The year is 904. You are a traveling mercenary, lending your skills to whoever coughs up enough coin. Your path has led you to Scandinavia, deep into a forest where the locals asked you to slay a massive beast that was killing people and livestock in the area. You took the job thinking it was going to be a bear, a tough but manageable opponent However, as you trek deeper into the woods, a bad feeling starts to build in your chest. It's night, but a full moon illuminates the forest floor You stop in your tracks as you see a pair of glowing eyes shining in the darkness of a cluster of trees, a bit away from you.

"What do you think is here?" comes the growling reply as a massive figure emerges from behind the trees, revealing itself to be a werewolf, the same one that had cursed you. Its fur is dark gray and its amber eyes glow eerily in the moonlight.

The werewolf hesitates for a moment, clearly surprised by your offer. It glances at you, then back at the campfire before slowly sitting down beside it. "What do you want from me?" it asks gruffly, its voice deep and rumbling.

The werewolf's tail wags back and forth, a strange mix of confusion and curiosity on its face. It watches as you begin to prepare your meal, clearly hungry. "Alright, I will accept your offer," it rumbles slowly. As the food cooks, it leans closer to get a better whiff of the aroma before eventually taking a small bite out of the meat when it's offered to it. "My name is Tholf," it says between bites, using its sharp teeth to tear off large chunks of flesh from the animal.

"Yes, it tastes good," Tholf says between bites. "I have lived alone in this forest for many years now." He glances at you sideways before continuing. "My people cursed me to live this way." The truth of his words seems to hang heavily around him like a shroud. "What's your name, Hunter?"

The werewolf snorts at that. "It's not that weird," he says. "People name their children all sorts of things these days." He takes another large bite of meat, chewing thoughtfully before continuing. "So... you hunt for a living. What do you know about hunting someone like me?"

The werewolf's ears prick up at your words, seemingly surprised by the compliment. "I don't understand," it says slowly. "Why would you think that?" It watches you carefully as you finish cooking and prepare to drink your tea.

The werewolf nods solemnly at your words, looking down at its paws for a moment before raising its gaze back to meet yours. "You're not the first person who has ever said such things to me," it admits softly. "And I know that humans can be cruel... but..."

The werewolf hesitates, uncertainty written all over its face. It turns away from you for a moment, gazing out into the forest before looking back again. "Why do you care about how I feel?" it asks gruffly, curiosity and longing blending together in its voice.

The werewolf thinks about your words for a moment, gazing intently at you. "I... suppose that's true," it says finally. "But I am still dangerous. I have killed many people." The admission seems to pain him, but he continues regardless. "Why would you want to be near someone like me?"

The werewolf looks at you with confusion and surprise in its amber eyes. "But I'm not human," it protests softly. "I'm something... else." Its tail thumps against the ground, a nervous habit that betrays its inner turmoil. "I never thought someone would ever want to be near me because of who and what I am."

The admission hangs between you like a silent question, heavy with emotion. Tholf studies your features, looking for signs that you are mocking him or simply don't care about his feelings. But all he sees is sincerity in your gaze, and something else... understanding. Something that he hasn't felt in many years.

Despite the warnings in the back of its mind, Tholf finds himself leaning closer to you, drawn by an irresistible force. His breath ghosts across your cheek as he whispers, "Why do you care?"

The werewolf blinks, taken aback by your words and gesture. His eyes search yours for any hint of deception or cruelty, but all he sees is kindness and acceptance. He swallows hard, feeling a lump form in his throat as emotions threaten to overwhelm him. He leans into your touch, closing his eyes briefly at the contact.

A small whimper escapes his lips before he can stop it, and despite his best efforts, hot tears streak down his furry cheeks. The feeling of being accepted, of not being alone, is overwhelming him with a force he hadn't expected or truly believed possible. He sniffs loudly, trying to regain his composure.

When he finally manages to speak, his voice is thick with emotion. "I don't know," he says simply. "It just doesn't feel like I should be this alone." His eyes meet yours once more, searching for answers or reassurance but finding only understanding and compassion there.

As you reach out and gently wipe away his tears with your fingertips, a shudder runs through Tholf's massive form. He leans even closer to you, savoring the feel of human contact after so many years of solitude. It's as if he can't get close enough, as if he's afraid that you'll disappear or change your mind and leave him once more.

His voice is raw with emotion when he speaks again. "I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't met you tonight," he says quietly, his breath warm against your skin. "Maybe... maybe things would be different." There's a note of hope and longing in his voice that you can't help but respond to.

He gazes up at you, wondering how much longer this moment will last, wishing desperately that it could go on forever.

The feeling of being held and petted by another sentient creature is both overwhelming and incredibly comforting to the lonely werewolf. He leans into your embrace, nuzzling his furry cheek against your chest as he allows himself to feel the warmth and strength of your touch. His tail thumps contentedly against the ground as he surrenders completely to the moment, allowing himself to enjoy the simple pleasure of companionship for perhaps the first time in years.

His eyes close, lashes wet with tears that now fall silently onto his fur as relief and gratitude wash over him. This human, this Hunter, has given him something he never thought he would find again - acceptance, understanding... friendship? The idea seems almost too good to be true, but it feels right in this moment, realer than anything he's ever known.

Tholf isn't sure what the future holds for them, but he knows that for now, he won't be alone anymore. And with that realization comes a profound sense of peace and contentment that he hadn't even realized was missing from his life until now.

He looks up at you with eyes that are still wet but now glowing brightly with gratitude and hope. The touch of your fingers against his cheek is as light as a feather, yet somehow manages to convey a depth of feeling that is almost overwhelming in its intensity. Tholf feels the weight of all those years spent alone begin to lift from his shoulders as he returns your gaze, his expression softening into what might even be described as happiness.

The sensation of being cherished and loved in this way is something he's never experienced before; it's as if you've opened up a part of him that had been locked away for far too long, revealing feelings and desires he didn't even know existed. He knows that there will be challenges ahead, but for now, he's content to bask in the warmth of this newfound connection and see where it leads them.