THE HUNT IV

~{INGRID'S POV}~

*

"What brought you to these forests, miss?"

At the old man's question, I gave it a thought whether to say the truth or not.

But even if he knew about it he wouldn't really benefit from it since he was human.

Humans knew about our kind and we all live in harmony but it is strictly forbidden for a werewolf to have them as their mates. They believe that being with a mortal will reduce our mortality and abilities.

"Can we take a break?" I said instead.

I had been limping at the start of our journey but now I was walking properly.

The thing about being a Theta wolf was that I couldn't heal fast. If I were a Beta wolf and broken my bones I would've easily fixed them in seconds like nothing had happened.

"You didn't answer my question." He reminded me while still walking ahead of me.

"What were you doing here as well?" I asked back.

"I was searching for my dog," he answered immediately.

"Your dog? Is that how much you cherish it?" I asked in awe.

"Yes."

After that, another wave of silence passed through before I broke it.

"I'm in search of an egg," I answered while making sure to leave out the vital part.

"A dragon egg right?"

"I didn't say which egg," I hurriedly said and he chuckled.

"Others have come like you many years back and found nothing. What makes you think you'll find one?" He thoughtfully asked.

"I have faith," I answered.

"And how certain are you that your faith will make that egg materialize in one of these forests?" He inquired.

"As certain as the day," I replied and he scoffed.

"Have you seen one?" I curiously inquired.

"I have," he answered.

"Really?"

My eyes twinkled in delight.

"Yes."

"What's it like?"

"A living being," he stated and I frowned.

"I know that already."

"I know you do but you werewolves seem to forget that the moment you come face to face with it. It's because of your kind that made them go extinct."

At his words, I began to feel guilty but I quickly brushed it aside when I thought of the benefits.

Suddenly he came to a stop and pointed at the far end of the deserted forest.

"That's the Rocky Forest," he said and I nodded and continued walking but stopped when I didn't sense him following.

When I turned back I found him smiling at me.

"Go on, I'll follow another path. I'm too old to climb rocks," he said and I frowned.

"I'll carry you," I suggested.

"No. This is my limit. Go on, and I pray your faith helps you find that egg," he wished me good luck and I smiled.

"I will find it," I confidently said.

"And keep what I said in mind, miss." He reminded me but all I did was nod.

When I watched him turn around and head in another direction, I stood there a little longer before happily going on my journey.

I had lost my backpack in the cursed forest and so I had to continue the journey on an empty stomach and a parched throat.

But wait, how would the old man cope?

As I turned around to look at him, he was nowhere to be found.

Whoa!

I quickly looked in every direction hoping to see him but I couldn't. Did he vanish?

But how?

He was just a mere human!

Except if he wasn't.

At that thought, I went still.

Without wasting another second since the sky was gradually becoming dark, I transformed into my wolf form and began to run to the next forest.

But on my way, I stopped when I found another aid bag.

In an instant, I changed back to my human form and went to get it.

The moment I opened it, I grinned. It was loaded with well packaged raw meat, three bottles of water and some herbs.

"What a delight!" I happily said and sat down to feast on the raw meat.

But before I could begin eating, I spotted some group of people far off and it made me quickly set into motion.

I couldn't let what happened earlier repeat itself again.

With determination, I drank a bottle of water and carried the white bag before running towards the third forest. I felt drained and very exhausted but I kept going until I got to the Rocky Forest and climbed the first rock with the last strength I had in me.

"It's a good thing the old man left me." I breathlessly said in relief.

When I checked to see how far it was, I noticed they were nowhere close to where I was and it was already nighttime.

"What a relief."

Even though this forest was rocky, it still had a lot of robust trees.

Anyways, I wasn't here to study the environment, I was here solely for the dragon egg.

Finding a good spot, I camped there for the night after feasting on the raw meat. It was such a delight.

*******

(The next day)

"Ugh," I yawned and sat upright before adjusting my eyes to my surroundings.

Birds were chirping which was strange and refreshing at the same time. It made me feel like home.

Getting up, I climbed the rock I had climbed before so I could check if the others were catching up to me. But I was met with another strange thing.

The deserted forest was gone!

I was in the midst of big rocks and trees with no sight of the previous forest.

"What the!"

I exclaimed as I studied the environment before coming down to carry my aid bag and go on my journey.

But wait!

How is it that we were over three hundred werewolves and yet I only met a few ever since we left the pack. It was strange.

And I was only talking about the number from our pack.

After much climbing, I came in front of the largest rock and it made me nearly cry due to how high it was.

"You've got this, Ingrid, we can do this," I coaxed myself and drank my final bottle of water before climbing the rock.

It was challenging but I kept going until I reached the top and laid on it for a while just to catch my breath.

After a few minutes, I got up and prepared to climb down the rock but went completely still.

At the end of the rock and in the midst of other bushy rocks laid a mighty shimmering egg.