Free Web NovelChapter 176: Wolves
Although Victor had managed to kill one wolf, there were still four left, watching them with hungry eyes and moving silently through the underbrush.
Amanda, still stunned and very frightened, stood behind Victor, trying to control the trembling in her legs.
The clearing seemed to be shrouded in a tense silence, broken only by the gentle sound of the stream and the low growls of the wolves.
"They’re not going to give up, are they?" Amanda murmured, her voice shaking.
"No," Victor replied, not looking away from the wolves. "But don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to you."
Amanda pressed her hands into the fabric of Victor’s cloak, trying to take courage from his words. She had always tried to appear brave to everyone, but the presence of those wolves stirred a primal fear in her.
Soon, the wolves began to act up again. One of them approached with frightening speed, barking loudly at Victor.
With an agile movement, Victor spun his sword in a deadly arc and slashed at the approaching wolf. The sound of the blade cutting through flesh was drowned out by howls of pain, and the animal fell lifeless to the ground.
The remaining wolves were about to advance, but when they saw Victor’s speed, they hesitated for a moment, analyzing the situation.
Victor took advantage of this pause to pull back slightly, keeping Amanda protected behind him. He knew he had to be strategic; any carelessness could be fatal for her. Watching the wolves, he noticed that they were looking for gaps, a sign of weakness. It was the natural instinct of predators.
Amanda watched carefully, trying to remain calm. "Victor, what if we try to scare them off? Maybe they’ll give up..."
"It’s not that easy," Victor said without looking away from the wolves. "These wolves look hungry and won’t give up easily. We have to be careful." ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
Another wolf advanced, this time more cautiously, testing Victor’s defenses with quick advances and retreats.
Victor kept it at bay with the tip of his sword. As the wolf leapt, Victor moved with deadly precision, his sword striking its target with devastating force. Another wolf fell, dead before it hit the ground.
The two remaining wolves growled furiously, their eyes glowing with a mixture of rage and hunger. Victor knew they were becoming more desperate and rabid, and that made them even more dangerous. He took a deep breath and concentrated. Every move was crucial, and he couldn’t afford to make a mistake.
"Stay close to me, Amanda," he whispered. "We’re almost there."
The wolves advanced at the same time, their fangs gleaming in the darkness of the Lura Forest.
Victor was ready.
With impressive skill, he dodged the first attack, threw Amanda backwards, and spun his sword in a devastating arc that struck the first wolf in the flank.
The animal let out a cry of pain and staggered, but before it could recover, Victor was already attacking the second wolf.
The last wolf, seeing the death of its last companion, hesitated and a growl of frustration escaped its lips.
Victor had no pity, for in this case he was the prey. As the wolf advanced, Victor didn’t even use his sword. He stomped his left foot into the ground and a sharp spine rose from the ground, piercing the wolf’s chest.
The clearing fell into a heavy silence.
Amanda, still trembling, looked at the fallen wolves with a mixture of relief and disbelief in her eyes.
"They... they made it?" she whispered.
"Yes, but we have to get out of here before the monsters and the other animals smell blood." He looked around, checking out the clearing. "But first, I think it’s safe to gather what..."
As his eyes landed on Noctiluria, his heart sank. In the heat of battle, he had completely forgotten about the delicate herb in order to focus on protecting the fragile girl. And now, as he looked at the place where it grew, he saw that his heavy boots had crushed the fragile plant.
"No..." he murmured, looking at the remains of the Noctiluria. "I destroyed it."
Amanda approached, looking sadly at the damaged plant. "Victor... it wasn’t your fault. You were trying to protect us."
Victor shook his head. "I promised to help you, Amanda. And now..."
Amanda grabbed his cloak again. "Don’t blame yourself, you had to protect a wimp like me..."
Victor stood up slowly, still feeling the weight of his guilt. "No, that wasn’t the problem. Anyway, we have to find you another Noctiluria. We can’t give up."
Amanda agreed, trying to keep hope alive. "Let’s keep looking. There may be more of them around here."
Amanda wiped away the tears that almost wanted to flow from her eyes. "Come on, Victor. The forest is big and night hasn’t come yet. We could find another Noctiluria."
"And I think I have a new idea of where it will be easiest to find her."
The two of them began to walk through the forest, their steps quiet as they moved between the trunks of the tall, dense trees. The sound of rustling leaves and the rustling of small animals lurking among the vegetation created an unsettling soundtrack. Victor was alert, his senses attuned to any sign of danger or clue that might lead them to a Noctiluria.
"I’ve been thinking." Victor began, keeping his voice low. "These wolves came from somewhere. They probably have a den nearby. And a wolf’s lair is usually a damp place, full of bones and the remains of their hunts. Maybe we’ll find another Noctiluria there."
Amanda looked at him with a mixture of hope and apprehension. "Do you think it’s safe? What if there are more wolves?"
"We faced those wolves, and we won. And if there are more, we’re prepared. But I think it’s worth a try. We need the Noctiluria, and the chances of finding one are higher in an environment like this."
She nodded, trusting Victor’s experience and judgment. "Exactly. Let’s look for the wolf’s lair."
With this new goal in mind, they continued their journey through the forest, following the tracks left by the wolves.
Victor used his experience as a hunter to recognize clues - footprints, broken branches, the faint smell of blood in the air.
"Look," he said after a while, pointing to a more worn track on the ground with paw prints in the earth that resembled dog paws. "This is recent. Wolves must have come through here. Let’s follow it."
Amanda followed closely, watching her surroundings intently. The sunlight was beginning to fade, casting long, eerie shadows. But they remained confident that they were on the right track.
After a while, Victor suddenly stopped and raised his hand to signal for Amanda to stop as well.
"Do you feel that?" he whispered.
Amanda took a deep breath, trying to catch what he was feeling. "It’s... it’s a strong smell. Like something dead."
Victor nodded. "Yes. We must be close to their lair. Keep an eye out."
They moved forward cautiously, each step measured and silent. And then the entrance to the wolves’ den appeared before them - a dark opening at the base of a huge fallen tree, surrounded by bones and animal remains. The smell of decay was strongest here, mixed with the metallic smell of blood.
"I was expecting a cave. Not this." Victor said.
"I heard that a long, long time ago there were many trees like this in the Lura Forest. People started cutting them down to make boats and soon they disappeared." Amanda explained. "This log must not have been taken because of the wolves."
Victor looked closely at the entrance to the cave, studying every detail. The darkness inside was thick, and the smell of death hung in the air, making the atmosphere even more ominous. He turned to Amanda and saw the determination in her eyes.
"I’ll go in first," he said, keeping his voice low and firm. "It’s too dangerous for you."
Amanda shook her head with a determined look on her face. "No, Victor. I want to help too. I can’t stay out here and do nothing."
Victor sighed, realizing it wouldn’t be easy to convince her. He admired Amanda’s courage, but he couldn’t put her in danger. "Look, Amanda, I know you want to help, but the situation here is different. There could be more wolves in that cave, or worse. I can’t allow you to put yourself in danger."
"But, Victor, we’re a team. I can’t just stand outside while you go in alone. Besides, the Noctiluria is for you and me. I can’t let you do all the work."
He looked into her eyes, feeling the weight of responsibility. "I understand what you’re saying, Amanda. And I admire your courage. But you have to trust me. I’ll be faster and more efficient if I know you’re safe out here. If something goes wrong, I need to know you’re okay. Besides, think how guilty your sister would feel if she knew her sister had died while she was trying to get medicine for her."
Amanda bit her lip, fighting the urge to protest. Finally, she nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Okay. But please be careful."
Victor smiled and touched her shoulder gently. "I always do. Keep an eye out here. If you notice anything strange, let me know immediately with a whistle."
She nodded again and watched as Victor prepared to enter the cave.
Victor adjusted his cloak, checked the blade of his sword, and took a deep breath before ducking down and out of the bushes where they were hiding.
