6

With the mess at the docks, lack of water transportation the men’s' only option was going to be was to take to the woods for the rest of their journey. The men walked out of the town into a more secluded area. They stripped their clothing placing their articles into a large leather bag that would hang across Theos flanks. Each man shifted. Being part of a pack had benefits not only are you apart of a family and grounded, but the ability to speak to one another when in shifter form without others hearing was one of the major bonuses given. Mika faced his two brethren wolves,What did you learn about the trolls Devion?

Devion's wolf whined,I found many trails surrounding this village. It seems they have been staking out the village for a few nights.

How long do you feel we have? Theo asked.

Not long, they are slow dumb beast. I didn’t find their cluster so it can not be too far from here. Devion reported.

Looks like we are going to stay the night boys, we will track the trolls down in the morning and drag them to the sun. We know that will kill them. the men looked resolute in their decision. For now I want one wolf patrolling while the other two sleep. We take shifts. got it?

I'll take the first shift Mika Theo perked up,I'll take the middle. Daevion claimed. that's fine I’ll bring up the rear.

The men chose to remain in their shifter form during the night in a effort to control their body temperatures and to be ready for a fight if needed. normally in this form Mika doesn't dream. If he thought hard enough he could not recall a single dream he'd ever had while shifted but this night proved to be different.

POV Mika-Mika's Dream***********

I felt the excitement of running wild in the woods. The feel of the soil beneath my paws. The smells of the earth, and various animals smelt like the finest perfumes. A voice came in on the wind, so faint “Mika" a female calling me. Who was she? Her voice was it the same from the white witch? I raced to find the source, her call growing ever so stronger. I burst through the vegetation to find myself in a settlement. I had shifted back as a man but no one seemed to pay me any mind. "Mika" her call so soft, so alluring.

I searched through the homes, peering in windows to see who this median was, still she called. Her voice was driving me to move forward. Toward the rear of the town there was a well. A young woman with bond hair looked down into its vastness. She must've heard me as she turned to face me. Her blue eyes danced behind strands of blond hair blown by the wind. Her lips called to me to come and taste her. 'Mika.' her voice now joyous and not longer calling me. I stepped forward. I knew her. She was home, she was mine. Her slender body moved gracefully toward me. I reached for her. no sooner had her hand touched my flesh I felt a jerk. Panic flashed in her eyes, “Mika!" she screamed. Terror now clear. I looked frantic shifting to fight whatever had attacked us. She jerked back pulled by something black wrapping around her waist. It was dragging her to the well. I dove trying to grasp her hand, but I was too late the black serpent like beast had coiled around her waist and had pulled her into the well. I heard the echoes bouncing off the wells walls as she screamed my name, “Mika!". "NO!!!" I roared. ***************

"NO!" Mika sat up gasping. He was panting. Boss is everything ok?! Theo asked through their bond. His head pounded, his heart was racing,yea, yeah Theo sorry it's all good. How’s the patrol?

It's been quiet Mika; all the villagers have laid down after the mermaids' attack. Not too many have bothered to go near the waters. A few newcomers into the town but nothing really interesting. You should try to get some rest we have extended our journey prince." Theo wasn't being smart, but he was right. Their speed would have to rely on their land speed now.

I know. Wake me if anything happens Theo, anything at all. Mika feet the hawks rise, something was off. Did everyone feel that way after a bad dream? Mika tried to resettle into his bedding hoping to shake off this feeling of doom. Sometime after midnight Devion's voice broke through his mind,We got action guys. both men rose from their resting spots and looked toward the wood line. Two large bulbous figures moved. One held a lit torch in its trunk like fist. The smell was so rancid Theo tried not to gag. Take them out before they get here. Mika ordered. Both nodded in unison before bolting off to their targets. * Theo, Devion get Mr. Right, I've got lefty.* Mika growled. The two wolves took out the second troll in line. One wolf for each arm. The trolls lumbered on their track. The one bitten by the wolves tried to pull one hand up to swat at the other but found he had been weighted down. the intelligence of these creatures was startling, one would argue if they truly even knew how to walk and breath. Theo clamped his massive jaws around the troll’s wrist till her heard the crack of bone before twisting the hand completely free from its flesh. He spit the flesh out at once as it was foul meat, green and tasted of sludge. Devion repeated the same attack. The troll lazily swung around trying to grab but only found his bloody nobs. AAARRGG its bellowed. it snapped its large crude teeth, frustrated that it could not catch the nasty wolves attacking it. The leader turned at the sound of his companion complaining. Mika took the shot and lunge for its throat. He found the section he had been looking for and ripped its throat out. As the troll went down it grabbed at Mika. Mika partially shifted back to his human form and left his razor sharps claws to slice off the arm coming down on him like a falling tree. the bloody gurgling forms his target let him know he was down for the count. Theo and Davion were taking their time breaking off piece by piece of their troll. The dam thing was down a leg now, missing arm completely, and of course his missing hands. Mika had enough he leaped over to the trolls back and grabbed its massive wart covered jaw over his shoulder and pulled with all his werewolf might. he hearts the unmistakable sound of tearing flesh, the cracking of the bones, and the gurgling from his victim as it drowned in its own blood before his head was snapped off. Blood spurted all over the men. If you had happened to glance at this gore scene you would've thought demons had come to bath.

The sun will clean this up. The people here are safe for now. Let’s get a move on. Mika ordered.

Follow the river? Theo asked

Yes, we will follow the river but not too close I don't want to play with any more mermaids if we can help it.

Sometime after sunrise the men had covered a pretty good distance. These wolves could travel up to 60 mph when running full force, but it was taxing. They stopped by a stream that fed into the Red Mother. they were lapping the cool water up when Theo teased,Ah, there's the bloody prince. Mika looked up at him and then down at his fur, he was still coated in blood from their fight.

Well shit I’m sure every freak mile around can smell this. He looked over at Theo and Devion they too had smudges coated in their fur.Alright lets bath you dirty bastards. They shifted back to their human forms and began washing off the red and brown blood from their bodies. As werewolves the men were comfortable in both bodies. The shyness or uncomfortableness most people felt seemed to be more of a human trait. Mika had not known fully what it was like to be human as he was born a wolf. He knew there were some still in the pack who had been converted many years ago, but now they were all wolves. In the wild both men and women could transform into their human self and stand naked without judgement, int her village it was customary to wear some sort of clothing to cover the bottom portions for the children’s sake. A woman never feared she'd be taken without consent because a male could smell if she was interested. Much like their ferial beast were wolves communicated by smells, just as much as they spoke to one another. if a female was interested her body let off a scent- normally she'd be conversation with a male and it'd alert him- however any male in the surrounding area could smell her. In a pack this caused no harm, just giggles as everyone knew when you were gonna get some. In the wild if a rouge smelt her too there could be a fight over possession of that female.

Devion handed Mika the leather bag and he pulled a long piece of jerky from its depths. Deer meat. Mika chewed as he thought about where the second group would be heading first. Theo gets the maps they sent. Theo pulled out a single scroll wrapped in navy blue ribbon. Mika looked it over. 'Ok so they will be heading this direction I want to meet them before they hit the bad lands. We need to hit Silver Mines.' This was an old city that was once called Silver City. When the fall took place many of the mines served as a way the people could find refuge from the weather. not many of the mines withstood the blast, many did and saved its people. humans flocked to the area as it was a good pace to trade and put roots down. If the undead provoked them they were able to shut them away underground. Devion and Theo agreed this was the best option.