"How did things go? Looking at your expression tells me it went well." Winter inquired, sitting on a boulder, her hat and cloak lying by her.
"It went great, we will now receive support from other canine and feline clans too." Sapphire informed, walking to the boulder and placing her hat near Winter's. "I should inform the elder of this." Sapphire sighed as she leaned on the houlder, blowing a whistle as she did.
A raven descended from the trees and landed on her hand, eyeing her with curiosity. "Return to the Winter Wolf territory and inform the elder and the alphas that we will receive support from some feline and canine clans too, and I have directed them towards the territory. Also tell the Midnight Wolf alpha that I am doing great, he has no need to worry about me." Sapphire instructed the raven as she raised her hand higher. The raven launched itself into the air, flying straight north. Sapphire looked at the raven as it disappeared beyond the horizon.
"You seem... happy, and cheerful, a lot more than I have ever seen you so far." Winter observed, leaning towards Sapphire.
"I am just happy that I am successfully helping others, and not causing more trouble for them." Sapphire answered, twisting a lock of her hair.
"Nothing to worry about, we will make things right and make sure the wrong is punished." Winter reassured, reaching for Sapphire's head.
"I don't doubt it, and you are just tagging along, I could have done all this easily by myself, don't try to take the credit now." Sapphire pointed out, turning to Winter, causing her to flinch back.
"Oh, I am very sorry to offend you, alpha." Winter mocked, stifling a giggle.
"No need to laugh, I am the next in line for becoming the alpha anyways." Sapphire mentioned, puffing her chest with pride.
"Oh, what a coincidence, so am I." Winter replied with a smirk.
"Eh?" Sapphire tilted her head.
"I am not the daughter of the alpha, but I am still the strongest Winter Wolf of my generation so I was declared the next in line," Winter explained.
"If you are the strongest Winter Wolf of your generation then either Winter wolves are just weak, or Midnight wolves are just strong," Sapphire replied, "or I am just too strong." She muttered, half to herself.
"I am inclined to believe it is the last one." Winter sighed, looking towards in the direction they were headed.
"Perhaps." Sapphire shrugged.
"Let's keep moving then, where are we off to now?" Winter inquired turning back to Sapphire.
"The city of Ellay, or something like that. I know that we just have to follow this path and it will lead us there." Sapphire informed, striding forwards.
"You actually have a destination in mind this time?" Winter gasped, jumping off the boulder, with both their hats in one hand as she flung her cloak over herself, following behind Sapphire.
"According to the information I extracted from those chunks of rotten flesh, that place has a slave trader who has a lot of trapped slaves. There are many wolves there too so it will be worthwhile." Sapphire explained, stopping and waiting for Winter to catch up.
"Your hatred for those people seems more personal than them just kidnapping your clan members," Winter observed.
Sapphire stopped in her tracks, looking to the ground for a moment. "You are right, it isn't because they almost successfully kidnapped me either. It is because they took all my friends, and became the cause of the deaths of many of them. I won't spare anyone involved in any way no matter how they beg for their lives." Sapphire hissed, directing an ice cold glare at Winter, though the hostility was not meant for her.
"Seems like I now have a similar reason." Winter bowed her head with a smile before walking ahead.
"What do you mean?" Sapphire inquired, following Winter.
"They almost took you, my first friend, so they deserve to die in the worst ways possible." Winter answered, stopping and looking around in confusion.
"But didn't you say that...?" Sapphire asked.
"I lied, I never had any friends or anyone, not even any family. I don't even know what happened to my family. The wolf pack has been there for me for as long as I can remember, but most of them just saw me as a burden, even the elder. To get away from the feeling of being useless and a burden, I started to hunt for myself and avoid the pack. By hunting and fighting by myself I got stronger than any other wolf my age in the pack very quickly. Our alpha recognized that and made me the next in line for alpha, mostly because he did not have any kids. I disappeared shortly after that so I am not sure if they found someone more suitable." Winter explained, her attention half occupied by something else.
"If they found someone else I won't forgive them, you have all the qualities needed by an alpha." Sapphire growled, baring her teeth.
"It's very pleasing to hear you say that." Winter smiled gently patting Sapphire with one hand.
Sapphire let out a low threatening growl but didn't pull away.
"Also," Winter requested, "let me fight alongside you instead of just standing on the sidelines. After evolving tonight I am certain I will be strong enough to easily fight without getting even slightly injured."
"Alright, but you will retreat if you get injured. I can't be killed so I have nothing to worry about." Sapphire ordered, pulling away from Winter's reach.
"Being that powerful seems unfair to me." Winter complained as she retrieved her hand.
"It does, even more so considering I can take out dragons by myself when entire packs are supposed to be doing that." Sapphire shrugged.
"You have the wrong idea about that information." Winter pointed out with a laugh. "That is based on the power of the dragons from millennia ago. The dragons now are much weaker than the ones back then. Those powerful dragons are called 'Ancient Dragons' now."
"Wait, normal dragons don't evolve into those?" Sapphire questioned, tilting her head in confusion.
"No, they evolve from 'Ancient Wyrms' to 'Ancient Dragons', and remain 'Ancient Dragons' forever," Winter explained.
"So that one was on the weaker side for an ancient dragon." Sapphire realized, facepalming herself just as she did.
"You... have fought one? And won?" Winter exclaimed in shock.
"It allowed me to win I'd say. If it had fought from the beginning I would have died instantly," Sapphire pointed out. "Wait." Sapphire gasped as she started searching her pockets.
"What happened?" Winter questioned.
"I still haven't used the crystal." Sapphire answered as she checked through her pockets for the crystal. Finding the crystal she took it out of her pocket as she unsheathed her katana. "Let's see how it looks." She whispered as she brought the crystal closer to the hilt of the sword.
Just as the crystal made contact with the sword purple lines shot through the blade and the hilt. The eyes of the carved wolf glowed purple for a moment before returning to the dark blue glow. The purple lines also turned dark blue for a moment before fading away, the blade returning to its normal state.
"Blade of Lost Shadows has risen from level 1 to level 2. Bracelet of Wisdom has risen from level 1 to level 2."
"Two relic levels for the price of one." Sapphire gasped, her ears twitching cheerfully.
"That sounds good, although I don't fully understand." Winter smiled, reaching her arm out to pat Sapphire on the head.
"Acquired the skills:
"Those are some very toxic sounding skills." Sapphire smiled, not noticing Winter's hand.
"Sounds good." Winter nodded, not knowing what Sapphire was talking about. "Seems like you just got more overpowered." Winter chuckled, continuing to take advantage of the opportunity.
"I believe so." Sapphire agreed, turning her head up towards Winter. "Do you have a death wish?"
"Perhaps, but not yet." Winter smiled as she retrieved her hand. "Let us move towards our test subjects then, shall we?" Winter offered with a bow.
"Certainly." Sapphire agreed, sheathing her katana and snatching her hat from Winter's hand. "Let's go and save more." Sapphire sighed as she placed her hat back on her head.