A large, two-horse carriage thundered through the bustling streets of the town, its wheels kicking up small clouds of dust. The emblem of the Hunter's Guild, prominently displayed on all sides of the vehicle, gleamed in the sunlight. Pedestrians and other carriages instinctively moved to the edges of the cobbled roads, clearing the path with respectful urgency. Everyone understood that when the Hunter's Guild was on official business, it was for their safety, and interfering could mean dire consequences.
Inside the carriage, Ranav sat quietly next to Kulbir and eight seasoned hunters. The air inside buzzed with a mix of camaraderie and tension. Kulbir, who is also a fighter, struck up animated conversations with the hunters, finding common ground in their shared experience as fighters. Stories of previous battles, humorous anecdotes, and strategies flowed freely among them.
Ranav, however, remained silent, his gaze distant. The hunters exchanged knowing glances, assuming his quiet demeanor was the result of nerves, a natural reaction from someone so young facing the unknown dangers of a wolf pack. They respected his space, choosing not to disturb him.
But Ranav's silence wasn't due to fear or anxiety. He was preoccupied with a conversation in his mind, a voice he hadn't heard in what felt like an eternity.
"Ranav."
The unexpected call from Jessica startled him so much that he nearly spoke aloud. Catching himself, he quickly glanced around to ensure no one was watching. He exhaled in relief when he realized he was still seated slightly apart from the others.
"You surprised me!" Ranav thought, directing his response inward. "Couldn't you have given me a warning?"
Jessica chuckled softly in his mind. "I waited for you to be alone, but it wasn't easy. The moment I found an opening, I spoke. Don't worry, no one heard you."
"When did you wake up?"
"During your awakening," she replied. "But you were surrounded by strangers, and I didn't know them, so I stayed quiet."
"Thanks for being considerate. How are you feeling now?"
"A lot has changed on my side," Jessica said, her tone carrying an air of mystery. "I'll explain everything later when we have time to talk. For now, I'm a bit weak, but I'm fine overall."
Ranav's shoulders relaxed. "I'm glad you're okay. I was worried."
"No need to worry about me. You seem to be doing fine without me," she teased, her voice light.
"Don't joke about that. You'll understand soon enough. A lot has happened," Ranav replied.
Their mental conversation was cut short when he overheard the hunters discussing their battle strategy.
Usha leaned forward, her voice calm yet decisive. "Our best bet is a surprise attack on the alpha. Once the alpha is dead, the pack will fall into disarray. After that, it'll be easier to eliminate the remaining wolves."
Jubin, leader of the team, shook his head slightly. "Let's hold off on making any final decisions until we assess the situation. We don't know what we're walking into. Patience will serve us better than assumptions."
Kulbir tilted his head, curiosity evident. "How do you even identify the alpha in a Kumaon Shadow Wolf pack? They all look the same to me, just black and gray."
Usha smirked faintly. "At a glance, they may seem identical, but the alpha always stands out. It's more muscular, more robust. It carries an aura of dominance. By observing the pack's behavior, you can pick it out, it's always the one the others defer to."
Jubin chimed in, "The alpha's power is directly linked to the size of the pack. For every new member added to the pack, the alpha's strength grows. If a fifty-member pack doubles to a hundred, the alpha's physical power increases almost instantaneously. The connection between the alpha and its pack is magical, and it's reciprocal… when the alpha grows stronger, so does the pack's collective strength."
Dilip, an older hunter, interjected with a proud tone. "Last winter, we faced a pack with over a hundred members. Even with twenty of us, we had to retreat. That alpha was no joke."
Ranav, uninterested in Dilip's boastful recounting, turned his gaze to the carriage window. The town's streets blurred past him, the scenery gradually changing from bustling urban life to the quieter outskirts.
The carriage sped along at an astonishing pace, the rhythmic clatter of its wheels occasionally punctuated by the coachman's sharp whistle. Pedestrians scattered as the carriage barreled forward, clearing the way like clockwork. The whistle reminded Ranav of police sirens back on Earth. This world could really use a proper horn system, he mused with a faint smile.
After nearly an hour, the carriage slowed as it reached the northern suburbs. The once-busy streets gave way to vast, open fields. The coachman pulled the horses to a stop. Jubin and Usha disembarked first, the rest of the team waiting inside.
Usha climbed onto the roof, pulling out a binocular. She scanned the surrounding cornfields, her sharp eyes searching for any movement. After a moment, she called down, "Jubin, I see wolves. They're eating something… it looks like a farmer's cow. There are a few guarding the area. I estimate around thirty wolves in total."
"Can you identify the alpha?" Jubin asked, stepping on a pedestal beside the coachman in front of the carriage.
"My guess is the one sitting near the food. It's not eating and is positioned like it's overseeing the pack. But I can't be certain."
"Let me see." Jubin took the binocular and observed the pack for himself. "I think you're right. That looks like the alpha. But the guard wolves are spread out over a large area. A direct attack on the alpha won't work… we'd have to deal with the guards first."
"But that would give up the element of surprise," Usha pointed out.
Jubin turned back to the team. "Everyone, disembark. The coast is clear."
Ranav, Kulbir, and the other hunters stepped out, gathering behind the carriage.
Usha explained, "This pack is relatively small, so the alpha won't be as strong as others we've faced. But the scattered guards make a surprise attack impossible. Our only option is to eliminate the guards quickly, then move on to the rest of the pack."
Jubin nodded. "Agreed. But even then, we might not be able to completely eliminate the threat. If they realize they're losing, they'll flee. Rita and I could pursue them with Air magic, but that would be risky."
Saraf cleared his throat. "We don't need to chase them. Our goal is to protect the city, not wipe out the pack entirely. If we attack with full force and kill as many as possible, the survivors will be too scared to return."
"I agree," Usha said. "We should attack from the city's direction so the only escape route is the forest. That way, they'll flee in the opposite direction."
Jubin glanced around the group. "Alright, then it's decided. Knights in the front, mages in the rear, zigzag formation. Let's stick to the plan. Any objections?"
When no one spoke up, he turned to the coachman. "Take us three hundred yards forward, quietly. We'll disembark and enter the cornfields from there."
The horses slowed to a steady walk, the carriage wheels creaking softly. After some time, the coachman brought them to a halt. Jubin dismounted and addressed the team.
"Stick together and stay within sight of each other. Ranav and Kulbir… you two stay by the carriage. Focus on your safety."