All Chapters of Astral Odyssey: Dying Ember: Chapter 171 - Chapter 180

Ward followed the sparkling cyan stream and walked until he was at the edge of the Darkfire's territory. There was a hole at the bottom of one of the bare trees. He carefully placed Zira there then silently gazed at her.Neoma softly and timidly asked the question that had been bugging him. "How is she still in her human form?" When she got no reply, she spoke again. "Then again, it's a good sign, right? It means she's not dying, right?" She looked at Ward who still showed no intention of replying. Without a word, he reverted back to his wolf form and settled himself down near Zira. Neoma did not take his lack of reply to heart. She knew that Ward needed to rest too. So, she took it upon herself to keep watch while they were down.Zira's eyelids gradually lifted. A coat with a random mix of lavender and blue fur filled her sight. The softness and warmth against her skin felt comfortable and welcoming. She would have loved to sink deeper into it if she coul

BaoBao, who had witnessed it all, suspended his telepathy with Zira so that he could laugh to his heart's content. [Ah… If only you didn't have to stay in character.]Zira repeatedly pushed Ward's face away with her paw and nipped him, but he stubbornly pressed towards her to groom her. After a long struggle, he finally left Zira alone. Zira huffed unhappily and turned her back towards him. On the other hand, Ward's tail swayed side to side. He had ascertained for himself that Zira was untouched by the red wolf and was clearly healthy. He moved further away from her to give her her much needed space. When he settled down, he did not stare at her either. Unbeknownst to him, Zira was quietly missing his closeness. Others simply inferred from her droopy ears that she was in a bad mood because of Ward. [Aha!] Zira's heart jumped at BaoBao's sudden exclamation. 

While the lizard ran, it sometimes screeched in a pitch so high that the wolves almost could not hear it. They shook their head in an effort to deal with the discomfort. “Let’s just fight it! Come on!” Red egged everyone on.“Can’t you see we’re at a huge disadvantage?! Not everyone’s like you, keen to lose your life for some meaningless excitement!”“Oh, come on. What could happen? It’s just a lizard on its home ground. We can make do.”“Right!” While everyone turned right at the same time that Quin shouted, Red continued to run straight ahead.“I knew you’d agree- Guys?!” Red dug in her heels and stopped dead in her tracks.“Red!” Neoma shouted. Her voice travelled down the tunnel the pack had ran into. “Ugh shit!” Red ran after them, thus placing her behind the lizard instead. Just as Red fantasized ab

Something gently nudged and nuzzled against Zira’s face, pulling her out of her slumber. She opened her eyes and confirmed the identity of the culprit. Ward changed into his human form, ready to carry her. Zira did too, at the same time, then moved away before he could pick her up. “My legs work fine.” She explained.Ward stared pointedly at her chest injury.“I’ll be fine.” She stubbornly said as she ran off with the others. Ward caught up to her and stayed close by her side.Meanwhile, another conversation went on at the front of the pack.“I still don’t get why talking to him will win him over. I mean, if it works, why didn’t we win him over earlier?” Red insisted. “Because you didn’t know his story before I shared it with everyone.” Alma gently explained. “Nope. Don’t get it.” “Now we can show Valter

“But why would she?” Neoma whispered back as the pack huddled closer together. Ward looked at the pack then back at Zira. He felt like he should know what was going on, but he did not feel secure about leaving Zira alone at that moment. Understanding his dilemma from the way he behaved, Zira sighed lightly and returned the pack’s side with Ward close by her side."It's either to test our strength or a fight for territory or…" He looked at Ward and Zira huddling in with them. "Something personal."Just as Valter ended his sentence, the rest of the yellow wolves prowled towards Neoma’s pack with their fangs bared. Their leader turned back around and looked down at Neoma’s pack like they were small fry. Neoma and the others stuck close and bared their fangs as well. They stared at each other down, no one willing to back down.All of a sudden, Valter dashed forward and broke the impasse. Red followed clo