In the middle of the night.

You wake up with a startle, hand instantly going for your sword. Looking around for any imminent danger, blinking any leftover sleep out of your eyes, you jump up, the blanket falling to the ground, pooling around your feet. You were always a light sleeper, camping out while hunting with your father there was always a certain need to be cautious, no one wants to be eaten in their sleep.

There, a good distance away, you can make out several shapes between the trees under the sparse moonlight. They look like shadows dancing around, if it weren't for the occasional low animal growl or feminine grunt, you could have sworn your mind is playing a trick on you.

Fastening your sword to your hip you keep your body low, slowly sneaking forward, grabbing the bow and arrows on your way. Dense minutes pass before a pained yelp, followed by a triumphant roar break the near silence. You pick up your pace, quickly overcoming the last few meters to what looks like a small forest clearing.

The first thing you notice is the water, some kind of basin, followed by a bundle of clothes neatly stacked next to it. Moving your head further you can make out the human figure you spotted earlier, now lying on the ground, surrounded from two sides by brown wolfs. The now identified female is holding her side, blood slowly pooling out between her fingers, one of the wolfs got a good hit in, it seems.

A dagger is lying discarded a few steps away, probably lost during the fall. Was she taking a bath earlier and got ambushed? Likely. Getting a closer look, you have to say she is extremely beautiful, long red hair falling all the way down to her ass, still wet from washing clinging to her body. Small breasts complement a pale, well-trained body. A few scars run all along, maybe from fighting the wildlife around here, fit perfectly to complete the pictures.

But what really catches your attention are the ears, long and pointy, marking the woman as an elve. Sure you heard about them, the stories didn't lie about their beauty if she is any indication, but this is the first time you see one in person. Expect for the capital and some of the bigger towns you will be hard-pressed to mind non-human races around these parts, after all. Shaking your head you reach a hand behind your back, ready to pull your bow.

No time for these stray thoughts, you have to think about what you are going to do. A small part in the back of your mind is telling you to just leave, pack your stuff, and find another place to rest for the night. A bigger part however tells you what is right. You want to be an adventurer, so running away from danger shouldn't even cross your mind. As quiet as possible you pull your bow from your back, your other one going for an arrow.

Both wolves are still wary of the elve, even without her weapon, she seems to have wounded one of them earlier before you arrived. The beast is awkwardly shifting its weight, only using three of its legs. So one slowed down, better get the other one first. You carefully nock an arrow, pulling back the string while aiming for its head. Your target isn't moving much, just eying its prey for any sudden movements.

At this distance, you should be able to hit the neck, or at least the head at large. Holding your breath, you let the arrow loose, both beasts instantly wiping their heads around in your general direction. The one you were aiming for is greeted by your attack, not enough time to make a sound before it cleanly penetrates its left eye and possible brain. A second of silence follows before a pained whimper is heard, followed by the sound of something falling to the ground.

Well, that worked out, you think, not checking further, already drawing another arrow, gaze fixed on the second wolf. Said wolf is already running towards you, but way too slow, handicapped by its own injury. Your second shot isn't as perfect as the last, only hitting the torso of the running beast. But it's enough, your enemy losing footing from the sudden impact, low painful yips leaving its mouth.

Without a second thought, you discard your bow, pulling out the sword in the same motion, carefully walking forward to end the wolf's suffering. Eyes trained on the body in case of any sudden moves, you see a surprisingly intelligent spark in the beast's eyes, followed by acceptance of its incoming demise. You finish it with a clean-cut right through the neck, no need for additional pain.

Only now you register your blood pumping, hands feeling slightly wet with sweat. You just fought two wolves, alone, in the middle of the night. Are you crazy? So many things could have gone wrong, but what's done is done, it worked out in the end. Moving your gaze from the corpse to the still bleeding woman, you consider your options. Silence falls again over the clearing while you mull it over.