"BACKS TO BACK!"
Number 2 stood now directly behind me. 70 took my right, and the girl, number 16, was on my left.
Our shoulders touched as we closed the gap.
The wolves split.
Half of the wolves tore into the corpses of the fallen, ripping limbs apart. The other half circled us completely.
It was hard to guess, but about ten had died during the skirmish, leaving thirty wolves for us four to fight.
ROAR!
Two wolves lunged at me.
I swung in a diagonal arc, aiming for their throats—but my shoulder bumped against the girl beside me, shortening the swing.
Slrrsh.
The first wolf´s throat was cut open, but it wasn't enough to reach the second one.
I reacted instantly, reaching my left arm toward its mouth.
It was a quick decision.
A gamble.
But—
Clang.
Its fangs clashed against the metal.
That gave me enough time to drive my sword forward.
Swoosh.
But the wolf was fast.
Its paw reached out, claws aimed at my arm.
Shuk.
Just as my sword pierced its skull.
Skrat!
Sharp claws sank into my skin, ripping my bicep open.
Pain exploded across my arm, making my jaw clench.
Thud.
The beast dropped to the ground.
Slrrt.
I tore my sword free and shifted into position.
Pain flared up.
My left arm burned, blood ran down my skin.
But there was no rest.
RAWR!
And the next wolf leaped at me.
I pulled my sword back and stabbed forward.
Shuk.
Straight into its chest before it could even reach me.
Thud.
The pile of corpses grew.
Haah.
It grew to a point where even my own steps are hindered.
I yanked the blade free and stepped sideways.
Step.
Shish.
But nearly tripped as I stepped onto something sharp.
It cut into my left foot, having no boots bit me back now.
Step.
I regained my balance quickly, my eyes lowered, glancing at the thing on the ground.
There, buried in the sand with its blade peaking out.
Was a sword.
One from the already dead teens.
AWOO!
Another howl broke my thoughts.
My eyes snapped forward.
Another wolf rushed at me.
It slowed ever so slightly, held back by the corpses, before leaping for my legs.
My knees bent, crouching low as I lifted my sword, aiming at its chest, grip firm.
The beast was already airborne and had no way to stop.
Shuk.
It impaled itself on my sword.
Weight slammed into me next.
Thud.
I placed my left arm on the ground to support myself. Pain flared up at the movement, but I clenched my teeth and pushed through.
Slrrt.
I pulled my sword free while pushing its body aside.
Thud.
It dropped to the ground beside me.
My hand moved at once, gripping the sword´s hilt and lifting it off the ground before I straightened again.
Pain shot through my left arm as I lifted the sword into position.
The second sword was good for an emergency, but couldn't be used with my left arm.
I lowered it again, letting it hang at my side.
Another wolf closed the distance, ready to lunge at me.
"NOO! MY WEAPON!"
70's shout cut through the chaos, making my eyes shift for a moment.
A wolf had caught his sword, fangs clashing against steel as it was stuck in its jaws.
But there was no time.
ROAR!
Two wolves rushed at us simultaneously.
I turned my sword, ready to strike, while reaching my left arm toward him.
"SWORD! ON YOUR RIGHT!"
I only felt the weight leaving my hand before the wolf leaped at me.
Shing.
My sword cut air before slashing through its leg and throat.
Slrrsh.
Shuk.
70 plunged his sword into the wolf lunging at him.
"THANKS!"
But our moment of teamwork was disturbed by another scream.
"HEL—"
Number 2´s scream morphed into a cry of pain.
"ARGHH! MY ARM!"
I took a breath and glanced back, toward the teen.
Splurt.
Blood covered my vision at once, splashing through the air.
It took a moment before I saw what had happened.
A wolf had ripped his entire arm off.
The boy clutched the stump, where his arm had been, in pain.
The wolf had already retreated to the back lines and was crunching on his arm like it was candy.
Not even a breath passed before 70 broke formation and stepped toward the teen.
"29! CLOSE IT!"
Just as I was about to respond—
"AHHH!"
70 shoved the teen forward, into the pack of wolves.
"ARRGGHH!"
The wolves descended, ripping him apart alive.
His limbs were torn away, one after the other, organs were ripped out of his stomach.
Blood splashed around, coloring the wolves crimson.
Screams of pure agony echoed, making me shudder.
I snapped my eyes shut, took a breath, and moved, closing the gap.
"GIRL! TRIANGLE!"
The girl adjusted immediately, closing the gap and completing the triangle.
I felt the steady brush of skin and clothes across my back.
A reminder that they were still there, alive.
My eyes drifted across the arena, counting the remaining wolves.
Around fifteen.
Only five.
We just had to take down five each.
I thought.
We could survive.
But that hope crumbled as my eyes saw it.
A wolf.
Bigger than the others.
Its fur was clean.
Not even a tinge of red.
As if it wasn't participating in the same battle as we.
The wolf felt familiar.
It felt as if I had seen it before.
A memory surfaced.
One from the very beginning.
It was about a wolf who had howled once.
And started the massacre.
The leader.
AWOO!
It charged straight for the gap between 70 and me.
Its claws dug into the sand as it rushed at us.
I shifted my sword, ready to strike it down when—
RAWR!
Another wolf lunged at me.
I decided at once and stepped forward while shouting.
"GIRL! BEHIND YOU! STEP ASIDE!"
Slrrsh.
I slashed through the wolf's throat and side-stepped around its corpse, leaving the triangle.
Another pair of wolves stood at my left and right, ready to pounce at me.
I couldn't retreat back into the formation with the leader rushing for the gap.
Standing here would make me an easy target for the two wolves.
Step.
I could only move forward.
Away from the teens and into the open arena.
Swoosh.
The wolf's claws cut through the air as I moved barely in time, slipping past them.
Step.
I turned at once, back facing the arena walls.
Before me—
Stretched the battle.
Everything seemed slowed.
The first thing I did was count.
There were about 10 wolves left.
Next, my gaze shifted toward the pack leader.
It had broken through the gap I left behind.
Our formation crumbled at once.
Three wolves and the leader surrounded the girl from all sides.
Number 70 was facing three wolves at once, sword cutting through air and flesh alike.
One stood in the center, unsure of whom to strike between the two.
The two remaining wolves stood before me.
I had to move.
Without help.
They would die.
Step.
I sprinted at the wolf on my right.
It rushed at me as well and leaped as I drew close.
Step.
I jumped aside, letting its jaws snap around air.
While—
Slrrsh.
My sword cut through its throat.
But the second wolf didn't just stand around.
AWOO!
It jumped over its corpse, jaws wide, lunging for my head.
Step.
I turned on my heel and twisted my wrist before lifting the sword forward, letting the wolf jump straight into the blade.
Shuk.
The blade went through its shoulder, piercing its heart.
Killing it instantly.
Thud.
Another corpse.
I pulled my blade free and turned.
Before me—
Utter terror.
I froze in my steps.
The girl hung limply in the air, legs kicking uselessly.
Blood streamed down her neck, coloring her skin crimson before dropping to the ground.
The leader.
It had caught her neck and was lifting her into the air.
She wasn't dead.
Not yet.
But—
Crack.
The wolf´s jaw snapped shut, breaking her neck.
Thud.
The spear slipped out of her hands and dropped to the ground.
Dead.
The leader threw her aside like some trash.
Thud.
It didn't even attempt to eat her.
But the others did.
They rushed at the girl, tearing her limbs off before sinking their teeth into her flesh.
Blood sprayed through the air.
The sound of cracking bones and teared flesh reached my ears.
My stomach twisted.
I couldn't look anymore and shifted my gaze back to the leader.
Its snout was covered in blood.
The leader´s eyes shifted toward me as if he felt my gaze.
It held my gaze.
Then—
Its mouth opened into something that could only be called a smile, if wolves were even able to do it.
White teeth flashed, streaked with crimson.
Drip.
Blood dripped down from them.
As if to show me something—
Its head nudged ever so slightly to the side.
I followed it.
And—
Shouted.
"BEHIND YOU!"
70 was fighting against a pair of wolves when a third one leaped at him from behind.
But my warning came too late.
The wolf's claws sank into his shoulders, steadying itself while its jaw closed on the boy's head.
"ARGHHH!"
It bit his face off.
Blood splashed in a wide arc.
Hiding the horrendous scene of a half-remaining face from me.
The pair of wolves moved at once, dragging him to the ground.
One tore his leg off.
Bone was pulled out of the stump as the wolf yanked the leg free.
The other sank its teeth into his stomach, tearing organs and flesh out.
"AGHHH!"
The teen screamed and screamed.
His organs spilled.
His leg torn away.
His face bitten off.
But his screams stayed.
As if death wouldn't allow him to come.
My stomach churned.
The bread and meat sat heavily in my stomach.
But I forced the vomit down as I felt a pair of eyes on me.
The leader.
It was still wolf-like smiling.
Its eyes locked on me.
Like I was prey.
And it was the hunter.
Gulp.