10

I frantically stuffed as much groceries as possible into the dark gray backpack. It probably belonged to Cyrian because I found it among his clothes. Except for the groceries, the backpack was still filled with water bottles and two books. Fortunately, the book about my homeland contained a rough map and another book with general information about werewolves.

According to this book, there was the possibility of disguising the scent of humans with some spices and flowers. So now I also searched the kitchen for anything that would help me to escape. In fact, I found a small can on top of it in curved letters: "esters". In the book, these small yellowish flowers were described as a strong but naturally smelling odor source. I could only hope that was true.

In the box were these flowers in powder form. Critically, I began to spread the powder over my body and felt pretty stupid doing it. In fact, it smelled very strongly, but somehow like wood and forest.

I put the can in the backpack with the other things and shouldered it.

I looked around critically. Yesterday, when I returned to the bedroom, I found food and drink there again, but there was still no trace of Cyrian or other people. Now I could only hope that this would continue to be the case.

I slowly followed a small spiral staircase to the bottom floor. I found the exit yesterday. It had been locked, but there was a window a few rooms down that I could climb out of without any problems.

It was surprisingly easy to climb out the window, but as soon as I left the house I felt a chill climb up my body. I would have loved to go back and lay down in Cyrian's soft bed again.

With a quick shake of my head, I tried to banish thoughts of Cyrian. I needed to know the truth and I would never know if what Cyrian was telling me was actually true. It was now up to me to see behind the curtain of lies, whether the humans or the wolves were wrong.

Pulling the hood over my head, I started to run. I could only hope that the new clothes and flowers would mask my smell and I could blend in with the wolf crowd.

My heart was in my throat as I approached the main street. Although it should be almost midnight, there was still a lot of activity. I knew I needed to get my heartbeat under control because apparently werewolves could hear it. But there were so many of them on the way that I got lost quite easily in the crowd. No one seemed to be looking at me or paying attention to me.

It really didn't matter that they were wolves. They all looked like normal people. Some laughed together and talked. Others argued or argued. It was surprisingly sophisticated and normal. I asked myself what I expected the others to do, why shouldn't they talk and laugh with each other when I couldn't even tell the difference between them and me?

Luckily for me, they didn't seem to notice the difference either. I slipped my way through the crowds as fast as I could without noticing. I tried to imitate her movement and posture in order to draw as little attention to myself as possible.

It worked. After a few minutes I was already at the big arena. I looked at the impressive building a little wistfully. It felt like it was all ages ago, it was all so much easier. Of course my life as a fighter had been hard, exhausting and deadly, but at least I always knew what to expect. Now I stood here on a road between the murderers of my people and didn't know what the next day would bring.

I forced myself to tear my gaze away from the building and readjust myself to the speed of the crowd. It took forever until I finally saw the city wall and the city gate. I didn't even know that the city was surrounded by a wall, but fortunately it seemed easy to walk through.

With a slightly uneasy feeling, I followed the path that headed towards the open gate. In the meantime, significantly fewer wolves were out and about. I anxiously watched the wolves wearing uniforms standing near the wall.

I heard my heart beating loudly and tried to breathe calmly. Now my loudly beating heart would certainly attract attention, I had to walk purposefully and calmly past the guards and out of town.

I fixed my eyes on the forest behind the gate. Only a few meters separated me from my freedom and with every step the goal was closer.

My heart was still beating way too fast and I was breathing irregularly.

One of the soldiers now seemed to notice me. His eyes rested on me for a moment, then he elbowed his partner.

I got faster.

They talked briefly about something, while their eyes kept flying to me.

My heartbeat now seemed to dance an irregular tango.

Only 15 meters and I was out of town.

10 meters to go.

5 more

One of the soldiers took a step forward, then another.

I started shaking.

About 2 more steps and I would be able to touch the gate.

The other soldier held his partner back.

I heard them speak softly, but I didn't know what they were saying because I had left the city gate behind me.

I turned around one last time and looked at the black silhouette of the city I had called home for the last few years.

"I'm sorry, Cyrian, but I need to know what really happened." I murmured before turning my back on the city and disappearing into the dark forest.