Beneath the Howl

Kade and the others stood in the cold, tense silence of the alleyway, their eyes still locked on the wolf, it felt like the world itself had shifted. The massive creature remained perfectly still in the middle of the carnage. Its fur blended with the darkness of the night, its glowing eyes fixed on them with a predatory gaze that sent a shiver down Zane's spine. It was a being of such presence that it felt like the air itself was holding its breath.

The wolf didn't make a move it just stood there, unbothered by their presence. It was as if the pile of dead goblins around it were its claim to food, and anyone who dared challenge that would face its wrath. The sheer size of it made it clear: this wasn't a normal animal. It wasn't even a normal predator. This was something far more dangerous.

Evelyn, still holding onto Zane's arm, let out a breathless gasp. "Oh my God… it's like a nightmare," she whispered, her voice trembling. "First goblins, now this… What the hell is happening to our world?" Her grip tightened around Zane's arm, her body still shaking in shock as she stared at the wolf, unable to comprehend what was unfolding before her eyes.

Zane could see the fear growing in his mother's eyes, the panic making her words falter. She couldn't even process what she was witnessing—goblins, wolves, creatures that shouldn't exist. And now, all of a sudden, it wasn't just about survival. It was about making sense of this new, terrifying reality.

Kade, who had been silently scanning the area, turned toward them and motioned with his hand, his voice low but firm. "We need to step back—slowly. We don't want to provoke it. This isn't a fight we can win."

Zane, despite his usual bravado, nodded in agreement. There was no bravado to be found now, not in the face of something like that. "I don't think we can take on a creature that size." He kept his voice steady, but a touch of anxiety crept through. This wasn't a movie. This wasn't a game. This was real. And they were very much outmatched.

They slowly backed away into the alleyway, moving cautiously, not daring to make a sound. The wolf didn't move, only watching them with cold, intelligent eyes. Zane felt a wave of relief wash over him as they put some distance between themselves and the creature, but it wasn't enough to quell the unease gnawing at him. 

Once they were safely hidden in the alley, they paused, eyes still on the street ahead. The smell of decay lingered in the air, and the occasional groan of distant buildings creaking in the wind only made it worse. They had to cross that road to get to the store, but how could they with that beast blocking the way?

Zane and Kade exchanged glances, both knowing that getting to the store was their best chance to meet Elara and Zane dad Jonathan. Evelyn, still visibly shaken, didn't speak. She simply watched the scene unfold with wide eyes.

But just as they were about to move, a new figure caught their attention.

A trio of figures, hooded and cloaked, walked down the street in the direction of the wolf. At first, they seemed oblivious to the creature standing at the center of the carnage. But as they grew closer, Kade and Zane couldn't shake the sense that something wasn't right. These people weren't scared, they weren't running. There was no fear in the way they moved at all. They walked toward the wolf with calmness, almost as if they didn't even acknowledge the presence of the giant predator.

Zane frowned, confused. "What the hell? Why aren't they running?" he muttered, glancing at Kade for an explanation. "They look like they don't care at all."

Evelyn, however, seemed to have had enough of staying quiet. As she watched the trio of figures get closer, a sense of urgency surged through her. She stepped forward, her hand raised in a desperate attempt to get their attention. "Hey!" she shouted, her voice strained, her hands moving erratically, trying to catch their focus. "Stay away from the wolf!"

Her voice cracked slightly as she called out, but it was enough to stop the figures in their tracks. The trio turned, eyes locking onto Evelyn, then onto the rest of the group in the alley. The moment they noticed her, there was a subtle shift in their stance, a quiet acknowledgment of her presence.

Zane's heart skipped a beat as the air seemed to thicken. The figures weren't reacting in caution it was almost as if the world being flipped upside down was normal. There was a strange, almost calm energy in the way they moved, as if the chaos surrounding them was nothing more than an inconvenience.

Evelyn took another step forward, her chest heaving as she tried to steady her breathing, her voice rising with panic. "Do you not see it? That wolf !" Her words were full of desperation, a mother trying to make sense of the madness her world had become.

The trio of figures seemed unfazed, still studying them, but there was a flicker of recognition in their eyes. It was like they understood something that Evelyn, Zane, and Kade didn't. The one in the front, the one with the sharpest features and silver hair, took a slow step forward.

"Fear not," the figure said in a voice that was like the sound of wind through the trees calm, melodic, and almost impossibly serene. "The beast you fear is of no concern to us."

Evelyn's breath hitched at the sound of the voice. It was soothing, but there was an undercurrent of something ancient, something that made her feel like she was standing in the presence of something far beyond her comprehension. She took a step back, her hand still gripping Zane's arm.

What had struck Zane making his stomach drop was the way they looked. The beauty of the trio was unlike anything he had ever seen. 

Their features were otherworldly sharp, elegant, and strangely captivating. The dim streetlamp light seemed to highlight their pale, almost ethereal skin, and their long, flowing hair moved with an effortless grace. They looked ancient, regal even, as if they'd stepped out of a time long past.

The wind swept through, lifting their hair, and that's when Zane noticed something he hadn't before…the shape of their ears.

In that moment, it clicked.

"Elves,"