Chapter 3: it’s not the same.

You read in books that people are always traveling. So where are the other adventurers with their nice carts when you need them?

I finally stopped and sat just off the pathway, took out one of my water skins and downed it's contents. The summer sun was unforgiving and I had yet to sleep. I looked at my map; If I can keep up this pace I'd make it to Panacea City in 2 days. That was without sleep though and I was lucky I was so near a city. However if I got caught off guard then I would be forced into the slave trade by slavers or there were also Bandits. Thinking about bandits brought back the image of the large wolf and it's merciless actions from last night; I shook my head trying to forget those traumatic events. Was that ungodly thing really the guardian of the forest? I picked up my stuff and continued my trek along the roadside; then heard a ringing in my head.

It seems my stamina and constitution stat increased. I could feel the difference but I couldn't see it. It was so tempting to stop at a guild hall first thing but I knew I needed sleep. After a few hours I heard the sound of a covered wagon coming up behind me.

"Need a lift?!" Called out a friendly voice. I was so shocked I nearly stopped in my tracks. I forgot people could actually be polite.

"Oh wow a dark elf!" Cried a little boy from behind an older woman. He poked his head out of the wagon front. His wide bright blue eyes and beaming smile was a welcome sight.

Things like this really do happen outside of books; Humans are so friendly.

" Uh, yes please." I said as they brought the wagon to a halt.

"Hop in then." Said the carriage driver.

I climbed into the back a bit sheepish. It was my first time encountering humans since the age of 5 and honestly I couldn't remember much about them. I had heard stories that they were swindlers and greedy to a fault; Nothing they did was for free. In books there was always that but there were good humans too. I really wondered about their true nature.

" Ah don't be shy. Is it your first time out on your own?" Asked the kind lady sitting across from me. I let out a small laugh.

" was I so obvious?" I asked embarrassed. She gave a hearty laugh back and said.

" well elves are a rare sight and dark elves even more so. You don't see them often outside of a colony and it's considered good luck if you see one at all. You guys are strangely rare." Yeah strange was putting it politely. I got what she meant. we were a taboo; so even if an elf left the colony there was little chance they'd ever marry or even birth a child to anyone but another elf.

"Sorry I have a tendency to say to much." Said the lady. I smiled cynically and shook my head.

"You said nothing wrong. Don't apologize. Oh right where are you all heading?" I hastily changed the subject. The lady seemed to welcome the question.

"We're headed to Durum." I remembered my map showed that Durum was a week trip from panacea. small nameless villages dotted its route but It was still a long trip and we are still a days trip from panacea.

" you have a long ways to go." I said absently.

"Indeed." Said the man at the helm.

" what's your name? Mine is Riley I'm 7!" Said the little boy With pride. Was he boasting about his age? I suppose I could humor him.

" That's impressive Riley. My name is Eva Thortnhuff. It's a blessing to meet you." I said it in an impressed tone and His smile broadened. To me it was like watching a flower bloom. So much life and joy shown in such a tiny face. I felt a slight tug in my heart. When was the last time someone smiled at me openly like that? honestly I couldn't remember.

MEANWHILE: back in Apricot.

black wolves rampaged through the once happy colony of elves and the wolves reveled in their chaos. Their howls of joy was the signal of damnation to the elves of apricot.

"Where did all these wolves come from?!" Cried one pitiful soul just before being tackled and torn apart by 2 overly eager wolves. As the warriors did their best to defend their home in vein; they failed to notice the tall and pale figure lurking in the shadows of the trees. His red eyes glowing with joy. After tracking the scent of those hunters back to their home he commanded his army of black wolves to lay waste to every thing that breathed in the village. No pet or person was spared.

"To think someone would dare to try and take my prey. How amusing."

He whispered it while talking to no one.

"Better to eliminate them now. Than later."

The smug smile on his lips slowly widening as the screams began to reach a fever pitch symphony. The guards had fallen and the ones who had retreated or tried to escape were now yelling their last war cries as useless as it was to fight back they resolved to go down fighting.

Everyone from this colony was now dead He thought to himself. he was pleased until the image of the dark elf girl fleeted through his mind.

His smile fell and a serious expression took its place. He hated half finished work and as He stared at the carnage covered field he felt it somehow incomplete. habitually his eye began to twitch with irritation.

"This will not suffice." He signaled his black wolf army. Gaining their attention through telepathy

~Eat quickly you've only 10 minutes! any mongrel whom fails to return to my shadow in a timely manner can consider their lives forfeit.~

His irritation grew with each passing second knowing his target was getting further and further away. He had to kill her soon. Her look of sheer terror played through his mind with a lulling effect. The memory of her sent filled his nose and his mouth watered. A tingle of pleasure surged down his spine and he felt excited. Never had the idea of hunting brought him so much pleasure. He had remembered her scent and profile perfectly no matter where she hid he would find her.