Chapter 644: Toad & Wolf
After the arrival of March, the weather had grown a little clearer, though mornings still brought relentless rain, and the biting wind howled through the treetops. A curtain of rain hung over the Forbidden Forest like a hazy veil, and high above, a falcon soared across the undulating sea of trees. Its outstretched wings sliced through the cold air and falling rain, its irises glinting a calm, deep gray against the dim, overcast sky.
Suddenly, the falcon folded its wings and landed silently on a thick, crooked pine branch. It tilted its head slightly, gazing downward.
A young wolf emerged from the underbrush, crouching low, its eyes locked onto a gray hare just ahead. The rain had been mostly blocked by the thick canopy of leaves, and the forest floor remained surprisingly dry. The hare nibbled at tender grass beneath a pile of dead leaves, its ears twitching nervously, constantly scanning its surroundings.
After inching forward with quiet patience, the pup lunged—claws outstretched, aiming to seize the rabbit.
But in an instant, the hare leapt sideways, dodging the attack. It pushed off the trunk with a powerful kick, then spun midair and slammed its hind legs hard into the wolf’s nose!
“Grrr!” A cry of pain echoed through the forest. The young wolf tumbled to the ground, scrambling back on all fours, paws pressed to its snout, tears welling in its eyes.
The hare startled at the noise, stood upright for a moment, then bolted away into the bushes.
From behind an oak tree, another pup bounded out, watching its companion’s misfortune with amusement. “Gah-gah-gah!” it laughed.
“Morris, why didn’t you stop him?”
“That was your hunt, Leen!”
The two pups tumbled into a playful scuffle, rolling through the undergrowth like two fluffy whirlwinds.
Then, from the tree above, the falcon descended. As it neared the ground, its body stretched unnaturally—wings transforming into arms, talons into legs. Its black robes billowed in the wind before settling gently around it like a cloak.
The two young wolves froze, pressing close together. Leen, the smaller one, cowered behind Morris.
Then, suddenly, Morris leapt forward with a joyful yelp. “Wade! Wade! It’s been so long! You’re here? You came to see me?”
Wade crouched down, gently stroking Morris’s head. “Morris, how have you been?”
“Great! Dad says I’m almost ready to hunt alone!” Morris declared proudly.
Leen stared in disbelief, his eyes wide with outrage. His brother was practically wagging his tail like a dog, greeting a human with such affection. “Morris!” he snapped, voice sharp with confusion and anger. “You’re bringing a wizard back to our den?”
“Relax,” Morris said, nudging Leen’s nose with his soft paw. “Wade’s a good guy!”
Leen scowled, clearly unconvinced. But Morris was already leading the way, and Leen had no choice but to follow, darting ahead while stealing covert glances at the wizard.
Wade noticed the pup’s tense posture and wary expressions. He smiled gently.
Leen bristled instantly. He bared his teeth, growling low in his throat—“You may fool my brother, but not me.”
A sharp smack on the head silenced him.
“Show some respect to your savior, Leen!” Morris called out firmly.
They walked for several minutes, passing through a thicket thick with mushrooms, until the forest opened up before them.
A cluster of crooked tree trunks formed a natural barrier. On top, branches, fishing nets, and vines had been woven into a makeshift roof. Low walls of stacked earth and logs enclosed the space, and the entrance was piled with stones, creating a semi-subterranean den.
Hanging from nearby branches were various herbs—white fresh among them—along with tools: bows and arrows, daggers, axes.
A white wolf lay sprawled on the ground, while several pups of different colors played around it. One of them had a distinctive ring of white fur around its muzzle.
The sudden scent of an outsider sent all the wolves to their feet in an instant, assuming defensive stances. But when they saw Morris and Leen leading the way, they froze, confused.
“Wade Gray?”
The eldest wolf—Lucas, a werewolf—stepped from the shadows, draped in a rough, animal-hide coat like a wild man. He shot a warning glance at his two sons, then eyed Wade warily. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m looking for someone,” Wade said calmly, pointing. “A young female wolf. She has a white ring around her mouth, and a three-horn-shaped scar on her right ear. Older than these pups.”
“I know her,” Morris said, puzzled. “That’s my sister, Rosa!”
Wade’s expression remained calm. “I’ve seen her in a dream.”
Morris blinked. “You’ve seen her in a dream?”
“In a dream,” Wade confirmed. “Can you take me to her?”
“Of course!” Morris beamed. “She’s probably at home now. I’ll show you!”
“Morris!” Leen interrupted, scrambling forward. “You can’t bring a wizard back to our den—our home!”
“It’s fine,” Morris said, patting his younger brother’s nose. “Wade’s a good wizard.”
Leen wasn’t convinced. But Morris was already leading the way, and he had no choice but to follow, his eyes never leaving the wizard—watching, calculating, every movement.
Wade noticed the pup’s distrust. He smiled again.
Leen flinched, fur bristling. He snarled, teeth bared, a low warning growl rumbling in his chest—“You may fool my brother, but not me.”
Then, a sharp slap landed on his head.
“Show some manners to your savior, Leen!” Morris snapped.
After walking for several minutes, they emerged into a clearing. Before them stood a crude den, built from twisted tree trunks and natural materials—branches, vines, fishing nets forming a roof, low walls of earth and logs. Stone blocks piled at the entrance gave it a hidden, underground feel.
Hanging from the branches were herbs, including white fresh, and weapons: bows, arrows, daggers, axes.
A white wolf lay curled on the ground, while several pups of different colors tumbled and wrestled around her. One pup, in particular, stood out—a small one with a ring of white fur around its nose.
The unfamiliar scent triggered instant alertness. All the wolves rose to their feet, postures tense, ready to defend. But when they recognized Morris and Leen, they hesitated.
“Wade Gray?” Rosa asked, her voice tinged with surprise.
The older wolf—Lucas—stepped forward, eyes narrowed. “What do you want?”
“I’m here to ask about a certain encounter,” Wade said, lowering himself slightly. “In a dream, I saw you near the swamp… meeting a grayish-brown toad. Did that happen?”
Rosa blinked. “I did see a toad yesterday—just woke from hibernation. You… really saw this in a dream?” Her voice was incredulous. “That’s… incredibly strange!”
Leen whispered to Morris, “I thought he was just making it up! But he really did see her?”
Wade furrowed his brow. “Yesterday?”
The scene in his dream… was it a live broadcast?
He steadied himself. “What happened to the toad after that? Can you still find it?”
“It didn’t want to play,” Rosa admitted, frowning slightly. “So I let it go. Toads aren’t even tasty, really.” She paused, then added quietly, “But I do know where it went. It hopped off toward the castle.”
Wade smiled. “Where exactly did you meet it? Could you show me?”
Rosa glanced at her father. Lucas gave a barely perceptible nod.
She turned back. “Of course. Follow me.”
(End of Chapter)
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