“I don't know, the fact that so many beasts gather at one point is already confusing, it seems as if something is leading them… and now this white bear is mentioned…”

"Lead?" The woman is surprised to hear this, she knew perfectly well that the fact that they have survived until now is due to the fact that the beasts attack without a plan in mind other than their instincts. If this wasn't true this time and added to their numbers… “But that doesn't change what we have to do.” She finds resolution in her own words.

“No, it doesn’t. The town would not withstand another attack and even more so a concentrated one.”

“Your orders!” The woman puts a hand to her chest, tensing her posture knowing that Yheer had made a decision.

“I want two separate scout units, one to lure the beasts to our position and the other to keep them from scattering along the way.

"Like guiding sheep to the pen?"

"Exactly, only that the corral will be our spearheads. The number and coordination of each unit I leave to you. If it's the case that the horde doesn't pursue the scouts, back off to come up with an alternate plan. The terrain is on our side, their numbers won't matter much at the mouth of the valley, but that means we can't back down if we don't want to be surrounded. I want oil on the trees in front of us ready to be ignited by our arrows.”

“Yes sir! I'll pass the orders!” The woman turns around and starts barking orders without wasting time.

“Sir, with all due respect, I believe that the use of fire is not the best possible decision.” Yheer was surrounded by commanders from each respective unit allowing them to clearly hear what his intentions were.

“What makes you think that?” Yheer does not get upset and allows the commander to speak freely, he knows that doing otherwise would only bring discontent in his army.

“We know that the hordes are not made up of just one species but of dozens or even more, some fear fire while others are infuriated by it. I'm sure this will produce a frenzy that will crush our troops.” The commander speaks without arrogance explaining what for him would be a better option.

“So? What is your alternative?”

“Sir, we should attack them by surprise. The beasts, no matter how ferocious, they are just beasts, when they are surprised they will flee without any doubt.” Yheer notes how the commander's words resonate with the ideals of most of his peers.

“There are two big problems that force me to reject your idea. First, winter is upon us and that means there are at least 4,000 hungry mouths that will go crazy when they smell blood, surprised or not. The second, attacking them implies abandoning our advantageous position and in the event that the beasts do not flee... we would be surrounded by their great number.” Yheer doesn't need to think for a long time to find big problems, not to mention small ones.

"Sir... your words have a greater reason than mine, I beg you to forgive me." The commander backs down having understood his mistakes. Furthermore, if his plan was accepted, he would have to lead the attack… knowing this he can only back down and swallow his pride.

"Well, I see there are no further objections." Yheer glances at his soldiers. "Men ready!!!” His shout and the soldiers' response reverberates through the valley.

"Everything is ready, the scouts will be back soon, bringing the beasts with them." The woman's body distracted the rookies in the front row while the veterans didn't even bother to look at her. No, in fact, they avoided her.

“I was hoping you'd be part of the scouts too, Nila.” Yheer inspects his men and equipment who would withstand the full force of the charge.

“Just as you have confidence in me, I also have my own men to whom I can entrust a few tasks without fear of failure. Besides, you know I hate having to put all my battle gear back on a second time.” The scouts took better advantage of their wolf form and the benefits that it brought, as well as its disadvantages. They were able to move with incredible speed over rough terrain on par with the beasts that pursued them, but this also meant that they relied only on their claws and teeth to attack, as well as their skin as their only defense. No clothing or armor existed to accommodate such a drastic change, even a small knife between his teeth would get in the way of his breathing in the midst of frenzy.

“I never managed to understand you, you don't mind being bathed in blood, but having to change your clothes does. Is the oil ready?”

“Yes, we used what little we had.” At that moment Nila, as well as all the men in the place, can hear a loud howl in the middle of a moonlit night. "They're here…" Her carefree face instantly changes to be replaced by that of a cold and calculating one.

"Everyone to your positions!!! In line!!!” Nila's voice echoes in the ears of the nearby soldiers surprising the novices among them, the warrior aura that now surrounded her only served to add a mysterious charm. She grabs a shield and a spear and stands in the middle of the front line.

Shields could be heard banging against each other as the men asserted their position, each could hear the other's breathing and feel their companions on the back of their necks. Each one strove to fill any possible gap by forming a unit that lived and moved as one, although there was still a space of a few meters between the first line and the second.

A little more than twenty wolves slip through the corridors that the men form, passing like spots before their eyes due to their speed, when the ground begins to shake and the sounds that seem to come from hell itself are clear, the soldiers cover the corridors with their bodies and shields closing the mouth of the valley.

The moment Yheer catches sight of the first beasts, his expression hardens. The words that the commander had said were not entirely wrong, many beasts raged with fire and this was the class that led the horde. He tried not to resort to luck if he could, although in this case he did and it didn't go very well. In any case, the advantages were still greater and he already had a plan in place in case something similar happened.

By the time the arrows begin to rain down on the first beasts, each soldier can clearly describe them due to close proximity. A kind of cat with long legs and pointed ears that reached the height of the average person's navel, its white fur was interrupted by a pattern of black lines and dots that started from its nose to its tail running down its back. These are ferocious at night and respond aggressively to fire, their size may not be a threat, although it is when they form large groups as in this case.

"Only fire arrows at my signal!" Yheer warn his men making sure they don't make a stupid mistake. "It should be about time." At the moment in which the first beasts pounce on the first row made up of two lines of men, sheltered behind their shields and spears, they quickly and mechanically retreat a few steps, demonstrating their tactical experience.