Dred was not the only one to learn magic these past few months; the other five cubs have also been learning. Eria, being a protector of the forest, her offspring are bound to have some natural talent.

Eria approached her cubs and said, “In about two months, you five will be leaving the nest to start your own families. It’s time for you to learn about hunting.”

Eria knew that since Dred was a human, he would have to stay with her for a few more years before he would be able to leave the den.

Eria brings Dred along for the hunts, knowing that he will need to learn to survive on his own in a few years.

Dred couldn’t help but think of his family. His father was an avid hunter, but his mother despised it because he would never spend time with the family during hunting season. A tear welled up in Dred’s eyes as he reminisced about his past life.

Eria noticed Dred’s distraction and said, “Focus, Dred. One must always be attentive when hunting; everything is out to get you.”

Dred nodded and focused. He was amazed at Eria’s natural hunting ability.

Eria was stalking a deer when suddenly they heard footsteps, causing the deer to run off. The footsteps were coming from the direction of the den.

A voice emerged from the footsteps, exclaiming, “I can’t believe we found such good game! What a gold mine!” Another voice chimed in, saying, “Yeah, we got lucky this time, boys.” They all laughed together.

Eria and Dred turned their gaze towards a group of men dressed in hunting attire, armed with knives and bows. They noticed that one of the men was holding two small creatures.

Eria looked closer and a fury began to burn within her. “Those are my children!” she roared, causing the group of men to startle at the sight of the enraged giant wolf.

Eria charged, swiftly killing two of the men at once, leaving the others terrified and fleeing as fast as they could.

Eria dropped to the ground, devastated at the sight of her dead cubs. Dred witnessed the entire tragic event, and anger started to consume him. “How could they kill such young and innocent cubs?” he seethed.

Eria's anger reached unprecedented levels, surpassing anything she had experienced before. She communicated with Dred through their mind link, instructing him, "Go and check on the others." With a sense of urgency, Dred immediately set off to ensure the safety of the remaining cubs.

Meanwhile, fueled by her fury, Eria pursued the men who managed to escape. Her determination to avenge her fallen cubs propelled her forward, relentlessly chasing down the perpetrators.

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Dred ran as fast as he could back to the den. What Dred came back to was a horrific scene of blood and guts.

The bodies of the other three wolf pups lay on the ground, their forms mangled beyond recognition. Dred stared at the horrific sight, a mix of disbelief and anger flooding his being. He couldn't comprehend how humans could be so cruel, resorting to such senseless violence. The reason they hadn't taken the other pups became apparent – their bodies had been deliberately mutilated, rendering them of no value.

Dred's rage consumed him, and he dropped to the ground, seething with anger. "No matter what world, humans, humans are the ones who murder, kill, and mangle for the fun of it!" His mind reverberated with anger, his roar echoing his frustration and indignation. The intensity of his emotions permeated the air, a powerful declaration against the dark nature of humanity that he had witnessed once again.

Dred's tear-filled eyes caught a rustling of bushes, and he turned his gaze to witness Eria, on the verge of death, struggling toward him. Eria's eyes fell upon the mangled bodies of her other three pups, and a howl of indignant sorrow escaped her lips. Overwhelmed by anger and regret, Eria collapsed to the ground, tears streaming from her eyes. She explained to Dred that they had many powerful allies waiting for them, she had been ambushed, leaving her barely clinging to life.

"Eria, Eria!" Dred inwardly screamed, unwilling to accept the tragic loss of his newfound family. With his heart heavy, Dred drew closer to Eria, desperate to hear her final words. Eria summoned her remaining strength and spoke, her voice filled with a mix of determination and love.

"You must survive, Dred. Run, run as far as you can," Eria's words echoed in the air, urging him to flee and preserve his own life. It was a selfless act of a devoted mother, urging her last surviving companion to escape the impending danger and forge a new path.

Dred ran, his heart heavy with grief and tears streaming down his face. Thoughts of self-blame consumed him as he berated himself, considering his weakness in being unable to protect his newfound family. "My weakness," he thought, the anguish echoing through his mind. "I was too weak to protect them!"

The haunting memories of his past life resurfaced, as vivid as ever. Dred could recall the harrowing moment when he witnessed the brutal murder of his family right before his eyes. The pain and trauma of that experience seared deeply into his soul, and it fueled his determination to never let such a tragedy repeat itself.

Dred ran for hours until he fell into a cave and collapsed out of exhaustion.

After Dred woke up, the weight of what had just happened hit him hard. Overwhelmed by the intensity of the events, tears welled up in his eyes, and he began to cry uncontrollably. Unaware of the dark and unfamiliar environment surrounding him, he allowed his emotions to flow freely.

After a few minutes of crying, Dred came to realize his predicament. His small, eight-month-old body had been severely damaged by the long fall he had just endured. The distance from the cave's top to bottom was insurmountable for someone of his age and size. As he wiped the tears from his eyes, a thought filled his mind: "There is no possibility of escape." Yet, he found newfound strength within himself. "I must survive, for myself and Eria."

Eria had taught him the basics of magic: fire, earth, water, and wind. Drawing upon his knowledge, Dred conjured a small fire orb next to himself, illuminating the surrounding darkness. Determination burned within him as he contemplated his options. "Since I can't go up, the only way is forward," he thought, a glimmer of hope emerging amidst the gloom.