We rode onward until the path curved up against a mountainside. I craned my neck back, startled by how tall and wide the mountain loomed before us. Its peak disappeared into the clouds, hiding its full height.
Something this massive should've been visible miles away. Why am I only noticing it now?
The horses came to a stop in front of a large tunnel-like cave opening. It was dark, damp, and utterly uninviting. The ashy pathway continued all the way inside, disappearing into the darkness beyond.
I couldn't help but shake my head. Looks like I was right. They really do live like dogs, holed up inside caves.
The Elders entered first, riding single file into the darkness. My horse followed on its own, ignoring my grip on the reins. But before crossing the threshold, I finally caught sight of the giant wolf.
He was even bigger than I thought. The dense grey fur had splatters of brown mixed in that shimmered in the light. Our eyes met. The 'Stone Giant' turned into the 'Stone Wolf'. The body may have changed, but the expression remained exactly the same.
He leapt in front of me. I was afraid that my horse would run off in fright, and clutched the reins even tighter. However, the horse remained calm and continued forward as if a massive wolf didn't just appear in front of it.
As I rode into the cave, I tried to look around, but darkness swallowed everything.There were no lights or even torches, making it hard to see my own hand in front of me.
Do they really live like this? In total darkness?
I shook my head. They have better sight than humans. It's probably not that dark to them.
It didn't take long before I was completely engulfed in darkness. Even my horse was barely visible to me. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Werewolves surrounded me, and I couldn't see a thing. If a fight were to break out right now, I would surely lose.
I focused on listening instead. I didn't trust them— not one bit. They could easily turn on me and launch an attack at any moment. Without making it too obvious, I pulled one of my hands down to my thigh, keeping it just over the holster that contained my silver dagger. I needed to be ready for anything.
A few minutes went by, but all I could hear were the horse's footsteps echoing through the cave.
How deep is this cave? Surely we should have encountered others by now...
I continued to strain my ears, trying to pick up on any other sounds, but there was nothing. The most frightening thing was that I couldn't hear Beta Ronan's footsteps. A wolf that big should've made audible footsteps, but outside of the horses, there was nothing.
Just as panic began to crawl up my spine, a faint light appeared ahead.
A tunnel? So this cave isn't their lair...
I kept my gaze straight ahead, welcoming the light. The horses picked up their pace, and it wasn't long before we made it out.
The first thing I felt was the gentle rays of warm sunlight hitting my skin. It was so pleasant that I felt like I was being enveloped by a soft blanket. For a moment, I thought I was dreaming.
"What is this... ?"I whispered, my voice barely audible.
I couldn't make sense of what I was seeing.
All around me stretched a breathtakingly beautiful forest. Thousands of massive trees towered above me with vibrant green canopies. I couldn't believe my eyes. Flowers, grass, bushes, and trees. There was so much nature around me that I had to blink a few times, half-convinced that my eyes were lying to me.
A sudden breeze blew past me, carrying an intoxicating scent of fresh air. I inhaled deeply, greedily, trying to fill my lungs with that pure, untouched air.
The only way I could describe what I was seeing was paradise. There wasn't a single place in the entirety of the human territory that had this many trees.
"Incredible," I breathed.
Rays of light filtered down through the trees, highlighting the birds and butterflies. There was so much life surrounding me, I didn't know where to look first.
The more I looked, the more tangled my feelings grew. I couldn't believe that something so beautiful existed. But I also couldn't accept that it was in the hands of the werewolves. Creatures that slaughter for sport would never appreciate this kind of nature…right?
No one said anything as we continued down the dirt path. As much as I wanted to stay alert and focus on the werewolves around me, my eyes couldn't help but wander and soak up the breathtaking views.
I caught a pair of fluffy squirrels running around with acorns, trying to find a good spot to bury them. Even the animals here looked carefree, I couldn't help but envy them.
"You seem to be enjoying the view, Miss Esther," one of the Elders said suddenly.
I snapped my head forward, meeting his easy smile. "Uh, yes. It's very… alive," I managed, still searching for the right word. It was the opposite of home, where everything felt cold and gray.
He nodded, "It is indeed. This forest surrounds our inner perimeter and spans many miles. If you like this, I think you'll enjoy some of the upcoming areas even more."
I nodded silently. It was hard to imagine scenery more beautiful than this, so I held my tongue.
Mr. Stone Wolf was nowhere to be seen, but I could feel his presence in the forest not far from us. It was unbelievable how a wolf that large could easily blend in, hiding itself from view completely.
Is this a show of power?
My fingers gripped the leather strap of the reins. I couldn't let my anger show, nor could I lower my guard.
The horses maintained a steady pace, and a short while later, I noticed my first signs of civilization. Broad open fields spanned into the horizon. People, no, werewolves, were busy harvesting a variety of colorful vegetables.
"You've come at the perfect time," said the female Elder with a cheerful smile. "Autumn's almost here, and harvest season has begun. Soon we'll be feasting on the freshest fruits and vegetables."
Fruits and vegetables?
A flash of disappointment hit me as I remembered the limp salad I'd choked down earlier; tasteless and unappetizing.
I should have waited in line for something else. If only I knew that they eat vegetables...