When Devon saw me, he casually held up a thin wooden sheet. I couldn't help but stare at it as I got within conversational range.

"What's wi-" I tried.

He snapped his arms out so fast I barely registered the movement before the gust hit my face. It stole my breath away, and I lowered my hand as another two flaps of Devon's arms pushed my hood back.

"Devon. What the heck?!"

I braced myself, waiting for another gust, but as none came, I slowly lowered my arms and glared. Devon had tossed the sheet aside and I found him standing next to Alice, who failed to hide her smile.

"I won't comment on your fight. But, you collected too much ash," he explained.

I searched my clothes and found that while my black hoodie was stained white, much of the surface dirt was gone.

Oh. That's okay. I guess.

"Thank you," I said. "Is... That everything? Are we done?"

"We are. I searched the area for clues, but whoever did this cleaned up after themselves."

"Did I get them all?"

He nodded.

Exhaling slowly, I closed my eyes and felt a weight lift from my shoulders. Even the annoying hunger that usually clawed at my insides behaved itself. I felt it, but it didn't press, allowing me to deal with the moment.

"I guess we head back to the caravan then. I'm sure they're worried."

Devon led us toward the village gate, the village feeling almost empty now that the lumps were gone. Combined with the rotted buildings and nearly invisible ground, it made the place look abandoned, like a forest after a wildfire.

We exited out of the gate and began heading down the road. Footprints and cleared pathways where the corpses had rushed toward the village could be seen against the field of white.

Turning to Alice, I gently nudged her arm. "Hey, how many threads were there? Were there more souls?"

"Four. Only one soul per thread. They weren't children, only adults," she explained.

"Is there anything significant about the number of threads?"

"Each direction. The children in the middle," Devon answered before Alice could.

"I'm guessing some rituals require that?"

"Some of the more annoying ones require specific parameters to work. We rarely resort to such measures, and you'll find yourself lacking in most of those kind of ritual's requirements when on a hunt."

After answering, I kept silent; the other two weren't much for casual conversation. For a time, I let myself simply breathe; to focus on the steps ahead of me. The anger slowly receded, leaving behind the simmering boil that settled in my gut.

Devon suddenly stopped, and I reached for my axe.

Without needing to be told, I sniffed the air and sniffed again. Turning slowly, I scanned the tree line and paused when I saw a bundle of bright orange fur. His ears were down, and his head was lowered to the point of nearly touching the dirt.

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Devon stayed where he was, but I removed my hand from my axe and approached the edge of the road.

"White-paw? Why are you here?"

Slowly, as if each step had to be mentally taken before his body could react, he stepped closer. His stopped within ten feet, and he raised his head to meet mine.

"Hunter... I watched," he spoke, his words hesitant.

"And?"

His tail swished behind him, and he looked away. "Strong. Fast. Stronger than I."

"Thanks."

He wants something. But what?

White-paw glanced back toward the woods, and his eyes constricted to fine points. His lips pulled back into a snarl that quickly disappeared as he glanced back toward me.

"I… Request. Request for hunter."

Knowing the others could hear the fox just fine, I looked back toward Devon. His eyes flickered between the road and the fox before he nodded.

"What exactly do you want?"

White-paw lowered to the ground and raised his head, exposing his neck wide open. "My kits, held hostage. Another, a big wolf, he demands food, or he'll eat them. I have hunted and hunted. There is no more prey! Please… Hunt the wolf."

White ash dusted the bright orange fur, covering its luster. The fox looked pathetic and scrawny, with his ribcage jutting out. Past the coat, the beast really was all skin and bones. And with his belly low he could have easily been mistaken for another lump; another corpse.

"How long has it been?" I asked as calmly as possible.

"Many moons. My kits starve, as do I. The wolf fattens himself but is never full."

I felt the weight of Devon's stare boring into the back of my head.

White-paw pushed his nose even further, exposing his belly to the air.

Screaming children bounced together off a string in my mind. The child-like corpses desperately clawed at my legs with arms too weak to harm me. Memory after memory of the last hour kept playing over and over again until I burned it away in an explosion of hot mana.

"How far away do you need me to go?"

White-paw froze and focused one bright eye my way. "Not far. Across the river."

I raised my head and ran my fingers through my hair, staring at the white bangs that dropped down.

Screw it.

"Devon. I'll rejoin you when I'm done."

"Do you need me to go with you?" Alice called out.

I shook my head. There was a pause, and I waited for Devon's answer. Eventually I heard him sigh and begin walking.

"Don't take too long. Send Freki if you need help," Devon ordered.

I watched White-paw as the other hunters left. When their footsteps were far enough away, White-paw slowly rolled over and pushed up from his front legs. As he did, I noticed the twitch in his movements and the slight recoil around his stomach.

Snorting hot air, I stepped aside as Freki rose from my shadow. White-paw's eyes narrowed, and he moved back, but I held out a hand to stop him.

"If you direct us, we'll get there faster. I promise."

White-paw hesitated, his eyes darting to the side as if looking for an escape.

Freki pushed his nose against my chest, and I rubbed his head. He then lowered his head to White-paw's and sniffed before turning away and lowering himself to the ground. Under the fox's frantic staring, I hopped on and then held out my hand.

"My name is Cain. You already trusted me much; don't back out on me now."

White-paw moved closer at a snail's pace, but I snatched him by the neck and hauled him up when he did. He yipped and tried to move, but I quickly held him to my chest and forced him to stop.

"Cut it out," I commanded. He did, and I released him, positioning him just at the base of Freki's neck. "Let's go free your children."

He whimpered and shook atop Freki's back, but I held a steadying arm around his sides while gripping Freki's cold fur between my fingers. I pushed mana from my core down my arms and across my hand, where the heat stole away the shadow's bite.

Freki rose, and I couldn't fight the feeling of excitement and joy blossoming inside my chest.

I get to ride a friggin dire wolf. This is awesome.

Freki started to move. As he neared the trees, he started to speed up, into a trot and finally a run. The wind whistled against my ears, and I lowered my head forward, leaning closer to Freki's neck.

White-paw clawed into my hand and arms, but I couldn't care. A burst of excitement formed in my chest and crawled up my throat.

"Wooooooooooooh!"

I felt my blood sing with every pump as I howled a second time.

Even if my body rocked with the sharp turns and I nearly bit my tongue off as Freki leaped over tall roots, for a moment, my mind escaped the misery of thoughts plaguing it.

And as we neared the new target of the hunt, I let the world brighten before me and bared my fangs.

It felt good to feel alive.