoy the horse with your jerking." As if wanting to agree, the animal snorted, and he laughed, stretching his arm to gesture at it. "See?"

Her persistent silence killed the mood, but he chose not to bother her again. The Moon was more waxed than not, by then, and he decided to chalk it up to that. Although, it was pretty ungrateful of her to behave that way after he took the risk of taking her hunting.

A while longer, hooves, carriage and quiet chatter in the background were all he could hear. Lorelei went on with her unreasonable attempts to sit painfully straight, although she managed not to move so much.

"I will never relax around you again." The harsh words and the accusing tone did take him by surprise as they came out of nowhere, and Tama flashed a nervous smile even though she couldn't quite see it. "You're fickle and dishonest and—" Pausing, she looked for another horrible trait to attribute to him. "And unkind!" Finally, she spat hunching in anger and, what he strongly believed to be, back pain.

Glancing to his left, he shared an uneasy look with one of the guards. With a tired sigh, he cleared his throat and signaled for the guard to keep on riding ahead. There was no obvious sign of any danger, aside from an occasional wild animal and that was nothing he couldn't handle himself. Thus, he decided to separate from the group for a short time and try to see what the hell his lycanthropic guest was on about.

Taking a small detour, he found a clearing, immediately choosing it as the good location. Dismounting the horse, he helped Lorelei down by her waist, unsurprised when she jerked away as soon as her feet touched the ground. The horse immediately focused on the grass beneath it, and Tama focused on his werewolf.

"Lorelei?" He called slowly, draining all jest from his voice to let her know he wasn't happy. Dramatic outbursts were fun; disrespectful ones weren't. "What has gotten into you?"

"What has gotten into me?!" Her voice was much higher than he would have advised, but he chose to simply cross his arms and watch her. "I should be asking that!" The woods surrounding the meadow returned the echo from her shouting. His blatant confusion must have gotten across, which only seemed to aggravate her more. "You threatened me with an arrow! Out of nowhere!"

"But I threaten you all the time?"

Truthfully, he found his own response funny, but had learned enough about Lorelei to know she didn't share all of his sense of humor. She did let out a laugh, though, a brazenly sarcastic one.

"We spent the past week talking! I told you the things I kept secret for nearly ten years!" Frowning, he was about to interrupt and ask what that had to do with anything, but there was no time as she continued, "You danced with me, and told me about your sister, I…" Gulping, she cut her sentence short. Her chest heaved with heavy breaths, as she began avoiding eye contact. "I thought you believed me." Finally, she finished with a whisper.

Stifling a coming grin since he wouldn't think of ridiculing her sentiments, Tama just offered a slow nod in understanding. Sure, she was just barely over twenty years old. In her young heart, she believed some conversation and a week of time was enough to form a meaningful bond. He did like having her around, as a guest, as a novelty. But any real bonds he still had dated hundreds and thousands years in the past. A week to him was… well, naught.

"I appear to have hurt your feelings." He admitted, smiling in apology. "It wasn't knightly of me." Stretching his arm, he asked for her hand, "Allow me to kiss it better."

Contrary to his expectation, she placed her small hand in his without objection, observing him as he brought it to his lips and placed a delicate peck upon the white skin.

"Do you forgive me?" She nodded.

"I do. But you'll have to stop doubting me. I will not pull anything – I want to meet my father as well."

"That's a fair request." Sighing in content, he stepped away from her and made his way back to their horse. In no way would he stop doubting her until the whole thing with Frey is cleared up, but he would do his very best not to show it. "We should head after the others. Come, sweet Lore—" The wind blew harder carrying a strong scent that made his words get caught in his throat. "Did you know?" He faced the girl once more, but her lost expression told him enough. She knew nothing.

"Get on the horse, Lorelei, come!" He rushed, picking her up with ease and helping her up on the horse's back.

"What's going on?" She asked worriedly, watching him over her shoulder as he climbed behind her.

"Can't you smell it?"

"No…" She sniffed the air and shrugged. "What?"

"Werewolves."