Blood?
Rain couldn't mistake it — the smell was unmistakable.
The scent of blood was distinct and potent, a metallic tang reminiscent of rusting iron. It was a smell that was both familiar and unsettling. Mixed with this metallic undertone was a hint of saltiness, like the sea but heavier and more intense. There was also a faint, almost sweet odor, which was nauseating, especially when combined with the warmth and humidity of fresh blood.
This aroma evoked a visceral reaction inside Rain, stirring instincts and emotions deep within him.
"Could it be that they're feasting inside?" Rain asked no one in particular.
Chi responded with a serious chirp, her body tense and alert.
"But this stench of blood . . . it's too strong for just a single kill or two." Before Rain could think through what he was doing, his curiosity got the better of him, and he went inside the cave.
~Chi!~
Chi followed behind him, alert and ready to intervene and protect Rain at the slightest hint of danger.
Inside the cave was a chaos of claw marks and splattered blood.
The stench of blood intensified, and Rain noticed a trail on the ground. "These are footprints. These are from the wolves . . . wait . . . what are these?"
Rain squatted down, inspecting the chaotic earth where he saw tracks of the wolves' paws and something . . . something bigger and more like the foot of a . . .
"Human?" Rain placed his foot over the mark and found that it was the same size as his, but its toes were pointed. "What are these?"
~Chi . . .~
Rain was stunned. "Goblins? But goblins should be smaller, right?"
~Chi~
Rain's face went white. "Hobgoblins?"
He didn't like the sound of that. Rain was having a bad feeling and went deeper into the Quillwolves' territory until they stumbled upon a dead end.
There were makeshift beds around this area made from different furs, branches, and fabrics.
"These must be the wolves' resting place," Rain said. "But where are the wolves?"
He looked around and found none — only blood and chaos. "Did the Hobgoblins and wolves fight?"
~Chi!~
Chi pointed at a corner, and Rain noticed that there was something moving under the tattered fabrics.
Rain equipped his sword and signaled Chi to be alert.
Chi nodded in understanding, and they cautiously approached the moving object.
Pointing his sword at the moving object, Rain quickly flinched away the dirty fabric. What stumbled into their view was something unexpected.
It was a small wolf with thick blue fur and a furry long tail with strange white markings around its body.
It was a cub, gasping its last breath.
"Chi, heal it," Rain said quickly as he sheathed his sword back into his inventory.
~Chi!~
Chi shook her head, trying to communicate to Rain that it wasn't a good idea.
"We can't leave it like this. It's just a pup. It doesn't know any better."
Chi pouted, but at Rain's insistence, she had no choice but to heal the cub.
Rain checked the pup and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that it had only lost consciousness. Its wounds had healed, and it was breathing steadily now.
Rain gently carried the cub in his hands and looked around. "Aren't there any more survivors?"
Chi shook her head, signaling that the cub was the only one left. She chirped, and Rain looked at her dead in the eyes.
"That's not very nice, Chi. Though they're beasts and tried to kill us, they're only doing it because they also have families to feed. Out here is survival, so lets not make it personal."
Chi quickly apologized and lowered her head. Rain patted her and smiled.
"Let's go before those Hobgoblins decides to come back."
With the cub sleeping in his arms, Rain and Chi quickly made their way out of the cave.
Outside, Rain checked the surroundings and found what he was looking for — a trail of blood that led further north.
"That must be the location of the Hobgoblins' lair."
~Chi~
Chi frowned, her skin crawling at the thought of the Hobgoblins.
"I know, Chi. The Quillwolves' lair is just a few kilometers away from our shelter. If they found their cave, then it's only a matter of time before they find ours."
Rain was strangely calm about this fact, something that Chi admired in her Lord.
'As expected of my Lord! Even the threat of Hobgoblins doesn't faze him!'
Unbeknownst to Chi, Rain was shaking to his core. He was rattled to the point he couldn't move, his mind panicking about what to do.
He could take care of some Quillwolves, but Hobgoblins were different! They were intelligent humanoids, meaning they could somewhat use their brains!
Besides that, they were taller than goblins, bigger, and definitely had the strength to overpower them with their numbers, just like they did to those Quillwolves.
It might be hypocritical of him to say this, but he hoped that the Quillwolves would serve as food for the Hobgoblins for days to come while he thought of a plan to counter them.