Final Fantasy Short Stories (+more)

(FFXV) The Lycan 2

Astrid walked on, keeping an eye on the darkening sky. The four males followed closely behind her.

"So, uh, what did you mean back there when you said 'condition'?" Prompto cautiously asked.

The she-wolf paused, looking over her shoulder at him. "There are times...when I lose control of myself."

"Whaddya mean?" Noctis inquired. "You go full lycan or something?"

She sighed harshly. "Yes..." She continued moving. "Sometimes my mind just goes hazy...my vision goes black...and when I come to, I find myself in the midst of something I don't even remember."

"It's as if you're truly becoming a lycan, inside and out," Ignis pointed out.

Astrid's ears drooped. "Kimya has tried mixing formulas to keep it from happening, or snap me out of it when it does. But nothing works."

"That's why we need to take down the lycan," Gladio said. "It might be the only way to help you, and make sure no one else goes through this."

Astrid abruptly stopped, twisting around to face them with a fearful look. "You must be extremely careful. A single bite --- even just a scrape of a tooth --- and you'll become a lycan too." She suddenly started snarling, her ears flattening back against her head. The boys summoned their weapons, wary of her. "Duck!" she ordered.

All four got down, immediately seeing a large soldier wasp darting right over them. Astrid leapt up, slamming into the giant insect and sinking her teeth into it. The wasp wobbled in the air, struggling to get the she-wolf off. Astrid grabbed onto its sickle-like legs, using her strength to rip them right off its body. The wasp finally plummeted to the ground, and Astrid finished it off by digging her claws into its head, ripping it apart. She stood over the insect's corpse, looking over at the males.

"Uh, thanks," Noctis muttered just loud enough for her to hear.

"You saved our lives," Ignis mumbled.

A small smile tugged at her lips. "Don't mention it."

Prompto was quick to snap a shot of the she-wolf and her kill. "That was awesome! You took that thing down like it was nothing!"

"Just like a hunter," Gladio added.

With a proud sparkle in her eyes, Astrid led them farther. They came to a small river with a haven just on the opposite side. It had gotten completely dark now, which made the haven a welcoming sight. They waded through the water to the campsite, where they decided to grab a meal before setting out to face the lycan.

"So, the lycan is nocturnal, right?" the prince questioned. Astrid nodded. "So it should be waiting for us deeper in?"

"Want me to confirm it?" the she-wolf replied.

Before anyone could respond, she tilted her head up and howled at the moonlit sky above. They all quieted, listening. There was a deeper, more distant howl from farther in the woods. The lycan had answered her call.

"No doubt that it's out there," the advisor said. "As soon as I whip up supper, we can go and face it."

They all talked a bit and shared a few laughs while waiting. Ignis served them up some Toadsteak Drumsticks. Astrid practically wolfed them down like a starved, ravenous animal. She even took the time to chew on the bones afterwards, slowly crunching them up in her strong jaws.

Ignis chuckled lightly at her. "I'm guessing the meal was to your liking?"

Astrid froze, finally noticing the amused stares of the others. Her ears went down a little as she kept her gaze on her plate, embarrassed. "Y-yeah. It was delicious. Thanks for allowing me to eat with you."