Glowing green eyes watched the humans as they moved through the territory. Each of the wolves hungered, but the Alpha knew this would be their last chance to strike. Beyond the final hill crest lay the Human city, and any attack near it would result in swift retribution.

Rising from his observation point, the Alpha gave a long drawn out howl.

It was time to summon the rest of the pack.

It was time to hunt.

***T***

Sir Williams heard the howl nearby while the group sped along mercilessly to reach the safety of Ruven.

“Sir, that’s…” Mark said, pausing as fear flashed through his eyes.

“Bloodwolves.” Sir Williams spat, his voice filled with venom.

“So close to the city…can we make it Sir?” Mark said, hope apparent in his voice.

“Impossible. Bloodwolves will not sound the Howl unless they have their prey surrounded. We have to find a defensive formation, something that we can use to hold them at bay.” Sir Williams said, looking around at the scraggly forest that was slowly giving away to Ruven’s farmland.

Mark’s eyes clouded in despair, this close to the city, there was little if any cover. The very thing that made the city safer, also made the group more likely to die.

Suddenly a thought flashed through his mind, “Sir, what about whatever is following us? Could we perhaps?”

“Use a borrowed knife to cook?” Sir Williams said, pausing in thought. “Do it. We’ll retreat to that copse of trees over there.”

The group turned off the main road to the city, retreating into the small group of trees nearby.

***T***

Unbelievable.

I take a nap for a few days and these idiots manage to get themselves surrounded!

What did I do to deserve this? What?

All I wanted was a brief nap. Moving with Chaos magic is no cakewalk.

I see them retreat into a nearby copse of trees and manage to restrain a sigh.

They are obviously being tested for intelligence by the wolves.

Retreating into a position without a solid defense is suicide.

Wait. Could they suspect I’ve been protecting them all along?

Perhaps they want to use my power to kill the wolves!

Hah, if I didn’t know you had the Rune talismans I recently made so much better I might actually intervene.

Silly humans, tricks are for kids!