The days after the hive had changed the pups were one of silent confusion. The hive had changed all 5 of the wolf pups into wolf-human hybrids but the hive had no idea what to do with them. Even if the spirits within the hive managed to come to an agreement, there was no way for the hive to communicate with the hybrids. So the hive decided to just let the hybrids be.

Unfortunately, the hybrids themselves looked like they had no idea what to do. All they did was lazed around on the third level near the hive. Then one day, one of the hybrids got bored and went up to the second level. The next day, the rest of the hybrids went up to join it. The day after that, the group went up to the first level and out of the tunnels.

For the first time in quite a long time, the hive was alone. With no wolves, no humans, and no pups, the hive decided to return to what it does best. It returned to digging. This time however the hive did not have to worry about energy. The hive knew it could feed from the surrounding anytime it wanted so the earth spirits within the hive went wild.

Unlike the first two levels where the tunnels were in a straight line, the tunnels in the third level became a twisting maze with the tunnels looping back to intersect with each other at several locations. At these intersections, the earth spirits built a room. There were no reason for this, the earth spirits just wanted to have fun and since energy was no longer an issue, the rest of the hive decided to just let the earth spirits enjoy themselves.

The basic daily rhythm of the hive for the next few days went something like this. The hive would dig till it ran low on energy. Then it would start feeding from the surroundings. The moment the hive heard a spirit screaming, it knew it had fed enough and the earth spirits would continue digging. It was nice pleasant peaceful days.

During this time, the pups came back. When they came down to the third level, the pups found the whole level changed beyond recognition and began to explore. The hive got a kick out of the way the pups went around in circles before finally finding the hive at the end of the level. As a reward for finding it, the earth spirits within the hive decided to create a big room at the spot where the pups found it.

The 5 hybrids stood and watched as the room got created around them. The room was bigger than any the hive had made before and the hive got a high level of energy from the hybrids. The energy was different from anything the hive had before. There was no fear, no death; instead there were feelings of awe and inspiration. It was a good change.

The hybrids rested for a few days inside the big room before leaving the hive again. This pattern became the norm. The pups would rest with the hive for a few days and then leave. The hive didn’t think much of the situation. It had no control over the pups and for most of the spirits within the hive, they didn’t care what the pups did with their time. Sure, there were times when the hive half-wondered about why sometimes the hybrids came back caked in blood belonging to others but for the most part, the hive didn’t think much of it. For the hive, what the hybrids did was not a priority.

Unlike the wolves or the humans, the hive had found that they could not gather energy passively from the hybrids. When the hybrids got strong feelings, the hive could gather the energy like normal but it could not gather just by the hybrids’ presence. The hive believed this was due to the fact the hybrids were made by the hive. This didn’t quite explain why the hive could gather energy when the hybrids had strong feelings but again, this was not a question the hive wasted time on. The hive was strong, safe and full of energy. It had nothing to fear so whether the hybrids wanted to stay longer in the tunnel or run along outside was for the hive, none of it’s concern.

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It was wrong.

Danger came again one day when a group of humans arrived. Unlike the previous humans the hive faced, this group of humans arrived riding on creatures. They dismounted and tied the creatures outside the entrance of the tunnels before coming in. Strangely, to the hive it seems like this group of humans knew the tunnel was there.

There were 5 of them and they reminded the hive a lot of Boss and his group. Much like Boss’ group; this group of human came into the tunnel in a tight formation. By now, the hive could basically understand the roles of the humans based on the weapons they were carrying. The two humans in front were warriors; the human with the bow was a hunter; and one of the humans at the back was a mage. There was one other human in the group who was carrying a big bag and standing between the hunter and the mage. That human was carrying an extremely small blade that was smaller and shorter than a short sword. He was something new but the hive wasn’t worried.

The group went through the tunnel much faster than Boss’ group and before long they were just before the third room where You-Who-Are-Not-Bear was stationed. Before they came into the room, the human with the big bag handed several bottles to the other humans. The hive had absorbed bottles and bags before from other humans but this was the first time it ever saw what they were used for. The hive understood from the knowledge it gained what the items were for but there was a difference between knowing something and seeing it in action. The bottles were stored in the bag and the humans drank whatever was stored within the bottles. To the hive, it was an ingenious way to store water. The few water spirits within the hive was seriously impressed and began discussing between them how they could use this new piece of knowledge. The rest of the hive ignored the water spirits and watched the humans.

After drinking whatever was in the bottles, the group went into the room…and waited. They didn’t have to wait long. From the wall furthest from the group, the energy gathered and You-Who-Are-Not-Bear appeared out from the wall. One of the humans whistled and the hive gained energy from the surprise of the humans. Then one of the warriors said something that surprised the hive too.

“It’s red! Boss, I thought Brand said the spirit bear was green?” The hive quickly looked at the humans in the tunnel. No; none of them was Boss. However the mage of the group answered the warrior without pause.

“It’s still a spirit bear, doesn’t matter whether it was made with Stamina or Rage. Remember our mission! We’re here to clear this den of monstrosity. Let’s just kill it!”

The hive noticed the confidence of this group of humans and how different they were compared to Boss' group. Not only did they knew You-Who-Are-Not-Bear was going to be in the room, they were prepared to face it. For the first time since noticing the group, the hive was afraid.

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