Chapter Text
pearl had always hunted with her family. as her father always told her, "we're stronger in groups." something pearl believed with her heart and soul
it was another full moon. another hunting trip, to rid of all the werewolves that threatened that town she lived in
pearl walked behind her family, her brother walking in front of her, lantern in hand. it was always foggy in these parts of the woods
"quiet feet, dear." her mother reminded. "werewolves have sharp ears, remember? you'll blow our cover if you aren't careful."
pearl nodded her head, lifting her feet with more care, walking on her toes as she avoided the dried leaves under her. "sorry mother." pearl apologized, embarrassed by her own carelessness
her brother snickered, covering his mouth in order to not be heard, though pearl always heard
"shut it grian." pearl hissed under her breathe, as she playfully punched her brother on the shoulders, her brother continuing to snicker
pearl and her family continued on their trail, following the same route they always followed when hunting. pearl walked down this route so many times, she was confident that she could walk down it in her sleep
"actually, i was thinking of taking a different route." her father suddenly suggested, stopping in his tracks as the family stopped behind
"huh?" her mother spoke up, confused, as pearl and her brother shared their own confused looks. "how come? we always go this route?"
"think about it sweetheart." her father said. "we always go down this route. don't you think we've already exhausted this area? think about the werewolves that rest elsewhere. they're no less of a threat than the ones we hunt every month."
her mother thought about it, biting her lips. "i agree with your point dear..i just wish you had told us about this early.." pearl's mother looked over to her brother. "grian, did you bring the map?"
her brother shook his head. "didn't think we would need it."
"don't worry sweetheart." her father reassured, caressing his wife's cheeks. "just follow behind me, i'll lead the way."
her mother took a reluctant sigh, as she held onto her husband's hand. "come on you two. don't fall behind."
pearl tried her her hardest not to fall behind. but pearl, despite her strengths, was horribly clumsy. one simple tumble and pearl had lost her entire family, the fog too thick to see ahead
"hello?" pearl tried calling out, keeping her voice at a level to where she hoped no werewolves could hear. though, if werewolves couldn't hear, neither could her family
pearl traversed around the forest. the part she was in coming to her in foggy memories. she used to play in the forest with her brother, back when they were children. though pearl could barely remember her childhood. pearl could barely remember the forest
she held her lantern close to her, the light being her only source of comfort. pearl never got scared, though in this moment she had to admit, she was nervous. if not for her than for her family. but her family was strong. her family would be fine. that's what pearl told herself, and that's what she believed. until she heard a scream
the scream had come from her brother. it had to have been her brother. pearl used to pull pranks in her youth, jumping out from under the bed the two shared, scaring her brother. she couldn't remember much from her childhood, but she remembered her brother's scream. though it always followed with a laugh. this time, it followed with silences. deafening silences
"grian!" pearl yelled out, not caring anymore about staying quiet. pearl ran, following the scream, the dried leaves under her cracking under the pressure of her desperate footsteps. she could hear voices ahead as she ran. loud voices, desperate and afraid
then, a scream. and another. pearl's footsteps quicken, as she ran and ran, picking up her skirt and trying her hardest to steady her breath
"mom! dad!" pearl yelled out. "grian! are you there? are you okay?"
pearl could never imagine her family hurt, let alone hurt by werewolves. they were always strong. they were the strongest people she knew, stronger than her even! they couldn't have been hurt. they had to be okay. they had to be
in pearl's desperation she hadn't noted the huge tree root that planted itself in front of her, tripping over it and falling to the ground, a crash following behind her, her lantern now shattered
pearl, still on the ground, looked up, to see her brother. covered in blood
"grian!"
pearl quickly got up as she ran over to her brother, holding him in her arms, his blood soaking her white button down
"grian! grian please!"
pearl cried as she held her brother closer to her. he was still warm, but his pulse wasn't there. pearl couldn't hear his heart beating. though that didn't stop her from believing that her brother would be okay. that maybe he would wake up
"grian! this isn't funny! please! please..wake up!"
maybe her brother was warm because of the fire that started to slowly spread around her, her broken lantern now causing a forrest fire that surrounded her, the warm flames shining on her brother's face as teardrops landed on his bloody cheeks
"i'll stop the pranks! i'll get rid of the roses! i'll stop making fun of your horrible wardrobe! just please, please wake up!"
pearl continued to hold her brother, ignoring everything around her. in that moment her brother was the only thing that mattered. not the fire. not the werewolves. her brother
"pearl!" a voice yelled out. pearl looked up to see her parents, wounded, but standing. "you need to get out, now!"
"but- but grian he..he-" pearl choked out, sobbing on her words
"there's no time! we need to leave!"
"but grian-"
pearl was cut off by howling, coming from behind the trees
"the fire will distracted the werewolves, but we need to get out of here, now!" her mother cried out, holding onto her wounds
her father grabbed pearl as they made a run for it, running out of the forrest, leaving everything behind. leaving pearl's brother behind. the forrest burning brightly behind them