Chapter 14: On the Run

Our pack sprinted through the forest, leaving the den behind. I wiggled, squirmed, and flailed my tiny legs, but Mama Wolf held me firmly by the scruff.

Ugh! This is so embarrassing! I’m not a baby! I can run on my own!

But I didn’t have time to dwell on my humiliation because, well… I made the mistake of looking back.

Curiosity killed the cat, right? Well, in this case, curiosity terrified the puppy.

The den is already fading into the distance, but then—something emerged from the shadows.

A shiver ran down my spine.

It's my first time seeing a Green Stalker, and I immediately wished I hadn’t.

It stood like a human. It ran like a human. But it's definitely not a human.

Its body looked like a mess of tangled branches, vines, and sprouting ferns, all moving like they have a mind of their own. Its limbs are too long, bending in weird, wrong ways as it sprinted forward with terrifying ease. But the worst part?

Its face. Or—actually, the lack of one.

Instead of eyes or a mouth, they are just ferns. Layer upon layer of shifting, breathing foliage. It's like the whole thing is alive, watching me—but without actually watching me.

And it is fast.

I nearly choked on my own panic.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to yell, FASTER, PLEASE, FASTER!

Just as the Green Stalker got closer—too close—Papa Wolf suddenly skidded to a stop.

Wait. WAIT. What is he doing?!

I wiggled even more in Mama Wolf’s grip, watching in growing horror as he faced the Green Stalker head-on. Then, he opened his mouth, and right in front of it, a strange glowing circle appeared, pulsing with energy.

Oh. Oh! Magic!?

Then—

AWOOOOOOOOOOO!

It wasn’t just a howl. It's also a shockwave!

The air rippled as an invisible force burst out, vibrating the world around us. My ears rang, my fur stood on end, and I swear even the ground beneath us shuddered from the sheer power of it.

The Green Stalker jerked, its body trembling violently as if something grabbed and shook it. Then—

BOOM!

It went flying.

Like, literally flying.

It crashed through the trees with a loud snap of breaking wood, disappearing into the distance.

I stared, my tiny puppy brain struggling to process what just happened.

Papa Wolf didn’t even look back. He just turned around and bolted, rejoining the pack like nothing happened.

Mama Wolf sped up, carrying me along with her.

I gulped.

Okay. Okay. That is terrifying. But also… SO COOL.

I wanted to ask Papa Wolf how he did that. I wanted to know if I could do that too. But most importantly—

I wanted to run even faster(actually Mama Wolf), because no way that thing is down for good.

I blinked, my brain struggling to keep up with what just happened.

Papa Wolf didn’t even stop to check if the thing got up again—he just spun around and ran back to us. Mama Wolf didn’t hesitate either; she picked up speed, and suddenly, we are all running even faster.

Oh. Oh no. My tiny heart pounded like crazy. That was really cool—but we’re still not safe!

The world blurred as Mama Wolf carried me, bouncing with every step. Trees whipped past, then suddenly, open fields, then more trees again and oh—strange look plants that moves. Everything is moving too fast, and I have no idea where we are going. I just clung on for dear life, hoping Mama Wolf wouldn’t drop me.

Monsters were everywhere. Some ignored us—thank goodness—but others weren’t so nice. Some lunged at us, and I swear I almost screamed, but we are moving so fast that most of them didn’t even get the chance to touch us. The ones that did manage to get in our way?

Papa Wolf and Brother Wolf are both hurt, so they couldn’t fight! That meant Mama Wolf, Big Sister Wolf, and Bigger Sister Wolf had to deal with everything.

And—oh wow—they are so strong.

I mean, I knew they went hunting sometimes with Papa Wolf and Uncle Wolf, but this? This is different. They are fighting so fast and so hard that I barely even understood what's happening. Monsters would jump out, and then—boom!—they're gone. Just like that.

Even then, even with how strong they are, they still aren’t on the same level as Papa Wolf or Uncle Wolf.

But Mama Wolf?

Mama Wolf is something else entirely.

She didn’t go hunt like the others, but now I understood why—she isn’t just a hunter. She is the last line of defense. She's the one who made sure we all survived!

As I am still gawking at how awesome my wolf family is when—BAM!—we skidded to a stop.

Wait, why? What happened? Did we escape? Did we—?

Oh. Oh no. Oh no no no.

A bunch of creepy monkey-things blocked our path! And they weren’t just normal creepy monkeys—nope! They were covered in moss. Moss! It clung to their bodies like some weird, slimy second skin. Their long arms ended in these horrible, sharp claws, and their faces—eugh—their faces looked all sunken and bony, like skeletons with glowing red eyes.

I shuddered. Why did they have to have glowing eyes?!

Mama Wolf growled, her fur bristling as she stared them down. I looked around frantically, please let there be another way out, please let there be another way out— but nope. We are completely trapped.

Then, just like that, Mama Wolf dropped me.

Wha—?!

I stumbled, my legs all wobbly after being carried for so long. I barely had time to squeak before she lunged at the monkey-things, her fangs flashing.

Big Sister Wolf and Bigger Sister Wolf didn’t even hesitate—they were right behind her, jumping into the fight like it's just another day in the forest.

There are five of the creepy moss-monkeys, but Mama Wolf didn’t care. She's furious. Her movements are so fast I could barely keep up. She dodged their claws like it's nothing, her teeth sinking into one of them before I even realized she moved.

Big Sister Wolf and Bigger Sister Wolf each took on their own monkey. Their fights were—um, how do I say this—less terrifying than Mama Wolf’s? But still really cool! They moved so fast, biting and clawing, dodging those nasty monkey swipes.

But Mama Wolf? Mama Wolf is on a whole different level.

She's fighting three of them. Three! And she made it look easy. Claws slashed, fangs snapped, and mossy flesh tore apart as she danced between them like she already knew what they were going to do. The monkeys screeched, trying to claw her back, but—nope!—they never even got the chance.

I stood there, frozen, my mouth hanging open. Mama Wolf is scary.

And then—just like that—it's over.

Big Sister Wolf and Bigger Sister Wolf finished off their monkeys, and at the same time—whoosh!—Mama Wolf struck down all three of hers at once.

One second, they screeches and swipes at her. The next?

Gone.

She dodged one of their claws, bit straight through another’s throat, and tore the last two apart with a swipe of her claws—all in one motion!

The creepy moss-monkeys barely even had time to scream before they collapse in a heap.

I just stood there, my tail tucking between my legs. My brain had fully shut down.

Mama Wolf is terrifying.

But… also?

I had never felt safer in my entire buggy little

As soon as the fight's over, Mama Wolf and the Sisters got straight to work, dragging the creepy moss-monkey bodies into a single pile.

I shuddered, hugging my little legs close. Eugh, those things are even grosser up close! Their "fur" is all damp and weird—not fur at all, but some kind of wet moss clinging to their bodies. Just looking at them made my skin crawl. But apparently, they still smelled like food because everyone else acting like this is totally normal.

Papa Wolf and Brother Wolf finally approached after keeping watch for that horrible Green Stalker thing. I followed behind them, but very hesitantly—just in case one of those creepy monkey corpses moved. I knew they were dead, but what if they weren’t? What if they suddenly twitched and grabbed me?!

Mama Wolf, completely unbothered, wasted no time. "We need to eat these monkeys, quick," she said firmly. "We have to move, but we also need energy. Don’t eat it all—we might need some later."

Wait. We’re eating them?!

I squeaked. “W-Wait, wait, wait! You want me to eat that?!”

Mama Wolf gave me a look. “Yes, Child.. You need to eat.”

I gulped, my ears pressing down. B-But they’re creepy! They looked all slimy and weird, and—and their glowing red eyes are still staring at me even though they are dead!

Big Sister Wolf and Bigger Sister Wolf didn’t even hesitate. They just started tearing into them like it's just another meal! They even packed extra meat into the worn leather bags we had taken from those dead adventurers, like this is a totally normal part of life. Meanwhile, everyone else just dug in without a second thought, tearing off chunks of mossy flesh and swallowing them like they weren’t eating nightmare creatures!

I stared, horrified. Oh no. Oh no, I have to eat it too, don’t I?

I swallowed hard, staring down at a chunk of meat in front of me. M-Maybe it won’t taste bad? Maybe it’ll taste like chicken?

I took a small, tiny bite.

…

It did not taste like chicken.

It's not bad, but it's no’t good either. It's kinda chewy and earthy, like eating a soggy mushroom that had been left in the dirt too long. I had to force myself to swallow, my entire body shuddering as I tried not to think about what I am eating.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

When we are finally done, I let out a huge sigh of relief. Okay. Over. It’s over. Never again.

But then—Mama Wolf turned to me and reached for my scruff.

Oh no.

I immediately squirmed, shaking my head furiously. “I can run!” I protested.

Mama Wolf sighed, giving me that firm mom look. “You're still a pup, Child, You’ll tire out faster than the rest of us.”

“I can keep up!” I puffed up my tiny chest.

She stared at me for a long moment before finally sighing. “Fine. But if you slow down, I’m carrying you. No arguments.”

That's fair. Mostly. I nodded quickly, my tail wagging. “Deal!”

And with that, we are off again, running as fast as our legs could take us.

The forest blurred past, the dimming light casting long shadows through the trees. But there's no sunset—just this weird fading glow, like someone is slowly turning down a giant lantern in the sky. It freaked me out every single time. How am I supposed to know when bedtime is if the sky never properly changed?!

But there's no time to stress over the weird fake sky—we have to keep running!

Eventually, Mama Wolf suddenly slowed down and called out, “We should stop and rest.”

I nearly tripped over my own paws trying to stop in time. “R-Rest? Here?! B-But what if something jumps out at us?! What if the Green Stalker catches up?! What if—”

Mama Wolf ignored my panic and continued, “We’ve been running all day, and Brother Wolf is still recovering. He doesn’t look good right now.”

I blinked and turned to look at Brother Wolf.

Oh.

He really didn’t look good. His breathing is all heavy, and his steps were uneven. Even with Mama Wolf’s healing, he still looked super tired.

Papa Wolf nodded in agreement. “Agreed. We can’t push ourselves too much.”

Big Sister Wolf and Bigger Sister Wolf also nodded. I wanted to argue—we should keep moving! What if something finds us?!—but I am also really, really tired.

So, after looking around, Mama Wolf led us to a spot on higher ground. It is open enough that we could see anything coming but still had some tree cover for shelter.

“This will do,” Mama Wolf said, scanning the area. “It’s a good vantage point. If anything tries to sneak up on us, we’ll see it coming.”

That did make me feel a little better.

Papa Wolf sighed as he settled down. “Alright, we can rest here. I’ll keep watch.”

Mama Wolf sat beside him, nodding. “I’ll switch with you later. Can’t have you falling asleep on the job.”

Papa Wolf smirked. “Oh? Switching positions, huh? I wouldn’t mind that.”

Mama Wolf flicked her tail at him. “Careful what you wish for.”

I blinked.

…Wait.

What?

What are they even talking about? What does switching positions have to do with anything?!

I tilted my head, utterly baffled. But after a moment, I decided—I don’t wanna know.

Ugh. Adults are so weird.

I shake my head, pushing aside whatever weirdness just happened between Mama and Papa Wolf. Not my problem. Probably. Hopefully. Maybe.

Before we settle down, Big Sister Wolf and Bigger Sister Wolf take out the food they gathered from our den along with the extra monkey meat. We eat in silence, everyone too tired to talk. The meat is tough and kind of gross, but food is food, and I’m not about to complain.

Once we’re done, Mama Wolf moves to Brother Wolf’s side and starts healing him again. He still looks pretty bad, but at least he’s not groaning in pain anymore. Meanwhile, the Sisters waste no time curling up and going straight to sleep.

I yawn. My body feels heavy, exhaustion creeping in now that we’re safe. Without another thought, I curl up too, letting sleep take me.

It’s dark.

Really dark.

No dreams, no weird past life memories, just… nothing. I feel like I’ve been floating in this emptiness forever, and I don’t like it. Maybe I forgot my dreams? Or maybe there really weren’t any this time.

Then my eyes snap open—and I instantly wish they hadn’t.

I can’t move. I can’t breathe.

Papa Wolf… is hanging in the air, impaled by horrible, spiky branches.

Oh gods—oh no—

Blood drips down his fur, soaking into the ground. His body twitches, his breathing shallow, a deep, pained growl rumbling from his chest. Behind him, something shifts. Something wrong.

The Green Stalker.

Its twisted, vine-like body writhes and coils, moving like it’s alive. Like it’s hunting.

I want to scream, but my throat locks up. My paws won’t move. My heart is hammering so hard I think I might pass out.

Mama Wolf moves first. She lunges without hesitation, her claws slashing through the Green Stalker’s tangled vines. The creature recoils, and the branches piercing Papa Wolf loosen just enough for him to drop to the ground.

Thud.

His body doesn’t move.

The others wake up immediately. Big Sister Wolf, Bigger Sister Wolf, and Brother Wolf—who recovered enough to fight—dive at the Green Stalker without a second thought. They surround it, tearing and biting, but I barely process any of it.

Because Mama Wolf is next to Papa Wolf, her paws trembling as she presses against his wounds. "Hold on," she whispers, voice thick with panic. Her mana flares—she’s trying to heal him. She has to heal him.

But Papa Wolf stops her. His paw lifts weakly, pressing against her chest. "No," he rasps, barely getting the word out. "You’ve already used too much… You can’t waste more."

Mama Wolf's ears pin back, her whole body shaking. "No—no, I can still—"

Papa Wolf growls weakly. "Run." His golden eyes, hazy with pain, lock onto hers with fierce determination. "Take the pack and run. I’ll hold it back."

I still can’t move.

Still can’t breathe.

He’s going to die.

Mama Wolf shakes her head so hard I think she might snap her neck. "No. I won’t leave you behind!" Her voice cracks, her claws digging into the dirt as if holding onto him physically will keep him here.

Papa Wolf lets out a strained chuckle, but it sounds… wrong. Too weak. Too empty. "You’re as stubborn as ever…" His eyes soften, though the pain never leaves them. "But you remember our promise, don’t you?"

Mama Wolf freezes.

I don’t like this. I really don’t like this.

"The promise we made when we formed this pack," he continues, his voice quieter now. "No matter what happens… we do what’s best for the pack." His breathing is shallow, but he still smiles. "And right now… the best thing you can do for the pack is to run."

Mama Wolf’s whole body trembles. "Damn it…" she chokes out, looking like she wants to tear the world apart.

I want to scream. I want to tell her to fix this. To save him. To do something.

But there’s nothing she can do.

Papa Wolf knows it.

And he’s still smiling.

Because that’s who he is.

The leader of our pack.

The protector.

And now…

The sacrifice.

Papa Wolf pushed himself up, blood dripping from his wounds, his legs wobbling like a newborn fawn, but his eyes—oh no, his eyes—are sharp with a fierce, terrifying resolve.

Then, before I could even process what's happening, he lunged at the Green Stalker, fangs bared, his entire body screaming defiance.

Mama Wolf’s eyes blazed with grief, but she didn’t hesitate. “Run! Now!” she howled, her voice so sharp and commanding that it made my fur stand on end.

Big Sister Wolf, Bigger Sister Wolf, and Brother Wolf froze for just a second. They didn’t want to leave. None of us did. But then they saw the look in Mama Wolf’s eyes—the kind of look that said we don’t have a choice.

And so they ran.

I, on the other hand, did not run. I stood there like an absolute idiot, staring in horror as Papa Wolf clashed with the Green Stalker, his claws raking desperately against its vine-covered body. He's hurting it. I think. Maybe?

I did not want to leave him.

I couldn’t leave him.

I was about to do something very, very stupid—like maybe run in there and… I don’t know, bite the Green Stalker?—when Mama Wolf grabbed me by the scruff.

"ACK—!"

Before I could even flail properly, I'm being carried away like a helpless pup. Which, okay, technically I am, but still! It's embarrassing!

The wind howled past us as we ran, branches and leaves whipping against our fur. Or, well, against their fur. I'm not even running—I'm just dangling there like a sack of potatoes, getting bounced around while Mama Wolf sprinted for dear life.

I hated this.

I hated all of this.

If only I was stronger.

If only I could fight.

If only I wasn’t so completely useless.

I clenched my teeth, my tiny body trembling—not from fear, not from exhaustion, but from the absolute frustration boiling inside me.

Tears pricked at my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Crying wouldn’t change anything. Crying wouldn’t bring Papa Wolf back. Crying wouldn’t suddenly make me strong.

…But I really, really wanted to cry.

We ran and ran and ran, the world around us blurring into streaks of green and brown. My heart is pounding, but it's not from the running—it's from the unbearable weight of what had just happened.

Then, slowly, the darkness around us began to shift.

A dim glow crept in, like a light bulb flickering to life. No sunrise. No gentle, golden light. Just an eerie, unnatural illumination spreading across the land.

I shuddered.

I hated this world’s sky.

Just like I hated everything else.

Before I knew it, we had arrived at… somewhere.

A huge stone wall stretched so high I couldn’t see the top. It is massive, ancient-looking, covered in moss and cracks, like it had been here long before any of us. And at the base of it, a gaping black entrance loomed, looking all dark and ominous and definitely not friendly.

The pack finally stopped, paws digging into the dirt as heavy, exhausted breaths filled the air.

Then—finally—Mama Wolf put me down.

I immediately stumbled.

And immediately pretended I did not just stumble.

For the first time, I could clearly see their faces.

Before, I haven’t really noticed. I was too busy getting carried, too busy panicking. But now, standing still for the first time in what felt like forever, I saw it.

The sadness. The exhaustion. The weight pressing down on everyone’s shoulders. Even Mama Wolf—who's always so strong, always so steady—looked… broken.

And Papa Wolf…

He's not here.

The silence felt suffocating. I hated it.

Bigger Sister Wolf suddenly snapped, her fur bristling. “Why did we leave Papa Wolf behind?!” Her voice is sharp, angry—but underneath it, I could hear the pain.

I flinched. I didn’t want to think about it. I didn’t want to think about him being gone.

Nobody spoke right away. Nobody wanted to say it out loud.

Mama Wolf’s ears twitched, but she didn’t turn to face Bigger Sister Wolf. Instead, she stared straight ahead, at the dark cave entrance.

"He made his choice," she finally said, voice quiet.

Bigger Sister Wolf growled. "That’s not an answer!"

Mama Wolf finally turned to her. There's something in her eyes—something I didn’t want to see.

"And what would you have me do?" she snapped, voice sharp with frustration. "Waste his sacrifice? Stay and fight until we all die too?"

I shrank back, my ears flattening. I hated when Mama Wolf sounded like this. She's always calm, always in control. But now… she's not.

Bigger Sister Wolf flinched, but she didn’t back down. “We should’ve done something!”

Mama Wolf’s claws dug into the ground. "We did what we had to. And now, we survive."

Silence. Heavy, horrible silence.

Then, suddenly, Bigger Sister Wolf collapsed. A choked whimper escaped her. She buried her face in her paws, her whole body shaking.

I felt something cold creep up my spine.

She's crying.

Bigger Sister Wolf is crying.

Mama Wolf didn’t move. She didn’t say anything. She just stood there, staring at the ground.

I didn’t like this.

I didn’t like this at all.

Big Sister Wolf and Brother Wolf moved first. They pressed their heads against Bigger Sister Wolf, trying to comfort her.

“It’s not your fault,” Brother Wolf murmured.

“We had no choice…” Big Sister Wolf added, her voice just as shaky.

I just stood there, feeling useless. I wanted to say something—anything—but I didn’t know what.

Papa Wolf is gone.

And no one knew what to do next.

I swallowed, then hesitantly stepped closer to Mama Wolf. She still hadn’t moved. She looked… lost.

I pressed my head against her leg, nudging her gently. She didn’t react.

I nudged her again.

Nothing.

Panic started rising in my chest. My heart pounded.

I nuzzled her fur, pushing against her with all the strength my little body could muster.

“Mama…” My voice came out small. Scared. “We need you.”

For a moment, nothing.

Then, I felt her shudder.

Her ears twitched. Slowly, she turned to look at me.

Her eyes… they aren’t right. They are dull, lost. It made my stomach twist.

I looked up at her, trying to be strong even though I felt like curling into a ball and hiding.

“Please, Mama,” I whispered. “We have to keep going.”

She stared at me for a long moment. Then, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

When she opened them again, they weren’t as lost as before. The pain is still there, but there's something else now. Something steadier.

Resolve.

Mama Wolf exhaled slowly, then turned to the rest of the pack.

“We should rest here,” she said. “Mourn while we can… but we can’t do this forever. We have to move forward. That’s what your father would want.”

No one spoke, but there are small nods. Even Bigger Sister Wolf, still trembling, didn’t argue.

Mama Wolf motioned for us to settle near the stone wall. “Rest. We’ll need our strength before we enter the Fourth Zone.”

Wait.

I perked up, confusion momentarily replacing my grief. “Fourth Zone? Shouldn’t we be heading to the Third Zone?”

Mama Wolf blinked, then gave me a tired, almost amused smile. “Ah… I never told you, did I?”

She sighed, glancing up at the dim light above us. “We live in the Great Labyrinth of Syrrath. Specifically, the Fifth Zone—the Green Abyss. And right now, we’re at the entrance of the Fourth Zone.”

I froze.

My brain struggled to catch up.

“Labyrinth?”

Everything suddenly made sense. The weird light, the endless forests, the strange creatures.

There was no real sky.

There never was.

We are not in a world.

We are inside a labyrinth.

I stared at her, my mouth opening and closing as my brain tried to work.

Mama Wolf gave a small nod. “The Fourth Zone,” she continued, “is also known as The Dark Cave. It’s home to many dangerous creatures.”

My ears flattened. “Dangerous?”

Mama Wolf listed them off. “Ghouls, Spiky Caterpillar Cocoons, Dusk Stalkers, Gloom Bats, Abyss Crawler, Dire Wolve and more.”

My tail bristled at the last one. “Dire Wolves?”

Mama Wolf nodded. “They are the same species as us. Just… different.”

I gulped. “Different how?”

Mama Wolf hesitated for a moment. “They took a different evolutionary path,” she finally said. “It’s something you could take, Child.”

I blinked. “Me?”

She smiled softly. “Yes. Dire Wolves are strong, fierce hunters. But there’s another path for those with a different kind of strength—like you. You could become a Luminous Wolf.”

I tilted my head. “Luminous Wolf?”

Mama Wolf nodded. “It’s an evolution path for those with healing abilities. Like me.”

Healing…

I'm not sure how to feel about that.

Being strong sounded better. Being able to fight, to protect the pack… isn’t that more useful?

But… Mama Wolf is strong too. Just in a different way.

“The choice is yours,” she said gently. “No matter what path you take, we will be here for you.”

I hesitated, then nodded. “Okay.”

Mama Wolf smiled.

Then exhaustion settled in, I curled up near the stone wall, seeking whatever comfort we could. The air is heavy with grief, but there is nothing left to say.

I curled up tightly, tucking my tail close, but sleep didn’t come easily. My mind kept replaying everything—the battle, Papa Wolf staying behind, the way Mama Wolf had stood frozen, her grief barely hidden behind her strong exterior.

It hurt.

But what hurt more is the helplessness.

I had been useless. I ran, I hid, I watched while everyone else fought. I'm not strong like Bigger Sister Wolf, or fast like Brother Wolf, or even smart like Big Sister Wolf. I am just… me.

Tears burned in my eyes, but I blinked them away. Crying wouldn’t change anything.

If I kept moping, if I stayed scared and weak, then what's the point? Next time—if there's a next time—I wouldn’t just watch. I would stand with them. I would fight.

Even if I am scared. Even if I'm not strong.

With that resolve settling deep in my chest, exhaustion finally pulled me into restless sleep.

When I woke, Mama Wolf standing, looking over us with a quiet, steady gaze, she probably didn't rest at all and just keep watching for the Green Stalker. The grief is still there, hidden in the depths of her eyes, but her resolve is stronger.

She smiled.

Then, she turned to the others. “We need to move on,” she said. “We have to get to the Fourth Zone.”

Her voice cut through the silence, firm but calm.

Slowly, Big Sister Wolf, Bigger Sister Wolf, and Brother Wolf stirred, sitting up with tired, unfocused eyes.

"I know it's hard," Mama Wolf continued. "But Papa would want us to keep going."

She helped them to their feet, offering a reassuring touch.

I stood there, my heart feeling too full, too heavy.

We had just lost Papa Wolf. And now, we have to keep moving.

But Mama is right.

We couldn’t stay here forever.

Mama Wolf turned to me. "Are you ready, child?"

I swallowed hard.

Then, I nodded.

There's no going back now.

We have to keep moving.

For Papa. For the pack.

End of Chapter 14