<em>Crack... Crackle...</em>a branch went as the hoof of a fully grown, male deer pressed down on it's center, snapping the feeble twig in two without much effort. The stag had been making it's way through trees and bushes in order to reach a clearing within the forest where it could graze on some grass for the evening. It was rare for deer to be out and about at such an hour, but their habits seemed to change in order to adapt to the humans that usually hunted them during their normal feeding times.<br/><br/>Finally, the buck reached its destination, large, brown-filled eyes gazing upon a small field of grass. It stepped out from the shadows of the trees, the moonlight revealing the golden brown coat of the stag as it cascaded over the opening. Antlers fell as the buck dipped its head in order to take in its meal. The scene was peaceful, innocent, but at the same time all too naive, practically inviting trouble to come the deer's way. It was an invitation that was easily accepted, the docile creature unaware that it was being hunted.<br/><br/>Within the trees, on the opposite side of the clearing, was a pair of hunters who had been stalking the animal for the past half hour, waiting for a moment of vulnerability to show from the strong, mature buck. The scene was as perfect a time as ever, and the two hunters got their rifles into position. "So... You want to take the shot, or should I get this one and you get the next one?" Randy asked Dave, the hunter to his left who was looking through his scope at their target. "Next one? It took us all night to find the first one. After this, I'm done." The second hunter replied. Randy put down his rifle, looking at Dave with disappointed eyes. "Fine, then. Take the shot... This'll be the last time I ever take you hunting..." He told his partner, his anger being heard in his final words. "Yeah, yeah. You said that last time." Dave quipped as his finger rested on the trigger, moments away from attempting to end the life of an innocent deer.<br/><br/>Suddenly, the buck's head rose up as if it had been startled, causing Dave to withhold on pulling the trigger of his gun. "What happened? Why didn't you sh-...?" Randy was cut off by a long 'shhhhh' from Dave who was focusing on the stag. "Can't you see that it's spooked?" At the mentioning of the deer's changed mood, Randy switched his attention away from his friend. The two men diligently watched the animal, attempting to figure out what was the cause of its behavior. Then, without warning, a flash of dark grey pounced the buck, startling the two hunters. A new creature stood before them, except this one was a beast, replacing the former which was now lost from sight as the being stood over it, sounds of bones being crushed and flesh being ripped echoing in the night throughout the silent forest.<br/><br/>"What the fuck is that?!" Randy asked Dave in a panic, while still trying to keep his voice low enough so that it wouldn't reach the ears of the frightening creature. "I-... I-I don't know... I want to say it's a wolf... but..." Dave paused midway through his sentence as the being stood fully up, revealing its monstrous size. "... That's too big to be just a wolf..." With that said, the beast cocked its head in the hunters direction, as if it heard their conversation clear as despite the difference, revealing its piercing yellow eyes for the first time. The gaze alone was enough to make the grown men tremble with fear, hoping that this was all just a bad dream they were living. Fortunately, the monster turned away from their direction, intending to disappear into the darkness of the woods. Sighs of relief came from both of the hunters, Randy turning to Dave immediately after. "I think it's time to go." He said, Dave simply nodding in agreement. Randy was the first to turn, but he'd be the only one to do so.<br/><br/><em>Crackle...</em><br/><br/>There it was, another branch. However, this time it was caused by Randy, and it was quiet enough in the forest to where they would've been better off if it was a gunshot. Dave, having not yet turned, was the first to see the horror unfold. The creature's head snapped around, the rest of its body following as it did an about face before charging toward the hunters. Time was short, so Dave did the only thing he could do, raising his rifle as he attempted to shoot the monster. Once Randy had turned back around, he tried aiming his gun as well. Unfortunately, the beast was too quick. Whenever they aimed right, it went left. When they aimed left, it went right. Eventually, they fired, but both shots ended in failure.<br/><br/>Only mere seconds went by before the Lycan had made it across to the other side of the clearing, his shadow from the moon towering over the men. Their legs were paralyzed with fear, unable to make any attempt at running. All they could do was shoot, but it soon became clear that bullets wouldn't be enough to stop him as Randy shot the animal point blank in its chest. Anger was the only expression the beast showed, swinging its claw around within an instant and hitting Randy's head with such force that it practically decapitated him on impact. Blood gushed out, squirting upon Dave who fell to the floor in fear, trying to back away as fast as he could. There was no point however, he was in the monster's sights, and it became apparent rather quickly that he had no intention of letting Dave go. The last thing he saw and heard was the shimmer of gold eyes, and a roar that was truly from hell before being pounced on, jaws clamping around his neck to give the finishing blow. The creature indulged itself on the rest of the man's lifeless body, stopping in order to switch to the second body that had lost its head. Once both were shredded of any meat they could offer, the lycan stood up holding its head up as he began howling at the moon in victory. Beastly howl quickly became cries of pain and sorrow as the monster had regressed to the form of a mere man, drenched in the blood of the men who were just slaughtered. He was weak, barely able to stand as he was ready to pass out. His knees hit the floor as he dropped, hearing footsteps that sounded like high heels approaching. The man's eyelids were low, closing fast as he made out a red figure beginning to close the distance, a woman of some sorts. An ominous feeling took over his body, but at that point, it was too late. That was all the man could make out before his eyes closed, and his body toppled over as he lost consciousness.<br/><br/><em>Sometime later in the second layer of hell...</em><br/><br/>Bryce's eyes slowly opened as he regained consciousness. His vision was hazy, it was always hazy after he lost the battle of control to his inner self. Finally, his eyesight cleared, and he could make out an unfamiliar ceiling as he laid on his back. It wasn't the first time he had woken up to such a sight. Due to his condition, Bryce had gotten used to awaking in strange settings. Although, he didn't know the extent of how strange it really was in the new place.<br/><br/>Finding the energy to sit up, Bryce tried to examine his surroundings. However, his attention got diverted as he heard the clanking of chains. His gaze dropped to his hands as they rested in his lap, realizing that they had been chained together. In a panic, he tried moving his arms in opposite directions, hoping that by some miracle the shackles would break. Still, despite the muscular look of his arms, his attempt was futile.<br/><br/>The man's breath became heavy, trying to piece together how he could have ended up in such a way. Thoughts traveled to anything he could remember from the previous night. Nothing seemed to surface other than the color red vividly standing out in his mind. Bryce lashed out in a scream of frustration, banging his shackles against the floor. His head traveled around the rest of the room, taking note of the other males that were around him. They all seemed to be in a similar state of confusion such as himself. He managed to stand himself up, realizing that the blood from the night before was gone from his body as if he had been cleaned up. Yet, Bryce noticed that the majority of men were clothed while he was still in his shredded clothes, barely covering his chiseled body. He figured that, like himself, each of them were in the middle of something else before they ended up there. That the only logical conclusion was that they were taken. The only thing Bryce couldn't figure out was why. For what reason were they their? Who would gain anything from taking so many men? These were questions that Bryce hoped he could find the answer to, but at the same time did not. The key to his answers was in the mysterious woman he had seen the night before. Whether it was good thing or a bad thing, Bryce would need to find her.