CHAPTER 70 : WELL, WELL, WELL...

*1000 years Earlier : Continued*

As soon as the word, "Hunt" was whispered, the lead wolf let out a low growl. Instantly, all the wolves bolted forward. They all followed the scent trail of Dahlia's blood with terrifying precision.

The villagers, armed with bows, swords, and spears on the first leader's order, charged after the wolves. The other three leaders were also present, holding their weapons strongly, and everyone else had torches blazed in their hands, lighting the way as they ran in formation.

"Move faster!" The second leader barked to the rest, "She cannot have gone too far. We cannot lose her."

Dahlia, who was now deep in the forest, staggering as she ran, could hear the howls of wolves which were very much close, making her breath hitch. She tried to run as fast as she could, blood trickling from her wounds, and leaving small, wet stains.

"No," she whispered as the howls grew closer, panic settling into her bones, "I have never been treated this way before, I will never be brought down." 

With a wave of her hand, she tried to do a barrier spell to protect herself, chanting softly, "Desina mallor! Creia throne!"

It didn't work, and so she tried again, much louder, but the spell sputtered.  Her magic was too weak, most especially under the full moon and also by her blood loss and exhaustion. Still, Dahlia did not accept to surrender.

With gritted teeth, she pushed herself to run even when her legs wobbled, slowing her pace. "Come on!" She groaned out to her legs as if they were the source of her problems.

The wolves' growls grew louder behind her and when she turned to check how close they were or if she still had some distance from them, she found herself facing them. Quickly, she faced her front and tried running faster, pushing herself through the pain but ended up stumbling. The moment she faltered was when she knew she might not be able to escape these wolves.

Immediately, one of the wolves lunged forward, biting around her ankle. Dahlia screamed loudly as the sharp teeth pierced her flesh, dragging her down.

Desperately, she tried to raise a hand to cast another spell, her voice cracking as she hissed, "Altria venkay! Sitron elsy-" But before her incantation could be completed, another wolf attacked her, biting into her thigh. They showed her no mercy as pain shot through her body.

 

"Ahhhhh… Get away from me, you stupid creatures," she cried out in pain, trying to fight them, but that only made them attack her more. The wolves' pinned her down, snarling but holding their bites firm without tearing her apart. They had not killed her yet because they were not ordered too, so instead they just played with her a bit.

The first leader arrived moments later, his chest heaving from the run. "Enough," he commanded, petting the fur of his wolves. "Well done, boys." He said to them proudly, making them release their grip.

As the wolves released their grip, Dahlia's body slumped to the ground, too weak to move. She was injured and bleeding all over.

"Take them back," the first leader ordered, and the two warriors who had fetched the wolves earlier approached and grabbed them by their thick collars, tugging gently as they guided them back. 

The other three village leaders arrived soon, their expressions dark with satisfaction and pride. They still could not believe they had succeeded in catching Dahlia right where they wanted her. 

"Well, well, well," the second leader stepped forward and crossed his arms as he sneered while looking down at Dahlia with a wicked grin. "It looks like the powerful witch has finally fallen." Then he chuckled wickedly.

Dahlia parted her lips to say something, but her throat was too dry, and the sharp pain from the arrow still in her ribs was not helping. She had taken out all the other arrows that had pierced into her body, but this particular one, she knew it was too severe, and she would bleed out a lot, which was why she had not taken it out yet. She wanted to make sure she was safe before she would try to heal herself with some herbs at her home.

"What's that, witch?" The second leader asked her, crouching beside her as his arms rested casually on his knees. He wore a smug, mocking grin, enjoying how helpless she looked. "Trying to say something?" He leaned in closed, tilting his head as if straining to hear. "Go on… I'm listening."

In Dahlia's mind, she cursed and threatened him, but when she opened her mouth, it was only a faint rasp that came out.

"I can't hear you, Dahlia," he chuckled, dragging her name out slowly as he glanced over his shoulder at the other leaders and warriors, who also seemed to be savoring her weakness. "Did you say something important? No? Perhaps you would like to try again."

Dahlia clenched her jaw, her blood boiling from anger as she inhaled sharply, fresh waves of pain surging through her. "I will kill you all once I am healed. You all will be dead by the time I am back," she said, but in her mind as she shot glares at the second leader.

"Ah, this one's still in there. Is that what you were trying to tell me?" he murmured, knowing fully well how much she hated what he was doing. As his gaze fell on the bloodied arrow in her ribs, the smirk he had on his face deepened. 

Slowly, he reached out and wrapped his hand around the shaft of the arrow, twisting it slightly and muttering, "mmm…that is very deep. Does it hurt?"

Dahlia groaned and gasped in agony as blood oozed from the wound. She stared back at the second leader, her eyes burning even as blood trickled from her lips. She refused to give him the satisfaction of hearing her cry out. Instead, she coughed harshly, spitting blood that stained her chin and trickled down her neck. 

"Oh, look at you." He laughed, "No single remorse in those evil eyes of yours."

Unexpectedly, he tightened his grip on that arrow and yanked it free in one brutal motion, the sound of flesh tearing echoing as the arrow slid out, sticky with blood.

"There it is," he said, holding the bloodied arrow between his fingers and inspecting it as though it were a prize. "Now you can bleed properly."