The scent of blood lingered thick in the air. Snow stood among the scattered corpses, his sword sheathed, but his body remained tense, his senses still heightened from battle. The wolves were gone. Either slain or scattered, their pack had been broken.
Lian let out a breath, exhaustion finally settling into her limbs. She wiped a bloodstained hand across her forehead, glancing at the bodies surrounding them. "That was insane," she muttered. "We should keep moving before something else shows up."
Snow's gaze shifted toward the dense trees ahead. The wolves had fought fiercely, not out of bloodlust, but because this land was theirs. And now, with their Alpha dead, the territory was empty.
For now.
He turned to Lian. "We're taking the wolves' den."
She blinked. "What?"
Snow wiped the blood off his blade with a piece of cloth before securing it back in its sheath. "Their pack is broken, and the survivors have fled. But this land won't stay unclaimed for long. Other spirit beasts will come to fight for it." His voice was steady, calculated. "We have two days at most before the next predator arrives. Until then, their den is the safest place for us to rest and recover."
Lian hesitated. She wasn't opposed to the idea, but instinct made her wary. "You think it'll be empty?"
Snow nodded. "The pack wouldn't have kept their den close to the battlefield. Their young and the weaker wolves should've already fled when the fighting started. It's instinct." His sharp eyes met hers. "And even if there's something left behind… nothing that we can't handle."
Lian exhaled and nodded. "Fine. Lets go "
Navigating through the wolves' hunting grounds was easier now. Without their pack guarding the forest, the path felt eerily open. But Snow remained cautious, his senses stretching outward. Just because the pack had left didn't mean other dangers wouldn't arrive soon.
The deeper they traveled, the more signs of the wolves' presence became apparent. Scratch marks on tree trunks, scattered bones of past kills, and the occasional tuft of fur clinging to branches. Snow's steps remained light, precise, avoiding the signs of old patrol paths.
Lian, though weary, kept pace beside him. "They must have lived deep in this forest," she murmured. "How much further?"
"It should not be too far." Snow adjusted his grip on his sword, his fingers brushing against the hilt. He could feel it—the slight shift in the air. The den was close.
Minutes later, they emerged into a secluded clearing.
At its center, nestled beneath the roots of an ancient tree, was the entrance to the wolves' den.
It was larger than Lian expected. A wide opening, just tall enough for the massive Alpha to have passed through with ease, led into darkness. The ground around it was packed earth, signs of frequent use evident in the smoothness of the entrance. Bones were scattered near the entrance—some fresh, some bleached with time. The scent of damp earth and lingering musk filled the air.
Snow moved first. His steps were silent as he approached, his blade ready. But the den remained still. No movement. No growls from within.
Empty.
Lian let out a breath. "Looks like you were right."
Snow didn't lower his guard just yet. He stepped closer, peering into the darkness beyond the entrance. The den stretched further inside, deeper than it appeared.
He crouched, pressing a hand against the earth. It was still slightly warm. Not fresh, but not entirely abandoned either.
"This place was left in a hurry," he murmured. "But it's safe for now."
Lian didn't argue. She was tired, her limbs aching from the battle. "Then let's not waste time."
She stepped inside first.
Inside, the den was more spacious than expected. The tunnels branched off, some leading deeper underground, others curving back toward hidden exits. The air was cool, a stark contrast to the humid forest outside.
Snow and Lian moved cautiously, checking each passage for signs of life. But aside from old nesting areas and the faint scent of the pack, there was nothing.
Finally, they reached the largest chamber—a hollowed-out space beneath the tree's roots. Patches of dried grass and fur lined the ground, remnants of where the wolves had slept.
Snow scanned the space before finally relaxing. "This will do."
Lian sighed, rolling her shoulders before settling onto one of the old nesting spots. "I never thought I'd be resting where wolves used to sleep."
Snow didn't respond. Instead, he sat down, his back against the rough earthen wall. His body ached—not from wounds, but from exhaustion. The battle had drained him more than he cared to admit.
Lian glanced at him. "How long are we staying here?"
"Two days," he said simply. "Once our strength is back, we leave before something stronger comes to claim this land."
She nodded, then hesitated before speaking again. "...You ever wonder what we're walking into next?"
Snow's eyes remained unreadable. "Always."
But for now, there was nothing to do but rest.
Outside, the forest remained still. No howls echoed through the trees. No glowing eyes watched from the darkness.
For the first time in a long while, they had a moment of peace.
The wolves' den was cold, damp, and carried the faint scent of old blood and fur. But to Snow and Lian, it was a safe haven.
For the first time in days, there was no immediate danger. No enemies lurking just beyond the trees. No beasts hunting them down. Just silence.
Snow sat against the rough earthen wall, his eyes half-closed as he focused on his breathing. His body was sore, his muscles tight with lingering strain from the battle. He could feel the faint sting of shallow wounds across his arms and shoulders, but none were severe. His body would heal naturally with time.
Lian sat nearby, inspecting a gash along her thigh. It wasn't deep, but it would slow her down if she didn't treat it. She tore a piece of cloth from her robe, wrapping it tightly around the wound before sighing in frustration.
"We're lucky," she muttered. "Could've been worse."
Snow gave a slight nod, though his mind was elsewhere. Two days. That was all they had before other beasts moved in. He had fought enough spirit beasts to know how quickly the power balance shifted. The moment a dominant predator fell, weaker ones would swarm in to fight over the scraps.
That meant their time here was limited.
Lian stretched out with a groan, then laid back on the dried grass. "You ever stop thinking?"
Snow glanced at her.
She smirked. "You always have that look. Like you're already fighting the next battle before this one is even over."
His expression didn't change. "It's how I survive."
Lian rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. But even you need to rest." She closed her eyes. "Two days. No fighting. No running. Just quiet."
Snow didn't reply.
But as the hours passed, he allowed himself to relax.