Jack carried the doe’s body back to his camp by the pool. He noted that it was easier to move than he would have thought. This wasn’t to say that it was totally effortless, but Jack knew his previous body wouldn’t have been able to carry a load this heavy for more than a couple of minutes. He also noted that his stamina was slowly ticking down as he made his way through the forest. So, carrying heavy loads also drained Stamina. That was good to know.
Once back at the pool he placed the doe carcass on the ground. Taking up his tusk knife (this being the remaining tusk from the Waterborne Tuskbeast that he had been using as a knife) Jack cut two strips of hide from the doe and wrapped the first securely around his spear, creating a grip for it. He repeated the process for the base of his knife and looked over the result.
Jack took a moment to examine his handiwork, satisfied with the makeshift grips he had fashioned from the strips of hide. The textured surface of the deer hide provided an excellent gripping surface, ensuring a secure hold on both the spear and the tusk knife. The wraps not only enhanced his grip but also added a layer of comfort, reducing the impact of the implements against his hands during use. To top it off, his efforts had levelled up Weapon Crafting.
Jack wished he knew how to tan the hide strips to make them last longer. Unfortunately, that was one area he was woefully ignorant about. The only reason he even knew about making hide grips was because of an internet rabbit hole he had gone down.
Still, Jack was satisfied with the progress he had made. He removed the rest of the animals hide, which earned him a level up in Skinning, and prepared the to roast the body for dinner after gutting and cleaning it.
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As the Alpha Greatwolf ran through the forest, it reflected on its strange encounter with the two-legged hunter. It had never encountered anything quite like him before. First, he had shared his food with the wolf.
That could have simply been fear on the part of the two-leg. But then he had not only aided in the fight with the tusked monstrosity, but also healed it as well. To cap it off, he had allowed the wolf to eat his fill without interference.
The wolf had never encountered anything quite like this before. Sure, it had worked with other members of its pack to bring down prey before, but the cooperation with this two-legged creature was different. There was a sense of understanding and mutual benefit that went beyond the usual dynamics of the wild.
As the wolf moved through the forest, it pondered the strange sensations it felt during the battle. The Spectral Bite Skill seemed to resonate differently with the presence of the two-legged hunter. It was as if their actions were intertwined, their fates momentarily linked in the dance of combat.
The wolf couldn't fully comprehend the nuances of the situation, but it acknowledged that something unique had occurred. The two-legged hunter had proven himself as more than just a potential threat; he was a participant in the intricate web of nature's drama.
The Alpha Greatwolf felt a strange connection to the human, a connection that went beyond the primal instincts of predator and prey. It pondered the notion of cooperation with this unusual creature. The Favor of the Alpha, a title bestowed upon the two-legged hunter, signified a recognition of their shared experience.
As the wolf came closer to where the rest of its pack had been sheltering, it heard sounds that made its heart race. Sounds of combat.
The wolf quickened its pace, the fierce howls and snarls of its pack echoing through the trees. When it reached the clearing, it was met with a chaotic scene. Members of its pack were engaged in a fierce battle with a group of horned, hairy, two-legged creatures that it had never seen before. They wielded crude weapons of bone to great effect, smashing skulls with great bone clubs and slicing open fur with crude axes.
The Alpha Greatwolf wasted no time. It leaped into the fray, its massive form cutting through the air with a primal grace. The scent of blood and the clash of teeth and claws filled the clearing as the battle raged on.
The two-legged creatures were formidable opponents, armed with sharp horns and a savage determination. Yet, the Alpha Greatwolf noticed that their coordination lacked the fluidity it had experienced with the two-legged hunter. There was a disconnect among them, a lack of the unspoken understanding that had marked the previous encounter.
With a series of powerful lunges and well-timed strikes, the Alpha Greatwolf swiftly took down one of the horned creatures, its pack rallying around it. For a moment it seemed like the pack could actually win.
Then three new opponents entered the fray. They were towering, muscular versions of the horned creatures. Their imposing figures and menacing presence marked them as leaders among their kind. One of them let out a savage cry and began to grow even bigger, muscles rippling with unnatural strength. The ground beneath its feet trembled as it transformed into a hulking behemoth, its horns elongating and taking on an ominous glow.
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As it charged the pack, its horns tearing wolves apart with horrifying ease, one of its companions raised its axe which began glowing with an ominous red light. Three wolves attempted to take down the monster, all of them leaping in unison. The axe swung and crimson energy erupted from the axe in a crescent that sliced all three in half.
The Alpha Greatwolf was preparing to attack these newcomers when it heard a faint, mewling cry that made its heart skip a beat. The pups!
The wolfs primal instincts surged, and without a second thought, it turned away from the approaching leaders of the horned creatures, focusing on the urgent need to protect its vulnerable offspring. The battle roared around it, but the Alpha's attention was solely fixed on the safety of the pack's youngest members.
Racing through the chaos, the Alpha Greatwolf arrived at the den where the pups were sheltered. The scene that unfolded was heart-wrenching. The horned creatures had dispatched some of their kin to target the most defenseless members of the pack. The wolf pups huddled together, whimpering in fear as the horned creatures closed in.
With a savage growl, the Alpha tore into the foul creatures that threatened the pups. Teeth and claws clashed, and the air was filled with snarls and yelps. The Alpha fought ferociously; each movement fueled by an instinct to protect the fragile lives that depended on its strength.
Yet as strong as it was it was not strong enough. As it fought, surrounded by horned, leering, faces it heard the sounds of pups dying their heads caved in by brutal swings from the monsters clubs. With a desperate howl it activated Shadow Pounce. Sinking into its own shadow it reappeared on the other side of the den, lunging upwards and tearing out the throat of a club-wielding monster.
It quickly disposed of the other two monsters flanking the club-wielder and turned to see a heart-breaking sight. The pups were dead, all of them except for one tiny bundle of black fur that cowered at the back of the den, a horned monster grinning down at it as it raised its axe. The wolf leapt… too late!
Even as it collided with its foe the axe came down. It managed to shove the weapon off course enough that it didn’t split the pup in half as the creature had no doubt intended. Instead, the edge only tore a wound open on the pups side. On an adult the wound would have been a mere scratch but on the pup…
There was no time to waste. The Alpha used Spectral Bite to tear its opponents throat out. It then reached its head down and gently took the pup in its mouth, careful to place it so that its tongue kept more blood from flowing out of the wound.
Turning, it saw more of the horned monsters coming its way. It activated Shadow Pounce and once more sank into its shadow, this time taking a tiny passenger with it.
It reappeared at the edge of the clearing, emerging from the shadow that a large tree cast in the light of the setting sun.
It only took a glance to see that the battle was lost. Most of its pack were dead with the few survivors being rapidly slaughtered. The horned creatures, now having claimed dominance over the territory, were celebrating their victory with guttural roars and echoing cries.
The Alpha Greatwolf, burdened with grief and rage, felt a burning desire for vengeance. Yet, it also realized that it couldn't face the overwhelming force of the horned creatures alone. Its pack had been decimated, and the 2 surviving members were in no condition to mount a counterattack.
There was only one thing to do. Find the two-leg who had healed it before and hope he could save the pup.
Jack was sleeping peacefully by his fire, stomach full of roast venison, when he was abruptly awakened by the painful sensation of something digging into his ribs. His eyes shot open, and he looked down to see a small bundle of black fur being shoved onto him by a very familiar looking wolf.
Jack looked at the wolf, then down at the bundle, his mind still a bit hazy “Whazzzgoinon?”. A notification appeared in front of him, one unlike any he had seen so far.
[You have been offered a Quest:
Way of the Wolf I
Objective: Save the injured wolf pup
Penalty for failure: Enmity of the Alpha Greatwolf
Rewards: Experience, Companionship bond, next stage of Quest chain
Accept Yes/No
]
It took Jack a few more moments to realize what was going on. Once he realized that the furry little bundle was in fact, the injured wolf pup, he immediately put his hand over the wound to staunch the bleeding.
He looked over at the Alpha Greatwolf who stared back at him pleadingly. Without hesitation, Jack accepted the quest.
He brought the pup over to where had left his bark cup and started making Improvised Healing Solutions.
At first the pup refused to drink, but Jack gently coaxed it with soothing words and a careful touch. Gradually, the pup started lapping up the concoction, and Jack could see a glimmer of relief in its eyes as its wound started to close. It only took two more Solutions to fully close up the wound.
[Congratulations! Alchemy has gained a level]
Jack muttered to himself as he worked, "You got yourself into a tough spot, little one."
The wolf pup, now more at ease, nuzzled against Jack's leg. It was kind of adorable.
[Quest Update:
Way of the Wolf I
Objective: Heal the injured wolf pup
Progress: Completed
Rewards: Experience, Companionship bond, next stage of Quest chain
]
[You have gained 500 Exp]
[Congratulations! You have levelled up]
[You have gained + 2 Strength]
[You have gained + 2 Agility]
[You have 2 free points to distribute]
[Scanning for compatibility of Companionship bond]
[Requirements are 60% or higher]
[Base compatibility 50%]
[Favored of the Alpha increases compatibility by 15%]
[Direborn race increases compatibility by 25%]
[Compatibility at 90%]
[Companionship bond initiated]
Jack and the Alpha fell to the ground simultaneously as their minds started…merging.