The wind whistled through the branches as Tobias and I ventured deeper into the undergrowth. The rain fell steadily, turning the forest floor into a slick, unpredictable surface. My paws occasionally slipped on the wet leaves, but I managed to keep my balance. Tobias, with his heavy boots, seemed to fare better, though he too moved cautiously.
The air was thick, carrying the scent of decay and damp earth, mingled with something else—a distant, acrid stench that smelled of the city. A mix of waste, smoke, and gasoline. It made the fur on my neck stand on end.
"How much further?" Tobias asked again, this time with a hint of impatience. His voice was hushed, but I could hear the tension in it.
"Not much ," I replied without stopping. "We should see the lights of Newhurst soon. But Tobias… from here, it gets dangerous."
He pulled his hood tighter around his head and nodded without looking at me. "I know. But if you think I'll hide or turn back, then you don't know me."
I stopped to look at him. His face was streaked with rain, but his eyes were resolute. He wasn't a wolf, but something about him carried the hardness of a predator. Father had taken him into our pack as a child, but Tobias was no helpless boy anymore. Even so, the weight of responsibility bore heavily on me. If anything happened to him… Seliniea wouldn't be the only one who'd never forgive me.
"Stay alert," I said at last. "If you see, hear, or smell anything unusual, tell me immediately."
"Understood," he replied, his tone firm, almost defiant.
We continued onward, and soon the forest began to thin. The sounds of the animals faded, as if even nature knew we were approaching a place that no longer belonged to it. Ahead, a narrow gravel road stretched out, flanked by scraggly bushes and tall grass. The darkness swallowed the horizon, but in the distance, the flickering lights of Newhurst glimmered—cold, artificial, and as inviting as a trap.
I stopped and lifted my head to scent the air. The city's stench was stronger now, but something else was present—a metallic tang I didn't like.
"There it is," Tobias said softly, his gaze fixed on the city.
I nodded, not taking my eyes off the road. "We need to split up."
"What?" Tobias sounded surprised. "Why?"
"Because I have no other choice," I explained calmly. "You're human. You can move through the city without being attacked on sight. If they see me, I'll be hunted immediately. My presence could put Emmy in even greater danger."
He hesitated, his eyes fixed on the dark city. "And what exactly am I supposed to do?"
"Find out where they're holding Emmy," I said. "Listen, observe. You know how to stay inconspicuous. Once you have the information, come back here. I'll stay near the city's edge and wait for you."
Tobias frowned but eventually nodded. "Alright. But you be careful too. Humans are unpredictable, especially the ones living in a place like this."
I gave him a faint smile, just a slight curling of my lips. "I know. I'm the one being hunted, remember?"
Tobias grinned briefly, then squared his shoulders and prepared himself. "Alright then. I'll see you back here."
"Stay safe," I said, my voice calmer than I felt. I could only hope he understood what he was walking into.
I waited until Tobias disappeared down the road before retreating into the undergrowth. The forest's cover was thin, but it was better than nothing. My senses were on high alert, my ears twitching at every sound. I knew we could be watched—by hunters, perhaps even by machines stationed in the city.
Time crawled as I crept closer to the city's edge. The lights grew brighter, the stench stronger. I could now hear the city's noise: dull hammering, the hum of machinery, occasional shouting. It was chaotic, unnatural, and it unsettled me.
I stopped by a small stream running through the undergrowth. The rain had swelled it, and the sound of rushing water masked my movements. Here, I paused, lifting my snout to sniff the air. The smell of humans was stronger. I was close.
Suddenly, a new scent pierced the air. Faint, almost buried beneath the city's haze, but unmistakable. Blood. And not just any blood—wolf blood. My heart thundered in my chest, and a low growl rumbled in my throat. Emmy was here. Somewhere.
I was about to move forward when a sound made my ears prick: a faint humming, followed by a steady rumble. It grew louder, closer. I crouched low in the grass, listening intently as my eyes scanned the darkness.
Lights flickered in the distance, growing brighter. It was a vehicle, slowly making its way down the gravel road. The engine's sound was deep, heavy—not a regular car. This was a hunter's vehicle.
My muscles tensed, and my breathing grew shallow. I knew I couldn't move. The vehicle's lights would expose me immediately if I wasn't deep enough in the shadows. It was a game of patience, and I could only hope Tobias was far enough away to avoid detection.
The engine's rumble grew louder, and I could now see the vehicle clearly. It was massive, with a bulky frame and reinforced metal plates along its sides. The headlights pierced the darkness, and for a moment, it seemed as if they were aimed directly at me.
I held my breath, my paws pressed firmly into the ground. There was no escape if they spotted me. My only chance was to stay perfectly still and hope they passed by.
Suddenly, the vehicle came to a stop. The engine's hum deepened as it idled. My heart pounded, and every instinct screamed at me to run. But I knew any movement would give me away.
I crouched lower in the grass and waited, the sound of opening doors slicing through the air. Heavy footsteps followed, deliberate and loud, and I could hear voices. They were too far to make out the words, but their tone was serious, tense.