In a rare surge of courage, the hunter threw himself into the fray, stabbing the weapon towards the scared beast, and already regretting doing so. The attack landed awkwardly at the distracted beast’s leg, which howled in pain. Rick quickly retrieved the spear for fear of losing it like in the boar’s fight, and by doing so, he thankfully avoided the counterattack.

Without thinking, the hunter attacked the confused beast again, but this time the spear only scratched the wolf’s fur. The wind beast had been pressed between running and biting back the attacker, but after being wounded, it leaned towards attacking Rick.

The panting hunter didn’t have time to reposition the spear for another attack before the beast jumped to bite him. Fortunately, his reflexes were fast enough to power a blocking move with the other side of the spear. So, he managed to push the attacking wolf back. If wasn’t for the beast’s light body and weakened state he wouldn’t be strong enough to do so.

Facing the grinning wolf, Rick walked around holding the spear firmly, ready to attack. The wolf initiated another attack, but gave up midway; the fire burning behind the hunter’s newest position had dissuaded it. But Rick wouldn’t waste this chance, he stabbed forward and hit the retreating wolf in the neck.

The beast howled again and tried to run back. It had recognized the hunter’s strength and decided to escape. The only available option was the shelter. By instinct, the wolf knew it wasn’t a good idea to run to a closed place, but it no longer had an option. But unfortunately for the beast, Rick was already on it. After being stabbed on its back, the beast dropped down wailing. It was over.

***

Iris was focusing all her attention on reaching for the stacked lines of grass. The fire cantrip was easy and not costly energy-wise, but the distance was a challenge. Once she reached it, only a flick of fingers and a word of power would be needed to ignite the target.

When the hunter read about the fire weakness of their target, the group put their brains together to find a way to use it. Right then, the bookstore owner barged in and offered a solution. The flammable grass was something people had to pay attention to in the dry season. The combination of grass and lightning would be enough to set fire to a big area, especially forests. Coincidently, Anne had seen a lot of it on the roadside between the town and the store.

Their plan had been simple but solid. Stack the grass to form a grid, attract the wolves, set it on fire, and engage the beasts that remain inside the grid one by one. Naturally, they didn’t plan to trap all wolves. A couple would do. Unfortunately, they had to set the trap a little far from the beasts and then attract them with bait. The poor Rick almost got ripped before she could cast the fire. The wolf that was on him even passed through the last fire line, thankfully, it didn’t seem much interested in attacking the hunter after the fire was ignited.

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Therefore, the plan continued as they agreed. Cyrus moved in to attack the closer of three wolves that had been caught alone. The warrior easily crossed the fire line with a sword at hand. Honestly, the beasts were just too scared to notice how low and weak the fire line actually was.

It didn’t engage Cyrus at first, it only tried to stay away from him. But when the warrior got close, the beast was forced to attack. As usual, the dumb man had to receive a wound to his arm before fighting seriously and hurting back the wolf. Iris stopped breathing once she saw it, but calmed herself when he slashed the beast.

One wolf seemed to have escaped towards her, but she continued her task attentively. Hakon was around her, holding stones and a knife in case anything happened. The foxkin healer wasn’t much of a fighter, but he wouldn’t fault them. Worst case scenario, she would throw her secret last defense, an acid potion, at the beast and attack it with the fire cantrip.

Another wolf was getting very close to the fire line that was imprisoning it. She couldn’t help it, the grass there was almost burned through. Then, she saw something unexpected. The hunter braved past the dying fire and approached the wolf. The beast grinned, ready to bite him, but the boy didn’t wait for an attack quietly. He threw forth a small rope net while jumping sideways to avoid an attack. The flying wolf bit through the net but failed to tear it before falling, tangled in the rope trap.

The mage was so shocked, that she forgot to re-ignite a line of dying fire. Once she realized the amateur mistake, she cursed herself and returned her attention to the task at hand. Yet, the trapped beast wouldn’t wait for it; as soon as the fire died down, it launched a desperate escape past it. Fortunately, Cyrus was already prepared for it with a slashing sword. In a stroke of luck, the warrior took down the wolf with a single attack.

The goofy smiling warrior turned to Iris and joked:

“Hey, Iris. You seemed to be a little out of your game today. Thank the Gods, I was here to save the day…”

The girl could only blame herself for giving him the chance.

***

Anne was busing herself with the bookstore shores, restoring books, taking notes, and cataloging her inventory, when she heard someone coming in. She left the storage room and found the adventurers and Rick with merry expressions. The hunter was a little roughed up, and Cyrus had a bandaged arm, but overall, they looked fine. Good, they had been successful. Though it wouldn’t affect her directly, she was happy for them.

“Miss, there’s something outside that we need your help with…” The hunter said embarrassedly after exchanging some greetings.

The bookmancer couldn’t help but raise her eyebrow inquisitively. The situation seemed somehow odd, but she still nodded kindly and followed. Upon exiting the store, she saw, amongst other materials, large pieces of meat hanging on a makeshift wooden rope dryer. Sure enough, they had a successful hunt. But then, her sight moved on to a struggling beast entwined on a rope net. They had caught a living creature.

“Can you help us with it? I mean, do you know a safe way to keep it bound? We threatened it, kick it, we even dropped water on it, but it doesn’t stay quiet. It’s much more valuable alive and healthy, so I don’t wanna risk hurting it. But I’m afraid that if it stays like this, it’ll manage to escape…” He asked. They thought the storeowner might know some way to keep it sleeping or dizzy.

“Hum, I see… But instead of selling it, why don’t you keep it?” She said with a straight face.

“What?” Everyone was stupefied by the suggestion.