บท 103: CHPT 103: Pack Leader
Bones and the bodies of tangled and intertwined Skeleton Soldiers were scattered across the forest floor, reflecting the moons pale white beams from their damaged beige surfaces. They fought to free themselves from each other as Claude and Frosty looked around at the beautiful predators that saved them.
Claude couldn't believe his eyes. There had to be at least 20 of them. All different colors and sizes. Despite their differences they had a few things in common as well.
Scars, pink thick and thin gashes split the beautiful patterns of their thick shining fur all over them. They also wore the same intense and hateful snarl as they faced the ball of writhing Skeletons.
"It's...a....a Wolf pack.." Claude said in a daze.
"[Not just Wolves, Claude. That Canine Affinity may be stronger than we thought.]" Arne said.
Claude agreed and looked at each four legged warrior, realizing Arne was correct. The pack consisted of short and quick Coyotes, even smaller red and black Foxes, big burly dogs and lastly; tall and lean battle-hardened Wolves.
He suddenly heard a huff behind him and turned to see a large pale white wolf standing at his back. For a basic wolf, it was an impressive physical specimen. It had long veiny legs and a thick chest that moved with each deep adrenaline filled breath it took. He looked up in its eyes and noticed the scars that ran across its snout— they looked relatively fresh. Before he could examine any more of it's face, it dropped its head to avert his gaze and its tail swooped down underneath its body.
Claude perfectly understood the movement and was completely confused by it.
"Isn't this the Alpha?" He thought.
"[I think it usually is...]" Arne said. "[But right now. I think you're the Alpha, Claude.]"
Claude was reminded of exactly what the skill, (Canine Affinity) did after Arne suggested that he was the Alpha. He realized at that moment that he must've been a higher level than all the forest guardians around him.
Claude stood up cautiously and picked up his sword. After retrieving it, he realized all the Wolves, Foxes, Coyotes and Dogs were backing away from the pile of Skeletons to stand at the ready behind him. He looked down and noticed Frosty's outline standing right next to him with two Foxes standing next to him, even though they couldn't see him, he fit perfectly.
"[I think they're waiting for you to attack.]" Arne said with a hint of confusion in his voice.
"I think your right." Claude replied.
He felt a wave of unease wash over everyone as the Skeleton pile suddenly fell apart and the Soldiers began standing— now freed from the tangles of their comrades. He wasn't able to tell how many had landed on him before, but now he could. There were a matching number of 20 facing them.
They all stood up, armed with sword and shield, snapping their jaws and slapping their shields in an intimidating voiceless chant.
Claude noticed the hackles raising on the backs of the pack around him as the chant increased in volume and speed.
"[It seems like this isn't their first time against the Skeleton Soldiers.]" Arne noticed.
Claude agreed with Arne. "They must've had several run-ins with the undead soldiers and probably lost a lot of family." He suddenly felt like he could relate to the pack more than most could at this realization.
"Alright...." he said as he activated, (Beast Trait). The pack looked at him in wonder once— seeming to understand and feel the physical and mental changes he was undergoing as he spoke.
"I'm getting the feeling that you guys came to get some revenge..." he said as his voice dropped an octave.
The pack snarled and snapped at the Skeletons loudly in response.
Claude crouched low, preparing to attack and brought his sword and claws up in an offensive stance.
"THEN LETS GET SOME!" He roared before they all charged at the Skeleton Soldiers.
Claude spearheaded the attack, running faster than he ever had through the forest— backed by a legion of Wolves, Foxes, Coyotes and Dogs.
As he reached the Skeletons, he dropped and slid through the grass and dirt indifferently. He held his sword out and felt the slight tug of it running through the Soldiers legs.
The Skeletons he removed the legs from were slammed to the ground by Frosty and the Wolves behind him that smashed their heads to dust.
[+ 50 EXP]
Claude— now behind the Skeleton Soldiers, was able to see the battle taking place in the forest in front of him.
Frosty seemed to invisibly lead his own group of similarly built Wolves and large dogs that muscled the Skeletons to the ground and smashed them to bits. While smaller— more agile, Wolves, Coyotes and Dogs ran around their undead enemies pulling their legs and arms off until they hit the ground as dust.
The Foxes stuck together and overpowered the Skeletons with sheer ferocity and numbers. They took the Soldiers down in a chaotic wave of red and black fur, letting out vicious high pitched barks and cries.
He was shocked back into battle by a stray Skeleton Soldier attacking him with a wide arcing slash.
Woo!
Claude dashed in closer to it and caught its elbow joint, stopping its swing before it could reach maximum velocity. He then punched its head with the hand that held his sword.
CRUSH!
The skull broke into small pieces as his fist slammed the back of it into a nearby tree. Unsurprisingly, it pushed itself off the tree and attempted to swing at him again.
Shwip!
[+ 20 EXP]
[+ 50 EXP]
Before the Soldiers sword could reach him, the pale white stone blade smashed through its cracked and broken ribs.
Claude hopped over the pile of dust and joined the chaos ahead of him, cutting down Skeletons left and right.
***
DING!
[You have leveled up!]
[You are now Level 8!]
Claude and Frosty once again stood in the center of piles of dust and bone— now accompanied by Wolves, Dogs, Coyotes and Foxes.
"[Claude, that was amazing!]" Arne said in reaction to the battle.
"They were a lot of help." Claude agreed as he looked around the pack.
The biggest and fastest of the Wolves and Dogs circled them all, smelling and listening for any other threats while the Coyotes stuck close behind. The Foxes followed Frosty around, sniffing and snapping at his heels. They looked the way kids would if they wanted to play with a giant teddy bear. He assumed if they could actually see Frosty, they'd be a lot more cautious.
"Where do you think they came from?" He thought.
"[This whole forest is most likely their territory. That's probably why they have so many scars and hate the Skeleton Soldiers.]" Arne said.
"True. Good thing that's all over now." He said out loud.
At the same time, the Wolves and Dogs ears went flat against their heads and they shivered violently before turning to face Claude.
It didn't take long for the smell to hit him, another wave of death— more foul and perverted than before.
They all followed the smell warily, running through the dark forest ready for whatever they ran into.
After following the smell for twenty minutes, they strayed a mile or so away from the path and were now looking up at the base of a hill. They followed the smell up the hill and found a large weeping willow standing alone in the distance. The moons light seemed to focus on it, highlighting its dull green mop of vegetation that hung down over the thick bark.
Oddly enough, the scent went in its direction.
"Woah!"
Claude stopped as he almost fell into a grave in front of the giant tree. The smell was so strong, him and the Wolves with strong enough noses behind him began to gag and tear up.
He soon realized he was standing at the foot of two upturned graves. Unfortunately, that wasn't the biggest problem. The graves were huge— alarmingly huge, and horrid smelling pieces of rotten flesh and torn clothing lined both graves.
"[Freshly turned...]" Arne noted.
Within the heap of flesh and clothing in the left grave sat one bright brown eyeball that looked up at him hauntingly.
"They can't be too far off."
As he said it, the sound of two hard surfaces rubbing and banging together ran out across the clearing. It was a slow and intimidating noise, mocking the steady powerful sequence of something very big walking. The sound sent a memory out of Dante saying how he heard the Skeletons flashing through his mind.
The sound— weirdly enough, wasn't heading back for them. It was actually going away from them.
"We're over here. What does it want over the—...." he trailed off as he realized where it was heading.
"[Claude, it's heading for the cabins outside of the forest.]"
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