König walked through the mist-shrouded forest, the crunch of leaves beneath his boots barely audible over the cawing of crows circling overhead. The full moon cast an eerie silver glow through the canopy, turning the fog into swirling tendrils of ghostly light. The air was cold enough to sting his cheeks, and he pulled his coat tighter around himself as he gripped his shotgun with gloved hands.

A strange noise had drawn him from his cottage—something between a howl and a cry that didn't belong to any animal he knew. Now, a mile from home, doubt gnawed at him. The forest seemed to have grown darker, quieter, as if holding its breath. Every shadow looked like a waiting threat, every rustle a potential ambush.

A twig snapped behind him. König spun around, raising his shotgun in one fluid motion. "Wer ist es? Zeig dich!" he shouted, his voice cracking slightly despite his efforts to sound brave. The forest remained silent, the only response the distant hoot of an owl. "If you don't come out now, I'll shoot!" he warned, his finger tightening on the trigger.

Movement in the bushes ahead caught his eye. A large shape emerged, and König felt his blood run cold. It stood on two legs yet was clearly not human—taller than a man, covered in dark brown fur, with muscles rippling beneath its hide. Its eyes glowed like molten blue embers in the moonlight, fixed intently on him. Sharp teeth protruded from its powerful jaws as it let out a low, menacing growl that vibrated in König's bones.

As the creature advanced slowly, König stumbled backward over a hidden tree stump. He fell hard on his back, the wind knocked from his lungs as his shotgun clattered away across the forest floor. Helpless, he watched as the werewolf continued its approach, each step bringing it closer to where he lay defenseless.