Alex stood speechless, brows creasing. Lloyd chuckled. Matt's eyes flew wide open in astonishment, "You know this thing?"
Zave's arms slowly lowered, "It's... friendly?"
"Is that a pet? No, is that even something someone can keep as a pet?"
Paulo huffed, as if offended by the term 'pet', but didn't stop leaning in for scratches.
Matt burst out laughing, "This is the best night ever."
Zave rubbed his temples, studying the bear. He spoke addressing Mireille, "This isn't just some ordinary bear, how did you tame it?"
"I found it injured one time in the forest, guess some humans set a trap and it ended up unlucky." Mireille rubbed the Paulo's head gently, her expression easing up.
Alex folded his arms, "Unbelievable."
"So is he going to stay?" Zave questioned Mireille.
"Of course, let's keep him pleeaase." Matt turned to Lloyd with pleading eyes.
Lloyd sighed, "He's too massive, too conspicuous."
"Oh, that's not a problem," Mireille turned to the bear, "Paulo, shrink."
Paulo huffed indignantly, his massive form folding in on itself until he stood no taller than a child's toy. The brothers froze, their disbelief painted in wide eyes and slack jaws as the bear shrank down to the size of a human sized teddy bear.
Matt gasped, hands flying to his mouth, "OH MY GOD, he's like a murder teddy!" He practically squealed.
Zave choked on nothing, "What the-"
Alex: "You've got to be kidding me."
Paulo now smaller, waddled over to Matt and headbutted his leg causing him to stumble a little. He crouched down and rubbed Paulo's fur eyes sparkling, "We can definitely keep him now, right? You can't seriously turn this adorable murder fluff away, right?"
Lloyd exhaled slowly, then fixed his eyes on Mireille with a look that was equal parts exhausted and fond, "You're never boring, are you?"
Matt was drooling from the cuteness overload, completely lost in the warm cuddles unable to extricate himself. Eventually, laughter dulled into yawns. Paulo's soft snores filled the cabin, Matt curled against him like a child refusing to let go of a toy. One by one, the brothers surrendered to sleep, returning to their rooms, the night folding into silence. By the time dawn crept through the trees, the chaos had dissolved into fragile peace.
As dawn approached, the first hints of light began to seep through the trees. A new chapter unfurls along with the shifts in the pack's otherwise uneventful lives. The cabin is painted in the soft golden rays of dawn. Mireille's brow creases, sunlight pierced her eyelids. She buried her head in the pillow, reluctant to surrender the peace.
"She's not up yet?" Downstairs, Lloyd asked the others.
"Don't know, is that ok?" Matt glanced at the rooms above.
"Aren't vampires creatures of the night? They sleep this much?"Zave muttered, "Or is it because she's half human?"
Alex scoffs, "Useless."
As they contemplated her sleep behaviour they heard footsteps coming down the stairs along with the long drawl at the end of her voice.
"Good morning~" Mireille descended the stairs with light steps. Tonight has been one of the best nights she's ever had, she had slept so soundly and comfortably her joints almost ache from comfort. She arrived downstairs and saw the brothers gathered their expressions serious as they discussed something.
"What are you going on about today?" She asked no one in particular.
"Oh, you're awake now?"
"Thought you'd died."
"Tsk."
"It's good that you're up now," Lloyd turned to Mireille, "We were just about to go out hunting for breakfast. You'd join us, won't you?"
"Of course."
"Alright it's decided then let's go." Lloyd stood, followed by the other three. Outside, early morning sunlight pierces through the dense trees, casting long shadows and illuminating the forest floor with golden rays, sunbeams create a magical ambiance in the dense forest highlighting the tree silhouettes. The pack steps out and is greeted by Paulo.
Lloyd stared at Paulo, "This won't do. We'll need to stop by the human village to stock up on some items, bringing him along is only going to draw unwanted attention." Then he turned to Mireille, "You too need to cover up, don't want your eyes to draw attention now, do you?" He handed her a cloak. Mireille draped the over her form, and Paulo was left behind.
The group moved swiftly through the forest managing to capture three large Rabbits and a deer.
"Whoa~, you were amazing back there, how'd you even do that?" Matt walked backwards, facing Mireille, his eyes literally glowing.
Mireille chuckled, "Haha, that was nothing." Her laughter was light, but her movements had been anything but. She had blurred through the forest, faster than the deer's panic, her cloak snapping behind her like shadowed wings. The brothers had glimpsed her strength-her human restraint peeling away to reveal the predator beneath.
"Nothing? You were literally a blur back there, you managed to outrun a deer and you say it was nothing?"
Alex snorted but couldn't help the slight acquiescence in his gaze.
"Today was a good hunt, let's head to the village." Lloyd's usual condescending tone sounded.
The group made their way through the forest, all the way to the human village not too far off. When they neared the village entrance Mireille threw the hood of the cloak over her head, completely covering her entire face. They entered the village head straight for the market not planning to stay for long they exchanged some of what they caught for money which they used to purchase some clothes, vegetables and condiments. After they were done with their business they left the village.
No sooner had they left than a group of paladins marched into the market, lining up vendors and buyers alike, searching the stalls and scanning their faces.
"Where is that vile one?!"
"Are you folks colluding with them? Where did have you hidden them?!" One soldier smashed his hands into a fruit stall nearby.
"Calm down you'll frighten the kids." A man with benevolent smile spoke addressing the soldier who was enraged, his expression made one lose their will to fight. His robes gleamed, untouched by dust or sin. His whole presence exuded an otherworldly aura, like a god descended. "We're not here to create enmity with the people remember." He smiled at the onlookers, his words caused the soldier to immediately gain his composure. Vendors bowed, hearts swelling with blind devotion.
The soldier went on one knee, "Reporting to your holiness, the monster was not found, it appears to have already left before we arrived."
The man looked at the soldier below him, his smile radiant. Yet when his gaze flicked toward the forest, the warmth drained from his eyes, replaced by a cold cruelty. "Hm, it's alright they will be back, be careful next time."
"Yes, your holiness." The soldier bowed deeply.
The vendors and buyers watched as the priest take his leave, the soldier kneeling stood and gave them a menacing look before being called away by his compatriots.
The marketplace burst into noise, vendors whispering among themselves buyers quickly gathering their bought items and rushing back home.