35 Of Ice and Men (2/2)
During the time he was busy thinking, the wolves were already running towards him with full speed. I just barely dodged some of them, with the help of my rocks. After making several observations, I could deduce that it was nearly always the same wolves that attacked me. The Wolfpack consisted out 10 wolves. 4-5 Wolves were always attacking me keeping me busy, while 3 wolves were guarding the flanks keeping me in check if I wanted to run away from them.2 Wolves were standing in the back quietly observing my acts and if necessary ordered something with a low growl. This must be the Alpha-Wolf and highest ranked female wolf.Even though that information resulted in me getting some bite wounds here and there. But those were far from incapacitating me or hindering my movement. Having next to no pain response is quite helpful if you want to keep a calm mind.
My methodology was quite crude and simplisitc. At first, I was just focussing on a single wolf as much as I could and observed what he was doing. After getting a simple overview of his general behaviour I began switch mine. I noticed how each wolf would react if I showed tendencies of panic, futile attempts to flee or aggression.As soon as my behaviour pattern changed into something unusual, the wolves began to wait for the order of their superior before continuing. That is why if there is a slight time gap, that can be taken advantage of. That is the difference between expectation and reality. So it was quite easy to deduce who the leader was.
If the target of the wolves is in panic and moving irrationally their first target is to reduce the mobility of their prey. Therefore they aim at my legs. They position themselves in a manner that enables them to attack me no matter in which direction I try to flee. Though such a formation leaves quite a lot of space between each individual wolf. They compensate that deficit by being in constant motion and only making contact with the prey for a few seconds at a time , trying to create a small wound and then disengaging to let the next wolf attack. While the prey is under constant stress, the wolves take their time, wearing it down until it collapses due to utter exhaustion.
It is an interesting concept, that takes advantage out of their numbers while not endangering themselves for too long. Though this is why they are so easy targets if you use magic against them. I did not sense any magic coming from them, in their world, they are already extinct. If they are still alive, then only due to mana changing their development drastically. It might just be a wolf in name only.
But after having learned their group dynamic it was quite easy to dodge their attacks because their attack pattern while strange at first was now limiting their effectiveness. After dodging most of their attacks with next to no effort, I grew tired and started fighting back.The wolf was just preparing to attack my leg once again, was greeted by a rock violently heading for his head. Without any suspense, his head caved in and his body fell down devoid of any life. Before the rest of the wolves could react, the other rock claimed another life as well.
The wolves did not even flinch after their comrades died hideously, they began to once again attack with the same pattern. That's the limit to beasts, they can only resort back to the ingrained tactics.Wolf after wolf fell to the rocks, they did not recognize the danger that rock posed to them. But the more wolves I killed the more unease I feared as if someone was just waiting for the right situation, I had a hunch, that this fight was far from being over. Something began to itch on my skin, as if something was wrong, but I disregarded that feeling after all those wolves were no threat to me anymore.
All out of the suddenI received to fierce bite wounds in each shoulder, disrupting my balance and pulling me down to the ground and one wolf was aiming for my throat intending to rip it apart. Caught by surprise, I found myself in this kind of predicament, the only option I had left was used my right leg and kick the wolf with all my might. The wolf yelped and flew 2 meters before coming to a standstill, not moving anymore, whether it was alive or not couldn't be determined in the heat of the battle.
The itching on the skin was right all along, those 2 vicious creatures used the same tactic that I did, a false sense of security really is deadly. He kicked both wolves away, some flesh came with their teeth. but their pain I felt was still bearable. Trying to use my arms I notice, that there is a slight delay due to damage to the nerves, without giving the wolves an opening to attack, I kicked the rocks at them hurting them, whenever they got hit. This kind of fighting was a lot more inefficient and messy, but far more brutal. As time passed and wounds were traded left and right, The wolves growled one last time before succumbing to their inner wounds.
The queen ant escaped out of my mouth and began to get the samples with a speed I did not imagine to be possible and then escaped into my mouth before, I could even close it because I was that baffled. Well, I had to continue to move and heal on the way before I draw unnecessary attention, I want to catch a break sometimes as well.
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As I embarked to my journey once again, Idid not notice that something dropped from a tree. The figure was swearing,” They promised me that they use this poison to force even wild bears to sleep in seconds and yet even after I fired 10 shots into his body he still was not even affected in any way by it?”
” At first my little boy-toy escapes and is unable to be found anywhere, then I find an interesting man that is capable of beating even the Icy Maiden without magic, just relying on his body alone. Then I decided to follow him, to see what he was doing. It was quite hard to follow him at first, he pays a lot of his attention on his surroundings, but after the forest was destroyed, I was able to easily spot him and follow him. Then all I had to do was wait for the right time and drug him, so he can be my toy alone, but why does every toy that I find interesting has to be so weird.”
Right now there is no way I can get him after all my magic is not suited for combat. Seems like I will have to keep my tabs on him after I do not like to share my toys with others. But it is strange that is the first human I found an interest in. The rest is just so plain boring.
She disappeared and walked into the opposite direction but the time of conflict between these 2 was far from over.