The brute's words left Bob speechless. He didn't say another word, just stood to the side, watching coldly as the two burly men hauled the helpless girls away.
Even though his daughter's eyes were pleading, even though he still thought of himself as her father…
"Bonnie, I'm sorry… I shouldn't have brought you here…" Laila whispered through sobs, apologizing to her friend.
Regret washed over her—if she'd known this would happen, she never would've invited anyone along.
Bonnie didn't respond, whether she heard or not. She just trembled and cried, purely on instinct.
Grrr…
A low, dog‑like snarl cut through the air, startling all five of them.
The two brutes instinctively looked back—and froze at the horrific sight. Their grip on the girls loosened, letting Laila and Bonnie break free.
Out of the misty woods, a monstrous beast emerged, its massive outline unmistakable. A single glowing eye glared at the men with pure malice, and that warning snarl left no doubt what it meant.
The brutes were underground thugs, killers even, and had heard tales of magical beasts. But facing one for real was nothing like imagining it—the feeling that their lives weren't their own made them shake.
Bob saw the beast too. His lips quivered, his pants turned damp, and he screamed, "My God! Don't come near me!"
By the time the shout left his mouth, he was already running. The brutes snapped out of their daze and bolted too, ditching their mission.
The moment they broke free, Laila and Bonnie clung to each other, too scared to look around, just hearing the men's panicked shouts.
They knew something had terrified the three men witless, but neither dared look up to confirm.
After a few seconds, Laila found the courage to peek. No one else was around. She strained to see toward the direction of the snarl—nothing unusual there either.
"W-we should go, Bonnie. Get up." She helped her shaken friend to her feet, dusted off their skirts, and walked back toward Doud, still on high alert.
…
Inside the House
Glen was packing gear, getting ready to take the beast into the deep woods around Bayek for a hunt, then sell the game in Doud. That was his temporary income plan.
Just as he finished bundling the tools, he heard a faint noise outside. Setting everything down, he opened the door.
There stood the beast's monstrous face, its single eye locked on him, thick drool dripping.
"What's up?" Glen arched an eyebrow.
The beast licked its nose, opened its massive maw, and let out a string of ambiguous whines—oddly human, and pretty ridiculous.
Anyone else would've been clueless, but Glen understood.
"You're saying two men tried to mess with the girls out there, and you scared them off?" Glen hazarded, narrowing his eyes. "Strange… no one usually comes near here, let alone corners Laila and Bonnie… Hmph. Target must've been one of them. Well, as long as they're safe."
He noticed the beast still staring at him, eyes full of something—longing? Glen paused. "Good job."
The beast lit up like a kid on holiday, prancing and bouncing in the yard like an overenthusiastic dog.
Glen blinked in surprise, quickly telling it to stop before it trampled his place.
So that's your personality… Glen sighed, holding the excited creature back.
The racket might've disturbed neighbors—Glen sensed a few gazes on his house. He glanced toward one, then gave the beast the order to wait outside town. Once it left, he grabbed his gear.
In a Two‑Story House Nearby
In a second‑floor window, a puppet in a blue vest lowered a curtain corner. The room fell dark again except for a faint candle on the table.
"That new neighbor is too noisy. He'll disturb Enna," the puppet said in a strange voice, flat and toneless.
"Parlindes, you're too stingy. It's boring here—some excitement is good," replied another voice, also toneless but distinctly feminine.
"I'm looking out for you, my sister. I won't let anyone hurt you again. I can't accept that." The blue‑vested puppet, Parlindes, walked to the table, joints creaking.
"Nobody here will hurt me. You're overthinking, Parlindes. Master made us to explore the world, not be shut‑ins!"
Enna, the female puppet, stepped closer to the candlelight, revealing her appearance. Compared to Parlindes, she looked far more lifelike, almost human—delicate features, silky blond hair, elegant dress like a fairy‑tale princess. Clearly, her creator had put great care into her.
"Enna, I know you're sick of this life, but without word from Master, we shouldn't show ourselves," Parlindes pleaded, the weariness evident in his voice now.
"How will we get news of Master cooped up here? Rumors won't reach us. You woodenhead!"
Parlindes had no reply.
Seeing her brother at a loss, Enna softened. "Dearest brother, Master might already be looking for us. Even if we don't seek her out, we should wander nearby to gather news. Staying shut in will make me grow mushrooms…"
Parlindes started to argue that puppets don't grow mushrooms, but saw no point. He relented, "Fine. But only nearby. No farther."
"I love you, Brother!" Enna planted a smack of a kiss on Parlindes' cheek.
…
Outside Town
Glen rode the beast through the thick woods. Back when he'd first arrived, he'd noticed plenty of animal tracks and droppings—hunting shouldn't be hard.
With his werewolf senses, every scent in the air was clear. Right now, he was tracking a herd of wild boars; he'd memorized their smell before, so finding them was easy.