The broth was filling. He hadn’t eaten like that alone often, but he had no need to save any of the food stored here. Anything he didn’t eat or take was going to be someone else's dinner tonight.

He smiled as he heard the door bang, the sound of a scraping claw at it. Instead of running away, he stood and opened the door.

A large, sleek wolf entered the room. Unlike a normal wolf, the fur on this one was a dull silver, with a mane that had almost reflective blue tints to it. This one didn’t attack but jumped slightly, licking his face.

“Down, Ralph,” came the voice from the door as Tim looked and saw Miles there.

“You did come! I was worried that even though you said you would, it wasn’t going to be possible.”

Miles leaned against the door frame, but then stood back up quickly as groans came from it and the wall. “Damn, thought that was fixed.” He started studying the door frame.

“Ignore it, it happened about three days ago during that heavy storm. Something gave out in that wall from the water as something shifted in the roof. It is not my problem anymore. I’m sure someone will be in here the moment we leave. I can feel them watching.”

Miles grinned and looked outside. “Yep, that old man wasn’t going to give up on this place, was he?”

“And he’s welcome to it. I know his own home still hasn’t recovered from the flood that ran through his part of town. They knew better than to build that close to the water.” He finished packing his bowl and spoon, then grabbed his father’s broken knife.

“I keep telling you we could fix that, you know. Soon you could even get a smith up to reforge the blade once you are assigned to a service.”

“Nope, it’s perfect the way it is. I know not to use it,” as Tim slipped it into the back sheath on his belt, “but it is nice to know it’s there.”

Ralph, in the meantime, had found the remains of his breakfast in the pot and was in the process of cleaning it out for the next inhabitants. Tim had both blankets, wrapped tightly in leather straps. He was proud of those, being made of his first solo kill in the wild only last year. He even tanned them correctly, trading others around the pit for the needed supplies and work to properly turn the hide into usable leather. His bow in his hand, the quiver strapped to his thigh was made of part of an old blanket with thin strips of tree bark to stabilize it. His machete slipped into the sheath he had made with the largest piece of the hide. Tired of the blade making noise when he was trying to be quiet.

Everything else of his was wrapped up inside those blankets. Beyond a few supplies, there was a change of clothes. Everything too big or unneeded would be left here.

Tim looked up at the door. “So, you’ve kept it a secret, where are we going today? And you guarantee we will get to the village in time for the awakening.”

Miles smiled as he moved out of the doorway, watching his student leave the house with a look of finality but also relief as he crossed the threshold.

“It’s close by. A scout found the signs of a Dire Wolf just two hours north. It will take us about an hour out of the schedule overall. Don’t worry, I also have a room at the inn, under my name, but you have a new change of clothes there. Tonight, you also don’t have to have identification to order at the bar. So we are going to slaughter a vicious beast, and when our blood is pumping, and we are racing into the city, you are going to get out of those rags and join society.”

“Wow, it’s a little scary that there is one close by. Are you sure it’s still there?” They both started walking north out of the Pit. Several residents had come to the door to watch him leave, and soon, another boy joined them walking north.

“Hey guys.”

Miles looked over, “Hello Cash, so, congratulations on your awakening day, may your core shine.”

“Thank you, Corporal Miles. I got my bag here with everything like they said. My pa said I could go to the city and walk around today. He still remembers the day he went, and it was the last day he saw a clock. He told me I have to go see a clock. He also hoped I could walk with you for protection if you showed up, so that’s why I waited.”

Cash hadn’t been as lucky to have Miles as a mentor the past few years. Miles did try, but Cash’s pa wouldn’t have it. Unless there was a miracle, his pa and all other known members of their family failed to awaken their core during the awakening. And teaching him how to fight would push him outside the village and to a much earlier death was the common belief held by the squatters here.

Tim shook his head. He was being stupid and expecting too much. Even he could end up back here, working for someone with a field for room and board or waiting for a house to be free. Cash was happy, and this was an adventure.

Miles thought before responding, calculating the distances involved, “We can lead you at least an hour north. There is that main hunter track that goes back to the east, which is where you were headed anyway. We can at least protect you until then.”

Tim grimaced a little but tried to hide it. The call of the hunt was stirring, and he had hoped they would start jogging. As much as he knew Miles wouldn’t allow them to miss it, the thought that he would fail because he was too late was now rolling around in his head.

“Much obliged, my pa said you would take care of me. They are all sad to see you go, Tim. Not that you aren’t a nice guy, but Miles here showed up at least once a month and everyone will be sad if he stops.” Cash held a puppy-dog eyed face at them both. It only took them a moment to break out laughing. He smirked knowing he had easily changed the mood.

“Well, we will see. I’m still stationed in this area for at least the next 2 years, so that shouldn’t be a problem for me to show up when I have the leeway.”

“Well, that would be mighty nice of you. I know it might be difficult, but my pa asked if that was the case if you could possibly get a bag of seed, for almost any crop we can raise.” Cash obviously had determined to use this time for the best possible results for the people Tim was hoping to leave behind.

Tim knew he wasn’t responsible for doing this himself. If this day did work as he hoped, he might not be anywhere near here for several years. And then, while there was a possibility that the Baron would pull him into his army, it was equally possible he could be deployed anywhere. Even to the Wall itself, fighting on the frontlines of the beastial waves. Everyone in their community knew how hard life had been and held no malice for someone that got away. “Forget us,” was what most parents told their child on this day in the Pits.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Daydreams of fighting floods of creatures back with magical abilities filled his thoughts until he heard Miles cough.

“Here is where we will split. It’s the largest hunting trail going to town. Just follow it until it ends and don’t take a turn. If you run into a fork in the road, look for this symbol on a tree or rock nearby.” He pointed to a small sigil burned into the tree bark. “That’s the sign for the town of Green Reach. As long as you see these on the side of the trees you pass you are going the right way. If the sign ever appears on the opposite side, you have turned around and need to go back.”

Cash nodded. Tim noted that unlike himself, Cash had never gone out into the wild. He had lived his whole life in their community like so many others. If it wasn’t mandatory and he could be arrested for failing to appear, he would probably never come to town at all.

—

They had traveled around half an hour based on the sun. Tim now had a cloth mask over his eyes as the sun was currently being magnified by the face of Nui. The heat in the area had increased, and his poncho was now bundled up on his back. The enhanced light already gave him a slight burn on his exposed skin.

“Get that poncho back on and pull up the hood. This is going on too long.” Miles skipped under a tree giving them cover from the burning light. The tree above seemed to almost vibrate as its leaves angled to capture the light. What it accomplished was giving them even more shade, so Tim was a fan.

“Here, put this salve on your right shoulder and forehead, those are the only two that will be a problem.” He handed me a small tin of ointment.

Rubbing it on almost immediately removed the slight overcooked burning feeling he had. He grimaced at Miles watching his skin light up and the burns fade away, the power in his body healing itself. “Sorry, I would if I could. While I can close cuts, minor burns are more difficult for me. It would take way too much energy for me to heal you. My body is much easier though and you will be able to do this soon.”

Just as they were bundled up, ready to move on, a howl echoed over the area. “Damn it.” Miles crouched down and made a hand sign to climb the tree. Ralph came slinking out of the wood, trying to stay in the shadows. He was almost invisible within them, his silver and blue coat appearing to change to match up to the shadows.

Miles whistled, and Ralph quickly moved right next to him. Tim could smell the slight tang of copper which indicated he had opened a channel but was waiting.

A large crash occurred somewhere nearby and a yelp. Whatever just howled was huge, and the battle shook a tree in the distance. Tim could easily hear the cracking of a limb or something larger.

Two shadows ran into sight, taking the same path they were currently on. Both were dire wolves, one female and a smaller cub, hanging in its mother’s mouth. A roar more than a growl came from far behind them.

The mother saw Miles ahead, made a decision and just charged forward, increasing her speed. Tim could see the lights under her skin as they moved into her fur. The hairs stiffened, and looked now like a forest of spikes as she barreled directly to Miles below.

Light burst around Ralph and invaded his mouth, nose, and eyes. He could see the lights spread quickly to his skin and muscles. Ralph bulked up quickly, shoulders almost doubling in size, and he could hear the skin cracking as it hardened.

Tim was torn, but this wasn’t the situation that Miles was expecting. He had been taught that unless his own life was in danger to never stop doing the last thing Miles had ordered, which was to stay hidden in the tree.

The female wolf was almost on top of them when her hair shot out, hardened thick like stone, they flew forward. Miles and Ralph split instantly, but because of the hardening, Ralph was unable to fully dodge.

Several small spikes hit Ralph’s shoulder, but all of them bounced off. But the damage was done, the opening the wolf needed was there. The mother ran by without stopping. Now that he could see her back legs they looked like they were on fire from the amount of energy pushed into them.

The wolf’s speed exploded, covering almost twice the distance she had already run in seconds. Miles sat on the ground looking dumbfounded at her. But he quickly rolled back into action as the roar of the larger beast indicated it was almost upon them.

The bleeding wreck of the male dire wolf entering their sight rocked Miles. He had already knocked an arrow and let it fly, not wanting to miss an opportunity again.

At the same time, Tim could see the mist enter the small core on Miles' bracer. As it glowed with power, Ralph once again had light play out on his skin. His form got sleek and streamlined, even more so than normal. Tim lost him quickly after in a shadow and could no longer find him. Even the lights no longer gave his position away.

The beast charged at Miles, who slipped back behind the large trunk of the tree and shot again. This arrow found a mark on a wound in the beast's neck, causing him to stumble as the arrow buried in and hit the bones of the shoulder. The roar of pain was weaker, the next step a limp, and before the beast could move another step, it stopped. There was some kind of intelligence as it looked where the other wolf and cub had run, and instead of attacking, it spun around, facing where it had been running from.

Tim could hear it now that the wolf was quiet. There were heavy footsteps coming, and they weren’t even trying to be quiet. And whatever beast it was, it was heavy.

A paw came out on the path. Tim shuddered as his body felt an irrational fear. Like he was nothing but prey to the thing that was coming out of the woods.

“Run!” shouted Miles as he turned, running in the same direction as the female wolf. “This way! The alpha might buy us some time, but we have to either pass that wolf or find water.”

Tim quickly dropped down to the forest floor, taking off at a run without looking back. Whatever the beast was, there was no roaring or posturing, only a sniffing sound, loud and obvious.

Tim could hear the wolf try to attack, but the liquid tearing sounds behind him made it clear the wolf failed to slow down whatever was behind him. Tim was already scared, and found he was catching up to Miles.

Tim tried to recall what he was just told. The overriding fear from the sound behind him made that difficult. There was now a crunching sound like the beast was eating bone. It didn’t matter as long as they got away.

They both ran for about a minute. At one point, Miles pulled on his shoulder, and they changed directions. A minute later, he saw a small pool with a stream. They had made it to water. Tim was confused for a moment why.

Then he remembered. Demons couldn’t smell you underwater. What was behind them was a demon. Something that shouldn’t be in the area. The Wall had kept them from the lands because all the demons came from the southeast. But this demon came from the north. This demon...

Tim was shocked as a heavy blow knocked him sideways and into a tree. Several ribs broke, and he slumped to the ground. As he looked up, it was into a maw of darkness and teeth.

The skin was black, almost as if it was drawing in light around him and not really a color. But the mouth looked real and the teeth too. The tongue was long and more like a tube. As it approached his face, the tube opened, and it sniffed him around his face and chest.

Tim heard Miles cry something, but he was unable to understand it. The demon raised a clawed arm and tore open his shirt, exposing the leather bag underneath. The tongue reached out and smelled loudly, and small motes of light floated out of the bag and into it. The demon snorted and made a sound deep inside. From his position, he saw the throat open wide and a glowing crystal structure deep inside the middle of the creature, the mouth a ring of teeth starting to descend.

The demon's attack was still a surprise, even more so when the claws hit both the leather bag and his chest. And when they ripped his chest open barely slowing down, he couldn’t even feel the pain, just shock as they tore through his skin and ribs like paper.

His eyes picked up a shadow barreling at the demon from the sky. A burning anger was building in his chest, making him think all he needed to do was stand up, and he could kill this thing. Protect his pack.

And darkness fell over his sight.