Nuix and the pups sprinted, the terrifying howls getting nearer, and the ground shook under their feet as they raced to get back home. Every stride through the dense brush caused them to struggle for breath, their hearts pounding in their chests.
Though the sounds of conflict had died down, fresh, more disturbing howls began, resonating from every direction, which the young ones didn't like.
"They're everywhere!" Kian gasped, stumbling over a root before Koda quickly hauled him back to his feet.
"They're trying to surround us!" Nuix yelled back, his eyes narrowing as he caught movement in the shadows to their left. "Go right!" He commanded, pulling Tala behind him as he quickly cut a sharp turn, the sounds of their footsteps echoing as Naya, Kian, and Koda followed.
At the very last second, jaws clamped down, narrowly missing Koda, as the monster growled at the pups before they vanished into the forest.
"Did you see that?" Koda glanced back, checking his backside as he ran. "That damn thing nearly took my butt off!" He yelled as he tried to pick up the pace.
"You won't have a butt if you slow down!" Naya replied as the group continued to run for all they were worth.
"Keep going!" Nuix barked. "We can't stop for a second!" He gritted his teeth as he continued to press forward with his group behind him.
The howls continued as more shadows of various sizes of distorted four-legged beasts continued to appear in the forest shadows around them, causing them to turn and pivot, trying to avoid being slain.
"There's more of them?" Koda called out, keeping up with the group. "What the hell, man, where did things even come from?" He questions as he jumped over a broken log in front of him, as he continued to sprint with everything he had.
Tala's grip on Nuix's hand tightened as another shadow darted between the trees ahead of them. "There's so many of them!" She panted, her voice shaking. "Something's wrong—really wrong."
Naya vaulted over a fallen branch, her eyes scanning the forest canopy. "Look at the trees," she gasped between breaths. "The leaves are turning black!" Her eyes widened a bit as she slowly looked around. Her gaze took in the horrific scenery of the forest dying. Wherever the Blight Beasts had passed, the vegetation withered and died, leaving trails of corruption through the once-vibrant forest.
A guttural snarl erupted from directly behind them, too close for comfort. Kian risked a glance back, and his face went pale. "There's one right on our tail!"
"Don't look back!" Nuix commanded, his legs burned, his lungs screamed for air, but he continued to push further. "Just keep running, we have to—Shit!"
Suddenly, two more Blight Beasts appeared on the side, causing Nuix and the gang to quickly pivot right into another part of the forest, where they came to a clearing where a large waterfall ended.
"Dead end." With heavy breaths, Naya and the group stared at the sheer cliff, fully aware that a jump would be certain death.
"We're trapped…" Nuix gritted his teeth as he tried to control his breathing. "Those damn things, they weren't just chasing around the forest for nothing.
"They were leading us away from the village on purpose," Tala added as she looked down at the large drop before them. "They were herding us like cattle."
"Like a damn sheep." Nuix glared as a loud, unnatural howl came from behind them, followed by the sound of large paw prints hitting the ground.
The Blight Beasts emerged from the tree line like nightmares given flesh, their red eyes gleaming with malevolent intelligence. Five of them formed a semicircle around the trapped pups, their corrupted forms casting twisted shadows in the mist from the waterfall.
"They knew exactly what they were doing," Koda whispered, his voice barely audible over the rushing water behind them. "This was a trap from the beginning." He growled as he clenched his fist.
"Well then," Nuix spoke as he took a few steps forward, standing in front of the group, crouching a bit before he extended his claws. "I guess we're not running anymore."
The largest beast, its jaws hanging at the sickening angle, stepped forward. Black ichor dripped from its mouth, hissing where it hit the stone below. Its head tilted as it studied them, almost savoring their situation.
"It's not going to let us leave," Nuix said, teeth still gritted. "We don't have a choice; we're going to have to fight that thing."
Kian quickly whipped his head towards Nuix. "Are you insane!" He screamed at him. "We can't fight that thing, we're just pups, that monster will tear us to shreds."
"We don't have anywhere else to run, Kian!" Nuix shouted back, causing Kian to look at him in shock for a second as Nuix kept his eyes locked on the Blight Beasts in front of him. "Just look at them. Treating us like we're nothing but food. Like we're at the bottom of the food chain." He growled, almost angered at the situation they found themselves in.
"It's just like how the Order does people. Corners them, making them feel small and pathetic with no hope in sight." Nuix continued. "Well, I'm not about to keel over and die, just because some weird ass creature thinks it can hunt better than we can."
Koda smirked, simply shaking his head as he took a step forward, standing next to Nuix. "Well, they did chase us through the forest and stopped us from getting home, but I get what you mean." He crouched as well, his body slightly trembling. "And just for the record, this is a bad idea."
"Whose side are you on anyway?" Nuix glanced over at Koda with a small smirk. "If I didn't know better, I say you just complimented them."
"Just speaking the truth," Koda replied. "But I really hope you have a plan in all this, because if not…Then we're going to die."
Naya's burgundy hair whipped around her face as she stepped up beside the two boys, her stance mirroring theirs despite the tremor in her hands. "If we're doing this, we do it together." She spoke as she tried to steel herself.
Tala hesitated for a heartbeat before joining the line, her smaller frame dwarfed by the others, but her resolve unwavering. "Think and move as a pack, think and move as a pack. "She whispered to herself.
Kian, the taller one of the group, continued to shiver a bit as he looked up at their opposition. The ichor that continued to drip from their mouths continued to burn the earth as it landed.
"Are you guys serious?" He questioned his team. "Those things are on a completely different level than we are." He added, his body shaking as real fear displayed across his features. "We won't last a second against them. We don't—"
"Kian, we know that," Nuix spoke out, keeping his eyes on their opponents. "But that doesn't mean we sit back and be scared. We have to do something." He added. "The last thing I need is that old man to walk back here and stay true to his word about burying five pups when a real fight happens," Nuix added.
"I mean, it would kind of be true if we die here." Naya glanced over at Nuix. "
"Not you too, Naya." Nuix kept his eyes locked on the creature. "Geez, now is not the time to get on my case today."
"I'd say it's the perfect time." She replied with a small smile before turning her gaze back to their enemies. "You are the leader after all, right? That means if we die, then I can blame you."
"But what can we do against them?" Kian pointed out. "We couldn't even lay a hand on Jago." Kian continued as Nuix gritted his teeth at his comment. "We were swatted out the woods like flies. Jago said—"
"Jago's not here!" Nuix snarled, his muscles tightening a bit. "And if we don't fight, we're dead anyway. At least this way we go down swinging!"
Kian's breathing came in sharp, panicked bursts. "But we're just—"
"We're Werebeast," Tala interrupted, her voice steadier than her trembling hands. "Scared or not, we're still Werebeasts."
The largest Blight Beast's jaw unhinged further with a wet, tearing sound, revealing rows of blackened teeth that seemed to absorb the light around them. Its red eyes fixed on Kian, sensing his terror like blood in the water.
"It can smell your fear," Naya pointed out. "Jago said they hunt fear."
Kian's legs nearly buckled as the creature took another step forward, its corrupted paw leaving a smoking print on the stone. The other beasts began to spread out, preparing to attack from multiple angles.
"Dude, stop shaking," Koda hissed through his gritted teeth. "You're making it worse."
But Kian couldn't stop. His whole body trembled as primal terror coursed through him. The beast's head tilted, almost mockingly, as if savoring his panic.
"I can't—I can't do this," Kian stammered, taking a step backward toward the cliff's edge. The lead Blight Beast's muscles coiled, ready to pounce on the weakest member of their group. Its intelligence was clear—Divide them, take the frightened one first, then pick off the rest…Or so it would seem.
"Kian!" Nuix quickly glanced behind him. "Kian, listen to—" Suddenly, the air got heavy as the Nuix's eyes widened as he caught the expression on his teammates' faces—the horror in their eyes as he could feel his body falling to the ground. Time seemed to slow down as he slowly turned his head back towards the front of him, only to see the beast mere inches away, its claw slashing across his chest as blood leaked out.
"Wha—" Was all Nuix could utter as his back hit the ground in front of his group.
Blood sprayed across the grass as Nuix's body hit the ground with a thud. His chest was torn open, three deep gashes running from his left shoulder to his right hip, the fabric of his tunic hanging in tatters.
"NUIX!" Tala screamed, her voice cracking with fear and shock.
The largest Blight Beast stood over Nuix's fallen form. Its red eyes gleamed with satisfaction as it slowly turned its attention to the remaining pups.
Koda's face went white as death. "No, no, no…." He dropped to his knees beside Nuix as Naya quickly grabbed under Nuix's shoulders, dragging him back to the group. "Stay with us, man. Stay with us!"
Naya hesitated slightly, flinching at the wound of Nuix's chest before she quickly placed her hands on top of it. "He's losing a lot of blood." Her voice scared and filled with frustration. "Come on, Nuix, don't close your eyes on me," Naya commanded as she kept her hands on his chest, as she continued to try her best to stop the blood from pouring. "I mean it, Nuix." She looked down at him with horror and concern on her face. "Don't you dare close your eyes; you're not allowed to!" She screamed as tears began to form on her face.
Nuix's eyes fluttered, struggling to stay focused on Naya's tear-streaked face above him as he felt her continue to press down on him.
"Naya..I'm…I'm fine," He wheezed, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. "It's nothing…Just…Just a scratch."
"Shut up!" Naya sobbed, her hands covered in his blood." You're not fine! None of this is fine!"
Tala was stunned, her hands flying up to her jaw while her eyes grew wide at what she saw. Nuix was down, his chest wounded by the beast before them, and Naya's efforts to halt the bleeding were proving futile.
The horror was evident on Kian's face as he stumbled backward. The sight of Nuix's blood had shattered what little composure he'd managed to gather. "We're…We're all going to die," He whispered, his voice shaking as he took another step back. "We weren't prepared for this…They're..They're going to kill us."
The only words he could muster escaped his lips as his gaze was fixed on the crimson pool surrounding his fallen leader. His mind was coming apart, splintered by the overwhelming feelings of terror and guilt. This was his fault; his fear had distracted them, giving the monsters the opening to strike the moment that Nuix turned away from him to reassure him.
The Blight Beast's head tilted, studying their reactions. The unnatural wolves were slowly tightening the circle, the air thick with dread as Naya glared at the beast with tear-stained eyes.
"Get away from him!" Naya screamed at the approaching creatures, shifting her body a bit to cover Nuix as much as she could without turning her back on the creatures surrounding them. "I'm not letting you take him!" She growled, showcasing her fangs a bit. "I won't..." She spoke again as her eyes still full of tears locked on to the beasts in defiance. "If you want him you'll have to go through me!" She yelled, defending Nuix with her life.
The main Blight Beast appeared to enjoy the pandemonium it caused, its tainted shape glowing as the other creatures advanced, their actions slow and steady.
Koda's hands clenched into fists. "You bastards," He muttered, his body trembling in fear and anger at what just transpired. "I'm going to make you pay," He growled under his breath as he quickly slid in front of Naya and the fallen Nuix. "Don't look at them!" He ordered the Blight Beasts. "Look at me!"
"Koda!" Naya yelled.
"You're fighting me! You hear me!With muscles tensed, he crouched and then sprang at the bigger Blight Beast. "You're fighting me!" He charged with his claws out.
"Koda no!" Tala yelled behind her, but it was too late. Koda had already leaped in the air, his arm cocked back as the Blight Beast in front of him didn't do anything but open its large jaws, as if it was getting ready to devour him.
Koda's eyes widened in horror as he realized his rookie mistake, his inexperience as a fighter, now earning him a view of the large black void that was the monstrous maw of the Blight Beast, the rows of razor-sharp teeth shining as they were ready to accept their meal.
Without hesitation, the large beast leaped towards Koda, ready to claim its easy victory as Koda could do nothing but freeze in the air.
Once again, time froze as the three pups watched as Koda was now the target. His life was about to be snuffed out within seconds, and there was nothing they could do but watch.
"You idiot…" A voice came from behind Koda. "I'm pretty sure Jago didn't train you to get eaten by fake wolves."Koda's eyes widened, hearing the voice, as a woman with long grey hair flowing down her back appeared behind him. Her blue eyes looked past him as Koda felt himself being pulled back as she passed him in slow motion, a sudden smirk appearing on her face. "Good job," She simply said as Koda could just stare at her for a split moment that they were close.
"Chief Fae...Faelan," he stammered, but before he could finish, she effortlessly flung him aside and followed with a powerful kick, burying the monster's face in the dirt. A loud boom filled the area, and a significant dust cloud rose from the point of impact. She then settled in front of the pups, glancing back at them and briefly looking at Nuix.
"Chief..Faelan…"Naya looked up at the young chief of their village. "How did you…We were coming to…" Naya finally broke down as she lowered her head a bit, her tears streaming down her face as she kept pressure on Nuix's chest.
"Hey, calm down!" A shout pierced the air, and another female Werebeast crashed to the ground behind Faelan.
"Asena, how is he?"Faelan questioned, watching as the Werebeast woman, who looked to be Faelan's size, knelt to keep checking his injuries." Her grey eyes scanned over him with precision. She wore a white tunic that ended at her midriff, exposing her bare skin. Her tanned hands felt for Nuix's pulse, finding a weak rhythm. Her brown boots, mirroring Faelan's, remained planted, keeping her steady as she continued to examine the fallen pup. She wore black stockings that reached her thighs, coordinating them with brown shorts.
Her hands moved with efficiency over Nuix's torn chest, her grey eyes narrowing as she assessed his damage. "Three deep lacerations, but they missed the major arteries." She said, her voice was steady despite the urgency. "He's lost a lot of blood, but he'll live if we get him back quickly." She reported.
"Did you bring some of that potion with you?" Faelan asked, her eyes still on the five Blight beasts remaining. "I know we're running low, but I say we could one of them right now. It should at least stabilize him."
"Only got one left until we get back." She reached into a little brown pouch on her waist and took out a tiny vial of green liquid. "It won't heal him completely, but it'll buy us time to get him back."
"That'll do." Faelan returned, her eyes still staring down the Blight Beast in front of her, but then something dawned on her as her eyes glanced around for a moment before returning to her opponents. "What happened to Jago? Don't tell me that useless general got taken out by these nobodies." Faelan gestured as Tala quickly stepped up to speak.
"No, Jago gave us a chance to escape. There are more of them deeper in the forest!" She yelled. "A lot more!"
"He told us to go back to the village to tell you what was going on," Koda stated right after. "And we were, but then…" Koda lowered his gaze as the Blight beasts growled at Faelan as she stood in between them.
"They chased us into the forest, away from the village," Naya spoke, whipping her tears from her face. "It was like they didn't want us to get back to the village at all." When she was finished, Faelan and Asena narrowed their eyes at the children's pronouncements
"They herded you?" Asena inquired, tenderly raising Nuix's head and carefully administering the liquid into his mouth, as his chest began to emit a bright green light, and his injuries started to heal somewhat. "Faelan..."
"Yeah, I know, these stupid things are getting smarter the more they show their faces." Faelan's knuckles cracked as the Blight Beast, which she had kicked to the ground, slowly stood up, roaring at her after recovering from the blow. "Oh well, whatever." She began to walk forward, alarming everyone except Asena. "I guess I'm going to show you what happens when you try to hunt down my pups."
"Chief, wait!" Koda shouted. "There's too many of them; they could kill you."
Faelan gave a soft snort as she rolled her eyes at Koda's comment. "Yeah, they wish." She replied while the Blight Beasts started circling, and the largest among them glared at her with hatred. "
"What?" Faelan spoke, looking up at the biggest of the pack. "You think that grumpy look of yours is going to scare me. Intimidate me, like you did my pups." She stopped in the center of the five Blight Beasts. "You think your fangs are sharper than mine?" She asked as the first Blight Beast to her left lunged first—a feint. The real attack came from her right; claws aimed at her ribs.
Faelan didn't even glance over, yet her hand instinctively reached out and seized the creature by the throat as it jumped. Her fingers dug into its corrupted flesh as she lifted it effortlessly.
"Well, let me tell you." She kept her eyes locked on the bigger Blight Beast. "They aren't." After that, she crushed the attacker's throat, letting the body fall and break apart instantly as its life ended. "Now whose…Next?" She licked her lips slowly, savoring the moment.
The pups were frozen; their eyes fixated on Faelan as she eliminated the first Blight Beast without a second thought.
"She just….She just." Tala struggled to speak.
"She just killed it." Naya finished for her. "Like it was nothing."
"Holy..." Koda could only breathe as Kian could do was drop to his knees at the scene that they just witnessed, as Asena, who was helping keep an eye on Nuix, just smirked at the kid's reaction.
"Hmph, show off." She uttered under her breath.
The dominant creature tensed its muscles, ready to attack, yet Faelan nonchalantly extended her arms over her head in a stretch. "You know what your problem is?" She said, rolling her shoulders. "You hunt fear." She continued to stretching for a few seconds longer before bringing her gaze back down towards the beast. "But I don't have any."
Two creatures launched a combined attack from opposing directions. They both attacked with everything they had, yet Faelan calmly evaded the second beast. Quickly, she seized its hind leg, swinging it like a club to knock the third beast down, with its companion's help.
A loud yelp and the sound of bones being crushed by her might reverberated, and the Blight Beasts became motionless. The third one disintegrating instantly.
"Oh, come on, that can't be it." She raised the second blight beast, gripping its hind leg, like how someone might display a large fish they'd caught. "So let me get this straight." She stared at the main Blight beast as the fourth one stood beside it. "You herd my pups around like their damn cattle, damn near killed one, and you come at me with this!" With incredible speed, she yelled as she flung the dead Blight Beast at the fourth one, hitting it head-on, which sent them both crashing into a rock formation, accompanied by a loud crunch, before the two Blight Beasts vanished upon impact.
For the first time, the head Blight Beast moved back, and its red eyes showed a possible sign of hesitation. Its pack gone—five reduced to one in mere seconds.
"What's wrong?" Faelan tilted her head mockingly, taking a slow step forward. "Where's all that confidence from when you were terrorizing children?" Her voice dropped. "When you were making them cry? When you made them bleed?" She took another step forward as the creature took a step back in the form of retreat.
"Where are you going? Where's all that hunger you once had?" She questioned it. "That bloodlust? That drive for stalking prey because you knew you had them right where you wanted them." She took another deliberate step forward, the beast taking another step back.
"Oh, I see. You only like easy prey." She continued as the creature's hackles rose, a low growl rumbling from its throat as it tried to summon its former menace. But there was no fear to feed on here—only the cold, deadly confidence of another predator.
"That false bravado doesn't work on me." Faelan continued her slow pace towards the larger blight beast.
The beast's breathing became ragged, its corrupted form trembling as Faelan closed the distance. The beast's red eyes darted left and right, searching for an escape route that didn't exist as Faelan continued her slow pace forward.
"Aww, is the big bad beast scared?" She addressed the towering, corrupted dog, which was trembling, while standing extremely close to it.
Faelan smirked up at it, leaning her head closer a bit "Run," Faelan whispered, her lips curling into a predatory smile that displayed her fangs. "I'll give you a three-second head start."
The Blight Beast didn't need to be told twice. It turned and bolted into the forest, crashing through trees and undergrowth with desperate, clumsy strides.
Faelan counted slowly, her eyes never leaving the fleeing creature. "One…Two…" She crouched slightly, her knees slightly bent. "And…. Three."
Vanishing in an instant, she moved too quickly for the pups to follow and reappeared above the frightened monster. She pulled back her arm, fist clenched, and slammed it down on the back of the beast's head, crushing it into the ground as its body slowly dissolved, leaving her standing amidst the remains.
The forest fell silent except for the sound of settling dust and debris. Faelan straightened, brushing dirt from her knuckles as she walked back toward the group with usual casual confidence.
"Well, that was disappointing." She muttered, stretching her arms over her head again. "I was hoping for a better fight, but those things weren't a challenge at all." She stopped in front of the group, giving them her trademark smile.
The pups stared at her in stunned silence, their minds struggling to process what they'd just witnessed.
Asena just chuckled softly as she slowly let Nuix drift back into Naya's arms, his wounds slightly healed, and the bleeding stopped.
"You just have to be a big show off, don't you?" Asena repeated her earlier statement. "You could've just scared it away or something."
Faelan gave Asena a shocked, but comical expression in her defense. "What?" She exclaimed. "Where's the fun in that?" Faelan shrugged, stopping in front of the group. Her blue eyes swept over each of them—Koda standing dumbfounded, Tala trembling behind him. Naya was clutching Nuix protectively, and Kian was frozen in shock.
"And now you've scared the kids." Asena sighed. "You're hopeless sometimes, chief."
"What? Asena, what did I do?" Faelan comically broke down. "I thought I was pretty cool looking. Come on, Asena, I was cool looking, right? Pups, didn't I look cool?" Her blue eyes blinked like a hopeless child looking for recognition.
The pups exchanged uncertain glances, still processing the raw display of power they'd just witnessed. Koda was the first to find his voice, though it came out a bit ragged.
"You…You just…" He gestured helplessly at where the Blight Beasts had been moments before. "They were going to kill us, and you just…"
"Made it look so easy," Tala finished, her small voice filled with awe as she looked up at the chief of their village.
Naya looked up from where she cradled Nuix's body. "I've never seen anything like that before in my life." Her voice trembled. "You moved so fast, I couldn't even follow you."
Kian finally managed to close his mouth, though his eyes remained wide. "Are…Are all adults that strong?"
Asena snorted softly, slightly chuckling at Kian's question. "No, kid. Your chief here is just a freak of nature." She shot Faelan a sideways look. "And she knows it, which is why she shows off her strength every chance she gets."
Faelan's expression brightened considerably at the pups' reactions. "See? They think I'm cool!" She turned to Asena with a triumphant grin. "I told you I would look cool doing it."
"You looked terrifying," Asena replied dryly. "There's a difference." Asena rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her small smile. "Besides, I told you to hold back when you got here and not to overdo it. And what do you do? Overdo it."
"Hey!" Faelan protested, placing her hands on her hips indignantly. "I was being heroic! Protective! All those good leader things!" She gestured dramatically.
"And besides, I did hold back." She countered. "You think if Jago were here, he would have held back? Knowing him, he probably would have transformed just because he likes the way he looks when he does it." She crossed her arms and slightly turned away from Asena in a slight childlike pout, sticking her nose in the air with a slight hmph.
Asena, with a mix of affection and annoyance, shook her head. "Oh, please, don't compare yourself to him either. At least when Jago transforms, he has an excuse—his wolf form actually makes him stronger." She walked over and flicked Faelan's forehead. "You're already ridiculously overpowered in your human state; you don't need to prove anything."
"Ow!" Faelan rubbed her forehead, looking genuinely hurt by the gesture. "That really stung, Asena! And is that what he told you!?' Faelan questioned her. "He knows damn well that he doesn't have to transform because he's already hell of strong without the wolf form. Hell, that's why he's a general!" Faelan replied. "I swear he does it, just so he can one-up me on being cool." She gritted her teeth.
The pups watched this exchange with growing fascination—their terrifying, all-powerful chief was reduced to having what amounted to a sibling squabble with her second-in-command.
"Wait," Koda interjected, still trying to wrap his head around everything. "Are you saying that General Jago is stronger than Chief Faelan?"
Before Asena could answer, Faelan interrupted her with an offended squawk.
"What?! No! Absolutely not!" She whirled around to face the pups, her blue eyes blazing with competitive fire. "Jago is not stronger than me! We're equals! Actually, I'm the chief! So that makes me stronger than him!"
Asena let out a long-suffering sigh, watching Faelan's dramatic outburst with patience. "Oh, here we go again with the whole 'I'm the chief, so I'm stronger' argument." She turned to the pups with an exasperated expression. "She's been having this same debate with herself for years now."
"It's not a debate!" Faelan protested, throwing her hands up in the air. "It's a fact! I'm the chief, therefore I'm the strongest! That's how it works!"
"Oh, I don't know about that, Chief." Asena drawled, clearly enjoying herself. "Remember last month's sparring match? Who ended up face-first in the dirt?"
Faelan's face flushed red, her hands clenching into fists as she stomped her foot like a teenage girl throwing a tantrum. "That was a Fluke! A fluke, Asena, and you know it! He just caught me off guard with that stupid surprise attack!" She spun around to face the pups again, desperate to defend her reputation. "And besides, I let him win because I felt bad for him. You know, male pride and all that."
"Uh-huh, "Asena's tone was completely unconvinced. "Is that what we're calling it now?"
Tala tugged on Naya's sleeve as the two adults continued their back-and-forth, whispering loud enough for everyone to hear," Um, is our chief always like this?"
"Unfortunately, yes," Asena replied before anyone else could answer. "Your fearless leader here has the emotional maturity of a twelve-year-old when it comes to competition."
"I do not!" Faelan shrieked, which only proved Asena's point. "I'm mature! I'm dignified! I'm—"
"Throwing a tantrum in front of injured children," Asena finished with her arms crossed.
Faelan grumbled something under her breath and turned away from her as Asena rolled her eyes, and Naya looked up at them.
"Um, guys, what about Jago?" she asked. "He's still out there fighting those things. There were a lot more than the ones that were chasing us." She told them.
"Yeah, and the leader was bigger than the one you beat, chief. A lot bigger." Koda stated as Faelan's eyes widened at the thought of Jago fighting something bigger than her prey.
"What!" Faelan exclaimed as she quickly grabbed Koda by the shoulders. "You tell me where he is now!" She insisted. "Come on tell me, tell me, tell me."She shook him as silly audible grunts came from Koda as he pointed towards the direction they came from.
"Hes...back....That....Way." He said as Faelan released him, causing him to fall on his butt as she turned in the direction the kids had run from.
"So, you think you can show me up, Jago?" She pressed her fist into her open palm."Fighting something bigger than what I beat!" She shouted as she ran off in the direction, leaving the kids and Asena looking dumbfounded as their chief disappeared into the woods."YOU GOT ANOTHER THING COMING!" Her words fading behind her.
Asena stared after Faelan's rapidly disappearing form, her mouth hanging open in disbelief. "Did she just—" She rubbed her temples with both hands. "That absolute moron! Ugh!" She groaned loudly. "Your chief, everyone—abandoning injured children to go prove she's stronger than her rival."
"She just left us," Koda stated flatly, still processing what had happened.
"To go fight a bigger monster," Tala added, her voice unsure of what to make of the situation.
"Because she was jealous." Naya finished, adjusting her grip on the still-unconscious Nuix.
Asena mumbled a few curse words under her breath as she walked over to where Nuix lay and gently knelt in front of them, her back towards them.
"Come on, let me carry him," Asena instructed.
Naya carefully transferred Nuix to Asena's back, the older woman adjusting her grip to ensure the injured pup was secure.
"There we go," She murmured, standing with ease despite the added weight.
"So, what do we do now?" Koda asked, glancing nervously in the direction that Faelan and the sounds of battle had gone.
"We're going to have to follow that idiot." Asena sighed, glancing back at the pups behind her. "I'm going to have to make sure those two don't level the entire forest and the village with their egos." She grumbled, but her eyes softened at the looks of the four remaining pups. "But you guys get to see firsthand how strong your chief and general are. So, this may be a good lesson for you."
[Back to Jago]
The woods where Jago was instructing the youngsters were completely ravaged. The ground was littered with fallen trees and scattered branches, alongside decaying corpses, as Jago perched on a sizable stone, his arms altered, now coated in black fur, with his hands morphing into wolf-like claws. His body was unchanged, but his black hair had grown, and his golden eyes appeared more untamed as he gazed at his foe.
A massive Blight beast, easily surpassing the size of the one Faelan had previously dealt with, confronted Jago, its growls filled with malice while Jago seemed unmoved by the creature's threats.
The beast circled Jago with malicious intent, its corrupt form dwarfing the surrounding trees. Black ichor dripped from its mouth as it sized up the partially transformed general, who sat casually on his stone perch, arms crossed as if he was enjoying the view.
"You know," Jago began, keeping his arms crossed. "I was having such a peaceful training session with the pups." His golden eyes tracked the beast's movement lazily. "Teaching them how to move as a pack, how to use the forest to their advantage, you know, the fundamentals." He tilted his head. "Then you and your pack had to go and ruin it."
The beast lunged without warning, jaws snapping toward Jago's position, who casually leaped out of the way before the creature could catch him as he landed a few feet away from it.
"Feisty one, aren't ya?" Jago questioned the beast, who only roared in response. "But just to let you know. You're not going to get anywhere if you're trying to kill me like that." Despite Jago's warning, which went unheeded, the creature attacked once more, but Jago reacted swiftly, raking his claws across its eye, causing a painful roar and a leap backward to create space.
"See I told ya, you're going to have to do better than that if you want to get passed me." He chuckled, but his amusement ceased when he noticed the beast's injury beginning to mend, causing his eyes to lift slightly. He casually put his right hand on his hip, observing the creature's complete recovery from its wound.
"Well, I'll be damn; that's new." He said to himself.
With disgusting, wet noises, the creature finished regenerating, its eye returning to normal as if Jago's claws hadn't harmed it. Black veins showcasing themselves pulsed beneath its corrupted hide, spreading outward like a network of poison.
"Interesting," He mused, his casual demeanor shifting slightly as he studied the creature. "The corruptions evolving. You're not just a regular Blight Beast anymore, are you?" His golden eyes narrowed, taking in the intelligence flickering behind the monster's gaze.
"Someone's been feeding you something special, haven't they? I wonder if it's the Order's doing?" He questioned himself as he continued to watch.
Jago's eyes widened, and dark blades materialized on the creature's forearms as its claws grew, letting out a loud howl and its form swelling, as if changing.
"Whoa," Jago spoke with a smile as the creature developed odd tribal markings, its teeth becoming pointier, its tail splitting in two, and its fur turning rough. "You don't see that every day. You really are full of surprises." Admiring the show as the beast finished its transformation, growling lowly at Jago.
"JAGO!" Faelan's voice echoed throughout the forest, causing Jago to calmly look back at the source of it. "JAGO! DON'T YOU DARE FIGHT THAT THING WITHOUT ME!" She screamed as she made her way towards the battlefield.
"And she comes," He smirks as Faelan leaps through the forest, landing solidly beside Jago, trying to make an entrance before turning to him.
"What the hell, Jago? Are you trying to upstage me by letting me fight smaller beasts?" She questioned him like a child. "While you try to hog the big one all to yourself?"
"Who me?" Jago pointed to himself. 'I would never do that; besides, I was just cleaning up here while the pups went to get you. And you made it just in time to meet my new friend here." Jago smiled as he gestured towards the beast in front of him. "Though your dramatic entrance could use a little work. Maybe crashing through the forest is a bit much."
Faelan's eye twitched at his nonchalant tone. "Don't you dare patronize me, Jago! And wipe that smug look off your face!"
"What smug look?" Jago asked innocently, his grin growing wider.
The transformed Blight Beast watched this exchange with growing irritation, its twin tails lashing violently as the two leaders bickered like children in front of it. The ichor dripping from its fangs continued to melt the ground it stood on as it let out a bone-rattling roar that shook the nearby trees.
"Oh, right," Faelan growled, finally acknowledging the massive creature. "You're here."
"Yeah, and it looks pretty pissed off," Jago added, folding his arms, his expression growing serious. "I don't know, though. This one isn't like the others. I just watched it regenerate, and it just transformed into this right before you got here."
"Well, that's definitely different." Faelan states, mimicking Jago by placing a hand on her hip as well. "It's bad enough that these things are popping up more often. Now they're evolving as well." Her competitive nature slightly faltered in the face of a real situation.
"Yeah, something's up," Jago added as he glanced over at Faelan. "You think the Order is behind this?"
"I wouldn't doubt it," Faelan cracked her knuckles, standing beside Jago as her blue eyes gleamed with excitement. "But we can find out later after we pound this thing into the ground."
Jago smirked as he looked down at her. "First one to land the killing blow wins?" As he uncrossed his arms and tensed his muscles a bit.
"Oh, you're on," Faelan smirked as the massive beast let off a loud roar as the battle between the Blight Beast and the General and Chief of Fenris Reach was about to begin.