a's

came the c

t was close

t fire, then faded, and my hands glowed dimly once more. The agony from earlier cam

his cloak and hurried to the entrance of

e," he remarked. "But dea

ck ached. That one wasn't even a wolf in it

tems?" Breathing

" cursed. A wolf goes insane if they allow retaliation to f

over. "Are they

s. "No. They're trying to kill you. And it makes no dif

into fists. I sp

them to

lips. "Not just yet, Firebloo

split the air of the cave l

of us

the scraping of

wo. An

ere as

into a sack by the fire. Dust from ashroot. Massage

h the coarse powder after pouring it into my hands. A

ok. "Remain behind me

g," I uttered, m

n't di

s grew darker. Just beyond the

ught sigh

Their mouths foamed, their fur was patchy, and their bones were too

low growl a

ition. "Go back, damned pe

al made

t sprayed the stones with black blood. However, the other on

time to

up my

ght burst out

ck against the wall in midair. It thump

I had trem

what I

idea how

his eyes, the elderly man

bled from outside before we

he took a step back

, six, maybe mo

erature

They're after

hought you said

ed somberly. "But the

nimals enter

than th

ut its fur was midnight

r giving me a

ith w

my

ght to have r

ght to have r

e words slithere

as my back struck the cave wall. It had a grin-like curl to its lips, but it

y voice trembled as I

aring at the beast. "Just you," he st

ed. "What is m

that you were the target of this one. made o

rward. For a moment, I believed I caught a glimpse of someone els

you?" I

ns that hit me in the chest instead of a so

e as I clenched my fists. It seemed too small in

uttered. "You simpl

d. My skull echo

ated." "What your passing evoked. I

d before I co

midair. It hissed and retreated, but it didn't scream. However, m

to contain th

of the cave, a narrow tunnel that cu

d, "W

off. You're not prepared to

root Tree is located. In the middle of the f

ut you?"

n't re

is blade and faced

ook off

ped my arms. My heart thumped hard against my chest. I he

ere was

qu

ugh the tunn

me, somet

kly. Not

ow. Aw

, a faint murmur mad

can't escap

s her name... and wears her voice-blocks Mira's path