Chapter 30 - Reunion of Enemies (1/2)

The pack leader circled Lydis angrily, drool escaping from his bared fangs.

”Human, if you value your life, now's the time to back off…” He snapped at Lydis's direction, the hairs on his face rising with his snarl.

”Pathetic, who would run from a feast?” Lydis lowered her body lower to the floor.

”I gave you your chance.” In the next moment the pack leader disappeared. Lydis was stunned for a moment before she jumped to the side. Right where she used to be was the pack leader, his large claws digging deeply into the ground. Lydis continued to jump backwards as the pack leader chased after her. Just as he leaped over her Lydis changed from running to sliding on the floor, passing by underneath the pack leader. Her blade extended towards one of his legs. The pack leader, upon landing lifted his hind legs as he saw Lydis slide under him. Seeing that her attack missed Lydis continued to move away from the pack leader, nearing the edge of the forest.

”Are you running now human? Know your place as you've angered the great me, Valfafer! Escape is futile!” Valfafer chased after Lydis, her back entering the forest.

Right before the fight Lydis already had a plan. Fighting in the open was too advantageous to the pack leader. With no places to hide or as cover the open clearing wasn't the best place for Lydis. The heavily dense and thick forest surrounding the clearing suited Lydis much more. With plenty of places to hide, trees for cover, and small spaces making it hard for the larger pack leader to move. At first she was skeptical as to how she would get the pack leader into the forest but it seems that once an animal, always an animal. She sighed a bit for her opponents stupidity. Didn't the voice say that they were a bit smarter than the rest? Didn't it talk with her, so why was it so stupid? Feeling a bit uneasy Lydis discarded her thoughts and focused on the pack leader following her since it could all be a plan to make her lower her guard.

Lydis jumped into the trees, shedding her fake skin and the wolf head. She spread them out to confuse the pack leader but it seems that his nose was too good. Behind her Valfafer was pushing through the thick trees like they were floppy bricks. Even one that was thicker than her arms spread wide.

Valfafer chased after Lydis, he was keeping pace with her easily. Trees passed by between them. Soon it became harder and harder for Valfafer to move through gaps and openings, his large body often hitting the sides and roots of trees. Lydis was still ahead of him and always chose the hardest path for Valfafer to move in.

She slid under a tree with massive roots and continued to crawl through to the other side. Valfafer struggled with the roots as they were stronger than the trees from before. Lydis smirked at Valfafer.

”Hey, is that all you got?” Lydis beckoned him to come at her.

”Puny human! You dare insult this great one, Valfafer?!” Valfafer was biting the roots now. They broke easily against his powerful jaws.

”You've gotta catch me first 'oh great one'.” Lydis slipped through the remaining roots and headed further and further into the forest. Valfafer struggled but soon found something odd. The roots looked like they were moving, slowly but surely, they began to wrap around any part of Valfafer. He thrashed and bit at the roots but there were too many. Suddenly a vine covered in thorns wrapped around his left foot. It pierced his skin a little but his fur padded most of the thorns.

As Valfafer was struggling with the unusual roots Lydis had already arrived at the cliff where she scouted the wolf camp beforehand. Looking at the cliff from the bottom it was pretty huge. Sharp jagged rocks hung out from the middle while on the sides roots of trees pokes through into the air. Lydis peeled off the remaining skin and flung them into the forest.

”Need to get this smell off me.” Lydis sniffed her arm and pulled back quickly. ”Yeah, talking to myself again…” She let her arm rest at her side and began to search for a stream or anything. Around the side of the cliff was a hidden pond that she hadn't noticed before. The tall trees had blocked the small opening, making it look like there were trees in this area.

Half covered by trees and half open the pond glistened like crystals. The bottom shone like pearls under the moonlight. The whole pond glowed and moved with an invisible wind, the surface rumbling slightly. The voice clicked inside Lydis's head.