Chapter 3: The Lowly Human

The young man in white, his eyes keenly observing the subtle shifts in Eleanor's expression, found a modicum of amusement in her plight. However, this thought was but a fleeting spark in his mind. In his view, humans were nothing more than weak, contemptible creatures, interesting only in their vulnerability, easily crushed like insects underfoot. Recalling how Eleanor had managed to wriggle out of his grasp earlier, a wave of annoyance surged within him. After a moment of simmering irritation, he finally spoke, his voice dripping with cold disdain. "Lowly human, you surely have a hide as thick as a rhino's. Claiming to be useful, are you? Judging by your puny physique, you wouldn't last a single bout against five of our warriors, would you?"

Eleanor's brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean by that?" she wondered. Could they possibly expect her to engage in combat with werewolves? Good heavens! It seemed that the situation was rapidly deteriorating into a nightmare.

The young man raised an eyebrow, a sly glint in his eye. "What do I mean? If five werewolves were to take you on, one after another, could you guarantee that you'd still be breathing when they were done?"

Eleanor's eyes widened in horror, as if she had been struck by a bolt of lightning. "I - I didn't mean that kind of usefulness!" she stammered, her voice quivering with a mix of fear and indignation. "Please, don't misunderstand me!"

"Misunderstand?" The young man scoffed, his laughter laced with derision. "Apart from serving as slaves, maids, or playthings under the control of us werewolves, what other purpose could humans possibly serve?"

Playthings? Eleanor felt a surge of nausea, and she had to fight the urge to vomit. She couldn't afford to throw up; in this cramped cage, the last thing she needed was to be covered in her own sick.

As the carriage reached the heart of the canyon, small, dilapidated houses began to dot the landscape. These dwellings were built low to the ground and packed tightly together, creating a scene reminiscent of a refugee slum. The houses sprawled from the base of the mountain all the way to the sheer cliffs, a testament to the poverty and despair that seemed to permeate the area. As the carriage rolled by, the people in the vicinity immediately dropped what they were doing and knelt down, their faces pressed firmly against the ground. They didn't dare to lift their heads until the carriage had passed, their subservience a clear indication of the power dynamic at play.

As they journeyed further, the houses gradually thinned out, and the scenery once again became desolate. However, clusters of caves began to appear on the cliffs. These caves, varying in size and shape, stretched as far as the eye could see, a sight both startling and mysterious. Every now and then, the silhouette of a wild beast would flit across the cave entrances. These creatures were tall and muscular, their presence a stark contrast to the meek humans in the slum.

"Where on earth am I?" Eleanor muttered to herself, a sense of dread creeping over her as she realized that she had likely stumbled into a den of wolves, with danger lurking around every corner.

"This is Panqiu Valley, the ancestral home of our Red Wolf Clan," the young man replied. "Once you're in here, escape is as impossible as sprouting wings and flying away." Earlier, as they passed through the slum, he had covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve, as if the very air there was contaminated. Only now did he lower his arm and take a deep breath of the fresher air.

Watching his actions, Eleanor felt a spark of anger ignite within her, but she knew better than to show it. Instead, she swallowed her pride and asked, as calmly as she could, "Why do you hate humans so much?"

"Don't you already know, deep down?" The young man's lips curled into a smile, but his eyes were filled with mockery.

Without hesitation, Eleanor blurted out, "Because we're weak?"

"Precisely. And not only that, but you humans are also insatiably greedy," the young man added, his tone dismissive.

Eleanor nodded, trying to adjust her position in the cramped cage to find a more comfortable spot. It seemed that this werewolf's hatred for humans was deeply ingrained, a mindset that wouldn't be easily changed. But as she found herself being dragged deeper into the heart of danger, she knew that she had to do everything in her power to ingratiate herself with the beast before her.

"Hey! Handsome guy, let me tell you a secret," Eleanor said, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone.

The young man, amused by her audacity, couldn't help but laugh. "Are you trying to cozy up to me, or are you planning to deceive me?"

Damn it, this kid is sharp! Eleanor thought, a twinge of defeat washing over her. But she couldn't back down now. "Let me tell you - I'm not from your world. I somehow got thrown here through time. I don't know if your world is the past or the future. But I'm from the 21st century, and my name is Eleanor. I'm a high school student. In my world, there are only humans, no werewolves. That's why I was so shocked when I first saw you guys."

"Oh?" The young man narrowed his eyes, studying her intently. "Now that you mention it, your clothes and the way you look do seem out of place here."

Seeing a glimmer of interest in his expression, Eleanor felt a glimmer of hope. "It's true, I'm not lying. I'm not from your world. As a guest from another realm, you can't just treat me like some... some plaything!"

The young man burst out laughing, his long eyelashes fluttering, and a glint of moisture appearing in his eyes.

Eleanor tilted her head, looking at him. Despite his terrifying nature, she couldn't help but think, This guy is really good - looking. If he weren't a werewolf, there'd be a line of girls queuing up to date him.

After his laughter subsided, the young man stood up, placing one foot on the iron cage. "For now, you'd better stay put in that cage and behave yourself. Don't even think about trying anything funny. I won't lift a finger to help you. But if you really don't want to end up as a plaything, you can beg the boss. Maybe he'll take it easy on you." With that, he threw his head back and laughed heartily once more before hopping off the carriage.

Eleanor clutched the iron bars of the cage, her fingers turning white from the force. She closed her eyes, allowing her bloodshot eyes to rest for a moment. After a while, she let out a muffled groan, seething with anger. If I can't escape today, so be it. But if I ever get the chance, I'll make you pay, you little wolf cub!

Then, she let out a quiet sigh and suddenly roared at the top of her lungs, "Heaven! Just strike me dead with a bolt of lightning!" Her voice echoed through the valley, bouncing off the cliffs and reverberating back to her.

At the end of Panqiu Valley stood the stronghold of the Red Wolf Clan - the city of Dago. It was a magnificent sight, nestled perfectly within the valley, as if it had grown out of the very earth itself. As they passed through the city gates, Eleanor was greeted by a series of huge circular buildings. These structures climbed along the mountain ridge, reaching towards the sky until they seemed to pierce the clouds. The entire fortress was bathed in a purplish - red glow, a sight that was both awe - inspiring and terrifying.

Eleanor was roughly lifted down from the carriage by two werewolves and led deeper into the fortress. Her mind was a blank, filled with nothing but fear and confusion. As she looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings, she felt a sense of overwhelming despair. Misfortune had truly befallen her, and she had no idea what lay ahead.