Lord Marcus Barden surveyed his men as they huddled together in a small ravine beneath the towering trees. Despite their dishevelled appearance, their eyes held a glint of determination. The past week had been a gruelling test of their courage and strength. After driving the Swine invaders away from the shallow waters, they had faced the formidable leaders of the Wolvegren. The encounter had been tense, as the Wolvegren held an inherent distrust of humans, viewing them as interlopers. However, Marcus had managed to engage in dialogue with Chief Ironfur, relaying vital information and negotiating terms for a temporary alliance.

Marcus knew they were fortunate. The Wolvegren had only agreed to the treaty primarily due to the humans' invaluable contributions during the battle. Without them, the Wolvegren would have surely turned on them.

As an act of goodwill, Marcus's men had cooperated closely with the Wolvegren, not only repelling the Swine but also helping them by removing stones in the riverbed to increase the depth of the waterway. While this had reinforced the Grey Forest's borders, both parties understood that the Swine would seek alternative routes across. So, they had moved together through the forest beside the river searching for similar weak points. All the While a growing feeling of trepidation crept into Marcus’s chest as they moved.

Lord Barden eyed his resting men then sighed, knowing that they couldn’t linger much longer. He would need to order the men to resume their march once more.

The small clearing where they sought refuge was entirely secluded, shielded from the sky by the thick roots of towering trees. Marcus was aware that the massive Wolvegren beasts lay nearby, their presence a mere heartbeat away. After a week in their company, he had learned not to underestimate these slumbering creatures. They possessed the uncanny ability to sleep yet remain vigilant of their surroundings simultaneously—an unsettling natural talent that he attributed to their unique heritage.

Summoning his courage, Marcus turned away from his men and strode northward.

"Sir?" Thomas, his loyal lieutenant, whispered as he walked silently beside him. "Are you going to see him?"

Marcus nodded, acutely aware of the direness of their situation. As he thought of the river her new time was running out. "I've been pondering something," Marcus began, his voice low.

"Yes, sir?"

Marcus grumbled, "The river, where the Swine crossed."

Thomas regarded him with curiosity.

"Did you notice the watermarks on the banks?"

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Thomas contemplated for a moment before responding, "The dark patches?"

Marcus nodded. "The Swine's crossing should’ve been impossible. Since I’m unfamiliar with these lands and the rivers southern end, I must consult with Ironfur to verify something."

As they departed from their secluded sanctuary, the two men found themselves surrounded by the slumbering, towering fur-clad statues. Careful not to make a sound, they tread softly through the leaf litter, scanning the area for the distinctive rusted coat of the Wolvegren leader. Chief Ironfur was easy to spot, as he towered above the rest.

Fortunately, the beast-man was still awake and engaged in conversation with another grey-furred Wolvegren, speaking in hushed tones. Marcus offered a salute, to which the chief responded with low, rumbling sounds—a sign of respect that he had quickly learned.

Having spent some time with these impressive creatures, Marcus had become fascinated by them. Although he had heard many stories during his training, most of the information had been hearsay and second-hand. Now that he was among them, he realized that he could write an entire book about them—their eating habits, sleep patterns, hierarchy, and shared etiquette. They adhered to tradition and possessed an almost religious dedication to protecting the forest.

"Chief Ironfur, may we speak?" Marcus inquired.

The cunning brown eyes of the Wolvegren leader assessed the diminutive man before him with intelligence that rivalled even the most brilliant scholars from Brancourt University.

"Speak," Ironfur replied, his words deliberate.

Greypaw, a loyal Wolvegren, bristled but respected her chief's decision and refrained from interjecting.

"The river," Marcus began, "has it always been so shallow at that point?"

Ironfur took a moment to respond, his gaze suggesting that he had already deciphered Marcus's thoughts. "No, the river's water level has gradually decreased over the past few months."

Marcus's jaw clenched as his suspicions were confirmed. "The river is a natural feature, and within the Northern lands, it has never receded."

Ironfur nodded in agreement.

"That means someone has tampered with the river, diverting its water to lower its level."

Greypaw snarled, "Who would commit such an act? The river is the lifeblood of the land." Her accusatory eyes shifted between the two humans.

Marcus raised his hands innocently. "The freshwater that flows through the mountains is essential for our crops to the north. We would never tamper with such a precious and vital resource. I suspect the tampering has occurred closer to the mountain's mouth."

Ironfur exchanged a glance with his grey-furred companion before turning back to Marcus.

"The Swine must have found a passage through the mountains," Marcus concluded.

Ironfur nodded in agreement. "I fear they have. If they have diverted the water, the underground caves at the mountain's mouth could provide the Swine with access to the north."

Greypaw roared in anger, "Sniveling pigs! Do they have no respect for the land?"

The towering Wolvegren slumbering around them shifted uneasily.

"The river," Ironfur spoke, "if left unchecked..."

"...will soon run dry," Marcus finished.

Greypaw growled at Marcus, who worried he had overstepped by interpreting the chief's thoughts.

Ironfur calmed his subordinate with a wave of his massive paw. "Human, you will guide us to this mountain's mouth."

Greypaw flinched and shot a confused look towards Ironfur. "Chieftain?"

Ironfur nodded, firm in his decision. "We, the Wolvegren, will venture beyond the forest and into the realm of men."