Atheline immediately reached for his sword.
"What is it?"
The fox stared toward a patch of dense undergrowth several dozen meters ahead. The forest fell strangely quiet; even the birds seemed to pause.
Leaves rustled, then a blur of gray exploded from the bushes; another followed, then another. Within seconds, nearly a dozen enormous wolves burst into the clearing.
Each stood almost as tall as a horse. Dark gray fur covered bodies layered with dense needle-like fur across their shoulders and backs. Long metallic fangs protruded from powerful jaws, scraping against one another whenever they snarled. Their golden eyes locked onto the two travelers.
Atheline slowly drew his sword.
"Demon Wolves."
Lilith's expression remained calm.
"A pack, a Large one at that."
The wolves spread out with practiced coordination; instead of charging immediately, they circled. Atheline could feel the dark Aether radiating from them, far stronger than ordinary forest predators.
