"It worked?" the purple wolf asked. "If I suffered through all that just for noth-"
"It worked, for beast's sake, Jeez! Oh, and I'm your new boss now, so KNEEL!" I commanded the red wolf with a smirk on my face. It tried resisting the order but forcefully bowed its head to me.
Ah, yes. Where cocky beasts like this one should be. Too bad this wonderful moment couldn't last.
I released the red wolf from my order before saying, "We have limited time wolves. Question, how fast can you travel?"
Their answer; fast enough to make it in time. I came learn that apart from the pack's scent, I also picked up on their speed and strength. My wolf blood felt more powerful than my elfs', so that's also a bonus.
Moving through the forest took a little more effort as I led the way, Bradely leading me through. But even though the group we are chasing had passed by here just a few minutes ago, there was little to no trace of evidence that they used the path we were taking. Great, we are dealing with professionals.
We soon arrived near a clear area, other teleportation gates of this planet not far from here, but definetly not the ones we used to get to this planet, and took shelter under some bushes once we scoped out the group just ahead of us. By now, both the purple and red wolf had turned off their glow to maximize their stealth. Guess they'd gained something from me too.
I chose this moment to sneak a peak and what I saw left me speechless.
The blue wolves were back to their normal sizes, but in cages and chains and passed out cold. The cages they were on looked like they had wheels on them, showing why they were able to travel such a far distance without any issues.
Somehow what I saw made angrier than I was. I mean, were the chains really necessary if they are already locked up in cages?
I searched for Kira and Emily around the many cages and spotted them both placed in one, saved from the chains at least. The cages were neatly arranged in rows, probably for easier movement. The bandits or more accurately pirates stood as guards in hoods. Ten of them in total. I saw one of them touch a cage, lifted it as if it weighed nothing and moved it along.
"Monsters!" Mr. Red whispered in anger while gnashing teeth right next to me. The purple wolf was also in the same predicament, just silently fuming.
"Now I know how they easily moved them. So, any ideas on how to save them?" I communicated to them through my head, which I could now easily do.
"Let's observe them for now, gauge our options," purple wolf answered. That was actually a good idea. Huh, this wolf is smart.
We continued observing the situation, and I slowly began realizing that it was hopeless trying anything. The bandits continued with their journey and we followed closely.
Occasionally, they would stop and observe their surrounding, as more added themselves to the group. In total, they were about thirty and were getting awfully close to the gates. I was hoping to meet up with a group of class and request them for help, but remembered the girls were not in the best of relationships with the class.
"I have an idea, but I'm sure you guys would hate it," I said to the wolves, in my mind of course.
"We've got nothing, so we're all ears" both transmitted as we continued tailing the pirates.
"We rescue the girls first. One of them has a flare that can summon a really powerful teacher that can help us take them down,"
"So we rely on one person to help us, right? Assuming we use the flare without alerting them, who's to say they'll ignore the flare that just so happened to appear right near them?" Mr. red asked.
"All fair questions which I will absolutely ignore. I don't see you coming up with any bright ideas!" I shot back.
"Grow super powerful and destroy them, simple."
"That's what any brainless monster would do. In case you forgot, there's someone who held both our powers back like nothing. Not to mention, that one guy leading the group is giving off a dangerous vibe,"
"Guys please! Furrha, is that our only option?" the sane wolf in our group asked.
"I tried coming up with any other option that doesn't involve our deaths, but when that leader of theirs joined in, it was all over. The irritating thing about them is those hoods they have on. We can't really know how strong they are. Scratch that, we don't even know their race, so if incase they have a Demi-gon in their midst..."
"Ah, I see. So our best bet is that flare, right? Answer me, are we right to trust our pack to this teacher of yours?"
"Look at it this way. Who else can you trust?"
That was enough to push them to my plan.
"Fine then. How do we do it?"
"We use a bait. And Mr. Red here has happily volunteered for this endeavor,"
" I did no su–"
"–seeing that he can transform into a beast larger than us. I'm sure these guys wouldn't want to waste such an opportunity as this to catch such a rare wolf of your caliber. The leader will most likely take part in this, and that gravity defying guy,"
The wolves both looked doubtful. The risk here was the leader would remain back or gravity guy, but both Kira and Emily still had their weapons and armor on them, so I'm guessing they saw us as no threat, maybe even knew we were following them so they'd leave some randoms to guard. Little do they know, I have an adamantium spear with me. And pirates being pirates, will always go for a greater bounty.
"This will all depend on how much time you can buy us," I said.
"I hate this plan. What if they catch up to me and take me down?"
"Looking at how fast they had taken us down before, my best bet is that it was planned. They may have been observing you, waiting for the perfect moment to attack, which we provided, sorry about that by the way. Meaning they couldn't catch you while you were hunting cause the didn't know your capabilities. As we fought, I forced you to release your trump card, effectively giving them the chance they need,"
"So what your saying, is that it was your fault they caught us. How is that gonna help our predicament right now?" Mr. red began, his thoughts getting a bit chaotic.
"Think, wolf. They thought they saw your full power, was that really the case?"
"Well, no. But... OH! I finally get it,"
"Took you long enough. I want you to gain some distance first, then release that blast of yours, that would really attract them. The darkness will be your cover. In your transformed state, not even a person with a speed ability could catch up to you. Just make sure that gravity guy doesn't get in range with you,"
"What do I do?" purple wolf asked.
"When he transforms, the pack does so too. I think I can transfer the wolves power to you. I'll need that speed of yours to bypass the guards, catch them by surprise, and break the cage in under ten seconds. Then, I reach for the flare and we're home free,"
"Can I have a bit of that boost?" Red asked.
"Speed only. I'll be taking the strength thank you very much. We all good? Then, move out!" I finished and closed all thought communication
Now comes the hard part: Luck. At the moment, it was working out for us since the pirates seemed to have stopped for something, probably waiting for information regarding on how to move the wolves from their scouts in the transportation gates.
I wonder how none of my classmates even met up with them. Either they have their own problems to deal with, or this planet is just that large and equally dangerous. I hope Flintheart isn't to busy to appear, I still didn't see a flare to signal otherwise.
"I'm ready," the red wolf transmitted. I jumped onto the back of the purple wolf, Murasaki (his choice of name) and got as close to them as it was unsuspiciously possible.
"Now RED!"
Suddenly, a bright large red light appeared from a good distance away. Soon after, a sense of doom appeared in my consciousness. Maybe I didn't think this through.
The gods must be on my side, cause the leader of the group spread his arms out and erected a barrier (wow, sounded better in my head) which protected everyone in the vicinity from major damage.
That took quite a toll on him, seeing that he was on his knees. Even a demi-gon would have trouble keeping back a blast that could annihilate and entire town but surprisingly, he could still move.
With quick hand signals, they were already on move. You had to give it to them, they were efficient. As predicted, they couldn't leave such a good opportunity to go by. Both people we feared, had to leave seeing that the boss had to be present just incase Red surprised them with the same attack again. The only guards left were only the ones carrying the cages.
Once we were sure they were a good distance away, Murasaki made his move. All I saw was a blur, but when I activated flash point, my focus returned. We breezed through the very surprised pirates but just as fast, they knew what our target was. The guard we were targeting raised his arms, ready to retaliate, but I was prepared for that. I tossed a condensed lightning bolt at him that hit him squarely in the chest, blasting him a few meters away.
The others were too far to intervene, but I knew that that wouldn't last for long. We were already close enough, so I began gathering my strength for one blow to break the cage.
The second we arrived, I threw a punch with just enough force to even fracture a titanium shield. The cage holding Kira and Emily gave way immediately .Not wasting time, I reached for Kira's storage ring and was just and inch away from retrieving the flare, before I froze in that exact position.
"NOOO! I was so close. How?!" I screamed in my head but no sound came out of my mouth. Murasaki wasn't fairing any better, stuck in motion even with all the speed I had given him. A strained laughter echoed from the forest.
"Alright boys, that's a wrap," a voice to my right said. "That acting deserves an Oscar, what's say you fellas?"
"You weren't the one hit with a lightning bolt, so shut that big mouth of yours!" the guy I had striked said as he walked back limping in pain.
"Come on! Only lightning?! That wolf we chased down pawed my face with so much strength, it almost dislocated my jaw, and we didn't even catch it let alone come near it! I'm the one who suffered the most so I should be the one to-"
"Silence, you fools!" a booming voice ordered with so much authority, both bandits squirmed away in fear. A portal opened before me and the leader of the group calmly walked out, clapping his hands like it was some show or something. He removed his hood and smiled at me, his eyes glowing in power.
"Don't look so surprised, Furrha. After all, we are of the same race."