Caleb never took his eyes from the window, keeping an eye on Lysander's pack. The night took a toll on us; we were exhausted and forced to stay away from town. A couple of hours had passed, when Audrey, still flipping the pages of the old book, came across an illustration that caught her attention.

"I think, I found how to kill the Demon Wolf. It says here, the demon can't stand the shine of mother's blood, that burns through its flesh."

Intrigued, I leaned in to examine the drawing more closely. "The shine of Mother's blood? Do you mean Mother... as in Mother Nature?"

"I believe that's the most accurate interpretation. This book dates back hundreds of years. Back then, tribes commonly referred to the earth itself as the mother of all. So, 'Mother's blood' could be a metaphor for something naturally occurring on the earth, something that has the power to harm the demon wolf."

"I've heard about this from my mother. My uncle was a skilled blacksmith, and she often mentioned that men defiled the earth by extracting her blood." Phillip said.

"Could they be referring to iron?" Caleb asked.

Phillip faced Caleb, considering his suggestion. "Actually, I think they're talking about silver. Bernard's brother is Bortoli's blacksmith; he would likely know more about it. Let's hope he decided to evacuate with the townspeople and not run away like some merchants did."

"He accompanied our people to the caves northeast of Bortoli for shelter. Arland's wagon is with them, and I am certain some of the valuables on those coffers are made out of silver. If we could convince Bernard's brother to help us, we might have a chance against that pack of wolves."

"What's your plan, Randall?" Audrey asked.

"If silver is the key to defeating these wolves, then our best bet is to persuade Bernard to assist us. His brother is the only skilled blacksmith around, who can forge the weapons and arrow tips we'll need to get rid of this pack."

"What about the wolves roaming outside?" Phillip asked.

"The full moon is not as powerful as it was last night," Caleb said, responding to Phillip's question. "They're confused and looks like the demon wolf has no interest in picking up his strays. You can leave them to me. I'll make sure you are not followed."

"Thank you. We are tired and exhausted, but we must not waste any time."

Caleb nodded in agreement, "I think your plan could work."

"Phillip and I will ride towards the caves and look for Bernard and his brother."

"What should I do while you're away?" Audrey asked.

"Your insights about the curse affecting my brother have been invaluable to me, but it's too dangerous for you to come with us. Unless you are exceptionally good with any weapon, I will suggest you stay with your brother out of the wolf's reach. I couldn't bear the thought of you turning into a vicious beast and forcing me to drive my sword through your heart."

"I will keep her safe, you don't have to worry about us," Caleb added.

"I can't ask anything else from you two; I'm grateful for the help you both provided. But this situation it's something I inadvertently caused by bringing Lysander into our lives. We knew about his curse, and we kept it a secret for decades. I have no regrets. I know deep inside that demon beast my brother lays dormant. I will do everything in my power to wake my brother up."

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"And if he doesn't listen?" Phillip asked.

"Then I hope the Gods have mercy on my soul."

As I reached for the door to leave the wagon, Audrey stood up and hurried towards me.

"Take this."

In my hand, she placed a small container filled with an orange liquid. The moment I saw it, I instinctively guessed that this was the cure she had been determined to find.

"You found the plant?"

Audrey nodded. "Yes, but it didn't cure my brother. Instead, it forced him to revert to human form, shortening the duration of his transformation as a wolf. If everything else fails, this could temporarily turn your brother back into a human, giving you enough time to make peace with him. It would help if you did not let the beast take control over him once the transformation has been reverted. After that, it will be a decision only you can make: your life or his."

"Thank you, Audrey."

Riding on our horses, we made our way through the faint darkness of the early morning. Approaching the caves, I observed that several wagons from the caravan had been left abandoned on the road. Phillip dismounted his horse, crouching to inspect something on the ground.

"Randall, look at this."

I dismounted and crouched beside Phillip, examining the tracks. The prints were deep and fresh, suggesting the wolves had passed through recently. "We've got wolf prints here."

"These prints are too large for regular wolves," Phillip said. "They could belong to the demon wolf."

As the sun began to rise above the horizon, the scene that unfolded was increasingly harrowing. Bodies lay strewn around the cave, revealing that the people of Bortoli had met the same grim fate as the barbarian horde. The early morning light cast a somber glow on the tragic aftermath, underscoring the extent of the devastation that had befallen the once-peaceful village.

Phillip moved forward but stopped abruptly at the sight of the bodies scattered across the area. Silently, he walked from one body to the next, gently closing their eyes with his hands expressing sorrow and guilt.

I stood before the sea of death, horrified by the scene before me. "It's my fault we didn't arrive in time. I have dishonored Arland's last wishes. I promise him, I will save our people from certain death."

Phillip stood in front of me, his eyes filled with empathy. "There is nothing you could've done to prevent this massacre. We must look for Bernard and his brother, then, we should grant all of them a proper burial."

I nodded, searching for Bernard and his brother among the dead. A deep sense of failure gripped my heart as I navigated through the lifeless bodies of men, women, and children – all victims of a savage wolf attack. Nearing the entrance of the cave, a grim sight caught my eye. Bernard was slumped against a tree, a brutal wound in his stomach leaving his insides spilled on the ground.

"Bernard!"

Kneeling before him in a state of complete despair, I became overwhelmed with guilt. "I sent you here to die, my friend. I'll never forgive myself for this – for what I've done to you and everyone else."

In that moment of deep sorrow, Phillip placed his hand on my shoulder. "Stop blaming yourself for what happened here."

Suddenly, Phillip's words were interrupted when Bernard began to cough violently, expelling blood from his mouth. His eyes fluttered open, focusing on me as he lay there in his grievous state.

"Randall! The wolves, the wolves are killing everyone!" he gasped out, struggling for each breath.

"I know it's not the time, but you should ask for his brother."

I understood Phillip's concern. It might not be the time to ask for his brother, but I didn't have any other choice.

"Bernard, your brother, did he survive?"

He stares at me, lifting his shaking hand, and pointing towards Arland's wagon parked near the cave entrance. Understanding the unspoken message, I stood up and, with a heavy heart, drew my sword, delivering a merciful end to his suffering.

"I'm sorry my friend, I couldn't bear to see you turned into one of them."

"We should do the same to everyone. We can't allow any of these bodies to become puppets of the demon wolf."

"You're right."

In somber determination, we moved through the area, carrying out the grim task of piercing the hearts of every corpse we encountered. After completing this gruesome task, we eventually met up in front of the cave, unsure of the whereabouts of Bernard's brother.