I try to catch up to Winter yet fail miserably, seeing as I started to try and follow too late. I watch as her figure passes through the gate, a spec on the horizon. But this is not a race against her but against time, if Kurayami is bleeding out somewhere, then we need to find him.
When I reach the gate, I see a group of adventurers running inside as they run towards a certain direction in a cluster. I grab a centaur as I ask, "What's with the rush?"
She takes little time to respond, "The adventurer that took out that creature is somewhere in the forest, we will be damned if we let a legend die!" Her response is filled with ferocity, spooking me slightly.
She tries to shake my arm off but I don't let go as I ask another question, "Where is his general location?" After all, the couldn't just be searching blind, there had to have been an indicator of where he is.
She looks me over before pointing, "In the forest obviously! Now let's go kid!"
She takes her hand and tears my grip off as she charges off towards the same direction of the others, the pieces clicking as I run towards the forest, 'They are going to make a search party! I am next heir yet I didn't even think of that!'
As I run through the mutilated forest, I begin to comb my way through the greenery, looking for any sign of him. As I run over bits and pieces of trees and remains, I suddenly bump into something that seemingly came from nowhere!
I stagger a bit as I look up just to see a large wolf standing in front of me, it's silver fur shining in the light. I quickly regain my thoughts as I grab the hilt of my sword, 'All mana beasts should either be dead or of run away, what's this one doing here?'
I wait for the wolf to attack me, just for it to glance at me like I am nothing. It sniffs the air before bolting off towards a certain direction, not even giving me a second glance.
I stand there dumbfounded, my once organized mind a mess again, 'Why didn't it attack me? Why did it look at me like that? Did I seem like nothing to it?' While lost in my thoughts, I suddenly hear a shout from Winter, "I found him!"
I am broken from my thoughts as I bolt towards where I heard the voice. After a minute, I suddenly run into a massive piece of black as my helmet rings and I fall to the ground. I look around as I try to stop the ringing and clear my vision, just to see a massive silver wolf curled around a white and red mass.
I try to jump back but fall due to my still ringing ears, throwing me off balance. I suddenly hear Winter speak again, "Come over here! I need your help keeping him alive!" I shake my head as I look around, trying to find where her voice came from while I look over at the wolf. As I look over at the wolf, my vision finally clears as my eyes go wide. That mass of white and red was Kurayami!
I go to bolt towards him just to stop as I stare at the silver wolf curled around him. I go to grab my hilt when the wolf suddenly speaks, "Stop! Help me with him! We can fight later!" My jaw almost drops as I hear Winter's voice come from the wolf.
"Winter?" I ask with caution, glancing at Kurayami with worry in my eyes. 'I can't help him if I'm dead.'
She growls as she glares at me with irritation, "I know lycanthropes aren't common around here but use your head! Now hurry up and help me with Kurayami!"
I take a moment before nodding and bolting to Kurayami's side, looking at his body that is on the brink of death. He has a massive hole in his abdomen as most of his face is caked in his blood, giving off a violent scene. I see a black case covering his arm as it is hooked up to the piece of black that I ran into moments before, it's odd shape non clueing at its purpose. I grab at the thing that is attached to his arm and try to pull it off, being surprised with the relative ease of its removal. I silently gasp as I realize that his arm is gone, a stump where it should be.
I place my hands on his stomach as I quickly mutter some words. The ground beneath him shifts as dirt slowly crawls across his body before hardening, leaving a little space around his chest and his face so he can breath. I look over at Winter, my hands still on Kurayami's stomach, "I am going to have to ask you to carry me and Kurayami back to the kingdom."
She looks at Kurayami and then at me, "I will only let Kurayami on, not you."
I quickly respond, "I have to keep contact with him so I can make sure his injuries don't worsen, my earth cast can only be used by someone with the earth element, now let me on!"
I lift him up with my strength as I gently place his stuff figure on Winter's back before I also hop on, my hands never leaving contact with Kurayami. She doesn't refuse or struggle as I gently sit down on her back, my hands holding Kurayami.
She gets up as she looks towards the castle's direction and sprints, the wind whipping past us as she bolts through the forest, the trees and broken shrubbery blurring around us as I try to make sure Kurayami stays still.
'I hope he is going to be alright.' Winter and Jack think I'm unison.