Chapter 31

The first wolf fell before it got to me, a third arrow buried deep in its skull. That left the one with the singed fur. Thanks to its dip in the stream, its fur was soggy and wet. Nyle had switched from attacking it, and had thrown a fireball instead towards the cave mouth. It impacted the stone and sent flames flying inside, causing growls and yelps from the wolves that were exiting the cave.

I turned my focus on the approaching wolf, eying the creature cautiously. It’s eyes focused on me as saliva dripped from its mouth, it’s massive teeth stained with blood. Bits of bone marrow clung to its teeth, painting them red. The creature snapped at the air as it moved closer to me. I calmed myself as I appraised it. The creature wasn’t as fast or agile as the jaguar. I could immediately tell that. It’s main weapon seemed to be its mouth, as its paws also lacked the claw the jaguar had. As long as I could keep myself out of its mouth, I’d be fine.

“Come on then,” I goaded as I stepped closer to it. My left arm was in front of me, dagger once again held in a reverse grip, ready to intercept if needed. The wolf’s ears folded back on its head as it snarled once more, a guttural sound that sent shivers down my spine. But I didn’t back down. “Let’s go you mangy mutt.”

The howling wolf at the cave let out another mournful cry. It seemed to spur on the wolf in front of me. Whereas it had been eying me cautiously a moment before, the moment it heard that call it lunged towards me, snapping at my arm.

I brought my scimitar, which I’d been holding down by my left side, upwards in a vertical slash from left to right. The angle, combined with the lunge from the wolf, brought the blade underneath its jaw. The body of the blade cut deep into its throat, causing warm blood to spray me. The wolf yelped, the sound cutting off as its jugular was severed. The weight of its leap continued carrying it forward, and as an added precaution I half hammered, half punched my parrying dagger forward. The blade drove into the wolf’s skull. If it wasn’t dead from my slash, it was definitely dead from that.

Immediately the creature dropped to the ground, unmoving as its blood pooled in the grass at my feet. I took a moment to take in the fallen creature, before additional howls drew my attention. That was one, two down if I counted Lyn’s. That meant there were at least five remaining, if I’d counted the eyes within the cave correctly. And who knew how many were truly in that cave.

“More coming Ash.” Nyle called as a fireball arched over my head. I watched its trajectory, expecting another yelp from the beast. Instead, I watched three approaching wolves, running side by side, spread out before the incendiary projectile could hit them. It burned the grass, leaving a smoldering patch of ash, but did no damage. The wolves picked up speed as they rushed us, and all three turned their focus on me.

“I think you need to work on your aim.” I called up to Nyle as I eyed the creatures. They were continuing to fan out, surrounding me much as we’d tried to surround Hans earlier. Apparently, these wolves understood pack tactics.

“You try throwing a fireball at multiple moving targets.” Nyle called back. I heard a thrum as Lyn released another arrow.

“You boys good with those three?” She asked. “I’m working on the reinforcements and leader.”

“I’m not going to lie,” I said as I scanned the figures before me. The wolf I’d slain had disappeared into my inventory, much as the goblins from the day prior. The blood-soaked grass was the only evidence of its death. “This would probably be easier if I had a shield.”

Nyle and Lyn both laughed at that, and I heard a pair of boots drop behind me.

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“I may not be a shield,” Nyle said, coming to stand beside me. He had his rapier in his right hand, and was holding Lyn’s short sword, like a parrying dagger, in his left. “But I’m sure I can help out a tad.”

“Done being a pyromaniac?” I asked with a chuckle.

“I felt like I was burning through Ryker’s potions a bit too quickly.” He said. We positioned ourselves, shoulder to shoulder as we looked at the three wolves. With the giant stone behind us, they could no longer surround us.

“Shout if you need me,” Lyn said as another arrow soared through the air. “I’ve still got all five of my spells, heal or fireball.”

“Thanks,” Nyle and I called back in unison. The wolves had slowed their approach, the three seeming less eager to strike now that there were two of us. For a moment, both sides sized each other up.

“I’ll let you take lead.” Nyle whispered. We’d trained beside each other for so long, we didn’t need words to share our plans. I knew his actions and reactions like they were my own. If there was anyone, I trusted 100 percent, maybe even more than myself, it was Nyle.

“The grass is slippery when wet,” I said quietly. “Be careful of your footing.” A lesson I’d learned yesterday during my time near the stream. One I knew Nyle hadn’t personally experienced yet.

“Thanks,” he said. Our breathing had slowed, and we were matching each other, breath for breath, as our bodies tensed, preparing for our next move. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“No worries. If you fell right now, it’d really put me in a tough spot.” I eyed the wolves. I had no doubt Nyle could take one by himself. I could as well. The trick was taking two down fast enough that the third couldn’t cause us problems. Of course, we could try to rush one together, but that plan would be less effective. In battles like this, the opening move was the only one you could rely on to execute perfectly.

No plan survives first contact. Commander Phyr’s voice was in my mind. Plan for everything to go to shite, and you’ll live long enough to adapt and react.

“Lucky for you then,” Nyle said with a chuckle. His shoulder, the way he shifted slightly, told me he’d moved his footing, preparing to launch the attack. “I’ve no intention of dying today.”

At that, we both dashed forward, rushing the wolves on either side of us, ignoring the one that was positioned in the center of the three. I couldn’t see Nyle’s wolf, but I heard it snarl at his approach. My own did the same, but it didn’t matter. I had the initiative on the beast, and I wasn’t going to waste it.

The creature turned broadside, its head to my right now as I slashed, trying to avoid my attack. But I wasn’t planning to hit with my initial strike. With it’s body turned it gave me a larger target. I continued my momentum forward, shifted the angle of my wrist and brought the scimitar back down, tracing another sweeping cut downwards.

As I did I spun, to my left, using the momentum of my swing to rotate my body, my left heel pivoting easily in the soft grass. While I spun I angled my dagger, anticipating the most likely attack from the creature. They seemed intelligent enough to work in packs, meaning I had no doubt the creature would try to take advantage and strike me in the back.

With its side bleeding, the enraged creature growled as its head, just as I’d I thought, lunged towards me. My left arm whipped around, sped along by my spin. I caught the side of the wolf’s head mid lunge, and my dagger plunged to the guard into its head, lodging tightly within. I let the dagger fall as the creature’s weight pulled it down. I didn’t have the time to fight for it, not right now.

Flames sprouted in my left hand instead, and as the creature died, as I turned to focus on the third wolf, I was lobbing a ball of flames at it. Two spheres of fire, one from myself, and one from Nyle, collided with the creature. A pillar of fire burst around it as both fireballs impacted. The wolf dropped to the ground whimpering as the flames burned its matted fur. Nyle and I shared a grin as we approached it. A moment later, the grassy hill was devoid of wolves once more, with only three more bloodstains, and a bit of burnt grass remaining to signal they were ever there.

“Don’t celebrate just yet,” Lyn called from atop her perch. “You’ve got another group coming.”

I had two spells left and no idea how many Nyle had remaining. Either way, with him by my side, I was confident I had nothing to fear from these wolves. I nodded to him, grabbed my dagger off the ground, and readied myself once more.

“Let them come,” I said as Nyle and I took up our stances. “There’s no way they’ll get past us.”

I could feel Nyle’s smile, without even having to see his face.

“If we keep this up,” he said, as another group of wolves, four this time, approached, “I think we may even beat Jaxon’s level by the time we’re done.”

“Let’s make it happen then,” I said, and we threw ourselves once more into the fray.