The third pig stands at the thick oak counter, cleaver flashing in his practiced grip. He slices wild mushrooms, garlic, and blood-red chilies with deliberate, almost surgical precision. Each chop resonates through the silent cottage, punctuated by the distant howl of wind beyond thick glass panes. His gaze is unwavering, reflecting the flames and something darker beneath.
With every ingredient he adds to the pot, flashes of feral hunts flicker in his mind—claws raking earth, sharp tusks glinting in moonlight, the chase, the kill. He remembers the first time he tasted victory, the hot rush of wolf’s blood on his tongue, the transformation from prey to predator. The kitchen grows colder, his movements sharper, the scent of wild game thick in the air.
He tosses hunks of wolf meat into the bubbling broth, watching fat sizzle and melt. The flames lick higher, illuminating his determined features. He leans over the pot, eyes narrowed, inhaling the savory, primal aroma. The kitchen hums with anticipation, every detail—cracked tile, worn utensils, splattered apron—an echo of battles won and lost.
"Funny, isn’t it? Once, I built walls to keep monsters out. Now I make monsters into supper. Survival’s a hungry teacher; she never lets you forget her lessons. Strength isn’t given—it’s taken, one hunt at a time. If you want peace, sharpen your teeth."
He stirs the ramen, the broth swirling like storm clouds. His laughter is rough, echoing off stone and timber, mingling with the rising steam.
He slurps the noodles, savoring each bite, the flavors sharp and wild. Victory is tangible—salt, spice, the lingering bite of wolf. The kitchen is silent but for his contented sigh. He glances at the battered hunting knife resting near the window, the edge gleaming, ready.
"There’s always another wolf out there. And I’m always hungry."
He sets his empty bowl aside, the last rays of dusk slipping away. The door creaks open, cold wind filling the kitchen. His silhouette steps into the night, hunter and hunted, suspense trailing like smoke behind him.
