Ryder wondered the forest aimlessly lost in thought, occasionally kicking pebbles in his path.
'Am I really that strong? And Alpha my ass I couldn't even protect one girl. I got my ass beat and almost died.'
'Crazy powerful Ultima? Ha! It must've skipped me because I'm pathetic. I would've died if Kellian didn't do this for me.' Frustrated, Ryder kicked a pebble.
'It's all my fault she's in this mess. If only I were stronger I would have been able to protect everyone and Kellian wouldn't be in that state. If only Iā"
"What the hell?" Someone exclaimed drawing Ryder's attention.
Before Ryder knew what was happening he was grabbing onto a sword.
Ryder's pebble had hit a man. He waited for an apology but it never came. The man then quickly and quietly ran up a tree and waited for Ryder to turn his head. When Ryder turned his head jumped from the tree to attack Ryder.
"You're quick. I like you." He complimented Ryder's reaction speed.
They tussle around for 5 minutes. In in end, the man ended up behind Ryder with a blade to Ryder's neck. They were both kneeled on the ground.
"Name." The man ordered.
"Rhodes. Ryder Rhodes."
"Werewolf?" He asked.
"Yup."
"Man. I haven't heard the name Rhodes in forever!" The man exclaimed. "You're awfully weak for an Ultima though?"
"Ultima? Never heard of it. Is it a type of cheese?" Ryder lied.
He broke out in laughter, "No, you don't have to lie to me. I'm part werewolf too. I've actually trained a couple of Ultimas in my time."
Ryder looked at him like he was a mad man.
"Anyway, this is quite a ways from the Wolf Kingdom. What are ya doin' here?" He asked.
"Can you remove your sword first?" Ryder asked.
"Nope. This feels good. I like it here."
"I'm helping a friend," Ryder rolled his eyes.
"Oh?"
"Yeah." Ryder tried to hide how annoyed he is.
"I don't think you understand. When I say "Oh?" that means, This is interesting. Go on." The man explained.
"I know a witch and she wants me and my two other friends to get some ingredients for a potion," Ryder explained.
"You're friends with a witch?" The man asked in disgust.
"No. There's a... girl. The potion is for her. She's my friend." Ryder explained.
"What kind of girl is she to have 3 werewolves searching the dangerous mystical forest for potion ingredients? Especially a proud Ultima."
"We owe her," Ryder answered.
"All of you?"
"She saved our lives," Ryder answered.
"How can a simple werewolf save the life of an Ultima?" The man was confused.
"She isn't a werewolf and I don't know how she saved us. We were all on the brink of death then we weren't and she was unconscious."
"Magic?" The question.
"Yeah. We thought she was human but she singlehandedly defeated all the bad guys and saved our lives. And I... was completely useless." Ryder was honest.
"What!?" The man was surprised. "She reminds me of that woman. Does she have silver eyes and white hair?"
"She has silver eyes but her hair is blue."
"Do you think they might be related!?" The man seemed excited. He even withdrew his sword and faced Ryder
"I... don't know." Ryder was taken aback.
"I have to meet her! All you need are some ingredients before we can go see her right???" He was definitely excited.
"Yes but... I never agreed to take you to her." Ryder pointed out.
"She isn't here. What do you think will happen if I cut off your head." The man asked.
"I'll take you to her!" Ryder gave in. 'He doesn't seem trustworthy but I can't die either and I wouldn't be able to win a fight with this guy.'
The man was dark-skinned and tall. About 6'4 (196cm) tall. He wore a cloak that hid his face in the shadows. He wielded two katanas which were worn in an X on his back. He has two handguns on either side of his waist.
"Fantastic! I'll help you get your ingredients as a thank you. I know this forest like the back of my hand." He said confidently.
"Okay."
"And to be extra nice I'll train you if she is who I think she is or at least related to her." He added.
"I never asked for your help though."
He put his katana to Ryder's neck, "Am I the one with a sword to my neck?"
"...no."
"Attaboy! I'll let you go now but if you run away I'll hunt you down and kill you." He threatened. "So what are we working with?"
"I need to find these in a month." Ryder handed him the note.
"Cool. You know what they are?" He asked after reading through the note.
"Not a clue." Ryder was honest.
"What do they even teach you guys at those fancy werewolf schools? Sigh. Okay, I'll tell you."
"Moly is a powerful plant that can be eaten to counteract enchantments and are also used as a potion ingredient, such as in the brewing of the Wiggenweld Potion. Moly plants are easily recognised by their distinctive black stems and white flowers."
"Dittany is a magical plant used in potion-making. It is a powerful healing herb and restorative. Its use makes fresh skin grow over a wound and after application, the wound seems several days old. If used in a mixture with silver it can cure werewolf bites. It will prevent the victim from bleeding to death from the bite, but not cure them of lycanthropy. Shredded Dittany is an ingredient in the creation of the Wiggenweld Potion. Also known as Burning Bush, it sometimes releases flammable vapours. A sick baby may be cured with the application of dittany. Dittany can also be used to heal doxy bites."
"What's Lycanthropy?"
"You don't even know that!? Seriously! What do they teach!?" He complained. "Lycanthropy is the state in which a human who became a werewolf is driven mad and becomes a ferocious beast on the full moon. Especially in the case of Ultimas since it is completely impossible to avoid turning once bitten by an ultima. Humans often beg to be killed when this happens."
"Anyway, I'll continue. Horklump juice is a magical substance extracted from Horklumps. The Horklump is a magical beast that resembles a fleshy pink mushroom covered in sparse, coarse black bristles. Despite its appearance, it is not a plant or fungus, but an animal. It can be used in a range of healing potions, including the Wiggenweld Potion, as well as the poisonous Herbicide Potion.
Horklumps originated in Scandinavia, but eventually spread throughout most of the human world and can also be found in most forests. They resembled fleshy pink mushrooms covered in a sparse scattering of coarse black bristles. Despite their fungi-like appearance, Horklumps are animals. Their preferred prey is the earthworm, which they hunt using the thin, muscular tentacles that they spread underground (similar to how fungi spread mycelia). Horklumps were very fast breeders and could cover an average-sized garden in only a few days. Horklumps were the favourite food of the gnome. Streeler venom was a known substance that could kill Horklumps. The Streeler is a giant snail that changes colour hourly and left behind a trail of venom so toxic that it burned all vegetation that it touched. Streelers have sharp spikes on their shells, which also injected venom. This defence is most likely used to scare off or kill its attackers, such as birds and small to medium-sized rodents."
"Boom Berry is a magical fruit. Its juice has restorative properties and it is used in potion-making. Boom Berry juice was a required ingredient for the Wiggenweld Potion."
"Salamander blood is the blood of a Fire Dwelling Salamander. It has healing and rejuvenating properties, and as such could be used to brew strengthening potions, including the Strengthening Solution. Fire Dwelling Salamanders, also called Fire Salamanders, or just simply Salamanders, are small, magical fire dwelling lizards that feed on flames.
Salamanders are born out of salamander fires, and live as long as the flames they are birthed from continue to burn. However, if they were fed on pepper, they could survive outside out of its flames for up to six hours. The colour of the Salamander depended on the heat of its birthing fire and produces hot flames itself.
Salamander blood has powerful regenerative and curative properties and is used as an ingredient in the brewing of many potions. The Fire Dwelling Salamander is a rare corporeal form of the Patronus Charm.
The maximum number of hours a salamander could survive out of the fire, as well as the number of legs most salamanders had, was six, and as such, salamanders are used in the runic alphabet to represent the number six.
There are different types of salamanders, such as the blue and the scarlet variety. Scale rot was an illness that can affect both salamanders and dragons. If left untreated, it could cause a salamander's tail to detach."
"I see."
"Anyway. Follow me." He ordered.
"Where?"
"My cave."
"I'm not staying in a cave!" Ryder complained.
"Then sleep outside. I don't care."
"You haven't even told me your name?" Ryder continued to complain.
"You'll find out when I meet the girl."
'This is stupid.'