The alpha didn't move immediately. It paced in front of us as the other dogs barked, and some yipped. There had to be at least over fifteen of them, and they looked… hungry. The alpha looked similar to the lesser dogs but it had no flaps, and its fur was a deep grey. It still looked like a humanoid hunched over, but far bigger. Its claws looked deadly and looked like they could easily tear through me or Lex. I had a high constitution that would allow me to last longer, but I wasn't eager to test it. All it would take was one command from the alpha and we were dead, but it didn't. It walked forward, leaned down, then barked.
Lex laughed, but it sounded strained. "It wanted to fight us alone."
"What? Why?" I asked. "It can just kill us now?"
"It's an alpha," Lex said. "They're different. I have no doubt if we win, the others will charge in and kill us, but until then, it's a one-on-two. We can… We can do this. We kill him, then carve a path through the rest."
It sounded like wishful thinking, and it probably was, but I wasn't about to give up now. Not for this damn mutt, or anybody. This was my life, a life I wanted to live, and I would sure as hell fight for it.
"I'm with you," I said, steeling my voice. "To the end."
Lex turned and shot me a smile, a true smile. He nodded, his eyes saying it all. "To the end, my friend. A shame we couldn't have gotten to know each other." He turned back to face the alpha, his eyes cold, ready for what was coming.
We made the first move. Lex dashed forward while I moved to the side to flank him. Lex was fast having used an ability, but the alpha wasn't some weak monster. It swiped at him, but he managed to dodge and score a cut along its face. It wasnt deep, but some blood leaked out.
I moved in to attack, but the alpha must have known, as its back legs raised up and kicked me, sending me flying into a tree. I hit it with a groan, then let out another when I hit the ground.
"Oh fuck."
Lex was still clashing with it. Dodging and scoring any hit he could. His speed was faster, but the attacks of the alpha were getting closer and closer until finally, he stayed in too long after a piercing strike to the alpha's side. A paw hit his shoulder and he was sent to the ground, crying out. He tried to roll with it but was only half successful.
What really angered me was how the alpha didn't even run after him. It just walked forward as if Lex wasn't worth the effort. I was on my feet by now, but I didn't just charge forward. Boost was off cooldown, but I learned that too many boosts even with potions wasn't a good idea, but what choice did I have?
I glanced down at my dagger, and then at the alpha. The weakest part of it looked to be the head, but how was I gonna get close? I wasn't, not without taking a risk or a distraction.
"Lex!" The alpha glared back at me, but I ignored it. "Do anything you can to distract it, anything."
Lex met my eyes and raised an eyebrow. "You got a plan?"
"Yes, just trust me."
Lex nodded and then activated another ability. His sword began to glow faintly, then he swung it, and a distortion in the shape of a crescent shot forward, catching the alpha off guard. It hit his mouth and blood sprayed. Why hadn't he done that sooner or had he been waiting for the right moment? Whatever ability it was, it had worked, and the alpha turned its full focus to Lex, letting out a loud growl.
I charged, activating boost. Boost's cooldown varied on how many times I used it, and each charge cooldown was different. One boost took a few minutes to come back up, but two was longer, and one and one. For a full five charge of boost, it was over two hours. So I could use one boost a lot, or wait to use more. In this case, I had two boosts, and I used them both. I leaped forward right onto its back, pulling my dagger out and digging it deep into the alpha. It let out a yelp and began to shake, but Lex stepped forward and unleashed a whirlwind of strikes. He swung and swung. The alpha tried to bat him away while shaking, but I used the dagger and my sword to stab my way forward. With the dagger holding me, I raised my sword with my right hand, and with every ounce of strength I had I plunged it down with a battle roar.
It hit home, and the alpha's whine was all the confirmation I needed. The shaking stopped, and it began to wobble back and forth until it toppled. I fell with it, panting, and fumbling for a potion. I cursed as I realized I'd dropped my bag down before we'd charged at the alpha. I hadn't needed it weighing me down.
"Lex, potion."
"We have bigger problems!" Lex replied, then I remembered the barking. I turned and saw the dogs charging at us.
"Oh come on," I said, tears coming to my eyes. How was this fair? I need life wasn't fair, but at this moment I wanted to scream. I tried to get to my feet, but just then the timer for boost ran out, and the drop hit. I fell forward, closing my eyes as I did, accepting the end. However, no biting teeth or tearing claws came.
Instead, I heard the sound of a shout, and a familiar voice shouted. "Hold on." I managed to look up just in time to see Rashid barrel into three dogs and bolts flying to hit some more. I let out a laugh and shouted in joy. Eloria was also there, shooting bolts of lighting out at dogs. Lex was still up, his eyes wild. He attacked in a frenzy, craving up dog after dog until there was none left.
I pushed myself onto my back and continued to laugh. "How?" It was more a question to myself than anything, but Elorai answered. "He sent us a chat message saying you were in trouble and needed help immediately. We took some horses and damn near burnt them out getting here."
She walked over to me while Rashid and Tenna went to Lex who had dropped onto his back. I felt her hands on me before warmth flooded my body, and my pain began to fade. I let out a breath and swallowed the potion she gave me before getting to my fight.
Lex was also up, looking tired and dizzy. Eloria gave him a shot of healing and he looked better, but his eyes were still wild. I didn't blame him, I felt similarly.
"When did you send it?" I asked.
"When they started chasing us," he replied. "My sense helped. I had a faint feeling we wouldn't make it out."
"Well you did," Tenna said. "You right two crazy bastards. What were you thinking?"
"How were we meant to know," Lex said. "The chances of an alpha happening are so damn rare."
"Still, you should have asked us," Eloria said. "I know you like hunting alone sometimes, but together we are stronger and safer."
Lex nodded. "True enough. Next time I take a hunt like this I'll be more careful and take someone with me... Until I get stronger of course." He grinned and we all laughed. Some of the tension bled out of him and him. We looked at each other, and we only needed to nod. This had cemented our friendship, brothers forged in blood and battle.
"Let's get you two back to town," Eloria said. "We can eat at Karra's." Then she sniffed and made a face. "But not before you two take a bath."
We laughed and looted the corpses before we made out way back. I looked up and smiled as we walked. I had survived. I had fought for my life and won.