Capítulo 10: New journey
The trail wolves stood cautiously, eyes fixed on Valerie, waiting for their leader's command before attacking.
"Trust me, you don't want to fight me," Valerie said, pointing to her chest.
The leader of the pack, noting her insolence, let out a loud howl, signaling the attack. One by one, the wolves charged at Valerie. She wasn't ready to kill, so she deftly avoided their attacks, swaying past them and dodging every strike and slash. She moved so swiftly that the wolves thought she had vanished.
Turning back, they saw Valerie tending to Troy, who had been unconscious all this time. She removed her cloak, wrapped it around Troy's upper body, and lifted him onto her back.
Seeing his subordinates failing, the leader dashed at Valerie, swinging his sharp claws. Valerie calmly dodged each swipe, then landed a powerful kick to the leader's side, breaking several ribs and sending him flying.
"Who's next?" Valerie asked, looking at the frightened faces of the wolves. "I thought so."
As Valerie was about to leave, Dan appeared, following the path she had left for him.
"Nice timing, Dan. Here, carry him," Valerie said, handing Troy over to Dan. "Protect him and make sure you get back safely."
Dan stopped her. "Where are you going, master?"
"Don't worry about them, Dan. Once their leader is taken down, they won't attack. Focus on leaving here successfully." Valerie handed Dan a small knife. "Protect yourself and the kid."
"Where are you going?" Dan asked again.
With a sigh, Valerie replied, "I have something to take care of, okay?" Dan nodded.
"Now, focus on getting out alive with the kid," Valerie said, running deep into the forest.
Dan glanced back at the trail wolves one last time before following the path.
Jumping over rocks and fallen branches, Dan ran as fast as he could, but exhaustion soon set in. He decided to take a break, laying the unconscious boy beside a large tree while he rested against another, keeping a watchful eye on Troy.
"Where am I?" Troy groaned, waking up. Dan, still wearing his blindfold, crawled closer to check on him.
Troy's expression changed instantly upon seeing Dan with his blindfold. Panicked, he screamed and tried to get away, first crawling, then running.
"Wait a minute, we're here to save you!" Dan yelled, sighing when he realized Troy wouldn't listen.
Dan felt a chilling sensation as he heard the breathing of a huge animal and the sound of trees breaking. He knew immediately it was a beast, a Dusk Prowler, so large and wild that its breath was as loud as other beasts' howls.
Turning his head, Dan muttered, "Dusk Prowlers," seeing the beast approaching. His hands and feet grew cold, and beads of sweat covered his face. He mustered his strength and ran after Troy, who was already far ahead.
The relentless Dusk Prowler pursued Dan, crushing wild wolves underfoot as though they were ants.
"Wait a minute, Troy!" Dan shouted.
"Leave me alone, monster!" Troy screamed, still running.
Troy tripped over a tree root, falling face-first. Dan rushed to help him up, but Troy didn't cooperate. "Let's get out of here, Troy!" Dan yelled, seeing the beast approaching. Now realizing the danger, Troy panicked.
"Oh shit—"
The beast swatted Dan aside, crashing him into a tree. Dan coughed up blood, feeling his internal organs and bones breaking. He couldn't stand. The beast turned its attention to Troy, grabbing him by the arms and trying to tear him apart.
Troy's screams woke Dan up. Struggling to stand, Dan pulled out the knife Valerie had given him. Barely holding his stance, he glared at the beast with hatred.
"Get your hands off my money!" Dan yelled, rushing at the beast and attempting to stab its hand. He remembered too late that their fur was thick and their skin like steel. The beast released Troy and swatted Dan again, sending him crashing into another tree.
The beast, having reached its limit, charged at Dan. Dan chuckled, realizing his fate. "What a way to die," he muttered, a memory of Ana flashing in his mind. He forced himself to stand, blood leaking from his wounds.
"I'm going to kill you, you fat pig," Dan shouted.
The beast roared and fixed its gaze on Dan. Just then, a gust of wind blew, interrupting the beast's vision. Dan recognized who it was.
"Took you long enough... master," Dan said, collapsing as Valerie approached, dropping the unconscious Troy beside him.
"You wanted me to teach you Ryo, right, Dan?" Valerie asked. "I'll show you the power you seek."
A white cloud, more like steam than smoke, hovered around Valerie as she stepped towards the beast. The beast, feeling threatened, threw a punch at her. Valerie countered with her own punch, pulverizing the beast and clearing a path through the forest.
"A single punch did all this?" Dan asked before losing consciousness.
"Yes, a single punch," Valerie replied, knowing he was asleep.
Valerie carried Dan and Troy back to the village, taking Dan to the inn for treatment before heading to Troy's home.
She knocked on the door, and Troy's mother opened it. Valerie laid Troy on the couch, and his mother immediately covered him with a cloth.
"Thank you so much," she said, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"No problem. Your son will wake up in full health," Valerie reassured her, handing over some herbs. "These will cure you."
Troy's mother hugged Valerie, crying. Valerie wrapped her arms around her until she was comforted.
"I'll take my leave then," Valerie said.
"So soon? What about your partner?" Troy's mother asked.
"My partner? Oh, he's injured and resting, so I need to check on him."
"Oh my, I pray for his quick recovery," Troy's mother said as Valerie left.
The next day, Valerie and Dan prepared to leave the village. Dan was surprised to be leaving so soon, still not fully recovered.
As they were about to depart, they heard a call from behind. Turning, they saw Troy running towards them. Dan immediately hid behind Valerie.
"He brought boys again," Dan stuttered.
"Relax, he came alone," Valerie chuckled.
"Good morning, aunty," Troy said, bowing his head. "Thank you for saving my life."
"Don't thank me, thank him," Valerie said, pulling Dan out from behind her.
Troy looked Dan in the eye and bowed. "Thank you for saving me," he said, handing Dan a black blindfold. "This is a gift," he added, before running back and waving.
Dan felt the material of the blindfold, noticing a pattern of three interlocking circles.
"That's the church's sign!" Valerie noted.
"The church?" Dan tilted his head.
"That's not your concern now. Let's head out."
"Like you have a destination," Dan teased.
"This time, I have a destination," Valerie replied as they walked away.
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