The Whispering Woods stretched endlessly before them, but it was the sudden appearance of seven wolf-like creatures, with eyes bizarrely protruding from the sides of their bodies, that halted the Rising Phoenix guild in their tracks.
Articius stepped forward, his azure eyes fixed on the predators. "Stay back," he instructed, a tone of practiced calm seeping through. "Let me handle this."
Before the others could protest, Articius unstrapped the gleaming sword from his back, letting it catch the dim sunlight filtering through the canopy. The wolves, sensing a challenge, circled him, their low growls echoing with hunger and malice.
