"Hey, look! It's Tessa!"

"Gorgeous as always, even covered in mud. Maybe she'd let me wash her clean."

"And continue straight under the covers, right? You wish."

Tessa looked at the two men bantering at one of the tables in the tavern and gave them a seductive smile. "Not today, boys," she said. "You're yet to qualify for such honor."

She was stunning to look at, and she knew that well. Slim of form, fair of face and with long silvery hair currently tied to a bun at the nape of her neck to keep it from getting caught on branches. Many a man hoped to marry her, or at least bed her, but she did not need a husband to support her. She liked her life as a hunter – whether it was beasts of the wild or bounties for less ordinary prey – and sharing her bed with whoever she fancied. And right now, after selling a stack of rare pelts – a result of weeks in wilderness -, her first priority was a nice, hot bath. Maybe the tavernkeeper's daughter, a pretty little thing, would help her get washed again.

"Yes, an elf with one eye green and the other amber. Have you seen him?"

Her ears perked and her gaze zoomed on the elf talking with the tavernkeeper. As the man shook his head, the elf thanked him and turned to leave. Tessa hurried over to him.

"I happened to overhear your question, and this might not be related, but..."

Raviel quickly looked her up and down. A warrior, with a steel sword at her hip and long knives strapped to both her thighs, and a woman at that. Not something he saw every day in this world. "Please go on."

"There's a bounty for a black wolf with green and amber eye over at Moonridge. I'm heading there once I've gathered some supplies."

It was possible. At least worth checking out. His brother had known many kinds of magic, and shapeshifting might have been one of them. "I'm afraid I don't know that place. Where is it?"

"Hmm, how about you accompany me? We could split the bounty."

"Why? You seem capable of taking on whatever comes your way on your own."

"Why, thank you." Tessa giggled. "But it gets lonely on the road all by myself." She ran her fingers lightly up Raviel's arm. "Know what I mean?"

Raviel didn't move. "I don't mean to be disrespectful, but the last time someone didn't call me pointy-ears and wish I'd be gone already I almost got killed in my sleep."

"Oh? Then she must have had an awfully bad taste. I think there are more important things than race in a man. Like...wealth, good looks and...certain talents. Besides," She turned her head slightly so that Raviel got a good look at her slightly pointed ears. "You might not be the only one who's not completely human here."

"Are you-"

She placed a finger on his lips. "No, not like you. Let's just leave it at that."

A half-elf then. Raviel's eyes flicked to the other people in the tavern. They were gathering attention, earning some catcalls how he should just thank his good fortune Tessa was even talking with him. She must have been popular here. "I don't mind teaming up to see what this black wolf is about, but I can't offer you any kind of commitment-"

Now she interrupted him with a kiss on the lips. "I'm not the type to make a commitment either, handsome. Just some pleasant memories between two travelers."

Raviel swallowed. He was by far immune to the charms of women, and it had been a long time since he'd been this close to one. And she felt alive, smelled alive – not some wraith out to trick him. Slowly he nodded.

"My usual room," Tessa told the tavernkeeper lightly and picked up the key as she passed the counter, leading Raviel by hand.

~*~*~

Several days later they reached Moonridge, and Raviel understood why the little town was named thus. The descending sun painted a long crescent-shaped shadow over them, its rays blocked by a stone formation of the same shape almost right next to the outermost buildings.

Tessa nimbly dismounted her horse and took the reins as they reached the main street. "This way," she nodded towards a building with a simple sign – of sword and shield – hanging above the door.

"What is that? A tavern?" Raviel asked as he also dismounted.

"A constable's office. He's...a local law enforcement. He also posted the notice about the bounty for black wolf."

"Excuse us!" Tessa called out as she knocked on the door and opened it. "We're here about your bounty notice."

A blond, middle-aged man wearing a brigandine and a short sword for a weapon looked surprised, then pleased, and walked over to them, ignoring the other man he had been talking with. "Welcome! I was starting to lose hope anyone would come. I'm Hans, the constable of Moonridge."

"Pleased to meet you," Tessa replied with a smile. "I'm Tessa and this is Raviel."

Raviel tensed slightly as the constable studied him intently. "Is there a problem?" he asked.

"No, no problem at all," Hans hurried to assure him. Elves weren't known for helping humans, and even less leaving their sheltered homes to hunt down monsters. This whole situation smelled fishy. But at this point he'd even beg Outcasts for help. If an elf and a vagabond woman could kill the beast, he'd just accept it, hand over their reward and see them on their way. "As for the wolf-"

The other man – dressed better than average - stepped closer to them, clearly angry. "Hans, I told you not to do anything! Did you actually post a bounty notice?"

"I had to do something!"

"All you're doing is get us all killed!"

"Mister mayor, I can't watch any more children be sacrificed."

"You're only saying that because the wolf chose your daughter's house this time."

"I..." Hans stopped, resigned. Then he straightened. "The beast has eaten almost all our livestock. What will we do when the only thing left to offer is our remaining children?"

The mayor threw up his hands in frustration. Why couldn't this fool listen to him?! Then he pointed one finger at Hans. "I will have no part in this! If this harebrained plan of yours fails, we'll be serving you to the wolf next."

Then he stormed out.

"Sorry about that," Hans told his guests. "The mayor thinks we should just cower in fear and hand over whatever the beast wants."

"No problem," Tessa replied. "I'm sure he'll change his mind once we bring in the beast's severed head."

Raviel gave her a sharp look. This might be his brother they were talking about. She should not make promises to kill the wolf so easily.

Hans laughed a little nervously. "That's good to hear. Please hurry. It will come for my granddaughter tonight when the moon is at its highest."

"How do you know this?" Raviel asked. A regular wolf didn't pick out its victims days in advance.

"Come," Hans led them outside. "When the moon becomes full, the townspeople leave offerings of meat at their doorsteps. If they're satisfactory to the wolf, it will leave us alone for another month. But..." He stopped in front of a house with deep gouges – claw marks – on the wooden door. "...if some household doesn't offer enough, that mark means the beast will come back for one of their children the following night." His hands clenched into fists. "And this far nobody has dared refuse."

Tessa knelt on the ground and ran her fingers along the small stone step in front of the door. There were faint traces of blood and some powdery substance. She sniffed her fingers. "Crushed moonflower petals."

"Yes, those ward off wolves. To keep the beast from entering the house."

Tessa wiped her hands on her pants. Moonflowers were used to ward off –werewolves-, not wolves, and only when prepared in some manner only alchemists knew. The same amount of "protection" could have been achieved by sprinkling sand on their doorsteps.

She gave her elven companion a grin. "Ready to hunt down a black wolf, Raviel?"

Raviel nodded.