As the days wore on, the situation grew more perilous. Though there were few deaths, the frequency of attacks was increasing, and the villagers could feel the tension in the air. As a result, many began to engage with others more than before, trying to find solace in community. And as the days passed, they began to notice a change in Aaryan.

“Have you noticed? Aaryan's been a lot more talkative lately,” one villager remarked, watching him from a distance.

“Yeah, he thinks his constant chatter and goofy smile will make us like him more,” another scoffed.

Despite the harshness of their words, there was a flicker of something else in their eyes—an unspoken softness that betrayed the underlying guilt they felt.

“It's strange, isn't it? How we used to treat him...” one said, his voice trailing off.

Most villagers were having similar thoughts. It seemed that in their discomfort, they were starting to rethink their past treatment of Aaryan. As time passed, they saw the change in him. He was no longer just the village fool—he had become something more, someone they couldn’t ignore.

One evening, as the sun began to set, Aaryan and his group were returning to the safety of their camp after another exhausting day spent hunting in the wild. The air was thick with frustration.

"I want to beat those bastards to a pulp! It's been over twenty days, and we haven't even come close to catching those beasts. And yet, they're happy to return empty-handed," Nayan grumbled, his voice full of anger.

"They’re just happy to survive,. You know that," Sharan replied calmly. "For them, it's a victory if they come back alive, not if they kill the wolves."

The group was passing through a path which have been cleared out earlier, large trees on one side and mountain wall on the other.

As they neared the camp, a chilling sound split the evening air—a deep, guttural growl. It echoed from the trees nearby, sending an icy chill through the group. Then came the sound of a blood-curdling scream.

"AAAAHHHH!" the cry rang out, and before anyone could react, a shadow darted through the underbrush and tore through the back of the group. A villager screamed in pain before he fell silent.

Aaryan's heart pounded as he looked around, trying to make sense of what had just happened. His eyes snapped to the direction of the scream.

“The beast is fast... even with its injury,” Aaryan murmured under his breath. He could see the wolf—a dark shape, about four feet tall—with a visible gash running down its back and hind legs.

The group froze. The wolf's bloodshot eyes fixed on them, and its movements were calculated, ready to strike.

Without thinking, Aaryan dove to the side, narrowly avoiding a shadow that lunged toward him. He scrambled to his feet, heart racing, and saw the wolf’s eyes staring at him with hunger.

“Looks like they’re good at fleeing, at least,” Aaryan thought bitterly, noticing three of the junior chiefs hiding behind rocks. His eyes scanned the area and found a bag lying nearby. Without a second thought, he snatched it up, ignoring the angry shout from Sharan.

"That's mine!" Sharan barked, but Aaryan was already emptying the contents onto the ground. A dagger fell from the bag, along with various other items.

Ignoring Sharan’s protests, Aaryan picked up the dagger and drew his own, holding one in each hand. He turned to face the oncoming wolf, sweat pouring down his face. His heart pounded in his chest, and his hands gripped the daggers tightly.

The wolf advanced, its eyes glinting with malice. Just then, Aaryan heard voices behind him. His gaze snapped to the group of villagers—three men, including a boy no older than sixteen, huddled behind him.

"Junior chief, please help us," one of them called out, fear evident in his voice.

"Get behind me," ordered one of the men, holding his hand out protectively.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Aaryan sighed, grateful for their support but knowing he couldn’t afford to be distracted. The danger was still very real. He quickly assessed his options. The area was too tight, and they were surrounded. No easy escape.

“I can’t run. There’s nowhere to go,” Aaryan thought, panic creeping into his chest. The wolf was drawing closer. He couldn’t afford to freeze. His only chance was to act quickly.

He was trying to come up with a plan to handle the situation when suddenly an idea hit him. He hesitated for a while as the idea was too dangerous for his liking and failure would mean certain then. Seeing no other way he gritted his teeth and decided to throw kitchen sink at it.

“We have to work together,” Aaryan said in a low voice, his words firm. "I have a plan. Follow my lead."

The villagers looked at him uncertainly, but seeing no better option, they nodded. Aaryan turned back to face the wolf. The beast was getting closer now, and Aaryan could feel the weight of every breath he took.

In a flash, Aaryan sprinted toward the wolf, his eyes locked on its gleaming fangs. The villagers gasped.

“What’s he doing? Is he trying to get himself killed?” one of them whispered, hiding behind a boulder, fear creeping into his voice.

Aaryan didn’t have time to care about their doubts. He ran straight at the wolf, pushing himself to the limit. Desperation was in his eyes as he fought to keep his fear at bay. The wolf hesitated, surprised by his bravery, and slowed its advance.

Then, as the distance between them closed, the wolf lunged with terrifying speed. But Aaryan was ready. He dove to the side, narrowly escaping the attack, and rolled to his feet.

With a quick gesture, he signalled the others to shout. They obeyed without hesitation, using their voices to distract the wolf.

The wolf hesitated for just a moment—just long enough for Aaryan to seize the opportunity. He bolted toward it, leaping into the air. With both daggers raised, he aimed for the wolf's head.

But the wolf was quick. As Aaryan came closer, the beast whipped its tail around with lightning speed, smashing it into Aaryan’s chest. The force of the blow sent him crashing into a tree, the impact nearly knocking the breath out of him.

Pain exploded through his body. Blood filled his mouth as he coughed violently, but his vision cleared just enough for him to see the wolf—staggering and enraged. One of the daggers had hit its mark, embedding itself deep in the wolf’s left eye. The beast howled in agony, a high-pitched wail that sent a shiver through the group.

The villagers stood frozen, their eyes wide with disbelief. Aaryan had actually managed to injure the beast.

“I did it...” Aaryan thought, relief flooding his body despite the pain.

The wolf, now blinded, staggered back, shaking its head violently as blood poured from the wound. It growled, sensing the danger of the situation.

Suddenly, the sound of another wolf approaching filled the air. Another wolf, who was keeping watch arrived. The injured wolf, still in pain, turned its gaze toward the new companion.

“They’re retreating,” one of the leaders shouted. “We can’t let them escape!”

But despite their efforts, the wolves fled into the thick underbrush, disappearing into the jungle. Sharan and Nayan cursed under their breath.

Aaryan, barely conscious and still lying on the ground, heard their shouting. His vision blurred, and he could only hope that, somehow, the attack had bought them enough time for a retreat.

"These damn beasts... we were so close!" Nayan snarled, Then he turned towards Aaryan fuming he asked “how dare you touch are things?”

Just then, a voice rang out. "Don’t lay a hand on him!" Three of the villagers stepped forward, standing between Aaryan and Nayan’s advancing fury.

“You may be leaders, but you will not treat Aaryan like this. He saved us," one of the men declared. His voice was firm, and there was a new sense of resolve in his eyes.

Nayan’s face twisted with anger, but before he could respond, Aman’s voice cut through the tension. “Enough, Nayan. We’re done here. Let’s head back to camp and tend to the wounded.”

With a snarl, Nayan turned away, signalling the others to follow. Sharan lingered for a moment, his eyes flickering between Aaryan and the retreating villagers. Aaryan, still fighting to stay conscious, wondered what Sharan was thinking.

The villagers carefully carried Aaryan back to camp, their hands gentle but their faces grim. They cleaned his wounds as best as they could before leaving him to rest. Aaryan lay still, his chest aching with each breath.

“Looks like I was lucky. No broken ribs, just bruising,” he thought, closing his eyes to rest.

Back in the leaders' camp, the mood was anything but calm. The six leaders sat in a tense circle, each one seething with frustration.

“I’ll kill him,” Nayan hissed, his eyes flashing with anger. “He’s made a mockery of us. If we don’t deal with him, there’ll be more trouble ahead.”

Sharan’s voice was low and measured. “Don’t worry, Nayan. I already have a plan. We’ll either kill the wolves soon, or we’ll abandon the mission and head back to the village.”

The room fell silent as one of the leaders, eyes narrowed, asked, “What’s your plan?”

Sharan grinned maliciously. “We’ll use the violet mist spheres to incapacitate them. If we can lure the wolves into a confined area, we can take them down.”

“But we only have three spheres,” Nayan pointed out, his voice filled with concern. “And one is damaged. They won’t be enough to knock out all three wolves.”

Sharan’s smile widened. “True. But if someone can lure them into the right spot...”

Nayan’s eyes widened in realization. “You mean...”

“Yes,” Sharan said, his voice dripping with malice. “And if he fails, I am sure we can get at least one of the wolves and meanwhile if he dies, well he can only blame his bad luck…….”

The others laughed, their amusement dark and twisted. The tension in the air grew heavier.

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