2 - W O L V E S

➳ Pernwél

Pushing back the tears that tried to break free from my eyes, I got myself up from the ground and looked at the provisions that I had with me. Counting my weapons I had my sword, bow, two normal and one ignition arrow. In my belt were some knives and a dagger.

I pulled my hood over my head and pointy ears to cover myself. The fabric was mossy green so I could hide better in the woods. My long silver hair would reflect the sunlight and I would be easier to spot. I was in unknown land and I had no idea what or whom lived here.

Spotting some trees and rocks together I moved behind them to protect myself as I did some inventory on the rest of my belongings.

In my bag I had water, some crackers and dried fruit. Typical warrior package for scouting. More daggers, two of which I put between the straps of my boots, handy for throwing. An extra hood and some warmer clothes in case the weather changed. Firestones to create a fire and a compass.

The compass was useless at the moment, as I had no clue of my current position. Was I even still in the same realm? I knew portals could take you even between worlds.

There was no other way than to rely on my survival instincts and collect information about the forest I was in. Important right now was water, food and shelter.

Gathering my belongings and putting my sword in my belt I got up from behind the stone and started a recognition route.

After a while of walking through the woods I had collected some edible plants I recognized and some sweet chestnuts. There were trees and plants that were different from where I came from but I was relieved to encounter flora I knew.

I found only a few species of Fauna. I spotted rabbits, squirrels and the soft chirping of birds. It was even a different season from what I could see and sense. In Agmysther it was spring at the time and here it was closing in on autumn by the looks of the colors around me and the withering of the green leaves.

Finally, I heard the splashing sound of water. 

I quickened my steps and found a breathtaking river. It had beautiful crystalline water and at some spots you could see the fish swim peacefully. I had a great connection with nature and I felt completely at ease letting the sounds and smells invade my senses.

My stomach growled, indicating I had to take a break to eat something. It had been a long day and until this moment I still had not eaten anything. The attack on my village and battle had occurred so fast and now I was here.

I took out the crackers and the herbs and sat down next to the river bed. The sound the water made and the rustling of the leaves in the wind was calming and my spirit snapped. I let the tears stream freely down my face. 

I was alone.

My people were brutally slaughtered.

I wasn’t going to see my home anymore.

I was lost in my thoughts when I heard some noise behind me and a strange animal smell. I got up and took a defensive stance. 

I found myself looking at four magnificent wolves. They were looking back at me very strangely. Nothing like what a wolf should do. At least not the wolves that I knew. They were also bigger in size and had different colored fur. How weird.

I tried to relax a bit. I’m an Elf, I should feel connected to these animals. But as I tried to move to them I heard one of them growl deeply.

Oh no. This was not good. I eyed my situation and calculated I had to move now. I jumped up and took with my hands the branch from the tree above me and pulled myself up in a quick motion.

I looked down at the wolves and they were looking at each other and at me with a questioning expression on their snouts. Like they were communicating silently between them.

I had to keep moving. I kept climbing the tree and looked how I could move further in the forest and run as fast as my feet would take me. 

I could jump to the next one. Taking my daggers out of my boots I took the leap and climbed up the adjacent tree pushing myself up by sticking the daggers into the bark of the tree.

The wolves were following me, I was fast but they were hot on my trail. I kept moving through the trees as stealthy as I could. I was exhausted from the battle and everything that happened today and I didn’t know my surroundings. This forest was strange to me.

Such was my luck as I stepped on the next branch and it snapped, plummeting to the ground. 

I fell hard against the earthy surface and the last I saw before losing consciousness were the wolves approaching and one started shifting into something?

And then the darkness took me.

I was regaining control as I noticed I was being carried on someone's back. This is not a wolf. It looked like a bigger Elf, much more muscular and with broader shoulders. Around me there were only three wolves. Where is the fourth one and who’s this?

The wolves followed us silently but kept looking around and sometimes at me. I still had my hood on, so they couldn’t see my face. I think they hadn’t noticed yet that I was awake. 

They were taking me into a clearing. I started seeing pavemented roads and houses, nothing like the ones from my village. These ones were made from wood but had strange shapes and colors.

Someone approached us quickly, I heard footsteps against the road that weren’t from the one that had me over his shoulders. 

“Beta Darren! What happened?” A voice asked. I understand the language. Could this mean that I was still in the same realm?

“I don’t know where this person came from.” The man that was carrying me answered. “She was on our territory. I’m taking her to the Alpha.”

They were still walking and then the strangest thing of all happened. I saw the paws of the wolves around us changing into feet. The wolves were shifting into more of these men, one was a woman. They took some clothes and covered their naked bodies. What?

He took me up to some stairs and into one of the buildings. This was all so different from my home. What a day I was having, losing everything and then being captured by some strange people.

“Beta Darren.” Another voice said.

“Alpha Jake.” The man holding me answered. 

“Who is this?” the man spoke with authority. I suppose he was one of the leaders or something.

“We found this person near the river, she was on our territory.” He answered. “She smells different than a human and she put up an interesting fight.”

“She certainly is dressed strangely.” The leader, I think his name is Alpha Jake, stated. “And what is all of this?”

“She carried a lot of weapons.” Beta Darren answered. “Reminds me of Xena the Warrior princess.” He chuckled.

“Put her in the dungeon.” Alpha Jake replied. “I’ll go in a bit when she’s awake to question her.”

Beta Darren nodded and took me down some stairs, descending into the dungeons I thought. It was cold down here and no sun got through. He put on a light and opened a cage-like room. 

I still played the unconscious part as he lowered me on some bed. Then he closed the cage and turned a lock and left me to myself.

When Beta Darren left to go upstairs I pulled myself up from the bed and searched my clothing if I still had anything on me or my weapons. I sighed deeply, noticing they took everything, even my bag with food and water. What a fantastic day! 

Waking up, heading straight into battle, falling through a portal and being captured by wolves that turn into men. I was mentally and physically exhausted. I had no injury from the fall except for some scrapings on my back and arms caused by the rough earthy ground.

At least I was alive I thought, cringing at the irony.