CHAPTER 90: WOLVERINE

Arya

I take in his long black coat and bare chest. Dressed in all-black, he appears more like a night creature than a man.

He steps forward cautiously, holding his hands up to signal a truce.

I refuse to lower my makeshift weapon.

"Where are you from?" He asks.

"I’m from the Continent". I respond.

His lips quirk upwards at the sides.

"Never heard of it."

No surprise there. I haven’t heard of Vadi either.

Does this mean that there are other places I don’t know about?

He gestures toward the game on the spit.

"If you don’t mind, I have to turn that. It’s burning".

I finally put down the weapon, adrenaline giving way to hunger.

I can’t even remember the last time I ate - must be that time at the Diamond Rank’s table.

Speaking of the Diamond Rank, I wonder what is going on with them. Is the Blink still running as usual?

I watch his movements from the corner of my eye, half-expecting him to attack me.

Every once in a while, he throws a curious glance in my direction.

"Where are the Dire wolves from?" I ask, deciding to break the tense silence.

He picks up a stick on the ground and drags it along the ground distractedly.

"They’ve been around for centuries. They live higher up at the mountain’s peak, but occasionally descend to hunt in the forest". He says, his tone measured.

I can tell he’s holding back more information.

"Are you one of them - a Dire wolf, I mean?"

He looks at me now.

"I wish". Is all he says.

I’ll get nothing out of him from the look of things.

"Why did you save me? I remember drowning".

He stops drawing with the stick and leans back to admire his work.

The fire crackles, sending sparks flying. I watch the flames, streaked with orange, gold and red hues.

The atmosphere smells mostly of smoke - from the fire - but it also carries a faint hint of the sea and trees.

Just when I think he won’t answer, he looks at me.

"I didn’t save you. One of the Dire wolves did. It dragged your body to the shore".

I blink, not able to make sense of anything he is saying.

A Dire wolf saved me? So they are capable of cognitive thinking?

There is much I don’t know.

"Are they Kacryths by any chance?" I ask.

He raises an eyebrow.

"Kacryths? What’s that?"

He doesn’t know anything about Kacryths?

"Where is this wolf?" I ask.

He tosses his stick into the fire and dusts his hands off.

"Probably up in the mountains by now. Don’t even think about going up there - if the cold doesn’t kill you, their worshippers would. The wolves won’t even have to lift a finger".

I flip his words over in my head.

"Worshippers?"

He rises up and turns the spit slowly.

"There is a clan here devoted to worshipping the huge beasts."

"Is this clan nearby?"

He narrows his eyes at me.

"No. You’d have to walk to the other side of the mountain. It’s a very dangerous route".

If only he knew how prone to danger I am.

"How did you find me?" My sudden change of subject takes him unawares.

"I’m a hunter. When I saw the wolf drag you to the shore, I decided to help".

"In exchange for what?"

"What would a weak, nearly naked woman offer me? You don’t even have any money on you. I helped because it was the right thing to do. A little gratitude is not asking for too much".

I weigh his words. It’s uncommon for someone to help me in exchange for nothing.

"Where’s the nearest town?" I ask.

He turns the spit one more time before removing it.

The aroma hits me and my stomach rumbles.

"Are you planning on travelling this night?" He asks.

I don’t reply because I realize how foolish my response would sound.

He grasps the message from my silence.

"It can be very dangerous out here, especially at night. We’re taking a huge risk by lighting a fire".

"What do you hunt?"

"Game". He responds quickly.

Too quickly.

He’s hiding something.

He tears the meat into two almost equal parts and hands one to me.

I take it hesitantly.

He bites into the hot flesh, chewing loudly.

I turn the meat over in my hand. The last thing on my mind is the fear of being poisoned. Instead, I’m wondering what the shady man hunts.

If the mountain is really as dangerous as he says, why does he stay here at night?

"Sorrydear. Ihadto

takecareofsomebusiness. Ididn’tmeantoshutyouout". Comes Fang’s steady voice.

I almost feel relieved to hear her voice - something familiar in a foreign land.

She sounds almost apologetic, but I know better than to fall for her smooth words.

My nose and throat still sting from nearly drowning.

"Aren’t you going to eat it?" He asks.

I stare down at the meat in my hands.

My appetite had suddenly fled.

Despite myself, I chew of a large portion of it, munching quietly.

A twig snaps in the shadows.

I glance at him. He seems unconcerned - or maybe he didn’t hear it.

I lean down and pick up the firewood I had used previously. It is no longer glowing.

He darts a glance at me, his brows raised.

I listen closely for another hint, any hint.

The light of the fire is blocking my vision of the other side.

"What is it?" He asks, his mouth full of food.

For a professional hunter, his hearing must be bad.

"Shh!" I whisper, my index finger on my lips.

He stops moving.

I step around the fire, going deeper into the darkness, my weapon held sharply in front of me.

Something moves again, too quick for me to catch sight of what it is. I move further, treading silently.

Then, something huge jumps on me.