(In Cassandra's office)
"Another mission? Leo asked. "I thought I would have been given at least a few more days to rest?
Cassandra smiled on hearing this. "Normally we would have sent Aleixandre or any other Fang for that matter but it seems the hunting party specifically required you to participate.
"Who? Leo raised an eyebrow. "And come to think of it what am I hunting? Because I doubt that the Night would send me to assist some noble in deer hunting".
Cassandra leaned back into her chair and simply smiled. "A Vampire".
Leo's mouth remained open in shock but eventually he came to terms to it after all, he's best friend was a werewolf; another creature that was supposed to be extinct.
Closing the door behind him, Fanghyr's eye gave out a furious glow. "Finally some Action" …
"Where is he? Queen Flowyria hissed in frustration. The warrior at her side adjusted the four chains in his hands before he replied.
"Don't worry my Queen, a mage had promised to bring him here by portal".
The queen scoffed, throwing some meat to the four grey drooling beasts at her side.
These beasts were none other than the queen's hounds.
Unlike regular human dogs' elven dogs also known as forest hounds are massive wolves which years of domestication had made loyal but still managed to keep that ferocious killer instinct.
Forest wolves, the hound's ancestors could still be found in remote elven forests where they reigned supreme as the top predator in the food chain. Their population was relatively large since they stayed away from elves and their livestock.
"Where's Flower? The queen asked the auburn haired warrior.
"She still has not recovered from the last hunt's mishap".
"Tis a shame". The queen sighed. "After all I would have loved for her to lead these brutes".
Low whines from the hounds caught the queen and warrior's attention.
Taking this as a sign of the worst, the queen unslung her bow and in a flash it had formed a crescent shape with a deadly arrow already nocked.
The warrior accompanying her also was in defensive mode, tensing his arm muscles as he held onto the mighty war axe.
"Reveal yourself" the queen growled; almost sounding like the shivering beasts behind her.
"Pussies" the queen snarled, promising herself to replace these spineless mutts with more worthy candidates as soon as she got back.
*Whizz*
"Sorry to startle you".
"Your Highness". The tall ebony figure apologized, bowing gracefully.
The queen took one look at his dark blue armor, especially the panther designs and smiled.
"It's an honor to meet you Fanghyr".
"The honor is mine". Leo bowed again.
The elven warrior on the other hand wasn't so amused, no in fact he was actually scared because of what he had just witnessed.
The queen's fingers had released the poisoned arrow with deadly accuracy; so fast that he had only known she had shot when the bow in her hand relaxed.
But to his everlasting surprise the assassin simply shifted his head to the left, thereby dodging the projectile with ease.
"I guess the rumors are indeed true". He eventually concluded.
"ON behalf of my daughter, I would like to express my deep found gratitude for everything you did that night". The queen bowed.
"I was simply doing my job". Leo smiled. "But permit to ask a question your majesty".
"Feel free" the queen nodded.
"Where is the rest of the hunting party?
The queen hearing this laughed and began walking towards the woods, the four hounds following along with the warrior. "You're looking at it, Fanghyr".
Leo wasn't able to hide his shock well but he guessed this proved two things: either the queen is so powerful that she didn't see the need to gather much forces to hunt a vampire or she was just plain stupid. Honestly the assassin hoped it would be the former.
"Release the hounds, Langhyr", the queen commanded with dead seriousness.
The warrior nodded and brought out a piece of what appeared to be a torn cloth.
The hounds immediately brought their noses closer before they wagged their tails in obvious excitement.
Langhyr said some few commands in elvish and with a thud the canids penetrated the woods; happy that they were finally free from that oppressive presence.
"Try and keep up". The queen smirked.
Leo was about to say a cool comeback but couldn't because the queen had disappeared into the thicket; her green hunting gown blending in with the trees and her eyes.
Not wishing to be outdone, the panther helmet came down and another beast joined the hunt.
"I should really find another job". Langhyr lamented and soon he followed.
Eventually the hounds stopped at a large birch tree, they continued to sniff around its base but later stopped as they happily circled their mistress.
The queen ignored them and stooping down kept on searching for any tracks. Turning around she stared at Fanghyr who simply shook his head, confirming that even he couldn't pick up any other scent.
"The tracks point west, which means the Vampire must have reached some human villages".
Leo remained quiet and looking up growled. "She never left here".
"How do you know it's a she... the queen paused, momentarily shocked on seeing the bright glow that seemed to come from the eye holes in Fanghyr's panther helmet.
"Get ready". Leo warned, slowly getting into a crouched position as two silver blades appeared in his hands.
The dogs on the ground also seemed to have also noticed the threat, because the hairs on their back had all raised up, not to mention the threatening growls that escaped their bared fangs.
"THAT SMELL!!!
"I'm afraid you will have to do better than that". The queen frowned, bringing down a silver longsword that blocked the attack that would have just cleaved her head off.
"THAT SMELL! The old woman once again hissed.
"Shit" Langhyr gulped on seeing the long hollow fangs that were currently bared at them.
"Attack! The queen shouted in elvish.
"AWOO!
All the hounds charged forward, eyes narrowed and ears lying flat on their skulls as they moved for the kill.
Their target however looked extremely uninterested and instead kept her eyes on the silhouette coming from above.
"I've finally found you! Diane grinned.