"That's… a Bloodmoon Wolf," Auel said in disbelief
No one moved, they waited
The wolf stood still, breathing slowly, its eyes locked onto them
Rikka tightened his stance while Auel glanced toward Erin
She hadn't noticed it yet
Then the wolf moved
In an instant, it leapt forward, claws slashing through the air
Rikka dodged to the side
At the same time, Auel sprinted back toward the river
"Erin!" he shouted
She turned and surprised by the wolf
"Stay behind me!" Auel barked
Erin immediately ran to him
The wolf landed silently
Its gaze shifted from Rikka, and gave a quick peek at Auel and Erin, then back to Rikka
Auel's eyes widened and realized
"It's targeting you!" he shouted "Rikka, get over here!"
Without warning, the wolf lunged again with its jaws wide open
Rikka reacted instantly, twisting his body to avoid the bite before retreating toward Auel
"So, what's the plan?" Rikka asked
"Run," Auel said "And do exactly what I say"
"…What?"
The wolf charged again
Auel pulled something from his pocket and threw it forward
"Close your eyes!"
The object shattered midair
A burst of blind light exploded outward
The wolf let out a low growl, stumbling
"Now! Run!" Auel grabbed Erin and Rikka, pulling them deeper into the forest
Branches snapped beneath their feet
Breath grew heavier
"What that thing you throw?" Rikka asked
"Instant magic" Auel answered "I still got 2 more"
After a while, Auel signaled them to stop and then hid behind a thick bush
Auel quickly pulled out a bottle and sprayed its contents over them
"Hey, what is this?" Rikka whispered
"Oil," Auel replied "It masks our scent"
Then, silence
The wolf appeared
No sound. No warning
Even without the waterfall… I can't hear its footsteps
The wolf sniffed the air... Once… Twice
Then it growled, frustrated
Moments later, it turned and ran
"We're safe," Auel said quietly
"…Wait," Rikka muttered "It's heading back to the village"
He stepped forward "We have to stop it"
Auel grabbed him "No"
"We go around. Avoid it"
"What?" Rikka snapped "Why?"
"We shouldn't engage with the wolf, remember?" Auel said firmly "That's why we warn the village and wait for Black Turtle"
"But the wolf will reach the village first!"
"Yes, but if we clashed with the wolf now, we could die and the other group wouldn't know that the wolves is actually a Bloodmoon wolf, which could kill them too"
Silence
"And then the village falls anyway. In the end there are going to be sacrifices"
Rikka clenched his fists
"So, you're okay with people dying?" he said, grabbing Auel's clothes
"No," Auel said calmly, "but you have a better plan?"
"…Are you sure we can beat it alone?"
Rikka said nothing, then he shoved Auel to the ground
"You want a better plan, then I have one"
Auel keep in silence
"I'll get that wolf," Rikka said "You go warn the village"
Without hesitation Rikka walk following the wolf footsteps
"Rikka, that's-" Erin started
"I'm fine," he cut in "I made a promise"
He turned, Auel stayed in silence and walked away
Erin looked between them
Then followed Auel
Rikka sprinted through the forest, following the faint trail
This oil… it's a problem
He glanced at his arms
If I ignite my blade like this, I'll burn myself too
"I need to get rid of it first…"
Not long after, he heard it
The sound of rushing water, the waterfall
Without hesitation, he ran toward it
But the moment he broke through the trees
The wolf was already there
It lunged
Rikka barely reacted in time, throwing himself to the side. He hit the ground hard, pain shooting through his arm
"Tch!"
He forced himself up, gripping his katana
No, not yet, I can't use fire yet. Not like this
His eyes shifted toward the river
I need to wash it off
He dashed forward
The wolf followed immediately, closing the distance in an instant
Claws tore through the air behind him
Rikka twisted and raised his blade
Clang!
The impact pushed him backward, boots skidding across the ground
Straight into the river, water splashed
Without wasting a second, Rikka plunged his arms and body into the stream
The oil washed away
Look at this opening the wolf charged again
Rikka inhaled deeply, then flames ignited
Fire flowed along his blade, wrapping around it like a living thing
With a sharp step forward he slashed upward
The wolf dodged
"…What?"
Rikka's eyes widened
It avoided that?
"That's not normal…" he muttered "You're not just some mindless beast"
The wolf circled him slowly, step by step
Flames reflected in its eyes
Rikka tightened his grip
"Fine… let's go"
He moved first, a fast thrust aimed at its chest
The wolf slipped aside
Claws came immediately after
Rikka deflected upward
Opening a brief window
He stepped in, thrust
Hit!
The blade pierce, then
Slash!
A burning arc cut across the wolf's chest
The smell of scorched flesh filled the air
Rikka jumped back
The wolf staggered
Then, it growled, low, angry
Flames still burned on its body
Then it moved again
Fast… too fast
It charged straight at him
Rikka braced himself to block
But at the last moment
The wolf stopped
What?
Its body twisted
A full spin
WHAM!
Its tail slammed into him
Rikka's vision blurred as he was launched across the river
He crashed hard
"…Ghk!"
Pain spread through his chest
For a moment he couldn't move
The wolf approached slowly
Each step heavy, controlled, not rushing, not panicking, hunting
Rikka forced himself up, trembling
Damn it… It's thinking…
"It's a small world… isn't it, Rikka?"
A voice, soft, familiar
Rikka froze for a split second
Then, he smiled
"…Yeah"
He pushed himself up
"I remember"
He stands up
"I'm not done yet"
Flames reignited along his blade
"I made a promise"
His stance lowered, eyes locked onto the wolf
"I'm going to protect that village"
The wolf tense
Both of them moved
Then, something flew into the air
Crack
A burst of light exploded
"Close your eyes!"
A familiar voice echoed