Vol.1/Chapter 8: Predicament

16 hours ago

Theo's POV:

The smell of death lingers in every corner of this woods. Howls and cries of beasts echoes through the canopy. I never seen wolves huddle like this together, it's funny enough for me. I wonder how's Luca holding up since he doesn't have a group. Since it's dark, I also wonder if he has a lantern?

"Yow Theo, how you holding up?", Bakura, one of the wolves in my group, questioned me.

"I'm fine, Bakura. I'm just worried about Luca since Alder insisted to left him out.", I explained.

"You know how the history of demiwolves and humans are. You cannot expect Alder to just back down since he hates human.", he said.

"Right, Theo. Humans have been our enemies since times, but I guess Luca is a living example that races can live in harmony.", Aman, another wolf in my group, added.

"I know...Tell me. Do you both hate humans?", I questioned the two of them.

They both piped down as out of nowhere, Alder shouted.

"Men! Open up your lanterns, we are not alone! Stick to your groups, no one should be alone."

Yeah, no shit, Luca doesn't have a group. Now that I noticed, there's something, no, a lot of things following us since we entered the woods. Everyone has taken arms, lanterns jangling as we picked up the pace. Then I remembered...Luca!!! I looked back to find him but he is nowhere to be found.

Then from a bush, a medium-sized dog-like creature pounced me from afar as I blocked it with my spear. Its teeth is gritting through the pole as I tried to push it away. Luckily, Bakura and Aman saw me and killed the beast.

"What the fuck you think you're doing, man?! Let's go!", Bakura exclaimed.

"But Luca! He's nowhere to be found! I need to find him.", I replied.

"You cannot save him if you're dead, or we're dead. Let's find him tomorrow, the sun is setting. You don't want to be apart from the group.", Aman cried out.

"Grrrrr, fine! Let's run.", I decided.

We caught up to the group as they stopped from their tracks. Everyone is in formation as we tried to mix up. Laughs of our oppressors can be heard, with the occasional snarls to intimidate us. About 40 of this dog-like creatures surrounds us as we are massively overwhelmed by their numbers.

"Damn it! Fucking Hyaenodons stopping our tracks. Listen men, they are medium-sized creatures that can gobble you up and feast in your corpse if you're not careful. Also, do not be intimidated by their laughs. They can smell fear.", Alder yelled.

Everyone has their spears pointed to the Hyaenodons as the opposing force tries to dwindle our numbers. Biting and snarling occasionally, some of my comrades snarled back to try and intimidate them.

This, in turn, made one attack Alder. With a swift movement, he fell down the beast in one swoop, then stabbing it in the eye as the beast drew out its last breath. This agitated its group as one by one, they attacked. All my comrades our doing well as little by little, the numbers of the predators go down.

"Take this! Hargh!"

"How dare you attack us!"

"Damn dogs! You are persistent like my grandmother!"

Shouts and yells of my comrades can be heard as we come out victorious with this predicament, albeit others sustaining injuries, even Bakura and Aman.

"Tch! Shitty dogs trying to feast on us without knowing we are great warriors.", Bakura clamored. "They can't even deal fatal damage on us BWAHAHAHAHA!"

"But, if you are alone, surely you'll die.", Aman said.

This made me remembered about Luca. He's the only one separated from us and I don't think he even got his lantern. I angrily marched to Alder as I grabbed him in his clothes. The other wolves gasped as Alder looks at me menacingly.

"Damn you, Alder! Because of what you ordered, Luca is now missing!", I snarled at him.

"Heh! He's a human. He's death fodder. This is his fate. I don't care what happened to that lowly creature as long as I don't see him.", He grinned.

"Fuck you, Alder! When we get back to the village, I'll make sure you pay for what you've done. And if ever we don't get Luca back by tomorrow or if I ever see his corpse, I'll fucking kill you.", I glared at him viciously.

Bakura and Aman calmed me down as Alder ordered the rest of the group to continue. I looked back to the path we took as the sun slowly sets down. On the rest of the travel, no one ever dared to speak, but I know they are also worrying about Luca. Alder turned to us and said...

"Don't give me those frowning faces, he's a necessary sacrifice. Anyone can die here as I said before. Now, pick up your pace or get lost." He boastfully told us.

In the faces of my brethren, annoy and anger seethe out. Those who can face him seed that anger while those who fear him stayed quiet. Bakura and Aman were one of the latter. I just looked away as I'm worried about my friend.

I don't want him to be alone again. Never will be. I promised him.

We picked up the pace as we arrived to a waterfall, surrounded by ruins of presumably past tribes. Broken down fences, made of sharpened hardwood, surrounds the area. For the meantime, we got everything to recover from the previous encounter. Alder ordered us to treat the injured in one of the ruins. He also instructed us to rest as we will leave the woods tomorrow afternoon. Even though they want to find Luca, my comrades, with their weary body, just accepted that their friend is gone.

But I won't. Tomorrow, I'm gonna set up to find him even if it means being postponed to the festival. I don't want to go to the fest without my friend.

"He still owes me two Shameksha Barbecue.", I whimpered. "Whatever it takes, I will find him."

The moon rose up as Alder directed us again to let the injured out and face them directly to the moonlight. The Moon Blessing my mother gave to us quickly healed their injuries, recovering their energy. Some even jumped up and down as they are fascinated by the magic. I also noticed two of my comrades dragging three bodies of Hyaenodons we previously killed. They will be turned to dinner, a fairly punishment, if I say so myself.

Bakura and Aman sat down beside me as they reassured me that Luca's safe and I don't need to worry.

"Theo, we've known Luca since we were children. He was constantly picked upon by Alder and his group. And still, he lives." Bakura smiled.

"Right, right. He also helped throughout many things so I can reassure, he's not like other humans. He's A-Ok!", Aman responded with a thumbs up.

"Oh, about your questions before we got to the fight... WE DON'T RESENT HIM AT ALL.", both shouted.

"You two, be quiet. You're waking up the others, tch. But yeah, you're right, he's not like other humans. He's compassionate and respectful, I know that if one of us gets in his position, he will save us with all he got.", I just smiled as I look up in the moon.

"Luca, I hope you're not alone right now, or even dead. I won't forgive myself if it happened.", I just lay down.

Bakura and Aman went to their sleeping quarters as I continuously think of Luca. Memories gush in my mind as I slowly drift in my sleep, patiently waiting for him.

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New dawn breaks out, birds chirping, the waterfall gushing mightily, and still, I can hear everyone.

"EVERYONE, WAKE UP!", a wolf shouted.

"Oh crap! I slept outside. No wonder so many bugs were biting me, tch. And shit, it's almost noon? Why does no one woke me up?", I thought to myself.

"Rise and shine, sleeping Theo. BWAHAHAHAHA, you must be so tired, aren't you? It's almost noon, you see?" Bakura teased me.

"Come on now, hurry up, grab everything, we're going out.", Aman said.

I was starting to pack my belongings, and go to Alder to request a search team for Luca when suddenly...

"Everyone!!! Someone is coming!!! I-I-It's riding a Shadowmane!", one wolf alerted the group.

Everyone tried to hide in the ruins, behind rocks, up in the trees, waiting for the incoming intruder. Someone wearing what seems like an armor from the hide of a giant insect, rides the majestic beast. They quickly went to the waterfall's edge, and drank like there is no tomorrow. Everyone saw this as an opportunity and slowly but surely, without alerting the Shadowmane, pointed their spears to the possible enemies.

When the rider turned itself to us, I was shocked, no, everyone were shocked. It was Luca! The Shadowmane he rode is now alerted to us, as everyone is afraid. With a slow slide of his hand, Luca calmed down the beast within seconds. Everyone also dropped their weapons as they cheered upon Luca's return.

I ran up to him and hugged him. My comrades also recognized him through the chitin armor he wears.

All was happy except Alder.