Vieran stepped in front of Jeff, shielding him from the advancing wolves. His grip on the teapot was firm, and with a quick aim, he fired, striking one of the wolves squarely in the head. The creature dropped instantly, but the others weren’t deterred. Their low growls deepened as they began to close in.
Before the situation could spiral further, Grimclaw swooped in, his wings casting a dark silhouette under the light barrier. Without hesitation, he tossed a lantern to Jeff. Then, with a fierce screech, he plunged his talons into a wolf, lifting it effortlessly before flinging it into another. The impact sent both wolves tumbling, and for a brief moment, the pack hesitated.
"Grimclaw!" Vieran exclaimed.
The wolves shrank back slightly, wary of Grimclaw's presence. But the momentary relief shattered as a larger wolf, its three glowing eyes burning like embers, stepped into the light barrier. Its presence sent a ripple through the pack, and they erupted into a chorus of howls that echoed into the night. Vieran's gut tightened. This was no ordinary wolf—it was a pack leader, and its arrival only meant one thing: they were in serious trouble.
"We have to get out of here," Vieran muttered, his eyes darting toward Grimclaw.
Without warning, Grimclaw seized him by the shoulders and launched into the sky. "Jeff, grab on!" Vieran shouted.
Jeff didn’t hesitate. He jumped and clung tightly to Vieran’s legs as Grimclaw carried them both higher, the cold wind whipping past. Below, the wolves’ howls faded into the distance, their snarls lost in the shadows as the trio made their escape.
Grimclaw's wings beat furiously, each stroke more labored than the last. The weight of two grown men dragged at him, and his grating screeches betrayed his strain. Below, the wolves raced through the streets, their glowing eyes fixed on their airborne prey, their snarls rising like a sinister symphony.
"We're losing height!" Vieran shouted over the wind. He thrust the teapot into Jeff’s trembling hands. "Here—shoot them!"
Jeff hesitated but gripped the teapot, his fingers slick with sweat. He aimed shakily at the pursuing wolves and fired. The first shot missed, shattering against the cobblestone far below. The wolves didn't flinch. Their leader, the three-eyed monstrosity, let out a guttural growl, urging them on.
Suddenly, one of the wolves leapt onto the wall of a crumbling house, its claws scraping against the stone as it launched itself toward them. Its jaws snapped open, and in the next instant, it latched onto Jeff's leg with a bone-jarring thud.
Jeff screamed, his grip on Vieran loosening. "It’s got me!"
"Stay calm!" Vieran barked, his voice cutting through Jeff’s panic. "Shoot it!"
Jeff’s hands trembled violently, his breaths coming in short, ragged gasps. The wolf’s teeth sank deeper into his calf, dark blood staining his pant leg. Desperate, he squeezed the trigger again. This time, the shot hit true. The wolf released a pained yelp and fell, tumbling back into the pack below.
But Grimclaw's strength was fading. His wingbeats faltered, and with a strained cry, he veered toward a nearby rooftop. The landing was rough; talons scraped against the tiled surface, sending loose shingles clattering into the street.
Jeff collapsed, clutching his injured leg, while Vieran scanned their surroundings. The wolves were relentless. They scrambled up the house, their claws gouging into the wood and stone. One by one, they emerged onto the roof, their eyes gleaming with hunger.
The three-eyed wolf climbed last, its towering frame silhouetted against the moonlight. It let out a bone-chilling howl, and the pack closed in, their growls vibrating through the air. Vieran tightened his grip on the teapot, his mind racing for a plan as the wolves encircled them, cutting off any chance to escape.
The cold night air bit at their skin as Vieran dragged Jeff to the center of the rooftop, positioning him away from the snarling wolves. Jeff’s face was pale, his leg bleeding profusely, but he gritted his teeth and shoved the teapot back into Vieran's hands.
"Do your thing," Jeff panted, his voice strained.
Vieran nodded, turning just as the first wolf lunged. He aimed and fired, the teapot's blast tearing through the beast's skull. Another wolf leapt up from the side of the roof, claws scrabbling for purchase. Grimclaw swooped in, his talons raking through its flank, sending it tumbling back into the darkness.
But for every wolf that fell, two more seemed to take its place. The pack was relentless, their glowing eyes flickering like cursed lanterns in the gloom. Vieran fired again, the recoil vibrating up his arm as another wolf crumpled.
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Grimclaw screeched, wings flaring as he slammed into another wolf, tearing it apart with his talons. His dark feathers glistened with blood, but he showed no signs of slowing. Still, the wolves pressed on, their growls deep and guttural.
One of them broke through the defense, darting past Grimclaw and lunging at Vieran. It was fast—too fast. Vieran barely had time to swing. The teapot connected with a dull thud, sending the wolf staggering. Without missing a beat, Vieran pulled the trigger, the shot blasting the beast off the rooftop.
Then, everything stopped.
The wolves stilled, their growls fading into uneasy silence. Vieran’s heart pounded in his chest as a heavy presence settled over the rooftop. Slowly, the three-eyed wolf climbed into view, its massive form dwarfing the others. Each of its glowing eyes burned with a cold, malevolent intelligence.
The pack lowered their heads as if in reverence, their snarls replaced by a low, unified whine. Even Grimclaw tensed, his wings folding tightly against his body as he fixed his piercing gaze on the leader.
Vieran tightened his grip on the teapot, his knuckles white. The air grew heavy, oppressive, as the three-eyed wolf stepped forward, its claws clicking softly against the tiles.
No one moved. The rooftop was deathly quiet, save for the distant howling wind. They all knew—the real battle had just begun.
The wolves advanced, their claws scraping against the roof tiles, their snarls rumbling like thunder. Vieran gritted his teeth, his hands tightening around the teapot. Grimclaw crouched low, his wings half-spread, ready to lunge. Jeff, pale and trembling, clung to Vieran’s side, his injured leg useless. They were surrounded, with no way out.
Then, out of nowhere, the night erupted with the hiss of arrows slicing through the air. Steel tipped shafts buried themselves into the wolves' flesh, followed by the flash of thrown daggers. The pack recoiled, yelping and growling as they stumbled back, some falling off the rooftop.
From the mist, shadowy figures emerged, their forms barely distinguishable until they stepped into the dim light. They wore patchwork armor, a mismatched collection of leather and chainmail, and their faces were obscured by grim, grotesque masks. The largest of them, clearly the leader, stepped forward, his voice a low growl.
"Looks like you owe us your lives."
Vieran's eyes darted over the newcomers, tension still coiled in his muscles. Then he saw it—a tattoo on the leader’s forearm. A bat flanked by two sickles, inked in crude, dark lines. His breath caught, and his stomach twisted.
The Bloodmaw Reapers.
Memories flashed before his eyes: screams of his people, and the merciless laughter of the bandits as they cut down anyone who resisted. Vieran instinctively backed away, his heart pounding like a drum.
The leader noticed his reaction and chuckled darkly. "Ah, you know who we are. Good. Then you know what happens next." He raised a hand, and the other bandits halted, their weapons gleaming in the faint light. "Kneel, or we’ll finish what the wolves started."
Vieran’s jaw clenched in frustration. His mind raced for a way out, but with Jeff injured and Grimclaw fatigued, they stood no chance against the Reapers. Reluctantly, he lowered himself to one knee, his fists shaking with barely-contained anger.
Jeff hesitated but followed suit, groaning as he knelt beside Vieran. Grimclaw hissed, his talons scraping against the tiles, but he too lowered his head slightly, though his defiance was clear.
The leader grinned beneath his mask, his eyes glinting with satisfaction. He gestured to his men. "Check them. Let’s see what treasures they’re hiding."
A bandit stepped forward, prying the teapot from Vieran's grip. Another pulled the lantern from Jeff’s hands. They inspected the artifacts with greedy eyes, muttering among themselves.
The leader chuckled, his voice dripping with mockery. "This teapot is a magic artifact, huh? The boss will be pleased. Consider yourselves lucky—we'll take this as payment for sparing your miserable lives."
The leader sauntered over to Grimclaw, grabbing him with both hands as if inspecting a peculiar trinket. He held the birdlike beast aloft, his eyes narrowing behind the grotesque mask.
“What do we have here?” he mused, his tone mockingly light. He tilted Grimclaw’s head side to side, making an exaggeratedly curious expression. “A smart Luminous Beast, huh? Following you lot without a contract? Impressive.”
Grimclaw's feathers bristled, his piercing eyes locked on the man.
The leader chuckled, his grip tightening. “I like you, little guy. Name’s Tarek. How about it? You follow me, and I’ll treat you better than these fools ever could. You’ll have everything—meat, shiny trinkets, and power.”
For a moment, Grimclaw remained still. Then, without warning, he let out a furious screech, his talons flaring. In a blur of motion, he twisted free from Tarek’s grasp and lashed out, his claws penetrating through the leader’s left eye.
Tarek stumbled back with a howl of pain, clutching at his bleeding eye. “You little—”
Vieran didn’t wait. Seizing the moment, he slammed his shoulder into the bandit holding the teapot, knocking the man off balance. The teapot tumbled free, and Vieran snatched it up in one fluid motion. His gaze darted to the other bandit, who held the lantern.
Without hesitation, Vieran aimed and fired. The shot connected with a brilliant crack, and the lantern shattered. Light flickered and died, plunging the rooftop into near-total darkness as the protective barrier vanished.
"Grimclaw! Jeff! Now!" Vieran shouted.
Jeff, his face pale but determined, leaped toward Grimclaw, wrapping his arms around the beast's torso. Grimclaw flapped his wings with renewed vigor, and as he lifted off, Vieran grabbed onto Jeff’s uninjured leg. The trio ascended into the darkened sky, leaving the rooftop behind.
Below, chaos erupted.
The Bloodmaw Reapers' screams filled the air, sharp and desperate. "The mist!" one of them shrieked. "It's corrupting us! Help!"
Their voices were soon joined by the guttural snarls of wolves. Though the swirling mist obscured the view, the sound of claws scraping against the rooftop and the feral growls made it clear—the wolves were back, and they were closing in on their prey.
Vieran gritted his teeth, holding on tightly as Grimclaw soared higher. The bandits' screams grew fainter, swallowed by the night, until only the distant howling of wolves remained. They vanished into the darkness, leaving behind nothing but the cursed mist and the horrors it concealed.