The Bloodmoon Wolf was dead
A heavy silence fell over the battlefield, then relief followed
Erin immediately rushed toward the big man "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine it just a scratch, your friend seems to need more of your help"
Then she turned and ran to Auel, casting her healing magic
Rikka dropped to the ground, exhausted
Gramm approach him with arms crossed "Hey, didn't we agree that you wouldn't engage"
"Yeah, I know" Rikka muttered, sitting up" but the wolf was heading to the village, and I don't think we are able to get to the village in time"
"You are not wrong" the big man added, stepping closer "but taking the wolf alone is reckless"
Rikka scratched his head "I know I know, but we won, didn't we"
"You can say that, but your friend almost died because of it" Gramm's expression hardened slightly
"Ack" Rikka fell silent
"Hey, can we get back now" said the magician girl "I'm out of mana, and I'm so tired of that long way here"
"Fine" Gramm exhaled "let's go back and take a rest"
All of them already back in the village, the chief has been waiting for them in front of the village hall. When he saw them return, his shoulders finally relaxed, he guided them inside letting them rest
Everyone was asleep except Auel, his eyes remained open. After a while, he quietly stood, folded his blanket and stepped outside
The night air was still, and the chief was sitting on a bench
"Oh, you are still awake?" the chief asked
"No. I couldn't sleep"
"Something on your mind?"
Auel sat beside him "No, it's just hard for me to sleep"
The chief chuckled softly "You are still young. Sleep is good for your health"
Auel said nothing
"Thank you" The chief said after a moment with a gentle voice
"For what?"
"Of course, for saving this village. This village has been haunted by that wolf for seasons. It took a lot of adventures just to take care of it, but no one came back"
His voice grew quieter "It even took my son"
Auel listened in silence
"Sorry to doubt you at first, I just, I already lost hope. But seeing that you all come back, it brought that hope back. Thank you"
"It's nothing, I mean it's what adventurer do right?"
"You're right" the chief nodded
"Then just to get some rest" The chief stood up "Tomorrow I'll prepare a small meal for you all"
"Good night" The chief then walks home
Auel remained seated, heads lowered, eyes fixed to the ground
Suddenly something entered his vision, walking slowly
No sound, no footsteps
A pair of pale legs
Slow, quiet, approaching
Auel tightened his grip
He didn't look up, He couldn't
His body started shaking
And then they were gone
Morning comes
Rikka woke up and walked towards the table in the center of the hall
Everyone else was already there
"Good morning champ" The big man greeted
"Morning" said Rikka while yawning
He sits between Auel and Erin and take a look at Auel's face, he still has the black mark under his eyes
"Hey, did you even sleep last night" he asked
Auel Silences for a moment "Yes"
"What do you mean yes? Your eyes are barely able to open"
"Just a little bit"
"That's not sleep, you look half dead"
Auel ignored him
The chief arrived carrying plates of roasted lamb and basket of bread
"Sorry, this is all I can offer"
"it's fine Chief, I bet the meat going to be delicious" said Rikka
Everyone began eating
After a few bites, Gramm spoke
"Come to think of it. We never properly introduced ourselves, right?"
He gestured "you guys already know me, but in case you forget I'm Gramm"
"I'm Gill" said the big man "and these two are Ashely and Helen"
Rikka nodded "I'm Rikka and these are Erin and Auel"
They properly introduced themselves and exchanged brief nods
The chief then approached Auel and give him a small bell "Here in case you forget"
Auel took it
"If you're planning to get back today you can use it now; the caravan needs some time to get here" said the Chief, then he sits down and eats
Erin tilted her head "What is that?"
"It's a caravan bell; a caravan usually has 2 of these and they connected each other. When this bell is rung then the other bell which handled by the caravan owner will rings, and the caravan will immediately get here" Gill explain
"But how does the caravan owner know where the other bell is located" Erin asked again
"They just need to look at the arrow on the bell" said Gramm while pointing at the arrow at the top of the bell "the arrow is pointing at the other bell, that's why the caravan owner knows where to go"
"That's convenient" Erin murmured
After those explanations Auel raises the bell and rings it
He puts the bell in his pocket and continues eating
"By the way how did you guys met last night?" Rikka asked
"It's just a coincidence" Auel answered "When I went back to the village, they just barely got there"
"And then I told them what happen and we immediately tried to find you"
"Well, I'm sorry, I shouldn't engage the wolf, I just couldn't think about other plan" Rikka replied
Gill laughed "That's fine, you're doing great last night"
"So how was your wound" Gramm ask while looking at
"it's fine" Auel says
"Yeah, it's nothing" Rikka said proudly
Gill leaned back slightly "But still doesn't sit right with me"
"The wolf?" Rikka asked
"Yeah, A Bloodmoon wolf, showing up like that"
"Yeah, there are only a few cases of a Bloodmoon wolf because I've heard that they are just normal red wolves which get stronger and become a Bloodmoon wolf" Gramm explained
"But aren't red wolves hunt in packs?" Helen added
"Yeah, the last time we fought red wolves they were in a group, right? " Ashley continues
"hmm... I don't quite understand," said Gramm
A brief silence followed
Auel kept eating and uninterested in the discussion, but he felt someone to watch him
Auel took a quick peek, and he saw Gramm having a side eye on him
With a sigh Auel answers the question "I think it's because of the wolf getting smarter"
"Smarter?" Helen frowned" What do you mean?"
"Red wolf usually lives in a group which means they must share their food within the pack. And maybe one time the leader realizes why it must share the food, so it kills all the other members. No need to divide resources" Auel explained
"And maybe that's the reason why their size is almost thrice the usual red wolf, because it doesn't need to share the food find anybody and can reach its full potential as a red wolf which is a Bloodmoon wolf" Auel continues
"But not the way it fought" Ashley said "That thing adapted way too fast"
"Yeah, but from what the chief said the wolf attacked the village for a long time, and a lot of adventurers have fought it. Maybe that's the reason it can avoid some of our attacks, because the wolf already fought someone with those attacks. " Auel continues explaining
"But why did the wolf just stand still when we first met it? " Rikka asked
"hmmm.... I don't know? "Auel doesn't know the answer of that "but it's good that blood moon wolf is just a rare case"
The tension eased and everyone continued eating
Auel finished first, cleaned up and stepped outside
"Hey, where are you going" Rikka asked while munching food
"Take some fresh air" then Auel went outside the hall
He takes a walk around the village
The wind brushed past the fields
He stopped and leaned against a wooden fence
"Something on your mind?" Gramm approached
"Nothing"
"You did well back there"
"What do you mean?"
"Of course, when we fought the wolf, your plan was so great we could beat it"
"You're the one who cut the wolf's head, not me"
Gramm folded his arms "But the way you examine the wolf behavior is helping us. If you didn't realize that the wolf was adapting, we could be done for. You should be proud of yourself"
Auel stayed silence
"The day before we met, I should have asked you to join our party," said Gramm
"Join your party?" Auel confused
"Yes, I've been watching you, you always taking quest alone. And when I asked the guild receptionist about what quest that you take, mostly bandits"
"Taking bandit is an easy quest, but alone, it's something else. That's why I want to ask you to take a quest together to see how good you are, but then I saw you already got a party, so I give up that idea"
"But I think it's a miracle that suddenly the guild receptionist said that you need another party to help you with your quest, and I think it's a good idea because I finally can see you in action, and I'm right, you have a talent as a team leader. The way you take advantages of every single member in the party and how fast your planning is amazing"
Auel keeps silent
"By the way I'm going to take care of my quest. Take a good rest so you can heal faster"
Gramm walked back to the city hall but stopped and turned back
"O yeah, I forgot something, here take it" Gramm throws a scroll and Auel immediately takes it "Give it to the receptionist, it to make sure that you get a raise from the guild because the chief doesn't know a thing about the Bloodmoon wolf"
"Thanks" Auel said and Gramm waved and walked away
It is already afternoon, Gramm's party is already going to do their quest, while Erin, Rikka and Owel are playing on the field with the lambs and Auel is taking a nap on the grass
Suddenly the sound of bell comes and wakes Auel up
The caravan arrived and the party was already prepared to go back to the city
"Are you sure you don't want to stay here for a while, what about your wounds?" The chief asked
"It's fine, you don't need to worry" said Auel
"Hey, take care of this village okay. And if you need help with the village, just went to the city and asked us for help okay" Rikka says
"Yes. When I grew up, I'm going to be adventurer too like you guys" Owel said
The three of them climbed into the caravan and immediately took off
Owel waved at them "Goodbye!"
His figure grew smaller in the distance