Leander strode down the cavern, his sword held tightly in one hand. Descending further and further, as they reached down under the mountain-range, tunnels began splitting off from the main tunnel. As they passed each branching path, Ravenmother – comfortably perched on Leander's shoulder – paid attention to each new path. After some time had passed, Ravenmother growing bored by the monotonous thrum of footsteps against the silence of the tunnel, whispered into Leander's ear.
"Do you think there are more entrances to this tunnel than just the one we entered? I wonder why we haven't seen any manyfang in agessss. I wouldn't have expected it to be as long as it is, how long do you think we've been walking?"
Glancing at another tunnel, Leander quietly responded through gritted teeth.
"It has been a while…"
Suddenly stopping, he turned to look back the way they came. After a moment of silence, Ravenmother followed Leander's gaze – seeing nothing, she poked his cheek with one leg.
"Something up, Hero?"
Leander's heavy gaze stared at the path behind them. Ravenmother's power may have allowed Leander to easily see within the dark tunnel, although this benefit became mute as the tunnel sloped upwards causing the path they had traversed to be out of sight.
"I felt something…"
"Felt something? Like what?"
"Like-"
Leander abruptly stopped talking as the weak patter of steps could be heard. Throwing himself into the tunnel closest to him – Ravenmother held tightly to Leander's shoulder causing her to be pulled along. Within moments three manyfang hurtled down the tunnel, seemingly running as fast as their legs could carry them. The beasts were moving so fast they didn't have a chance to see Leander hidden in the dark branching tunnel.
As the footsteps died down, Ravenmother shook her head.
"I should have scouted this out before you came down. We could be walking into a trap."
Stepping out from the tunnel, Leander rested a hand on the cold stone as he quietly spoke aloud.
"I'm not worried about these small fries. If they can lead us into a trap laid by their leader, the quicker we can leave."
After a moment of consideration, Leander slowly shook his head.
"Although this explains why we haven't seen a group of manyfang in a while."
Ravenmother squinted at Leander as he began moving again – seemingly giving up on stealth – Leander broke into a sprint chasing after the manyfang. With each stride Leander covered more distance than the average man his size could ever dream to achieve – coupled with his undead physiology – Leander was capable of sustaining this speed indefinitely.
"How does this explain why we haven't seen a group in a while? Because of their speed? The only reason I would ever have to move so fast is because I'm late getting somewhere, but that rarely happens."
The realisation of her words struck Ravenmother seconds later as the branching tunnels whipped by.
Leander's faster approach began to slow down as the tunnel grew brighter. Where there had been nothing but dark, a dim glow began illuminating the cavern. Bright crystals protruding from the walls, the floor, and the ceiling now lit the path ahead. Cautiously, Leander continued soon reaching the end of the tunnel.
The tunnel opened out into a large brightly lit natural cave. Unlike the small crystals leading up to the larger cave, this cave was filled with outcroppings of crystals only slightly shorter than Leander.
At the other end of the room, the three manyfang that had passed Leander and Ravenmother stood in the middle of the space. A large pile of mining tools reminiscent of the one Leander had investigated earlier was built up next to another tunnel on the far side of the cave. The last observation Leander made – at first what he had assumed to be a patch of unnatural darkness, was actually a steep drop that the light of the crystals was unable to lighten.
With the manyfang's attention directed at something beyond the pile of tools, Leander was able to hide behind an outcropping of crystals. The manyfang howled at the tunnel on the opposite end of the cave.
Ravenmother was the first to speak, her voice quiet, careful not to draw the manyfang's attention.
"So… They bring the tools here and what? Just dump them on the floor?"
"Quiet."
Leander shushed Ravenmother as a rumbling echoed from within the dark tunnel. Heavy footsteps began pounding against stone as something emerged from the darkness.
The beast that stepped into the light was vastly different from the manyfang that cowered in its presence. The beast stood taller than Leander on its four long legs, its neck covered by a small furry mane, its visible muscles rippling under its auburn fur with every step, and its feline features ended at the base of its spine as a long tail lazily wagged behind it, starting thick from the root but as it moved further away the tail sharpened into an almost needle-like point.
"That's it."
Leander's eyes narrowed as his hand moved to tightly hold the hilt of his sword.
"That's the leader of the pack."
Taking a few more lazy steps towards the manyfang, the alpha sat down on the pile of mining tools, showing no sign of discomfort. At the same time, the manyfang took shaking steps forward, they tenderly placed the tools they had been carrying in front of their leader, before stepping backwards. Their heads held low to the ground, whether it was out of fear or respect. Leander could not tell.
The alpha's tail slowly moved, stretching as it moved towards the first tool wrapping around its handle. The alpha appraised the first tool.
The first tool was a shovel, bringing the shovel closer to itself. The alpha's eyes feline-like eyes narrowed as it saw a spec of dirt on the head of the shovel. Raising a large paw, the alpha brushed off the dirt. With a slight huff, it placed the shovel on the pile beneath it.
The second tool was a pickaxe, unlike the shovel it was clean. Spotless, as if it had never been used. Without much time the alpha placed the pickaxe onto its pile.
The alpha's eyes narrowed at the last tool. Like the second tool, it was a pickaxe, but that was where the similarities ended. The head of the pickaxe was completely rusted, its handle worn down from years of use and snapped at the end.
Without warning the alpha's tail whipped forward, towards the manyfang that had brought the rusty pickaxe. Cracking against the manyfang's head, the small beast fell backwards from the force. The alpha's tail again flew forwards falling on the manyfang's body again and again.
As their comrade fell under the wrath of their pack leader, the other manyfang hastily ran from the beating. Again rushing past Leander and Ravenmother, too focused on running to notice them hidden near the entrance.
As the manyfang were now gone, Leander peeked out from behind the cluster of shining crystals.
"I've never seen a beast like this before. Do you know anything about this?"
Ravenmother's purple eyes glowered at the scene playing out before them.
"This explains a lot. That is, Lewren. Son of Decemtal, one of the Lineage of the Wilds. He's infamous for hoarding 'treasure'."
Leander and Ravenmother's attention was brought back to Lewren as the manyfang let out a final cry as its body grew still. Lewren slowly stood up from its bed of mining tools. Approaching the corpse, Lewren stood over the dead thing. Its tail slid around the manyfang's neck, raising the bleeding corpse into the air. Blood poured out of the corpse from multiple holes where Lewren's tail had pierced it.
Without much thought, Lewren flung the corpse of the manyfang across the room into the dark hole that led down into the darkness.
"Hero."
Ravenmother quietly whispered into Leander's ear, her usual playful tone missing as a cautious urgency took its place.
"We should go, you might think you are strong, but I don't know if you are ready to fight such a beast. If you go now I can gather my power and we can fight Lewren together."
"No."
Leander made no attempt to hide his presence as he stepped out from behind his hiding place behind the glowing crystals. Drawing his sword, he began to approach Lewren.
"I was asked to help, so that is what I'll do."
Lewren's ears perked up hearing Leander's voice, his head turning to face him.
Leander stretched his shoulders as he tightened his fingers around his sword.
"Go. I'll deal with this beast."
Kicking off from Leander's shoulder, Ravenmother jumped into the air, giggling as she spoke.
"You wish, Melaine told me to help you. So help I-"
Lewren's tail blurred as it whipped through the air past Leander's head, striking with such force. Lewren's tail cleared Ravenmother in half. The two pieces of the raven's body faded away leaving nothing behind.
Leander's eyes widened, momentarily stunned at the sight of Ravenmother's sudden death. Leander's focus snapped back into place just in time to bring his sword up as Lewren's tail snapped through the air again. Blocking the tail strike, Leander's sword arm was knocked away by the force of the impact.
Leander's usual dismissive demeanour was gone, his expression filled by the anger running through his body. Exhaling, Leander Brought his sword up.
"You're going to regret that."
A moment of silence hung between the two. Lewren's head tilted to the side slightly, as if to question why a human and a bird had willingly walked into his lair.
Making the first move, Lewren dug its claws into the stone beneath them. Lowing the front of its body, Lewren's tail shot forward. Unlike before, this time Leander was prepared to swing as the beast's tail shot towards him.
Sparks flew out as sword met tail.
Leander's expression dropped as his sword snapped in two. The top half being sent flying. Despite his weapon breaking, Leander immediately brought his arms up protecting his head as Lewren began barraging Leander with strike after strike.
Although the armour Melaine had gifted him withstood these attacks, Leander could feel the subtle pain beginning to accumulate inside his body as each strike began to build up, taking a toll on his body. Had he been a normal man, Leander would have crumpled from the force of these strikes immediately.
'I need to do something, this body. If I was still at my prime I could easily contend with this beast's speed… Maybe I can make up for my body's lacking power with anima.'
Despite Lewren's unrelenting attack, Leander closed his eyes. Focusing on something within himself, Leander reached for a power he could once bring out at a moment's notice.
Anima, the power of the soul.
The remnants of Leander's power brimmed beneath the surface of his consciousness and for a moment, Leander tapped into the power that had brought him to the pinnacle of humanity. The power of the Hero of Peace.
From Leander's perspective, it seemed as if Lewren's attacks began to slow down and from Lewren's perspective, Leander suddenly began moving at an inhuman speed as his hands turned into a blur, striking Lewren's tail mid-air as Leander fended off Lewren's assault. The sound of their collision echoed around the room like a thunderstrike.
'Yes, yes! I can still call on my power. With this, I can easily find out what happened-'
Leander's victory was short-lived as the power he had called on abruptly stopped flowing. The feeling of something within him breaking caused Leander to drop to one knee as an intense pain wracked his body.
Leander coughed, blood flowing from his mouth. Spitting it out, he looked up in time as Lawren's tail connected directly with Leander's head knocking him off of his feet.
Rolling towards the pit, Leander felt for the ground beneath him. Slowly he began to pick himself up.
The immense pain that had just begun to wrack his body was still present as Leander slowly picked himself up shakingly on one knee, he panted heavily as more blood flowed from his mouth. Standing, Leander shakily raised his fists.
Spitting out another mouthful of blood, Leander glared at Lawren.
"Come on, I'm not don-"
Before he could finish his sentence, Lawren's tail made contact with his body. The force knocked Leander off his feet sending him falling into the darkness below.