What a beautiful night, the sky is clear. You can see the full splendor of the moon. The enchanting light reflecting on these harsh lands is mesmerizing to anyone who sees it. Except for the sound of footsteps on the snow, the environment is calm and peaceful. It's as if the world has stopped here. Are the Sascia forests always like this? Such a lovely scene, the forest and the full moon. Yes, these are the thoughts of our hunting party for now. Yet, they were so focused on trivial matters. The impending chaos would soon disrupt this beauty in a twisted manner. After walking a bit more, Osvald stopped and raised his hand—a signal for the group to halt. Everyone began to look around quietly. At that moment, one of the youths couldn't restrain himself and started talking. Geirolf exclaimed, "What are we doing here? It's just a quiet and peaceful forest. Let's go back!" The young man shouted loudly, oblivious to his surroundings. Leiknir glared angrily at the boy and gritted his teeth. "Shut up! Did anyone ask you to speak?" He rolled his eyes and signaled for the group to continue walking. Maybe ten minutes, maybe even less, later, a sound was heard. Osvald nervously spoke up, "What was that now?" The group's footsteps slowed, and they stopped for the second time. Another sound echoed through the air. It was the same as before, but closer and clearer. A roar, but from what? Their eyes widened, and they started looking at each other. Sven looked at his father, Leiknir, and asked, "What was that, father? You said there are no monsters here." Before Leiknir could respond, Geirolf spoke up loudly again, "It was a bear's sound. I recognize it anywhere. Tonight, we're having bear meat, cheers!" Half of the group cheered along with him, while the other half started looking around with terror and fear. Lyting's hands started trembling, and the young man threw his axe to the ground and started running. "There are no bears living in this part of Sascia! RUN!" He screamed at the top of his lungs, hoping to get out of the forest as quickly as possible, with a look of terror on his face and without even looking back. His family and friends left behind no longer mattered to him. Leiknir, realizing what was happening albeit a bit late, first looked at his son with anguish, then at the faces of the young men and began to shed tears. His voice failed him, his throat choked with emotion. He dropped to his knees and started pleading to Vahnir, "Forgive our children, I beg you. They are still so young. Don't let them pay for my mistakes, Great Father!" The old man sobbed as he continued to pray. Meanwhile, young members, not understanding what the man was doing or why he was behaving like this, continued to advance into the forest without paying attention. Just then, they heard the same sound for the third time. This time, it was much clearer and closer. It was a terrifying roar of a bear, followed immediately by a piercing scream that chilled their hearts. After these sudden sounds ceased, something fell in front of the group. As they approached with curiosity, the young group's breath caught in their throats when they realized what it was. It was Lyting's arm. Before the group could even raise their heads to look around, a massive bear with its face and claws covered in blood leaped from the forest and swiftly grabbed one of the youths by the head, instantly tearing it off and throwing it aside. Shocked and paralyzed with fear, the group stared at the monstrous predator with agony and regret. It was clear what was going to happen next, and they had no power to stop it. This bear was not normal. How could a bear be so large? How could it smile? Because it wasn't a bear, it was Hallveig. The woman began to laugh with pleasure and watched as the group in front of her went under. It was a scene she had been longing to see for years. Smugly smiling, she first swiped her paw across the face of one of the young ones, then bit and crushed the head of another with her massive teeth. Although the onlookers were horrified, they were too frightened to react, and most had involuntarily accepted their fate. It was more like a torturous dungeon now than a hunt or a hunter. As Hallveig savagely killed them, they helplessly surrendered. There was no slightest resistance or defiance. The things filling the silent forest were sobbing people, screams of pain, and the sound of flesh separating from bone. Hallveig ruthlessly ripped everyone to shreds, one by one. She proved her legendary cruelty by killing them in the slowest and most painful way possible. While some were still alive, she opened their ribs and ate their hearts. She tore off some of their limbs with her teeth. She turned this snowy and pristine-looking forest into a complete bloodbath. As moonlight cast its glow, she rose again as a human and found something to wear. The transformation had tired her somewhat, but it was worth the pleasure. Blood still dripped from her hands and face, but she paid little mind. Because she had heard a new sound, a new heartbeat. It was impossible for anyone to have survived. Yet, this person was nearby. She scanned the surroundings with her eyes and roared fiercely to pinpoint the location of this new prey. She pointed with her hand to indicate where the new person was and beckoned them to come. "Come to mama, little lamb," she said with a playful tone.

The question was unexpected but also rather amusing. She cocked her head to the side and tilted it, considering how best to respond. "Why? Because it feels good," she finally replied with a grin that bore sharp teeth. "Because it's in my nature." She shrugged casually before adding with a chuckle, "And because someone has to keep the vermin population under control." With that said, she flexed her powerful shoulders and began to lick her bloody claws clean, clearly relishing the taste of flesh and blood.

"Well, that depends on how much you fight," Hallveig replied with a sly grin, eyes glinting in the moonlight. "If you give up easily and accept your fate... then maybe not." She let out a playful growl before licking her lips again, revealing the sharp canines of a predator. "But if you put up a good fight? Well, who knows?" With that taunt hanging in the air, she crouched down low and spread her powerful legs wide, bracing herself for any sign of movement from the new prey.

The sound of movement caught her attention as something scurried across the ground nearby. Her eyes narrowed and she tensed, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. "Come out, come out, wherever you are," she purred playfully, even though there was nothing remotely friendly in her tone. "I won't bite... much."

Her eyes widened in surprise and a predatory grin spread across her bloodstained face as the figure revealed itself to be nothing more than a child. Hallveig chuckled darkly. "A clever trick," she said, keeping her voice low and menacing, "but it won't help you now." She tensed, preparing herself for the hunt once more. This time, though, there was an air of anticipation mixed with amusement. The challenge had just become all the more intriguing.

"Come here," she growled, her voice dripping with cruel intent. "Let's see what you're made of." With nimble feline agility, Hallveig sprang forward, moving almost too quickly for the terrified child to follow. Her massive form loomed over them, claws outstretched and ready to strike. The air around her seemed to shimmer with menace as she prepared to deliver a killing blow.

But then, something unexpected happened. A strange sensation passed through her, almost like a pang of guilt or regret. For a fleeting moment, Hallveig was forced to look at the child and see them not as prey but as... something else. As someone who could have been spared this terrible fate.

The predator hesitated, uncertain for a heartbeat what to do next. And it was in that brief instant that the child managed to dart past her,

Hallveig felt a strange surge of anger course through her veins as the child managed to escape her grasp. "Don't think you can outrun me, little one!" she snarled, throwing herself into pursuit with renewed fury. But with each step, the sensation of guilt and self-doubt only grew stronger. It was a foreign feeling, one that didn't belong in her twisted heart, and it began to wear on her mind.

As she neared the child, now several meters ahead, she hesitated again. What should she do? She could catch them, rip them apart just as she had done to all the others... or she could let them go. The choice seemed to weigh heavily upon her, and for a moment, Hallveig stood there, uncertain which path to take.

The child glanced over their shoulder at the massive form bearing down on them, fear etched

The child glanced over their shoulder at the massive form bearing down on them, fear etched

The moment stretched into an eternity as Hallveig stood there, her mind in turmoil. For reasons she couldn't quite understand or explain, she found herself hesitating again and again when it came to delivering the killing blow. Something inside her was fighting against the darkness that had consumed her soul for so long.

Finally, with a growl of frustration, Hallveig spun around and turned away from the child, walking back toward where she had come from. The figure watching her retreat would no doubt be confused by this sudden change of events, but in that moment, Hallveig didn't care. All that mattered was escaping from the nagging sensation of guilt and self-doubt that threatened to overwhelm her once more.