Man-eating wolves

We journeyed nonstop, neither having food or water. The valley was so vast that I once thought we had unknowingly wandered into a valley of damnation. Although this only applied to me because Phyllis looked very okay― her paces never slacked, nor did her height sag, I even began to wonder if she ate a gallon of food before embarking on this journey. Even that will not be enough to hold one to this extent.

 

          As time went by, I saw a forest ahead of us, but it was already quite dark and my strength was quite drained. My back slouched and my feet dragged. The witch, who was before me, turned back to check on me and shook her head. I envisioned a cold smile crossing her lips.

 

            “Now I see why your brother goaded you, you are such a pain in the neck,” She sneered, but I did not reply, maybe I would if I had the strength to. “We would take a rest once we are inside the forest before us, then we will continue the Journey tomorrow,” She added and I thanked my stars.

  

             “How long will the Journey take tomorrow?”

 

            “At most, it will take the whole day,” She replied and my eyes rounded to a saucer. With the name, I had thought the Werewolves resided just after the waterfalls, I never knew that they stayed far away from the precise waterfalls cave where their habitat derived its name. Though I did not also know that they divided themselves into Packs as I had only thought they were one.

 

           “You must be wary of how you speak,” Phyllis began and I turned to her. She continued, “Another Pack called the Moon gazers Pack inhabits this forest and they tend to be carnivorous, especially to strangers. So make sure to stay out of their way.”
         

            I stopped on my track at Phyllis’ words, was she throwing me to the wolves or what? “They are so, and you want me to stay with them for the night, what if they come at me when you are not looking?” I asked and the thought alone sent chills down my spine.

 

            Phyllis stopped and turned to face me. “Are you not man enough to protect yourself? I see you can make use of your mouth more than you do your wasteful muscles,” she snapped, the whip in her hand vanishing as she turned and continued walking.

 

             I did not know why, but her insult got to me more than Damien’s usually did. Maybe it was the fact that it was a female telling it to me, or the fact that it was a stranger. Whichever reason it was, I just felt ashamed hearing such from her.

 

            Two able-bodied men guarded the entrance of the forest when we got to it. They had five odd tribal marks running from the bottom of their eyes to the side of their lips, making them both look like Bushmen. Their attires were also not something to write home about, as the raffia palm around their waists barely covered the sensitive parts of their lower-limbs. Their facing hands gripped tightly around the shaft of their spears and their frigid expressions caused me to perform a cross sign as I approached them.

 

            Phyllis was the first to pass between them, but I saw their spears crossing before my face when I attempted to go through. I peeked at their faces, intending to reason with them. However, when I realized that they did not even look like they noticed me, plus the witch’s warning, I remained silent.

 

            Thankfully, Phyllis turned and came to my aid. “Do not worry,” she told them, “he is with me.” The men instantly withdrew their Spears without a change of expression and I was finally able to pass.

 

            To be honest, this forest was far better than the covert we passed. At least here, I could hear the sound of Crickets. Besides, there was the absence of fogs and Vultures. I followed Phyllis behind on the narrow, crooked lane that had the dry leaves rustling underneath our feet, along the several campfires where men (werewolves), who looked just like the ones at the entrance, regarded me with a scrutiny, the fire reflecting in their eyes, in the dark. I wondered how a living person could be as quiet as they were, or was it just because a stranger had gotten into their Lair. They were probably staying alert for when they smelled danger.

 

            Phyllis slowed her steps, allowing me to catch up and walk side by side with her. “We will see the Alpha,” she whispered and my brows furrowed.

 

            I was confused. If the Alpha who probably sent her on this mission was right here, then what was the need of making another day journey? “Is it the Alpha who sent you?” I decided to ask and I imagined the witch rolling her eyes.

 

            “Not him!”

            “So there are different Alphas?”

           

             “Yes,” Phyllis leaned more closely to me, causing me to slow my pace as she did. “Alpha Gar is the one who sent me; he is the supreme among all three Alphas of Waterfalls cave and is more known because his Pack is much populated. Moreover, he is mostly involved in many wars; especially the one with the Vamps, which is why the Gordian-crack and Moon gazers Packs came under his wings so he would help to protect them from other savage Packs. He is the only Alpha who has been able to keep most of the witches under his leadership for years,” Phyllis concluded, leaning out and walking ahead of me.

 

            I noticed that she had said more than she usually did and it was not just to tell me what I did not know. I realized she was technically giving me a clue to whom she worked for, so I do not mess around.

 

            She stopped walking when we arrived at a campfire where the gathering was much more than the other campfires we had passed. I examined the faces of the Wolves in this camp; their countenances were much colder and fiercer than the ones in the other camps and they looked very different from the other Wolves, ranging from the worn-out shorts covering their lower limbs to the full-sleeved shirts on their torsos. Even if the attire looked quite odd and not complementing their good looks, it was much better than that of the other Moon-gazers.  

 

            Phyllis clasped her hands before her face like a prayer-mantis and bowed before the camp. They also reciprocated the revere by rising to their feet and doing the same as she had done. I gawked at them all, catching a scowl from the man who looked more strikingly good-looking and muscular among the others. I needed no soothsayer to instruct me to do the same as they did.

 

            When we all stretched to their full heights, the Wolves switched their piercing gazes to me, regarding me with scrutiny. “Is he the one?” The most striking one among them asked. My eyes narrowed just as Phyllis nodded and tugged at my arm.

 

            “He is.” Then she turned to me, pointing to the most striking man, “this is Alpha Edmore, Leader of the Moon gazers Pack.” Her gaze diverted to another wolf, which I did not see too clearly in the dark, all I knew were those silver eyes that stood out in the darkness, “he is the Beta of Alpha Edmore. Then the rest are the Pack’s high-ranked sentinels.” I expected at least a ‘hi’ from these crude-looking men before me. Nevertheless, all I got was a sneer and…

                                                                                                                                               

            “He seems weaker than I thought him to be,” the Alpha remarked and Phyllis did not do much as nodding thrice, as well as displaying her cold smile.

    

               “I hope you enjoy your stay here, Phyllis,” the Beta said, dismissing us.

 

             “So, what is the name of the Pack I belong to?” I asked when we had settled down alone before a fire.

    

               Phyllis tugged off her cloak and tossed it to me. “You are shivering, use that to keep yourself a bit warm,” she spoke sharply, and only then did it occur to me that I had been rubbing my palms together and hugging myself all these while, even the fire before us did not help matter, nor did my simple, light clothing do.

 

              “Thank you,” I said as I watched her flame-reflected face.

 

            I still did not know what this witch did to me, why I rather felt safe right beside her. No matter how I tried to remind my silly self that she was technically the enemy, my soul just keeps running right back to her. Within me, I could hear a voice telling me that no matter what I was bound to face in the hands of ‘my Pack’, there should always be a way out through Phyllis.

 

            “Your Pack is called the Fire-pall Pack,” she finally replied without sparing me a glance as I put on the cloak. It carried her scent, such a nice scent.

 

            “So, this ‘Alpha Gar’ is the Alpha?” I asked as if to make sure and she nodded. “And you work for him?”