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Chapter 93: The Law of the Pack

Chapter 93: The Law of the Pack

Day Two.

“MICHAEL!”

The shout reverberated in my mind, reaching me even in the depths of oblivion.

“MICHAEL!”

The cry came again. Loud. Insistent. My mind was helpless to resist its call, and I was unceremoniously yanked out of the sea of unconsciousness into which I’d sunk.

I surfaced back into awareness.

Who… is… that?

Thinking was hard. Pain riddled my every thought, and I wanted nothing more than to return to the comforting embrace of darkness. But something held me to consciousness. Some instinct warned me that letting the reins of myself slip again was dangerous.

“MICHAEL!”

It was Aira. This time I noticed the strained note in her voice. Images of the last moments flashed through my mind. I was in the glade.

Dying.

“Aira…?”

I tried to open my eyes and thought I had managed it, but I still couldn’t see for some reason.

“Michael,”

the dire wolf replied, her relief palpable.

“Drink a potion.”

My thoughts flowed about as fast as molasses dripped, and I struggled to make sense of Aira’s words. Why did I need to drink a potion? There was something I knew I should remember, something important.

My foe.

“Where… wyvern?”

“Forget the dragonkin,”

Aira said

. “It has been dealt with. You must heal yourself. Sulan has slowed the toxin’s spread, but she has not the strength to defeat it entirely. You are still dying.”

The wyvern was dead. That was good. But who was Aira talking about?

“Sulan?”

Another voice barged into my mind. Vast. Annoyed.

“Ignorant whelp,”

she snapped. “

Focus on the here and now. The rest is immaterial. Do as Aira commands, pup, or I will cease my efforts on your behalf.”

That was Sulan, I guessed. She was right too. My questions could wait for later. I brought up one hand slowly, blindly feeling for the potion belt strapped across my chest.

“Further to your right,”

Aira said helpfully.

My fingers clasped a flask. With some difficulty, I unstoppered it, but even that small task drained me, and I wasn’t sure if I had the energy to bring it to my mouth.

Jaws—Aira’s, I sensed—clamped down on my hand and gently guided the flask to my lips.

“Thank you,”

I murmured as the potion’s contents slipped down my throat.

New strength flooded me. My thoughts quickened, and the haze around my mind dissipated.

You have restored yourself with a moderate healing potion. You are no longer blind. You are no longer dazed. Your health is at 35%.

“Well done, pup,”

Sulan said.

My eyes cleared slowly. I blinked, bringing the blurred shapes around me into focus. I was still in the glade and lying on my back. Light streamed down from the trees above. It was morning.

I turned my head to the right and saw a wolf sitting on her haunches. Aira. I met the dire wolf’s eyes and nodded in greeting.

Turning the other way, I saw a second dire wolf on my other side. She was the same size as Aira, about four feet tall, but where Aira’s coat was pitch black, hers was snow white. She was older too. Despite the startling color of her fur, it did not hide the gray around her muzzle.

“Sulan?”

I queried.

The wolf’s mouth dropped open, revealing yellowing teeth.

“Well met, wolfkin.”

Her greeting had a ring of formality to it. I attempted to respond in kind.

“You have my thanks, lady.”

Sulan snorted.

“I’m no human lady, pup. You can address me as pack elder.”

I inclined my head in acknowledgment. Planting my elbows on the ground, I tried to get up, but my body failed me. My limbs were as weak as a day-old babe’s. I fell back down, chest heaving.

“Don’t try to move,”

Aira said.

“The toxin has not released its hold on you yet.”

I glanced at her in surprise.

“It’s still in me?”

“I could not purge it entirely,”

Sulan answered.

“The venom was too strong. It was all I could do to slow it down. I will continue to keep the toxin at bay, but it is up to you to keep up your strength.”

I nodded.

Drink another potion,”

the elder ordered.

I did as she bade, then turned my attention inwards, querying the Adjudicator on my status.

Your health has increased to 60%. Current Debuffs: You are infected by an unknown toxin. Current Buffs: Sulan has cast helping hand upon you, halting the toxin’s spread by absorbing a portion of its damage.

Startled by the Game’s response, my eyes flew back to the white wolf. Now that I looked closer, I noticed a minute trembling in her limbs.

“Stop,”

I protested.

“It’s killing you. Let me fight the venom off on my own.”

Sulan snorted again.

“You would only fail. Besides, it is my duty, pup. The old must look after the young—even the foolish young. It is the way of the pack.”

Despite her words, there was a gleam in the ancient wolf’s eyes. My words had pleased her, I thought.

“So, what do we do now?”

“We wait for the toxin to run its course,”

Aira said

. “Sooner or later, your body will flush out the venom.”

I closed my eyes. It was not good news, but it was a damn sight better than being dead. Raising my head, I surveyed the glade and frowned. My foe’s corpse was nowhere to be seen.

“Where is the wyvern?”

“It fled at our approach,”

Sulan said.

“A hatchling is no match for the full might of the pack. Duggar and the rest of our warriors are chasing it down even now.”

If I had the energy, I would have howled in frustration. How was the damn wyvern still not dead? Biting back my disappointment, I asked instead,

“Who is Duggar?”

“The pack’s leader,”

Aira answered.

“Ah,”

I said, wondering where Oursk was.

Before I could question the pair further, Sulan growled.

“That’s enough questions for now. Rest,”

she ordered,

“before you undo all our hard work.”

Well aware of the damage the elder wolf was sustaining on my behalf, I didn’t argue. Letting my head fall back into the grass, I closed my eyes and entrusted myself to the dire wolves’ care.


It was only a little later that my slumber was disturbed by a slew of Game messages.

A green wyvern hatchling has died.

You have reached level 30!

Congratulations, Michael! You are now a rank 3 player. For achieving rank 3, you have been awarded 1 additional attribute point.

You are no longer infected by an unknown toxin.

My lips curved upwards. The wyvern was finally dead, and its horrifying toxin was defeated. Even better, I’d gained from the kill despite not striking the final blow myself. Keeping my eyes closed, I spent my attribute points and reviewed my player growth.

Your Dexterity has increased to rank 15, your Mind to rank 8, and your Constitution to rank 8.

Player Profile: Michael

Level: 30. Rank: 3. Current Health: 100%.

Stamina: 100%. Mana: 100%. Psi: 100%.

Species: Human. Lives Remaining: 3.

Marks: Wolf-brethren, Lesser Shadow, Lesser Light, Lesser Dark.

Attributes

Available: 0 points.

Strength: 2. Constitution: 8. Dexterity: 15. Perception: 8. Mind: 8. Magic: 0. Faith: 0.

Classes

Available: 1 point.

Primary-Secondary Bi-blend: Mindstalker.

Tertiary Class: None.

Traits

Psi wolf heritage:

+2 Dexterity, +2 Strength, +4 Mind.

Beast tongue:

can speak to beastkin.

Marked:

can see spirit signatures.

Nocturnal:

perfect night vision.

Skills

Available skill slots: 0.

Dodging

(current: 33. max: 150. Dexterity, basic).

Sneaking

(current: 43. max: 150. Dexterity, basic).

Shortswords

(current: 41. max: 150. Dexterity, basic).

Two weapon fighting

(current: 36. max: 150. Dexterity, advanced).

Light armor

(current: 28. max: 80. Constitution, basic).

Thieving

(current: 1. max: 150. Dexterity, basic).

Chi

(current: 23. max: 80. Mind, advanced).

Meditation

(current: 32. max: 80. Mind, basic).

Telekinesis

(current: 20. max: 80. Mind, advanced).

Telepathy

(current: 19. max: 80. Mind, advanced).

Insight

(current: 34. max: 80. Perception, basic).

Deception

(current: 11. max: 80. Perception, master).

Abilities

Crippling blow

(Dexterity, basic).

Simple charm

(Mind, basic).

Stunning slap

(Mind, basic).

Basic analyze

(Perception, basic).

Minor backstab

(Dexterity, basic).

One-step

(Mind, basic).

Lesser trap detect

(Perception, basic).

Basic trap disarm

(Dexterity, basic).

Simple lockpicking

(Dexterity, basic).

Conceal small weapon

(Perception, basic).

Minor reaction buff

(Mind, basic).

Simple mindsight

(Class, basic).

Known Key Points

Sector 14,913 exit portal and safe zone.

Equipped

common thief’s cloak

(+3 sneaking).

spider’s bite shortsword

(+15% damage, webbed), concealed.

shortsword,+1

(+15% damage, +10 shortswords), in fighter’s sash.

common fighter’s sash

(+3 shortswords).

enchanted leather armor set

(+20% damage reduction, -4 Dexterity).

slotted-potion belt

(3 minor heal, 2 moderate heal, 1 full heal, 4 empty).

Backpack Contents

26 x field rations.

2 x flask of water.

2 x iron daggers.

1 x bedroll.

2 x moderate healing potions.

1 x coin pouch.

1 x keyring.

1 x basic fire-starting kit.

1 x Catalog of Skills and Abilities.

1 x blood siphon master Class stone.

Woolen rags.

Bank Contents

Money

: 46 gold, 4 silvers, and 9 coppers.

2 x full healing potions.

2 x basic steel shortswords.

I’d gained two more levels, and my skills had advanced again. As dangerous as the valley was, it was proving an excellent training ground.

Perhaps this forest isn’t so bad after all,

I thought.

Especially if I have allies to call on for aid.

Sensing a presence by my side, I opened my eyes.

Aira and Sulan were gone.

In their place was the largest dire wolf I had yet seen. Sitting on his haunches, the black-furred beast topped my own height. Standing, he would tower over even Oursk.

This has to be Duggar.

“Greetings, pack leader,” I said pleasantly.

There was no response.

Still and unmoving, the large dire wolf stared down at me. His winter gray eyes were cold and unwelcoming, and even though he made no threatening gesture, the beast exuded an air of menace.

I felt myself tense in response. If I had hackles, they would’ve been standing on their ends.

There is danger here.

Had I done something to offend the wolf? My eyes darted to the left and right, searching for Aira or even Sulan. Only now did it occur to me to wonder why they had left.

My gaze returned to the silent beast. I rose warily to my feet. If there was going to be a confrontation, I didn’t want to face it lying down. The pack leader tracked my movements, his gaze disdainful.

“You have endangered my pack.”

The words lanced into my mind, each a sharp spike of pain resonant with anger.

I winced and rubbed my temples. “It was not my intent,” I said aloud.

“Intent matters little. Only actions count.”

I couldn’t argue with that, and I didn’t try. “I beg the pack’s forgiveness.”

Duggar studied me for a moment longer before rising to his feet and turning away.

“You will leave now and never return.”

My heart sank. However I’d imagined this meeting going, it was not like this. Still, I couldn’t let the pack leader just walk away. I needed the wolves’ aid. More desperately than I was willing to admit. “Wait! Please.”

Pausing, Duggar looked over his shoulder to stare at me.

“I need your help.”

“I have already risked my kin once to aid you. I will not do so again. The hatchling’s mother will hunt us now. Many will die.”

I licked my lips, suddenly realizing the significance of Duggar’s earlier words. Given the difficulty I’d had battling the hatchling, the damage a full-grown wyvern could do didn’t bear thinking upon. The pack had sacrificed more than I suspected on my behalf. It was a debt I had to repay, I realized. “I will help against the wyvern mother.”

“You?”

Duggar snorted in disdain. “

You are barely more than a pup. You will not survive long against the dragonkin.”

“Nonetheless,” I insisted stubbornly, “I will honor the debt I owe.”

The dire wolf turned about fully and sat down on his haunches again. Tilting his head to the side, he studied me.

“You are a strange one, human. Tell me, how did you come to bear our Mark?”

“I freed Aira, Oursk, and their pups.” I waved my arms, gesturing to the sky above. “The Adjudicator granted me a Wolf Mark by way of reward.”

“Oursk told me of that,”

Duggar said.

“Yet it could not have been that alone.”

Raising his snout, the pack leader sniffed the air delicately.

“There is a scent of something familiar about you,”

he allowed.

“Something that smells of Wolf.”

The emphasis Duggar placed on ‘Wolf’ was unmistakable. He knew something about my Mark. I bobbed my head in response, trying not to let my excitement show. “It’s why I sought out your pack. I need your help finding out more about the Wolf and how I can travel further down his path.”

Duggar didn’t say anything for a moment, but I sensed that something about my words troubled him deeply.

“Were your earlier words true?”

he asked finally.

“Or were they little more than human platitudes?”

I frowned. “Which words?”

“That you will repay your debt to the pack.”

“Of course. I will help defend the pack when the wyvern mother—”

“No,”

Duggar said, cutting me off.

“I told you we do not need your help with the dragonkin. We will deal with her on our own. But there is another matter you can help us with.”

“Go on.”

“There are goblins camped in the eastern reaches of the valley. The creatures hunt us for our fur and meat.”

Duggar bared his teeth, displaying his anger.

“They have already slain many of my brethren. Find them and put a stop to their vile practices. Will you do this?”

I glanced at the goblin corpses strewn across the glade. “Goblins like these?”

“No. The Howlers and Red Rats are consumed by their own conflict. They have no attention to spare for the pack. It is the Long Fangs that plague us.”

I scratched my chin. So, my assumption had not been misplaced. There

were

three goblin tribes in the valley. “Don’t you mean Fangtooths?”

“Fangtooths? There is no such—”

Duggar broke off and let his tongue hang out in what looked suspiciously like a lupine version of a laugh.

“Ah, you mean those pitiful exiles who captured young Oursk and Aira. They were no true tribe, human,”

he said with undisguised amusement.

“You will see.”

I didn’t like the sound of that. Still, I was not about to refuse the pack leader’s request. “I will do as you ask.”

“Good,”

Duggar said.

“Individually, the Long Fangs are no match for the wyvern, yet collectively they represent a much bigger threat—”

his gray eyes pierced me

—“and one you are more qualified to contend with than the pack. Deal with the goblins, and you will earn my gratitude.”

I nodded firmly. Duggar’s words left me in no doubt that taking care of the wolves’ goblin problem was the price I’d have to pay to gain the information I wanted. Yet, it was a task I would gladly undertake if only to fulfill my obligation to the pack. At my acceptance, a Game message pinged for attention.

On behalf of Wolf, the Adjudicator has allocated you a new task:

Aid the Pack

! Help the dire wolves in sector 12,560. Objective: Stop the Long Fangs from hunting the dire wolves.

I stared at the alert in surprise. ‘

On behalf of Wolf?’ That implies—

“Goodbye, human.”

Duggar rose to his feet and swung away.

I pulled my gaze away from the Adjudicator’s message and turned back towards the retreating wolf. “Wait! How will I find you?”

I sensed more amusement coursing through the pack leader.

“Never fear. We will find you.”

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