"Let’s get going already," Aric yelled at Pentharis and Unara, who were arguing in the back.
"He started it."
"She started it," they both said at the sa ti.
Sigh, "For goodness’ sake, I thought you all had stopped with the petty quarrels, but I guess not," Aric said with a tired expression.
He looked up, seeing the hilly forest path that they had to take.
"Master, is sothing the issue?" Razalem asked. Aric shook his head and continued walking. Ariel followed behind him, and so did Razalem.
Pentharis and Unara saw that the others had left them and imdiately stopped their quarrel to catch up with them.
They were on their way to the wolves’ ho, but to get there, they had to take a long detour around the forest to not get seen by the wolves.
He had only initially wanted to take Unara, Pentharis, and Ariel, but Razalem decided to follow as well.
"How are the ogres warming up to Terra?" Aric asked as they walked. Razalem paused to think for a mont before speaking.
"Honestly, Master, they have a sense of unease about the situation. You took all of us in and gave us the best life possible.
It seems too good to be true for them. I personally understand that you are simply being a good person, but the other ogres feel like there is so sort of catch. No one offers a good life to others so easily," Razalem said.
"Hmm, I see. But it’s not like I’m giving them all that for free. They have been working for it and have earned it, after all," Aric said.
"All you have them build is simple labour work, and honestly it’s a breeze for them. Back in my tribe, it took you being through battles and having blessed your strength for you to get a house to stay in.
If so labour was all we had to get a house, of course it would sound suspicious. But beyond the unease, they love you and everything that you have done for them," he said.
"I see, so they like it here," Aric said.
"Yes, they do," Razalem replied.
Their journey continued through the trees and hills, navigating their way all around the mountain to not et with the forest terror.
Finally, they made it around the mountain, to the other side where the wolves stayed. They climbed the mountain, making their way up to the cave, but as they followed the path that led up, three wary wolves leaped out of nowhere, baring their fangs and growling.
Aric and the group imdiately ca to a halt; they raised their hands as a sign of non-aggression. Razalem ca forward to speak.
"My na is Razalem, leader of the ogre tribe within this region. We have co here in order to discuss with your leaders an issue that plagues all of us—the forest terror," he spoke with calmness and confidence.
The wolves glanced at each other for a brief mont and then continued to growl ferociously, taking steps forward to push them away.
Two more wolves ca out of nowhere behind the group, setting them in the middle of the two. Aric looked at both sides, he stared at the wolves and used appraisal.
[Silver Horned Wolf
Level 9
Health: 200/200
Strength: 15
Agility: 20
Endurance: 15
Intelligence: 10
Charisma: 12
Luck: 10]
The first wolf had decent stats, so he beca curious about the rest.
[Silver Horned Wolf
Level 8
Health: 150/150
Strength: 13
Agility: 18
Endurance: 14
Intelligence: 9
Charisma: 8
Luck: 8]
The second was a fall-off from the first, though not by much. He was still weaker in general.
The wolves continued to growl and push closer to them. Now, taking down one would be absolutely no issue for Aric, but he was here to form a friendly relationship with the wolves, and fighting was definitely not the way to start one.
The wolves kept pressing them in, closer and closer. Aric was beginning to think they would need to resort to fighting. But just then, a loud growl resounded—no, it sounded more like a roar than a growl.
Imdiately, the five wolves surrounding them backed away, whimpering with their heads down to the ground. A shocking scene to behold—whatever made the growl was holding a lot of power.
Aric saw a shadow cast over them. He looked up and saw the massive wolf coming from above. The wolf landed in front of them in all its majesty.
It stood at a towering one ter and a half tall, with luscious grey-white fur and an impressive silver horn.
The mont he saw the wolf, he instinctively used appraisal on the wolf.
[Evolved Silver Horned Wolf
Level 20
Health: 600/600
Strength: 40
Agility: 60
Endurance: 40
Intelligence: 40
Charisma: 20
Luck: 20]
Aric stared at the impressive stats that lay before him. All he could do was be shocked. This wolf was a powerhouse—it was no wonder that the other wolves beca scared of him.
"Intruders, why are you here?" the wolf spoke, its deep voice resounding.
The question snapped Aric out of his thoughts and back to reality. "We wish to have a talk with your pack about the terror on the other side and propose a way to battle and win against the terror," Aric said.
The wolf’s eyes closed to slits when he heard that. He took a heavy step forward, his paws hitting the ground with force.
"Leave the mountains now, and return to wherever you ca from. We don’t want to be any part of your plans," he said and turned away. Aric stared at him, thinking of what to say that would make so sense, but then Ariel spoke up.
"Aren’t you tired?" she asked. The wolf paused for a mont and then turned his head to look at her.
"Aren’t you tired of living with the constant fear that the terror will co one day and destroy your ho? Even if you don’t, think about the other wolves that have that fear.
You might have strength, but if he ca after you, you would still lose a lot of lives—deaths that could be avoided if you worked with us."
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