Leo couldn't hide his surprise when he heard that they would be riding the massive wolves to the beastkin capital.
His gaze drifted toward the creatures, their hulking forms standing silently beside the beastkin.
Their presence alone was enough to send a shiver down his spine. Their huge size gave them an aura of quiet dominance over their surroundings.
And he couldn't help but eyed them warily.
"Are you guys not going to get on?" the beastkin asked, already mounting one of the massive creatures with ease.
Leo turned his attention toward them. Now that he was looking closer, he could take in more details. The beastkin was young, perhaps in his early twenties, but he was sure.
The beastkin also has wolf-like ears atop his head that twitched at every sound. His dark brown hair was long and wild, tied back loosely to keep it out of his sharp, golden eyes.
His tail, thick and covered in fur, swayed lazily behind him as he settled into position on his mount.
"You can stand there all you want," the beastkin continued, "but know that where you are is very dangerous. This forest is not kind to those who hesitate."
Leo glanced at Tatiana, who had been watching quietly from the side. She met his gaze and nodded.
"He's right. This forest is dangerous. Most especially at night. We have to get out of here fast, and the fastest way for all of you is on those wolves."
That was all Leo needed to hear. If Tatiana, who had never been the type to show unnecessary concern said they needed to move fast, then they needed to move fast.
He turned to Ves, Mia, and Miguel, gauging their reactions. As expected, their faces were laced with hesitation and caution. He understood.
They were in a new world, a world that, before the apocalypse, they would have dismissed as pure fantasy. And yet, here they were, standing in the middle of a mystical realm, surrounded by towering trees, grass that reached up to their shins, and wolves the size of horses.
It was a lot to take in.
Leo exhaled sharply. "We don't have a choice," he said firmly. "Let's move."
The others hesitated, but one by one, they nodded.
The beastkin watched them with mild amusement. "You'll get used to it," he said. "Now hurry up."
Leo approached one of the wolves, with Fiona following behind him. Up close, the creature's sheer size became even more apparent.
Its body was muscular, built for endurance and power. Its ears flicked in his direction, and for a moment, its golden eyes locked onto his.
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It was assessing him.
Leo reached out cautiously, placing a hand against the wolf's side. Its fur was thick and coarse, warm under his fingers. The beast let out a low huff, its breath ruffling Leo's hair, but it didn't shy away.
Taking that as permission, Leo carried Fiona and placed gently on the wolf's back, before he also climbed up.
Ves followed, mounting her own wolf with slow, deliberate movements, her grip tightening around its thick fur.
Miguel and Mia hesitated the longest, exchanging nervous glances before finally climbing onto theirs.
Tatiana, who had been watching them struggle with barely concealed amusement, simply flew up and landed smoothly on her chosen mount, looking completely at ease.
"Show off," Leo muttered under his breath.
The beastkin chuckled. "Ready?" he asked, looking around at them.
"As ready as we'll ever be," Leo replied.
With a sharp whistle, the beastkin signaled the wolves. And then, without warning, they surged forward.
Leo barely had time to brace himself as his wolf lunged into motion. The sudden burst of speed sent his stomach lurching, and for a moment, he thought he might fall off.
His fingers dug into the wolf's fur instinctively as the world around him became a blur of green and gold.
The sensation of riding was unlike anything he'd experienced before. The wolves moved with such fluidity and power that it felt almost unnatural.
The ground sped beneath them, the towering trees of the forest whipping past in streaks of dark emerald and deep brown.
Overhead, the twin moons cast their glow through the dense canopy, illuminating patches of the winding path.
The air was crisp, carrying scents that were foreign yet strangely invigorating. The scent of damp earth, of fresh water, of vegetation untouched by pollution or destruction.
The rhythmic sound of paws striking the ground, the wind rushing past his ears, and the distant call of unseen creatures created a melody of pure wilderness.
"This is... incredible," Mia murmured, her voice carrying over the wind.
Miguel, who had been gripping his wolf's fur for dear life, managed a shaky nod.
"Terrifying, but incredible."
Leo agreed. There was something freeing about it, despite the lingering exhaustion in his bones.
As they rode, he turned to the beastkin riding beside him. "You never told us your name."
The beastkin glanced at him. "Rhun."
Leo nodded. "Rhun. Thanks for helping us."
Rhun shrugged.
"You haven't seen the capital yet. Let's hope you still feel grateful when we get there."
Leo frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
"The beastkin capital isn't like the cities you know. And outsiders are not always welcome."
Leo absorbed that information carefully.
"Are we going to have trouble?"
"That depends," Rhun said. "The beastkin respect strength. If you prove you're worth something, they might leave you alone. If not..." He trailed off, the implication clear.
Leo exhaled slowly. "And what about the Abyssal Rift?"
Rhun's expression darkened slightly. "That's another matter entirely."
Leo's grip on his wolf's fur tightened. "What do you know?"
Rhun was silent for a moment, then said, "The Rift is dangerous, even for those who think they're prepared. It changes people. Some return stronger. Others... don't return at all."
Leo didn't flinch. He already knew the risks.
"I'm going in," he said simply.
Rhun studied him with a smile. Then he smirked. "Then try not to die before we get there."
Leo let out a dry chuckle, but the weight of Rhun's words lingered.
They rode through the night, the capital growing closer with every passing second.