The steel-fur wolf’s silver coat glinted under the dappled sunlight filtering through the dense forest canopy. It moved like a predator forged from metal, its eyes blazing yellow as it lunged at Thrax. He braced himself, heels digging into the earth as he intercepted the beast. The impact sent a shockwave through the ground, forcing Aeryn and Lorelai to steady themselves.
“Hold it down if you can!” Lorelai shouted, circling wide to flank the wolf. She knew their odds were slim, even with their combined strength.
“Easier said than done!” Thrax snarled, his muscles straining as he grappled with the wolf. The steel-like fur cut into his forearms as the beast thrashed, its claws raking deep gouges into the earth. “This thing’s stronger than anything we’ve faced!”
Aeryn darted in, her bloodstone rapier glinting. She aimed for the wolf’s vulnerable spots, feinting toward its legs before thrusting for its eyes. The blade glanced off the metallic fur, sparks flying from the contact. She retreated with a hiss, narrowly avoiding the beast’s snapping jaws.
“Even the soft spots aren’t big targets,” she muttered, blood dripping from a shallow cut on her cheek.
The wolf spun on its hind legs, moving with unnatural agility. It lunged for Lorelai, its massive jaws snapping shut just inches from her face as she leapt back. Her violet eyes narrowed, and she delivered a swift kick to its side. The impact did little more than stagger it.
“We’re barely scratching it,” Lorelai said, frustration creeping into her voice. Her hands clenched into fists, faint golden energy flickering around them. She forced the glow to subside. Not yet. She couldn’t reveal herself—not unless there was no other choice.
The wolf’s next attack came like a storm. It surged forward, its claws slashing in wide arcs. Thrax took the brunt of it, his scaled forearms raised to block the strikes. Blood seeped from between his scales, the metallic fur cutting into him like blades.
“Get behind it!” he bellowed, his voice ragged. “I can’t hold this thing forever!”
Aeryn bobbed and weaved with the speed of a phantom, her rapier a blur as she aimed for the creature’s mouth. She timed her strike perfectly, driving the blade into the soft flesh of its gums. The wolf howled in pain, rearing back and swiping at her with a massive paw. She barely managed to roll out of the way, the ground where she had stood torn apart by its claws.
Lorelai took advantage of the distraction, darting in and delivering a powerful punch to the wolf’s side. Her fist crackled with crimson energy, and for a moment, the wolf staggered. But it recovered too quickly, turning its full fury on her. She leapt back, her heart pounding. Thrax roared, slamming his fists into the ground. A surge of blue flames erupted around him, encircling the wolf and driving it back. “It’s no use,” he growled, his breaths coming in heavy bursts. “We need more firepower.”
“No,” Lorelai said, her voice steady but tense. “Not yet. We can handle this—”
A sudden swipe from the wolf sent Thrax flying into a tree. The impact cracked the trunk, and he fell to the ground with a grunt of pain. Aeryn dashed to his side, covering him as the wolf turned its attention back to Lorelai.
Her heart raced as she stared down the beast. They were losing. The others were injured, and the wolf showed no signs of slowing. She could feel the divine power within her straining against her better judgement, "Maybe this type of energy will be more effective."
“Lorelai, now might be the time to stop holding back!” Aeryn called out, her voice sharp with urgency.
Lorelai’s hands trembled. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. When she opened them, they glowed with golden light. “Fine,” she said softly. “I won't hold back any longer.”
She stepped forward, her form radiating a brilliant light. From her back, brilliant snow-white wings unfurled, their feathers shimmering like molten gold. The air around her grew heavy, charged with divine energy. The wolf hesitated, growling as it lowered itself into a defensive stance.
Thrax, groaning as he pushed himself to his feet, stared at her in awe. “No more holding back from me either,” he said as he started to dragonize.
Lorelai didn’t answer. She shot into the air, her wings propelling her upward before she dove at the wolf. Her fists struck like meteors coated in divine magic, each blow radiating golden light. The wolf howled, its metallic fur scorching under the onslaught.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Thrax clenched his fists, a low growl rumbling in his chest. His body began to change, his scales thickening and darkening as his form grew larger. The horns on his head grew thicker and stronger, and his golden eyes burned with a draconic fury. With a roar, he charged back into the fray, his fists making a metallic thud with each strike, the power going through the wolf’s steel fur with newfound strength.
Aeryn watched in amazement, her grip tightening on her rapier. “I didn't realize your human form reduced your power, what a surprise,” she muttered before diving back into the fight, targeting the wolf’s weakened joints.
From the shadows, the cloaked figure watched, his eyes wide with greed and fascination. “An angel and a dragon?” he murmured, his grin widening. “This is better than I could have hoped. The gold they’ll bring me…”
The wolf at this point had accumulated enough damage and was now being overwhelmed, lashed out in desperation. Lorelai and Thrax struck in tandem, their combined might driving the creature to the ground. Aeryn delivered the final blow, her rapier piercing through its skull. The beast collapsed with a heavy thud, the forest falling silent.
Lorelai retracted her wings, the light around her fading as she landed. She looked at Thrax, whose draconic features began to recede. Both were exhausted but standing.
“We did it,” Aeryn said, her voice breathless.
Lorelai nodded, her gaze lingering on the wolf’s body. “Let’s finish up and get out of here.”
The three began working on skinning the wolf after transforming themselves back, it was gruesome work and none of them had ever skinned an animal, but they did the best they could.
"A solid seven out of ten I'd say," Thrax boasted, "Hopefully they give us a fair price for this."
"Yea we deserve it, that was hard. At least I leveled up, what about you two?" Inquired Lorelai who received nods of affirmation from Thrax and Aeryn.
Unseen by them, the cloaked figure slipped deeper into the shadows, his mind racing with plans. His grin never faltered as he disappeared into the forest. “I shall see you three again.”
The walk back to the Adventurers Guild was long, but the trio's spirits were buoyed by the heavy steel-fur wolf hide bundled in Thrax’s arms. The sheer weight of the hide was a testament to the beast they had slain—a dangerous predator that had terrorized the surrounding countryside for weeks. The streets of the town buzzed with life as they entered, the late afternoon sun casting golden hues over cobblestones and rooftops. Lorelai's sharp eyes caught a few curious glances directed at the hide.
Inside the guildhall, the scent of ale and roasted meats greeted them. The din of chatter and laughter softened slightly as the trio stepped up to the counter. Behind it stood the same stern-looking woman with short-cropped hair and a scar that slashed across her cheek, lending her an air of unapproachable authority. Her sharp eyes flicked over the group, lingering briefly on the hide before returning to their faces.
"Well, well," she said, her voice clipped and efficient as Thrax heaved the hide onto the counter. "You have been. That's earned you a bit of respect, name's Bella."
"Hard-earned, and thank you. Though you already had our names." Lorelai said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "What’s it worth?"
Bella's hands moved over the hide, inspecting it for damage. "Not bad work for beginners," she admitted with a curt nod. "Clean enough, no major tears. You’ll be pleased to hear it’s worth five gold pieces each."
Aeryn’s eyes widened. "Five? That’s more than I expected."
Thrax’s grin stretched wide. "I told you it’d be worth it!"
Bella counted out the coins, sliding neat stacks of gold across the counter. "Keep this up, and you’ll be climbing the ranks in no time. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got others to attend to."
The trio retreated to a corner table, pockets heavier and hearts lighter. They recounted their battle over drinks, each exaggerating their role slightly until laughter filled the air. Yet, beneath their camaraderie, a sense of unease lingered. Lorelai’s gaze often flicked to the shadows, a nagging feeling of being watched.
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In a dimly lit room above a nondescript tavern on the outskirts of town, a man lounged at a table strewn with parchments and coins. His leather vest and scarred knuckles marked him as someone who thrived in the lawless underbelly of society. His piercing eyes glinted as he spoke, addressing the hooded figure seated across from him.
"So, they’re new," he said, his tone casual but laced with menace. "Green enough to trust, strong enough to sell. Perfect."
The hooded figure nodded. "The wolf was their job. Nothing to do with us, but it shows they’ve got potential."
The man smirked, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table. "Potential buyers will pay handsomely for ones like them. With an angel and a dragon, we may never have to work again, this is the one job that can't be botched. We’ll wait for the right moment to nab them."
"They’re staying at the guild for now," the hooded figure added. "Timing will be everything."
The man leaned forward, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "Make sure it’s clean. No messes, no loose ends. Since we’ll sell them to the highest bidder make sure nothing happens to them. You said the angel was quite the beauty, if you damage the goods before being sold...well I don't think I need to tell you what will happen."
As the hooded figure slipped out the door, the man leaned back in his chair, a predatory grin spreading across his face. "They’ll never see it coming."
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Back at the guild, Lorelai’s unease grew. She stood by the window, gazing out into the gathering twilight. Something about the day’s events didn’t sit right with her, the way the forest had fallen silent as they left.
"You okay?" Aeryn asked, breaking her thoughts.
Lorelai turned, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just tired."
As night fell over the town, she couldn’t shake the feeling that their victory had come at a greater cost than they realized.