"We checked, there's no one around!" A voice tickled Tejasv's eardrums. He swiveled his head and found Salina behind him.She stared as her gaze fell on the girl lying beside Tejasv. Like Salina, the girl seemed to be the youngest of her group, so she must be curious about her.Tejasv held the girl in his arms and then laid her down in a comforting spot. Crimson blood on her body slowly turned black, indicating that it had been some time since her wounds had not been treated, accumulating toxins.The blood in our bodies turns black after a certain period if left alone. The wounds were now closing by themselves, while some were getting worse due to negligence in rinsing them.Furthermore, her hunger could be seen in her weak facial features.|They mustn’t have found something to eat all this time!|Tejasv instructed Catherine to take care of her wounds and clean them. Meanwhile, the men turned their gaze away from the girls and left them alone.Catherine removed her tattered gear and fe
(Mostly from Sally's perspective.)Sally swallowed and continued narrating her experience," as my vision adjusted to the bright flames shrouded in darkness, I noticed my sister and brothers in a defensive stance, pointing their weapons at someone.While cowering in fear of someone, their brows wettened when an animal growled from the shadows.To get a closer look at the being hidden in the darkness, I stood up and squinted my eyes. Although the figure was hazy, I could infer it resembled a beast with four legs.Gradually, the beast stepped out of the shadows, revealing a white-furred wolf-like figure. Its menacing appearance, sharp claws, and pointy canines were intimidating.Their eyes shone, reflecting the yellow gleam of flames, peering at us.We shivered when more and more of them surrounded us. Our immediate surroundings were filled with howling and growling beasts.Our minds turned blank as nothing passed through them. What to do? How to escape our predicament? These thoughts dis
(Sally pov continued)To our surprise, before us stood the glasses guy with his group of delinquents. In some other situations, we would be wary of them, but their appearance at that moment was no less than a miracle.I longed to meet some other humans and prayed they would help us. Fortunately, my wish was fulfilled, as we found a pretty strong team.Their neat conditions were also a source of relief and envy. There were almost no signs of fatigue or drooping as if they had enjoyed themselves in the jungle.|They can help us in that state!|While we were out there, facing wolves and looking for food, they had everything under control, as if someone had given them a map in advance.For a brief moment, we doubted and mulled over many facts. However, for the time being, we needed someone to save us. And if they had a way to evade danger, that could be a garnish on the dish for us.Before we could say anything, their leader, the glasses guy, hurriedly inquired, "What are you doing around
Sniff! Sniff!Sally wept again while narrating her experience. She felt betrayed, her heart torn apart by the denial that she would never believe in humans again.She said, "I felt hopeless and useless, to be specific. From the beginning, I had no talent like my siblings. They excelled in every field, whether it was archery, martial arts, or studying. In reality, I was at the bottom of the barrel, as if God had sent me to my family at last like trash. This was because I had nothing worthwhile to offer my parents.Moreover, my parents were called upon to the gods moments after my birth, offering my siblings the gift of grief and the responsibility of a younger sister.They had to live through those forced responsibilities while their peers enjoyed ordinary daily lives. Even through those times, I never saw their heads bent due to hardships. Although they suffered, their light shone brighter, and they never blamed me for anything.The love I received was greater than anything my parents
The moment Sally calmed down a bit, Tejasv commanded everyone to move while removing the traces of their camp. If Fred was after them, the traces would help him to narrow his search.Then Daemon whispered to Tejasv, watching the hustling, "The sun will set in a few hours. Do you think it's safe to search for Fred rather than forming our base to fend off the wolf pack that may attack tonight? "Tejasv hummed while rubbing his chin, "I know what you're worried about. Even though I'm concerned about the wolves, if we can find Fred's group, it would be beneficial in the long run.Wolves have powerful instincts with strong senses. They must have already pinned down our location by now, even including Fred's base.They’ll send separate packs after every team, so that's when my plan will be fruitful. If we find Fred and his group, it's easy to divert the wolf pack coming for us to Fred's camp.Our goal is to hide around his camp, and the wolves will go for them individually if they can't find
Gradually, the sun declined from the horizon, erasing its gleam from the environment. It was the dull atmosphere just before the pitch darkness of night.Tejasv and his crew were still sprinting their way towards an unknown location, guided by Salina. Keeping the pace from the start, Tejasv lifted Salina while Daemon carried Sally on his back.Their agitation intensified as time passed and darkness approached them.|How far do we have to travel to reach our destination? Where the heck did that bastard Fred set up his camp?|The adults swallowed as sweat wetted their brows. The more brightness disappeared from their vicinity, the more their fears were awakened.Almost everyone remembered the threat the wolves posed to their lives. Their howling still rang in their heads as if some claw would come from behind and gnash them.The bloodbath they faced, especially Sally, was nothing to scoff at. Yesterday, the wolves might have used their scouting forces to measure the humans, but today mig
An atmosphere of rumbling mixed with howls, growls, and many limbs stamping the floor with incredible agility filled the air.Tejasv and his team sprinted their way there in haste. The more these sounds chased them, the faster they ran. Their gear was soaked wet with sweat, and their mouths were dry.With frowned faces, they had to trudge through the thorny bushes, slicing thick branches out of their way. They should have reached their destination by now, but they were still a long way off.All Salina did was point her fingers in the same direction for a long time. Tejasv knew her skill was vague, but if it still pointed to the same place, then there must be something regarding Fred there.What would it take for them to escape the pursuit and reach Fred? Their legs were strained from running wild while carrying Salina and Sally.Catherine couldn't help them in that regard since she felt her stamina nearing its limit. Conversely, no one was willing to let go at the critical moment.What
Tejasv and his team now marched towards the camp Salina noticed a while ago. He suggested they should sneak on their toes while cloaked in thick shrubs. The group gradually got closer to the bright light and heard some rumbling around what seemed a camp. Hidden behind the bushes, Tejasv glanced at something unexpected. A four-walled structure, tall enough to resist any wolf's leap, stood a few meters away from them. Around a dozen wolves encircled the fortress to besiege it. That scene was out of the world. |The light must be coming from inside the fortress, someone must be enjoying a campfire within it.| Even though everyone had seen some weird fantasies lately, four walls stood in the middle of the forest, something that was bizarre. From the view, it was evident that the wall had been built by humans. Since the wolves were gathered around, they growled and howled at the walls, indicating their animosity. Baffled and bewildered, Tejasv and his team squinted and stared at the wal