Civilization

Run.

Run.

Run.

Run.

RUN!

RUN!

RUN!

RUN!

Don't stop.

Don't stop.

Don't stop.

Don't stop!

I'm sorry Oscar…

I can't get that scene out of my head. Oscar running after hitting that monster. His stomach smashed in half. Blood and guts splattered across the ground and his face was full of disbelief. The maniacal laugh in between the crunching of bones resonated in my head. My eyes blurry from tears, my skin scratched by random branches, my arms and legs bruised from tripping and falling. But I don't stop moving.

There is no way of killing that monster. It is in a league of its own but now where do I go? HavenFall is out of the option and I do not even know left from right. I'm lost. That tree looks the same as the tree I passed by seconds ago. I keep running aimlessly trying to increase the gap between me and that monster.

I step around a large grey boulder in my path and I see the turquoise-blue stream. Its crystal clear water babbles and burbles as it jumps over protruding rocks in its path.

"The river...THE GOLDEN WOLVES!"

A wave of relief flashes through me as I desperately search for the golden wolves. The sense of death looming over me vanished and I slowly wade myself through the stream. All of a sudden I hear the sound of trees collapsing on top of one another behind me. A dust cloud reaching higher than the canopy creeps closer.

"It's coming. It's coming."

I desperately move my legs faster and faster. Pushing with my arms and grasped the air desperately going moving closer to the other side. Then I stood still. In the vegetation, I could see the large amber eyes peeking at me. It wasn't just one pair but four pairs of eyes locked on me. I gulp down some saliva and could not move. All of a sudden, all four wolves spring up from their location and dash towards me. I bring my arms in front of me bracing myself but all four wolves leap over me and into the forest behind me. Not long after another group of wolves appears. Six golden wolves jump over me and follow their kin. I relax a bit thinking it might be over and I turn my head back towards the direction away from the monster.

"Little one, why are you here?"

In front of me, a large wolf head appears. Its two large amber eyes stare at me and its silver and gold fur dance in the breeze. Did it just speak? My mouth moves to reply but nothing comes out.

"Little one, I do not have much patience. Speak why are you here?"

"Umm...I am running away…?"

I was dumbfounded. What was I meant to say in that position?

The wolf moves its head into the river and lifts me into the air. I let out a surprised gasp and flail my arms in the air helplessly before landing on the wolf's back.

"Little one, I know you saw me and my kin before. Why have you come back? You, say you are running from something? Is it the Blood Ogre?"

The wolf leaps over the river and starts to move slowly into the forest while speaking to me. I can only answer back its questions but even then I do not know much.

"I ran from a red monster. M-my friend was killed by it. I remember that there was a den of wolves near. I could not bear to bring the monster back to my family so I took a gamble. If I died to the wolves so be it. At least the wolves might kill the red monster for me."

"Interesting thought little one, you are mistaken about something though. We would not harm you. Around your neck is a symbol of the Golden Wolf Tribe. An amulet that allows our ancestors and past brethren to appear once again in this world. Little one, may I see the wolf which is imbued in this amulet of yours?"

I hesitate for a second. All this information is coming in too fast. The necklace Ian gave me is an amulet that brings a golden wolf from the dead? Golden wolves are a tribe in this world? Are they not monster's themselves? Are they similar to goblins? I look at the necklace and see there are only two fangs left on it. I grasp one of them and think about that golden wolf that appeared at HavenFall.

"SUMMON GOLDEN WOLF."

Next to the silver and gold wolf appears the wolf which has protected and fought alongside me.

"I see little one. This is the wolf that resides in the amulet. Please take good care of the amulet as there is only one more use. For now, let us go towards the Blood Ogre."

The silver and gold wolf leads the way while my golden wolf follows after closely. I can hear the destruction of the forest and the howls of wolves as I get closer. My palms start to sweat and the fear wells up inside me. We reach the clearing where the monster or what the wolf calls it Blood Ogre was surrounded by ten golden wolves.

The Blood Ogre looks in my direction and smirks.

"Welcome back...Boy. Your friend was...delicious."

It licks its lips after speaking and my spine runs cold, the hairs on the back of my neck stand tall.

"LEAVE THIS PLACE BLOOD OGRE!"

"Oh...You're here...Dumb mutt. Just...DIE!"

The Blood Ogre pushes off the ground leaving a small crater dashing towards the wolf and me. With a shake of its back, I get flung away hitting my back against a tree. The golden wolf runs next to me and stands in front of me.

The silver and gold wolf leaps forward dodging the log and swiping at the Blood Ogre's face. Missing narrowly the Blood Ogre leans back and punches forward with its free arm hitting the wolf on its side. All the wolves growl baring their teeth at the monster slowly approaching it from all sides.

I smirk at the scene.

"An enemy of my enemy is my friend. You told me that before didn't you Oscar…"