It was well into evening by the time I had gotten home. Before the news of my abrupt departure from work could spread; I quickly went to the many food stalls and supplies stores too gather rations for my trip.
Inside I gathered as much clothes as I could carry with my supplies and a map of the area outside of our territory. If I was lucky I could trick them into thinking I plan to leave tomorrow rather than sometime tonight.
Just as I finished packing there was a knock at my door. Suspicious I checked all windows and noticed someone running away with haste. Of course; I thought to myself. I went over to the door and opened it slowly; there on my porch was a goblins ear.
For us in Apricot it was a symbol that meant that you were a target and they wanted you to leave. If not you would first be harassed excessively, then when you leave the colony at any time whatever the reason you will be hunted down and killed or maimed.
I definitely had to make them think I would be sleeping here tonight. I waited and even ate some food before I snuffed my lights. I waited still and didn't even check my windows. Well Into the night then and only then did I gather my things and leave the colony grounds.
Honestly traveling by night fall was a dangerous game. Luckily for me my father was a beast man. I had the [Enhanced perception ] skill at level 4. thanks to a happy mix of genes I needed not to worry about seeing, hearing or smelling what was around up to 4 meters However being only a level 2 mage was not comforting.
I stopped; as my senses were now on red alert and hid in a mass of bush and brush.
All my senses begged me to not move. There gliding out of the dark was a large wolf. It's Maine was a deep ebony with glowing red eyes I stopped myself from gasping in awe. This was no ordinary wolf it was larger than a dire wolf and it was black not grey. Was it a variant species?? If so the colony was in trouble. A deep guilt seeded itself into my stomach. What would happen if..
My thoughts were cut off by a band of people yelling. I had left some time ago so I should have been a good 6 miles out having walked nonstop. there shouldn't be any body out here let alone a group of people.
That's when it occurred to me. What if they knew I would leave and just waited for me to do so? I came back to the present the wolf was gone replaced by a group of roguish elves.
one man got off his horse and looked at the marks on the ground.
"Hmm looks like a wolf was here and a big one at that; Her trail seem to stop here. She might be dead." He did a scan of the area and I tried not to move as he came closer and closer to where I was hiding.
He didn't pause, in fact his steps were suspiciously moving faster. Perhaps he knew; He knew I was here! Just as I was about to turn tail and run that same abnormally large ebony wolf jumped from behind me. A guttural growl echoed out of its jaws as it leaped onto the closest person to my position. It wasted no time in executing him and moving on to its next victim. The sound of bone breaking and skin tearing did not cease until everyone on the other side of that bush was dead; Not even the horses were spared. I felt a cold chill run down my spine. Was that wolf perhaps hunting me? It knew I was here, it was going to attack me but it went for them instead. I was paralyzed with fear. There was no way I could fight that thing! And if not for those lunatic Elves I would have died before I even knew I was a target.
I slowly turned my head and locked gazes with the large blood covered canine. It's deep glowing red eyes were like whirlpools of fluorescent blood. I sucked in a sharp breath; It was times like these I wish I had a tamer skill. I slowly got up and took a step back. It was another 3 miles before I would reach the edge of this monster forest and the question wasn't how long it would take to get there but if I could get there before this thing was hungry again.
It stopped looking at me seeming to have lost interest. It engulfed the head of an elf into its giant maw and clamped down sending blood and other unpleasant juices everywhere. I wanted to look away but there was a chance that if I did the next head between it's teeth would be mine. It laid down and began to naw and rip at the bones and flesh of it's freshly killed prey. My stomach churned and I resisted the urge to vomit. I took another step back and it raised its head. I panicked and screamed
" Sorry!" Without thinking. The wolf nodded twice and went back to eating.
this being was smart enough to understand language. Perhaps it was the guardian of the forest? No one in apricot knew what the guardian looked like or if it even lived in this part of the forest. If this was it then I should give my thanks properly.
" thank you for protecting me. Great guardian of the forest." It paused mid chomp before nodding again And proceeding to finish its 'meal'. I took that as it acknowledging my thanks and left the scene as quietly as possible.
However the feeling of being watched did not fade until I was well out of the forest and onto a long stretch of well worn out road.