Chapter 2
Anjali
The light outside the cave was blinding. "Is it always this bright out?" I asked. The Magister looked up at the sun and said "It's mostly cloudy today so the sun will soon be hidden. I guess your little stay in the cave didn't help your eyesight very much." For a few minutes the sun blinded me but, like the Magister had said, it disappeared behind a large cloud and didn't surface again. We had walked only a few miles from the cave and it had all been up hill. Now that I could see I looked around the area.
We were standing on a large hilltop surrounded by grassy fields. On our left the grass stretched as far as the eye could see and in the distance you could see the outline of mountains. On our right there was a small cottage. The cottage was so small it likely had only one room. Outside they had a small farm, rows and rows of different plants all packed together into the small fenced-in area. On the other side of the cottage was a small horse barn. The barn was so small that only one horse could probably fit into it comfortably.
We ignored the cottage and continued on our way. Eventually the grassy plains were replaced by trees and shrubs. Orange and yellow leaves covered the path and every step made a loud crunching sound.
Eventually the sun dipped below the horizon and the moon rose to take its place. Duncan walked out in front holding a torch so the others could see. The Magister was discussing directions with Odo as they constantly pointed at the small map they had. I just stayed back and watched. I didn't need the torch to see where I was going so I hung back in the dark and looked at my surroundings. The trees were large with long menacing shadows that danced in the torch light. As I watched the shadow's silent dance I saw something in the forest dart between the trees. I slowed so I could get a better look.
A low moving shadow crept toward my small group. It was then joined by several others appearing from the trees and shrubs, as though the forest itself gave birth to them. The others must have noticed me staring because before long they noticed the shadows too and had drawn there weapons. Duncan had given his torch over to the Magister and now had his large sword gripped in both hands. Odo also had his two daggers out and ready, his eyes constantly sweeping the forest.
The shadows had stopped moving and were now watching us. They all stayed away from the light of the torch so they blended together and it made it hard to count how many there were. Eventually one of the shadows crept forward into the light and we finally say what it was that surrounded us. "Wolves" muttered Duncan as he looked at the beast. The wolf had long matted fur that stuck to its body and showed its ribs. It also had fur as black as night and large yellow fangs shaped into a snarl. It looked like it was the biggest wolf of them all and it had its gaze fixed on us.
Then, without warning, the shadows jumped into the ring of light and attacked. Several of the wolves jumped toward Duncan but he swung his sword and cut through them as though they were made of paper. A few wolves tried to slip around and attack him from behind but Odo appeared before they had the chance. The twin daggers cut through the thick fur of the wolves and sent them running back into the forest.
The largest wolf had turned away from the two warriors and was instead walking toward the Magister. So far he had managed to keep the snarling beasts at bay with his torch but the Alpha wolf didn't care about the light. He and his pack had managed to back the Magister into a tree and quickly surrounded him. The Alpha was ready to lunge at the man when I decided to finally step in.
I whistled loudly and the Alpha snapped his gaze to me. I was still standing alone in the dark and the wolf took one look at me and decided I was the easier meal. The Alpha turned and walked toward me along with the rest of the wolves. Only a few stayed behind, to intent on their pray to notice. The whole pack soon surrounded me but I wasn't afraid. I knew what would happen next. The Alpha jumped toward my throat, mouth wide and fangs flashing, but before he reached his prize my fist came up and smashed into his jaw. The beast went from jumping toward me to flying back from me in the space of a split second.
The Alpha now lay sprawled on his back trying to move his now broken jaw. The beast tried and tried but the jaw hung limply just barely attached to the rest of his face. The Alpha looked at me with a burning hatred few could match. The beast knew he would die without his jaw so he gave into his anger and lunged toward the strange creature that had caused him all this pain. The Alpha slammed into me and I staggered back a few steps. The other wolves saw this and rushed to take advantage of it.
One wolf sank his teeth into my left leg and another into my right. The Alpha was on his feet and doing his best to knock me down. He paced just outside of the ring of wolves waiting for an opportunity. I meanwhile was too busy dealing with the wolves to give him much thought. I swung at the wolf that clung to my left leg. His skull caved in under the blow and his body went limp. Then I aimed at the other wolf on my right leg but he had seen what had happened and ran off into the forest. The Alpha noticed this and gave an odd gurgling sound that was likely supposed to be a growl before turning back to me. The other wolves were still trying to snap at me and the Alpha saw his chance.
He lunged for my legs, attempting to trip me, but I saw it coming. I stepped back before the Alpha's claws reached me and kicked him in the ribs. A loud cracking sound filled the air and the Alpha flew backwards and landed on the ground with a loud thud. The remaining wolves took one glance at the Alpha's still body and ran into the forest leaving there injured, whining pitifully, behind. Odo went around killing the remaining injured wolves. Duncan and the Magister were keeping lookout in case the wolves came back.
I walked over to the Alpha and placed my hand on his matted fur. The beast had put up a good fight and I was honored to have fought him. As I kneel next to the once Alpha wolf his eyes open. The wolf was still alive. The Alpha turned his eyes to look at me and instead of anger in his eyes I saw pain. The beast was in a terrible amount of agony. I reached over and gently grabbed his head and, before more pain could come, I snapped his neck. The look of pain in his eyes glazed over and the beast was finally dead.
The Magister sat down next to me and stared at the limp beast in my hand. He seemed hesitant, like he wanted to ask me something but was afraid to. "Spit it out" I said "You obviously want to say something". The Magister looked surprised for a moment but then smiled "Well I do want to say something but I'm not sure how to phrase it". I turned to look at him in surprise. The Magister just shrugged "I suppose I'll just come out and say it" he said and turned to look at me "Thank you for saving my life". I was unsure of what to say so I stayed silent and just nodded. I laid the great wolf's head on the ground and closed his eyes. After a few seconds I rose and the Magister followed.
Duncan and Odo were both fine. They managed to escape with only a few bruises while the Magister had a slight cut on his upper arm. The two bite marks on my legs ached but didn't bleed. The wolves never managed to break the skin.
There may have been more of the hungry beasts in the area so we decided to push on to the nearest village. The sun was beginning to rise above the horizon when we saw the village. It was a good sized place with lots of small houses and a few farms. We stayed in the forest to plan our next move.
Eventually, after much debate, a plan was made. Duncan and Odo would go into the village and gather some supplies while the Magister waited further in the forest with me. The Magister was back to his happy chatty self and was trying his best to talk my ear off. When Duncan and Odo finally came back it was a relief because it meant he had someone else to chat with and I could sneak away to the far side of the camp for some peace and quiet.
After the supplies had been put away Duncan informed us that there was an inn near the center of the village. "It would be a safe and comfortable place to spend the night" he said. Odo nodded "It's as secure as they get in these parts and we won't have to worry about bandits slitting our throats in the middle of the night". The Magister thought about it for a few seconds before nodding "At the very least it will be warmer then sleeping outside" he claimed.
"What about me?" I asked. The others then remembered that I was a bit too conspicuous to walk around a village without giving people a heart attack. Oddly enough it was Odo who came up with an answer "What if we cover you with armor and sneak you in when it gets darker. There will be less people around to notice you then and we can use a hood to hide your horns."
The others agreed with the plan and sent Duncan into the village to find some armor. He came back an hour later with a set of leather armor and a hood made from black wolf pelts. Everyone smiled when they saw the hood and were thankful that it managed to hide my horns and most of my face. After I put the armor on they claimed I looked like a hunter. The thick leather clung to me like a second skin but at least it wouldn't draw attention. Duncan also got a bow and quiver to help sell the disguise. While we waited for the sun to go down Odo showed me how to make arrows for the bow using the items he keeps in his bag.
Sometime around dusk we started packing up our things and entered the village. Odo was right when he said there would be less people out at night, the village was practically empty, only a few people wondered about while the others were sleeping away in their homes. As a result we made it to the inn without too much trouble. The inn was only two stories high and the door leading to the second floor was so low that everyone except Odo had to duck under it. The Magister had gotten us a room just large enough for all of us to sleep in and even brought up some food. The mattress in the corner went to the Magister while Duncan and Odo rolled out there bed rolls in the corner. I sat with my back against the door and waited until they were all asleep.
Soon enough the soft sounds of sleep filled the room. The window in the room didn't let in much light but I didn't need it for I could see just as easily in the dark as in the light. Odo lay in the corner, silent as a mouse, while Duncan, lying opposite of him, snored louder than a bear. The Magister, lying on the mattress in the corner, was muttering to himself and here I was, sitting in front of the door unable to sleep. As I sat there my mind wondered. How would I get home? Who was this mystery man we were going to see? Why would he help me? Question after question with no answers in sight. What was it the Magister said 'If you never ask you never learn?' If that were true then should I ask him? Or just wait and see? Eventually my eyelids felt heavier and heavier and I slowly drifted off to sleep without ever realizing it.