The journey to Drakemouth had been harsh, to say the least. For three days, Alex and Emily trudged through bitter cold, their breath visible in the air, their bodies weighed down by exhaustion. The wind, sharp and unrelenting, bit at their faces and seeped through the thin layers of their clothing. It was Emily who had first suggested they stop and make coats from the dire wolves they'd been hunting for food. Alex, never one to let his pride waver, grumbled but relented. His crude sewing turned the hides into barely passable coats. The stitching was poor, and the fur clumped awkwardly, but they kept the wind at bay, which was all that mattered.
The barren canyon stretched endlessly before them, its jagged rock walls towering overhead, casting long, foreboding shadows. Above, a dense forest loomed at the canyon's edge, its blackened trees swaying ominously in the wind. The sound of rustling leaves and distant howls unsettled them both, but they pressed on. The promise of Drakemouth was too tempting to ignore.
After hours of trekking, the pair stumbled upon a small cave nestled within the canyon wall. Too exhausted to care about potential dangers, they collapsed inside and were asleep within moments. The cave's warmth shielded them from the icy gusts outside, but it was an uneasy rest, the kind where the faintest sound could jolt them awake.
When Alex stirred, it was with a jolt of adrenaline. His senses, sharpened by months of training, screamed at him. Something was wrong. His gut churned with a strange, unexplainable sensation, like a faint tugging in his mind pulling him to look outside. He glanced at Emily, still asleep, and moved cautiously to the cave's entrance.
There, in the pale light of dawn, he saw them: shadowy figures prowling in the distance, their golden-yellow eyes glowing with a greenish hue. They moved with an unnatural grace, their forms indistinct but unmistakably wolf-like. Alex's blood ran cold. The sight stirred an old memory—one of loss, fear, and failure. The dryad. The betrayal. Ryan.
His jaw tightened as a wave of determination washed over him. He couldn't fail again. Not this time. Turning back into the cave, he shook Emily awake. She blinked at him, groggy and confused, but his urgency was enough to rouse her fully.
"We have to go. Now."
Emily barely had time to grab her things before Alex scooped her up and bolted out of the cave. The wolves, alerted by their sudden movement, gave chase. Their howls echoed through the canyon, deeper and more menacing than any ordinary wolf. Alex ran as fast as his legs could carry him, leaping over rocks and ducking under outcroppings, but the wolves were relentless, their numbers overwhelming.
After what felt like an eternity, Alex spotted a jagged rock jutting from the canyon floor—a vantage point. He climbed it swiftly, setting Emily down behind him. "Watch the back. I'll handle the rest," he said, his voice steady despite the pounding of his heart.
The first wave came quickly. The wolves, snarling and snapping, launched themselves at the rock. Alex met them with steel, his twin daggers flashing as he struck with precision and force. Blood sprayed as he felled one after another, their black fur glinting crimson in the dim light. Emily, meanwhile, held her ground at the rear. Though her movements lacked finesse, her raw determination shone through. She smashed one wolf's skull with a well-aimed punch, then sent another tumbling down the rock with a powerful kick.
For over an hour, the battle raged. Alex's arms ached from the constant swinging, but his resolve didn't waver. By the time he had taken down thirty wolves and Emily had dispatched a handful more, the tide seemed to be turning. Then, the forest went silent.
Out of the shadows stepped a massive wolf, easily twice the size of any they had faced. Its hulking form moved with deliberate menace, its golden-green eyes locking onto Alex. For a moment, the two stared at each other. Alex tightened his grip on his daggers, readying himself for the fight of his life. But the giant wolf didn't charge. Instead, it let out a low, guttural growl, a sound that sent chills down Alex's spine.
At once, the remaining wolves began to circle the rock, their movements unnervingly coordinated. Emily, sensing the shift in tactics, threw her remaining knives, taking out a few of the closest ones. But it wasn't enough. A smaller wolf leaped at her while her back was turned. Alex, reacting on instinct, kicked it mid-air, sending it flying. The momentary distraction cost him. Three wolves pounced on him, their claws raking across his arms and chest.
Emily, panicked, poured all her mana into a single punch, the impact knocking two of the wolves off the rock. Alex dispatched the last one with a quick thrust to the heart, but more were already closing in. "We can't hold this!" Alex shouted, grabbing Emily.
With a burst of strength, he leaped off the rock and sprinted toward the canyon wall. He reached into his pouch, pulling out a dagger with a wire attached. His plan was desperate, but it was their only chance. He hurled the dagger upward, embedding it into a tree at the canyon's edge. Wrapping the wire around his hand, he began to climb, pulling Emily along with him.
The wire snapped.
The dagger, not lodged deeply enough, came loose, sending them tumbling back down. Alex shielded Emily with his body as they crashed against the jagged canyon wall. The sharp rocks tore into his back, but the adrenaline numbed the pain.
Gritting his teeth, Alex forced himself to his feet. Emily was unconscious in his arms, her mana completely drained. The wolves were closing in. He ran.
The canyon narrowed ahead, leading to a rushing river cutting through the rock. The current was fierce, the water icy and unforgiving. Alex skidded to a stop at the edge, the wolves behind him. He turned, his body trembling with exhaustion, but his eyes burning with resolve.
"Come on," he muttered, readying himself for a final stand.
The giant wolf stepped forward, letting out another bone-chilling growl. The smaller wolves advanced in unison. Alex prepared to channel the last of his mana into a desperate attack when the ground beneath him gave way.
The cliff edge crumbled, sending him and Emily plummeting into the raging river below. Acting on instinct, Alex used his remaining wire to tie them together. The icy water hit like a wall of bricks, stealing the air from his lungs. He fought against the current, trying to swim to the other side, but the weight of Emily and his own exhaustion dragged him down.
The last thing Alex saw before darkness claimed him was a jagged rock rushing toward him.