The midday sun filtered through the clouds over Bjornfell, casting faint shadows on the dirt road that wound through the village center. The air smelled of smoke from nearby chimneys, mingled with the earthy scent of wet wood and stone. Villagers moved about their day, some hauling goods, others chatting in clusters. Most gave curious glances to the three strangers standing before the weathered notice board, their mismatched appearances drawing attention.

"Let's hold off on any more information gathering and go check the notice board for any jobs that need to be done," Kaia said.

"Ooh, you have ye olde notice for quests? John said with excitement.

John squinted at the curling pieces of paper nailed to the wooden board. “Alright,” he said with curiosity. “Let’s see what the local equivalent of a fetch quest looks like.”

Kaia moved closer, her eyes scanning the faded ink on the notices. “Goblin bounty... wolf den problem... strange lights in the forest.” She frowned and tapped one of the papers. “This one’s been up for weeks.”

Thorin crossed his arms, the leather of his bracers creaking. “There’s a reason for that. No one’s fool enough to go chasing lights in the woods. Could be wisps—or worse.”

John snorted. “Wisps? Ooh, spooky glowing lights. What do they do, make you take a wrong turn?”

Kaia shot him a withering look. “No. They burn your soul out through your eyes.”

John blinked, his smirk vanishing. “Oh. That’s... cheerful.”

Kaia pulled down another notice, its edges frayed. “This one,” she said, her tone firm. “A boy’s missing. We’re doing it.”

John raised a hand in mock protest. “Do wolves often kidnap children here? I am not walking into some Texas Chainsaw Massacre bullshit here”

Kaia’s eyes narrowed. “A child’s life is at stake.”

Thorin clapped a heavy hand on John’s shoulder, his grip firm. “You’ll survive. You’ve got a healer, remember?”

John sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Fine. Let’s go rescue Timmy from the Cujo.”

Kaia tilted her head, her brow furrowing. “Who’s Cujo?”

John grinned. “a bloodthirsty murder dog”

As they began walking out of town, John's thoughts turned to his son. Would he ever see him again? How must these parents feel? He couldn't imagine not going and saving his son. Waiting for someone to take down a notice to go and save him is not something John could do. At the mention of a boy missing he wanted to help, what parent wouldn't, but he didn't know if a den with the gory remains of a child was something he could handle.

***

The trail leading out of Bjornfell was narrow and overgrown, the forest encroaching on either side. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, dappling the ground with shifting patches of light. The air was cooler here, carrying the faint scent of pine and damp earth. Birds chirped overhead, their calls occasionally drowned out by the distant rustle of leaves.

Thorin walked ahead, his axe resting on his shoulder. Kaia followed close behind, her staff tapping softly against the dirt. John lingered at the back, his knife in hand, his eyes darting to every shadow.

“This is how it starts,” John muttered. “The guy at the back gets eaten first. Classic horror setup.”

“Stop talking nonsense,” Thorin growled without looking back.

Kaia glanced over her shoulder. “The boy went missing here yesterday. His father said he plays near the old well.”

John rolled his eyes. “Of course he does. Creepy wells are kid magnets.”

They reached the clearing a few minutes later. The well stood in the center, its stones cracked and covered in moss. Weeds crept up its sides, and the wooden cover lay half-rotted beside it. Kaia approached, her gaze sweeping the area.

“Alright,” John said, scanning the treeline. “Where’s the pack of wolves ready to ambush us?”

Kaia knelt by the well, running her hand along the mossy stones. “He’s not here... but something was.” She brushed aside dirt, revealing faint tracks in the mud leading deeper into the forest.

Thorin crouched beside her. “Wolf prints. At least half a dozen. And They were dragging something”

John groaned, rubbing his face. “Have they called the father with their ransom demands yet?”

Kaia rose, gripping her staff tightly. “We don’t have time. Let’s move.”

***

The tracks led to a rocky outcropping deep in the woods, where a shallow cave mouth gaped like a wound in the earth. The air around the den felt heavier, the chirping of birds replaced by an eerie silence. John stopped a few feet from the entrance, his dagger tight in his grip.

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“I swear,” he whispered, “If this kid is dead I'm starting a nonprofit group for the exterminating wolves…”

A low growl echoed from the darkness, and Thorin raised his axe, signaling for silence. Kaia pulled a small crystal from her pouch, its soft blue glow illuminating her determined expression.

“I can blind them for a moment,” she said in a hushed tone, “but we’ll have to act fast.”

Thorin nodded, stepping forward. “We go in together. Stay close.”

John sighed, adjusting his grip on the dagger. “Come on be alive kid.”

Inside the cave, the growling grew louder. Shadows shifted as the crystal’s glow revealed three wolves circling near the back of the den. A larger alpha wolf stood behind them, its eyes gleaming with predatory intelligence.

The fight erupted in a flurry of snarls and steel. Thorin charged ahead, his axe swinging in wide arcs, drawing the wolves’ attention. Kaia stood behind him, her crystal flashing bright as a pulse of light disoriented the pack. John darted to the side, landing quick strikes with his dagger but barely avoiding the snapping jaws of one wolf.

One of the wolves lunged at Kaia, its teeth bared. She stumbled back, raising her staff in defense, but the force of the attack knocked her off balance. John dived between them, getting bit in the arm as he drove his dagger into the wolf’s side.

Kaia was about to heal John when we stopped her. "Save up those heals, Thorin is still dealing with those two and the big bad is still sitting back there waiting"

The wolf John had stabbed was now down yet and slowly circled John.

Thorin roared, bringing his axe down and again missing. The Wolves were too fast for Thorin. He was taking numerous bites and slashes from their claws which was little more than a nuisance.

John suddenly kicked his boot out driving into the wolf's muzzle. As it howled in pain he went in with his dagger and finished it off.

Seeing their packmate explode into light the wolves Thorin was fighting became distracted. Thorin was finally able to land a blow and cleaved a huge chunk out of the creature. At that moment John hit the other wolf with a critical strike from behind killing it instantly.

With the last wolf gravely injured Thorin decapitated it ending its misery.

As the last motes of light vanished from sight leaving the floor with no trace of the battle The Alpha Wolf Stood.

"Is it just me or does he look pissed," John asked

The massive wolf charged straight at John, At the last second Thorin slammed his shoulder into the beast and sent it skidding. Pounding his chest Thorin bellowed a cry of rage. Enfuriated the Alpha came at him.

John rolled out of the way of the charging monster. It unleashed a volley of slashes on the big fighter. Unlike the smaller wolves, Thorin began to take serious damage.

With a deep booming laugh, Thorin said " Now this is a fight!"

The Alpha wolf had no right to be so fast with its massive size but it was. Running in to bite and claw then darting away from Thorin's Axe. John was mesmerized by their fight and forgot he needed to be helping.

"Oh right I need to go stabby stab," John said aloud.

Sneaking behind the giant wolf that could mangle him without breaking a sweat, John thrust out with a backstab landing a blow on its hindquarters. And having no effect. The Alpha ignored him completely. Thorin's enrage doing its job.

"Alright time to go slice a matic on his ass," John thought.

His knife became a whirlwind slashing the wolf over and over mangling the legs of the wolf. Finally, it noticed Johns attacks and spun around battling John with its paw sending him sprawling across the floor.

That distraction was all Thorin needed. Bringing his axe down into the wolf's back. It spun around ripping the axe from Thorin's hands and biting down on his wrist. Thorin began to punch it in the head as it bit ever harder.

John Leaped through the air knife held with both hands above his head yelling " Yippee Kaiya motherfucker"

Landing on the gigantic wolf's back he drove the blade into its brain ending its life. As it dissolved John fell to the ground. laying there and panting he said "This reminds me of CrossFit. When I get home I'm opening a gym and just sending people here and taking their money."

The den fell silent, save for the ragged breaths of the group. Deeper in the cave, a small figure emerged, trembling but unharmed. The boy clung to the wall, his face streaked with tears.

***

The sun hung low in the sky as the group trudged back to Bjornfell. Kaia walked beside the boy, her hand on his shoulder as she spoke softly to him. Thorin carried the alpha’s pelt over one shoulder, his axe still stained with blood. John lagged behind, cradling his poorly bandaged arm.

“Next time,” John said, wincing, “can we pick a job that doesn’t involve me getting mauled?”

Kaia smirked. “We saved a boy that's all that matters. Besides I offered to heal that up and you said you wanted to train your bandage skill.” As she eyed the bandaged arm that looked like a toddler did it.

Thorin was carrying the child, He was healed and given food and water but he had not said anything. He just stared wide-eyed off into the distance.

John shared his thoughts with his companions " I don't know what weird world gets kids kidnapped by wolves and not eaten immediately but I'm relieved we could save him."

"The Gods certainly watched over this little one," Thorin said.

"Praise be to the twelve," Kaia said and Thorin repeated it.

'More like praise be to the eleven. Fuck that clown shoes Caelix" John said

This blatant blasphemy brought the boy out of his shock

"You blaspheme against the Gods? the boy said

"It's kind of...Oh yeah. Sorry. I've met him, Caelix, and he brought me into this world. I'm John and I'm Adventurer" said John

The boy's eyes light up at the mention of John being an adventurer. He asked John a thousand questions on the way back to the village. John answered them all with a smile on his face.

***

As they entered the village, the boy’s mother ran to meet them, tears streaming down her face. She scooped the child into her arms with tears streaming down her face.

"How can I ever thank you enough? I was sure I'd never see my boy's beautiful face again" the mother said between sobs.

"Mom come on you're embarrassing me," The boy said.

Pulling herself away she pressed a tiny pouch towards John. "Here, it's all I have but I want you to have it," She said.

Looking at the money pouch John shook his head. "No, I will certainly not be taking for money Maam. I have kids I completely understand how you must have felt. Besides all the wolves give me money when I kill them"

The woman gave John a curious look and put the money back and putting the pouch back on her side she turned to walk away. As she turned John's hand flashed out to her before returning to his pocket.

When she was away Kaia asked with a stern expression " What did you do?

"You remember that weaponsmith that was a dick?" He said

"Yes," Kaia said with confusion as to what that had to do with anything.

"Well, I pickpocketed that asshole and got 3 gold coins from him. I think she could use it more than me" John said with a laugh.

Shaking her head Kaia just started walking off.

Thorin chuckled. “You are quite the character John Bradford.”

John held up a silver coin, frowning. “Why do wolves drop money, anyway? Are they mugging travelers in their spare time?”

Kaia shrugged. “Animals sometimes swallow coins.”

John blinked. “Right. Sure. Let’s pretend that makes sense.”

As the villagers dispersed, the group made their way to the inn, the weight of the day settling over them. For a brief moment, despite the aches and bruises, they felt like a team.