The first wave came with a blend of fury and strategy. The five Howlers moved differently from the Stalkers. They climbed the trees and used it to their advantage.
They were leaner, faster, built for speed and coordination. Their fur bristled as they leapt from branch to branch, their movements smooth and eerily synchronized. Their growls weren't mindless… they were signals.
One barked short and sharp, and two split wide to flank. Another gave a long howl, and the three in the trees adjusted their approach, circling above.
Jayden tilted his head back, his massive chest rising with a slow inhale. His sharp ears picked up every pad of their claws on bark, every scrape of branches. "So… wolves that think they're soldiers." He smirked. "Cute."
Then the first struck.
