Syaoran listened the princess and didn't move from his bed, sitting on it while supporting his back on its headboard. There was nothing much to do while he was waiting for the girls, so Syaoran decided to guess the book titles from the bookshelves. Even from that distance, he could read the titles. And of course, they were in another language, but he could decipher some words like "medicine" and "treatment" here and there, due some similarities with a language that he studied before, in Clow's country. He tried to get distracted like that for some more minutes, since learning other languages was ever interesting for him.
Suddenly he hears the front door opening and Fay's voice saying "tadaima". Heh, Fay always tried to stay energetic all the time, even if it meant to be noisy.
But soon after, it seemed that everybody was louder than the normal: he could hear their conversations as if he was there, alongside them. Well, maybe that was because the pub was bigger than he thought and that was the result of an echo.
Nonetheless, that seemed not to be the case. The more Syaoran kept listening their chatting and laughs, the more he was convinced that those weren't echoes; it wasn't feeling like reverberations or sounds coming from far, no, it was sounding like he was really right there next to them.
While he wondered what was happening, Syaoran couldn't avoid overhearing Fuu's statement about Kurogane believing in magic and her subsequent excuse. Now he hears light footsteps climbing up the stairs, and from what he have heard before, they belonged to Fuu-san and princess Sakura.
Seconds later, his assumption became reality when he sees the girls entering his room.
"Here Syaoran-kun. We've bought your tea". Says a delighted Sakura.
Upon looking at Sakura's smile, Syaoran thoughts about that strange event instantly vanishes and he accepts the cup given by her. He thanks Sakura and looks at the content of it. Syaoran have never saw a red tea, but it looked beautiful and he decides to give it a try.
And Indeed, it was delicious.
"How is it?" asked Fuu.
"It is delicious, thank you. How is it called?"
"It's a Yunnan tea, one of my favorites." Fuu blinks jokingly.
Sakura watches Syaoran drinking the tea, which reminds her of what she wanted to ask him earlier: "Syaoran-kun, what is your favorite tea?"
Syaoran smirks. "Hm… I've never tasted a tea that I didn't like yet, but I think that would be the Oolong tea, princess."
Sakura grins graciously but Fuu seems a bit confused, after all what is an Oolong tea?
Meanwhile, in a clinic in front of the downtown's square, Taro was still looking for the medicine for Fay. It was taking longer than he initially thought it would.
"Hm… where was the last time that I saw that ointment? For the godness, it shouldn't be so difficult!"
Surely it shouldn't. Taro's clinic wasn't so big to begin with, which was enough for such small place like Rija Town. Nevertheless, he made sure that his clinic had almost everything in most of emergency cases: exam tables, operating tables, IV poles… you name it. All that was not just due Taro's eagerness to help his patients in any way he could, but also because of the wolves. Wolves were always usual in Rija's town forests, as in any other cities, however their attacks increased a lot these last four months. It's true that most of the victims have survived now, yet there is a mysterious pattern that happens with the survivors after some time, which causes Taro still didn't discovered, but he was willing to find out.
All of a sudden, several bangs on the clinic's door interrupts Taro's quest; it seemed desperate.
"Doctor Taro! Doctor Taro! For godness sake, are you there?!"
Now Taro was sure of it. He doesn't think twice and hurries to answer the door. When he reaches it, he opens it as fast as he can and the first thing he looks before him is something much worse than he imagined: a fainted man with one of his arms ripped off being supported by another desperate looking man. Even with his arm bandaged, poorly but yet bandaged and bloodied, the victim was bleeding heavily, to the point that it was still spilling on the ground.
Taro didn't need further explanation.
"Hurry! Bring him in!"
The man then brings the victim in, with the help of Taro. Seconds later, they are already in the surgery room. Next, both put the victim on the surgery table and as soon as they do it, Taro quickly rushes to the cabinets to take his coat and instruments.
The man was left alongside the victim, looking at him desperately, but still determined to do anything to save him. "Please doctor! You must save my friend! He was attacked by a wolf!"
Hours passed and soon the night came. The city looks like a desert if compared to earlier; only a handful people were daring to walk those streets, and they were going to the same direction: the White Hart Pub.
Artificial lights were coming from its windows, illuminating horses and even a carriage which are parked next to the entrance. You didn't need a good hearing to notice the loud noises coming from the inside.
The pub now is brimming with people, most of them are male and looked friendly, but you didn't need to waste much time to find a few dangerous looking people too. Sounds of mugs clinking and indistinguishable conversations were being heard everywhere in the hall. Though that didn't mean that nobody could be understood, especially when they decided to shout.
"Fay-san, please serve this appetizer to the table 3."
"Hai hai, ma'am!" replies an energetic Fay. Since he was dressing waiter clothes, nobody was giving him weird looks and treating him as a foreigner like before. Furthermore, Fay wasn't the only one: Sakura was dressing a cloth similar to Fuu's, but the apron had a pink color. Kurogane too was wearing the same clothes as Fay's: a white shirt with long sleeves, a charming black bow tie, and of course, black tuxedo trousers. Although they were well dressed for their jobs, Kurogane wasn't too happy to being forced to wear that stuff, but he endured it anyway.
Fuu was behind the bar, serving the drinks and orienting Sakura.
"I'm sorry that I have asked you and your friends to help me, Sakura-chan. One of our waiters got sick and the pub is way more crowded today than usual." As a complement to her apologize, Fuu bows a little.
Sakura right away shows her opened hands to Fuu, shaking them in an embarrassed way. "Ah no, please. It's the least that we should do after you and Taro-san helped us so much. By the way, did Taro-san called you yet?"
"No, but I'm used to this kind of thing already, it happens sometimes. Probably while he was in the clinic, a patient visited him. I just hope it is nothing serious..."
"Hey young ladies! Can you get more Palinkas for me and my friends here?" shouts a voice coming somewhere from the crowd.
That's when Fuu and Sakura finish their talking and get back to work. In contrast, Kurogane was just standing somewhere next to the banquete of the fireplace, where a group of three man and two woman were seating. After all, the mage and the other waiter seem to be doing great without his help for now, and Kurogane felt the need to investigate that group in particular. That's because since that people came in, Kurogane didn't take his eyes off them, and that was not just due they were carrying swords and bows with them, but they were giving a suspicious feeling as well. Those people just asked some beers now and then, yet they were murmuring, as if trying to not get heard. However they were unlucky to have a ninja as one of the waiters, because for Kurogane it didn't matter how low they were speaking, from that distance he could hear them clearly.
"Ginjou, are you sure that the place what we are looking for is one of those mountains north from here? I don't wanna adventure in a forest nested with wolves for nothing."
"How many times do I have to tell you Risa? The map that I got is the real thing, trust me! Besides, I don't think that they would call those mountains "the godness' nest" for nothing."
"I swear Ginjou, if we don't find anything there I'll cut your throat myself!"
"Now listen here guys, where others failed, we will prevail. We will find the feather and get our wishes realized, just be patient!"
"Feather and wishes uh? It seems that that mage will be busy for a little more time." With that, Kurogane doesn't move from his spot and keeps silent, trying to listen further.
While the clients were loudly having fun at the hall, a light was coming from a bedroom upstairs. Syaoran is still sitting on the bed and Mokona decided to keep company for him. Right now, Mokona was looking at the bookshelves, as if looking for a book.
"Hm… I don't know how to read these words, Syaoran."
"Don't worry Mokona, I'm looking at the book right now. Just look three books away from you, there... just above you. It's that black one with golden letters on its spine." said Syaoran while pointing a finger at the bookshelf.
"Puu! I found it! I found it!" Mokona was enthusiastic for being able to help Syaoran; not just for being his friend, but because Syaoran was needing to brighten up. He was still a bit downhearted by knowing that he is the cause of their delay in the travel.
Without much difficult, Mokona gets the book and hops on the bed to deliver it to Syaoran. Now with that book within his hands, Syaoran confirms that he didn't read it wrong. The title written on the book's spine was the same as its cover. It was written in a language slightly different from the medical books that he saw earlier, and coincidentally he was able to read it better because of that. Maybe that's because it is written in a more archaic way.
"Can you read what is written, Syaoran?" asks Mokona.
"I think I can Mokona. If I'm not wrong, the title of the book says "The Song of Godness" ".
"Puu! What an interesting title! Maybe it's a novel book! Can you read it for me, Syaoran?" Mokona becomes excited just of thinking that Syaoran would read a story for him. He loved stories!
"I'm not sure Mokona, but let's take a look." smiles Syaoran while petting Mokona.
Once Syaoran opens the book he sees a stylish drawing of a big bird. Both its wings were opened as if it was flying away from the page. The wings and the rest of the bird's feathers had a lively red color, as if they were designed to look like they were on fire. A long and beautiful crest crowning its head was giving a more majestic appearance to it. And together with a graceful and long tail, it gave a finishing touch to that beautiful bird. Looking the way that that picture was drew, it was difficult to imagine that it was just a novel.
"Puu! It's so beautiful!" smiles Mokona. Syaoran happily agrees and proceeds with the reading. At the first page, he notices the same type of writing from the title and manages to read the first words, reading it loudly for Mokona as well:
"Thus Have I Heard: in the beginning when there was only darkness and void, Godness descended from Her celestial abode. As she looked at the nothingness, a sadness got hold of Her heart and out of compassion, She sang. As She sang, a light came over from Her mouth, separating the light from the darkness. She saw that that was good. So Godness soared those skies, and as She did it, several rocks of every size and kind were formed behind Her trail. And She saw that that was good. Then Godness flapped Her wings, creating a wind that swept over the face of those floating lifeless rocks. And as the wind passed through those rocks, they brought forth vegetation for some and light for others. The ones with plants She called planets and the ones with only the light She called stars. Godness saw everything that She had made, and it was very good. Thus, Godness looked at Her work and admired it. And as Godness admired her work, a single planet attracted her attention. So Godness decided to land on that planet. That planet was brimming of beautiful trees and plants of all kinds, and out of joy, a tear drops from Her eye. That drop formed oceans and rivers. And She became even more delighted. Then Godness embraced that planet with Her wings and created all kinds of life. And She saw that that was very good and that Her work was finished. Thus Godness flew from that planet and as a parting gift, She left the tiniest of Her feathers behind as..." Syaoran stops the reading and looks again at those last words again... a feather?
"Syaoran, what is wrong?"
"I know that it can be just a coincidence, but maybe the Godness feather is one of Sakura's."
"Perhaps if we ask Taro and Fuu they can tell us something about it."
"Yeah, I agree. After Fuu-san finishes her work and Taro-san comes back I'm gonna ask them. Thanks Mokona." and Syaoran pats Mokona, for Mokona's delight.
That night went without major problems, unless when one of the drunkard clients thought that it would be fun to play the tough guy and pick on Kurogane. Fuu and Fay had to make a huge effort for him to cool down, but they managed it very well.
The sun has already risen and everyone in the pub is waking up. Since Taro didn't come back, Syaoran slept in his bedroom, and Fuu managed to distribute the rest of them in the other bedrooms.
Sakura was using one of Fuu's pajamas; it was a bit longer on her but it was enough. As Sakura walks through the corridor, she notices that the other doors are opened, including Taro's. Happily, Sakura enters that bedroom, knowing that Syaoran has already woke up. And indeed, he is.
"Good morning Syaoran-kun! How are you feeling?" Sakura was delighted to see Syaoran well.
And he was feeling the same for her: "Good morning princess! I'm better, and you? Did you sleep well?"
"Uhum. Thanks to Fuu-san who borrowed me her pajamas, I've slept comfortably."
It was a bit funny to see Sakura wearing that long pajama, but he didn't want to say something that would tease her, so he just asked: "Have you eaten something yet?"
"No but..." suddenly Sakura widens her eyes at the same time she hits her opened right hand with her closed left hand. "That's right! Syaoran-kun, have you eaten your breakfast?"
"Not yet, why?"
"Because I'm gonna make something for you! Just wait here, I'll be back!"
"No princess, wait…!" But that was pointless, Sakura was already leaving the bedroom as soon as she told him that. Syaoran sighs. He was already tired of being left on that bed and being a hindrance for everyone, especially the princess. He is feeling well enough to walk around, but without something to support that leg he would barely walk and that would only make Sakura worry. Thinking about it, is Taro-san back yet?
At the hall, Fay, Kurogane and Mokona are sitting on the banquete while Fuu is in the kitchen, and apparently cooking something, since noises were coming from there. Sakura is seen walking down the stairs and going to where her friends are.
"Good morning!" says Sakura cheerfully.
"Good morning Sakura-chan, did you sleep well?" asks Fay smiling.
"Uhum. And you Fay-s..." a knock on the door interrupts Sakura and draws everyone else's attention.
"Hm… who must be?" asks Fay in fun.
"I'll find out." says Kurogane. Although he sounded serious, he wasn't annoyed; he just thought that it would be a good excuse to stretch his legs. Kurogane then opens the door and finds Taro in front of him, carrying a crutch under one of his arms and using a medical coat with some blood spilled on it. Before Kurogane could say anything, Taro takes the initiative: "Hello Kurogane-san! How are you doing?"
Kurogane raises an eyebrow before answering: "From what I see, not as bad as you."
"Ho ho ho! Unfortunately that's true!" and with that, Kurogane gives space for Taro to come in and closes the door behind him. Some steps are heard running from the kitchen, and seconds later Fuu gets to the hall. Taking the opportunity that everybody is there in front of him, Taro says: "Good morning, everyone!"
Upon seeing Taro wearing that coat covered in blood, Sakura couldn't hide her surprise: "Taro-san, what happened?"
"Ah dear, I'm sorry that I came here like this, but I usually bring my clothes to be washed here. You see, my clinic doesn't have a washing machine and..."
Then Fay raises his hand and interrupts Taro: "I'm sorry Taro-san, but I think that what Sakura-chan meant was what happened to you at the clinic."
"Ah! Well... I had to do an emergency surgery in a victim of a wolf attack."
"What?! Another one?!" shouts Fuu surprised.
"Unfortunately, yes."
"But Taro-san… how it did go?" asks Sakura, fearing the worse.
Taro didn't like to say things straightly, especially to young ladies like her, but he would rather do that than lying. His mournful eyes were foretelling his answer: "Lamentably he didn't survive the procedure. He was already in shock when he came to my clinic."
Silence surfaced. Though Sakura and the others didn't know the deceased, they presumed how horrible his last moments must have been. For Taro, even if he himself was more used to witness death than his current guests, it still brings him a feeling of melancholy. Of course he did all he could and even tried his best to console the family, through he was not good at it.
"Don't feel guilty for trying your best. If he died anyway, it was something unavoidable." that came from a voice behind Taro. For Kurogane, death is not unusual as well. Of course, he respected the feeling of grief, but it was not fair for that doctor to feel guilty too after he tried to save his patient's life.
Taro sighs, appreciating Kurogane's gesture: "That's true. Thank you, Kurogane-san."
He then looks at everyone and tries to change the subject: "Well, since we are talking about my job, let me resume it. Fay-san, this bottle here is for your foot". Taro gets near to Fay and takes a bottle from his coat's pocket. Next, he puts on Fay's hands: "Just spread the ointment on your foot twice a day and it will help you to feel less pain and to recover faster".
To repay the favor, Fay grins and says: "Thanks, Taro-san."
But Taro was not finished yet: "And here is a crutch for Syaoran-kun. Now, I'm sure that he is anxious to use it as soon as possible, but I will need to take a look at him first before handing this to him." With that, Taro proceeds to the stairs, being followed by Sakura and the rest. However, seconds later, he suddenly stops, making everyone to stagger: "Oh, I'm sorry, I almost forgot. Fuu dear, can you take my coat with you, please? I don't wish to astonish the boy."
Fuu takes the coat and walks to the outside, through the front door, leaving Taro and the rest of the group to climb the stairs. What they didn't know is that Syaoran was already expecting them. He have heard everything. Syaoran didn't even have to wait for them to move his head to the door's direction.
"Hello Syaoran-kun! How are you feeling today?" asked Taro as soon as he came in.
"Better Taro-san. Thanks. Uhn..." Syaoran notices the crutch under Taro's right arm, what is not overlooked by Taro: "Yes, I've brought a crutch for you, Syaoran-kun. But first, I need to be sure that you are well enough to use it. Can I take a look at you?"
"Yes, please."
Taro then lets the crutch aside and proceeds to the medical analysis. As he goes through it, Taro palpates Syaoran's arm and leg to evaluate the extent of his recovery, asking how much pain Syaoran was feeling each time he touched his injured limbs. In turn, Syaoran answered sincerely, because even if he wished to get up from that bed, he needed to know how is his actual condition and the extent of those injuries.
After a while, Taro stops and smiles.
"It seems you are well enough to use a crutch Syaoran-kun. But please, keep in mind that you are still recovering and don't push yourself. I'll keep an eye on you, boy." Taro said it in a lighter note, but he was not joking; after all, a fast recovery depends entirely on the patient and his care. In response, Syaoran just nodded positively his head. Taro saw this as a sign of Syaoran's commitment and decides to give the crutch to Syaoran. As soon as he accepts, Syaoran leaves the bed and tries to lean on it. It was somewhat clumsy to walk on that thing, but he felt that he would soon get used to it. Sakura smiles happily to him knowing that he was recovering so fast. And that smile reminds Syaoran that he desired her happiness more than anything. He will do his best to recover fast and retrieve her feather as soon as possible.
Within hours, Syaoran has already grasped the crutch to the point that he was even climbing and walking down the stairs without much difficult. It was afternoon, and Fuu, Sakura and Mokona were outside, taking care of the backyard, while Taro had left to work at his clinic. Only Fay, Kurogane and Syaoran remained at the hall, sitting all together at one of the tables. They have kept silent for a few moments, unsure of what to say at that time.
Until Fay decides to break the silence.
"So, what are we gonna do from now on?"
"That doctor let us stay here while the kid recovers, so at least we have a place to stay for the time being." Kurogane looked at Syaoran, as if waiting for a response.
"Fay-san, Kurogane-san, I'm sorry for all the trouble." Syaoran sincerely apologizes.
"Don't sweat it, kid. There was nothing that could have been done, we were caught on surprise." says Kurogane.
"It's true but now with me like this, how I'm going to recover Sakura's feather?"
Kurogane and Fay exchange glances, and Kurogane takes the lead again: "Yesterday I've heard some people talking about "the godness' nest" and a feather. Probably they were talking about the princess' feather."
Godness? Immediately Syaoran reminds those words from that book and becomes thoughtful.
"Hm… so that book's story may carry some truth..."
"A book?" asks Fay curiously.
"Yeah, me and Mokona have found it yesterday. It tells a legend about the creation of this world, and mentions a feather that was left behind by its godness."
"Well, it may be that the godness' nest story and that book's legend are related. There are too many coincidences to be ignored, even the mountain that those guys were referring to is located to where Mokona was pointing to. And since Sakura-chan's feathers are ever wrapped in some miraculous events wherever we go, the chances are that this feather is indeed one of hers. If we ask Fuu-chan or Taro-san, we may be able to find more information about it and narrow our search, instead of looking in the entire mountain range."
"Yes, but I still don't know what we can do after that..."
Fay sighs "And if things were not bad enough, we tried to contact Yuko, but it seems she is unavailable and..."
"Yeah I've heard from up there, Fay-san. Mokona couldn't contact Yuko-san, right? Do you know what happe..." Syaoran stops talking when he notices that Fay-san and Kurogane-san were exchanging surprised glances. Consternation were stamped on their faces.
"Uhn... I'm sorry, but what is wrong?"
Fay clears his throat while instinctively using a closed hand to cover his mouth, sorting out his feelings: "Well, Syaoran-kun… when we talked to Mokona we made sure that Fuu-chan didn't listen to us, so we were whispering at that time. How did you manage to listen to us?"
Now it was Syaoran turn to get surprised. Of course, that time they didn't sound so loud, but still it was enough to listen to all their words. If what Fay-san said was true, he shouldn't be able to listen to their conversation, since Fuu-san even closed the door as soon as she entered the bedroom.
"I… I don't know." Syaoran was visibly perturbed. That was not the first time that he had the impression that he was listening better than before.
"Syaoran-kun, are you all right?" asks a concerned Fay. Kurogane until now was silently looking at the kid, but for him clearly something was wrong.
Syaoran was too unsure to look directly at Kurogane-san or Fay-san, but decided to answer that question anyway. "I… to tell you the truth, that was not the only thing that I could hear. Since that time you all came back to the pub, I could hear you all."
"Even when we were talking to Sakura-chan and Fuu-chan?" asks Fay a bit surprised.
"Yes". Syaoran now looks at Fay, hoping that he may know something about that; after all he is a magician, isn't he? However for his disappointment, Fay keeps silent and gets thoughtful. Syaoran just hoped that he was thinking about answers, not questions.
Notwithstanding, Fay gives a more serious glance to Syaoran. "Can you hear something from outside? Maybe from where Fuu-chan and Sakura-chan are talking, can you hear them?"
"Well, now that you mentioned it… no, I can't hear them."
"Hm… that's strange indeed. I can't explain what has happened neither." With that, Fay shows his contemplative face and holds his chin with his fingers. He has never heard of something like that and if it was some kind of magic, he would have felt it even before it took place. Also, he can't say that Syaoran imagined things, because he guessed the issue of their chat correctly. In that case then…
"Well, if we don't know what it is, then there is nothing we can do unless to wait for it to happen again. So, next time that it happens Syaoran, please warn me ok?"
"Ok. Thank you, Fay-san". It wasn't what Syaoran wanted to hear, but it was better than nothing.
"It's settled then. But I wonder if those adventurers that Kuropon talked about will find the feather before us."
After hearing that it seems that Kurogane became so immersed in his thoughts that he even ignored the mage's joke. He didn't consider that he was thinking aloud when he said: "They will not."
Kurogane didn't mind to explain to those questioning eyes of his friends that by his experience he could tell that those adventurers were not seasoned warriors. On the other hand, if they were smart enough, they will leave that forest at the first sight of those "wolves" or whatever those beasts are called of.
Kurogane guessed it right, except for that last part.
Right at that moment, hours of distance from the north of the town, screams and furious growls could be heard somewhere in that forest.
A wounded woman carrying a western sword was defending her ground against three wolves. The gray furred animals were encircling her, as if evaluating that woman. Corpses of men and a woman were laying around her, reminding her of their mistakes and her fear. Still, suddenly, amidst the guts and blood soaked fleshes, she hears a whisper from one of the bodies.
"… I am sorry… Risa… you were… rig..." abruptly, the "corpse" spasms and gives a hacking cough, silencing his next words.
She clenches her teeth. If she lets her fear overwhelm her right now, it will be her end. Risa then furiously points her sword to the nearest of those wolves and yells: "No! I will not die here! Not like this!"
The wolf replies her with a sadistic grin and a guttural laughing comes out from it.
"You are brave, woman. But unless you are blind, you know that you are at disadvantage here. I'll make sure to take my time when I feast on you."
"If that happens, I will make sure that I will give you an indigestion, you damned beast!"
And yet, the wolf did not cease to grin. "Fu fu fu… obstinated aren't you? Then I will just have to make sure that that will not happen!" He howls. The other wolves then surround Risa, but stand still.
Suddenly, the sadistic wolf rushes to her direction on his four legs. However, Risa doesn't move and keeps her fighting stance, waiting for the incoming attack of the wolf. The heavy sounds of legs stepping on the ground were foretelling her that it was futile to take it head on.
When the wolf is just a few steps from Risa, he jumps towards her with opened jaws, aiming for her left ribs. Yet, Risa quickly moves and diverts from the wolf's fangs. The beast then simply get past her and, as soon as he lands, he turns and charges towards her, sprinting faster than Risa could follow up. Before she could even react, the wolf bites her left arm.
Instinctively, Risa waves her arm, trying to get rid of that damn wolf before the pain makes her falter. For her surprise, the beast let her arm go and swiftly moves some steps backwards. She saw there an opportunity to strike back.
Risa then dashes towards him, holding her sword as firmly as she could and ignoring the pain on her left arm. The wolf saw that coming and deviates as soon as her sword passes besides him, doing it so at ease as if he was mocking her. The animal then quickly stands on his two legs and tries to strike a blow with his claws on her torso. At that instant, Risa raises her sword in an attempt to block his claws, but the hit was so strong that her sword slips with the impact and let her receive some damage from those claws, ripping her clothes and flesh. Risa flinches and the wolf takes advantage of that moment of weakness to give her a punch, sending her flying to where the corpses are; making her landing just beside them. Those two consecutive attacks from that wolf were taking their toll now: Risa was already tired from the fighting until now and she had lost much blood before engaging in a fight with that beast; even her sight was getting blurred by each second. She tries to move her head and inadvertently looks at the corpses of her partners; Ginjou's lightless eyes are reminding her now of her unavoidable future. Will she share the same fate? Does she deserved to die just for believing in a legend that would bring her brother back? Die just like that…? Die...
"So that was it? That's all you have got, woman?" That was the wolf, who was already approaching her, smirking and showing those sharp fangs. There was nothing she could do now, she was going to die and…
Sharply, her eyes widens. She then lets her limbs loose on the ground; what didn't get away unnoticed by the wolf: "Ah, so we are giving up now, uh? You must be thinking that it's better accept a quick death and diminish your suffering than prolonging it, right? Well, let me tell you something..." the wolf was now next to her, lifting her from the ground by her neck and putting her head nearer to his, making she face him directly: "…I'm just getting started".
"Me too, motherfucker!" and Risa quickly swings her sword, stabbing the wolf in his belly. The wolf cries out a painful howl and casts Risa away, making her fall next to him.
"You bitch!" the wolf turns and hits Risa's jaw with a jab, leaving her unconscious on the ground.
The two wolves that decided to just watch the fight rushes to their companion. As soon as they reach him, they look at his belly and of course, it was bleeding a lot.
"Wow, Satoru. You messed it up, uh?"
The wolf growls furiously at both of them, what makes them move backwards a little.
"I will be fine you fools! I just need some time to heal. But now we have more important issues to take care of. Rafu, you will help me to carry the bodies and the girl back."
"Wait! Are we gonna take the girl back with us?"
"If we don't she will get back to the town and things will get even more difficult to deal with. Don't you forget about that boy that you guys crossed with, you idiot."
"Ah! Don't come with that shit again, Satoru! I already told you that I would have died if I stayed there."
"Enough! Just stop your whining and help me out." Satoru then points to the other wolf "And you Yori, get back to the borders of the forest and keep an eye on the movements of the townsfolk and anyone who arrives to that town. Milady doesn't want any surprises until the day comes, understand? Try to not get seen, and if you see any hunter arriving in the town, warn us."
Yori only replies nodding his head positively.
"And one more thing: if a human finds you, kill him right away and eat him or get rid of the body. Don't joke around and let any victims flee like you did yesterday. The day is getting close anyway, so we don't need any more survivors by now."
Without further words, Yori moves out from that place, leaving Satoru and Rafu to pick up the bodies and the girl. At that moment, the sun is close to start to set, but it is still shining brightly on the treetops of that forest.