The Silver Curse – Volume 2, Chapter 5: Into the Wolf's Den
Tracking the Direwolves
The forest stretched endlessly before them, dense with towering trees and thick undergrowth. The further Yuto and Mira walked, the quieter everything became. The sounds of the city had long since faded, replaced by the eerie stillness of the wild.
Mira glanced around, twirling a dagger between her fingers. "Not a fan of this silence. Usually means something's watching."
Yuto adjusted his grip on his sword. "Stay ready. We're deep enough now that we should be in their territory."
The parchment from the guild had been clear—a pack of direwolves had been attacking travelers along the outskirts of Valkris. Their task was simple: eliminate the threat. But nothing was ever that simple.
Signs of the Pack
Yuto crouched near a patch of disturbed earth, brushing his fingers over the indentations. "Tracks. Fresh ones. Bigger than normal wolves."
Mira knelt beside him, her expression sharp. "They were moving fast. Probably hunting. Question is, what?"
A distant howl answered her question.
Yuto rose to his feet, scanning the treetops as the sound of rustling leaves caught his attention. The air felt different—charged with a presence neither of them could see.
"They're close," he muttered. "Too close."
Mira's grip tightened on her daggers. "Then we should welcome them properly."
The Attack
The first direwolf emerged from the underbrush with terrifying speed—a beast twice the size of a normal wolf, its black fur streaked with scars, golden eyes glowing with primal hunger.
It lunged.
Yuto barely had time to raise his sword before the weight of the creature sent him staggering backward. Claws slashed across his cloak, narrowly missing his chest. He twisted, driving his blade forward, but the beast dodged with unnatural agility.
Mira moved in a blur, slashing at another direwolf that had appeared from the shadows. "Well, they're definitely not normal."
Yuto gritted his teeth, rolling out of the way as the first wolf circled back, snarling. "No kidding."
The forest came alive with movement—more of them.
End of Chapter 5