Wolf Of Fire

4 A MOTHER AFTER MURDER

The Day of The Hunt

The screams had not stopped. They echoed through the trees like wind through a broken flute—sharp and mournful. Smoke curled into the late evening sky. The Hunt had come to an end, and what remained were the moans of the dying, the whimpers of captured slaves, and the silence of those who watched in horror.

Kambi was exhausted. The horrors she had witnessed today were ingrained into her mind, and she feared the scars would last for a lifetime. Bodies lay scattered all over—men, women, and children. The ground was soaked in blood, and the low hum of death stilled the air.
Druala had been reduced to shambles. Everything had fallen—both man and beast.
Amusu had conquered! He had laid hundreds of innocent lives to waste and had no remorse.

They walked slowly to the encampment. Kambi fought with everything in her not to collapse to the ground. Tears clouded her vision. The child was in Cheta's arms. She had cried herself to sleep out of hunger and exhaustion. Kambi imagined how difficult it must be for her. Even with a Luna for a mother and an Alpha for a father, life was still so difficult. How then could this child survive without her parents?

Cheta, her ever-watchful guardian, walked beside her, his dagger hidden underneath his leather belt. His face was calm, but his eyes moved like fire. Every motion was deliberate. Every breath controlled. The Hunt was over, but danger still lingered in the air.

They moved through the remains of a destroyed village—men burned, women shackled, children tossed like broken toys. Kambi felt her stomach twist. They had walked over so many bodies, she had lost count. She was broken.

The rains suddenly began to pour—slowly at first, then within seconds, the sky opened, releasing a heavy rain that blanketed the land in dark mist. The thunder roared, but the sound was more of a cry of mourning. The heavens wept for the evils they had seen.

In Cheta's arms, the child lay, wrapped in a waterproof blanket to keep her warm and dry. They did not run when the rains started. They moved steadily—silent and heavy.
Cheta felt the child jerk. Her tiny fingers flexed once. Her eyes blinked open.
And for the briefest moment—
They glowed.

A bright golden shimmer, like fire trapped behind glass. Her pupils narrowed into sharp slits—not human, not fully wolf—but something in between. Cheta's breath caught.

"Kambi," he called out softly, his voice almost lost in the rainfall. "Kambi... come. Kambi, look... look!"
"Her wolf is awake," Cheta said softly, completely in awe.

The child truly was something spectacular. Her spirit was awake, strong, and unshaken from the chaos they had witnessed today. The little girl stared up at them, unafraid, as if she knew them.
For a moment, everything seemed to blur out and become silent.
For a moment, Kambi forgot all they had witnessed.

"We must find someone trustworthy to care for her." Kambi's voice was breathless. She was desperate. They were too young to take care of the child, and even if they were not, her father would kill the child without a moment's hesitation.

"There would be some people left from the raid. The Alpha always makes sure to bring some slaves back. I will search at midnight for someone who would be willing to take care of the child as well as a mother would."

"Please do."
With everything that was moral on earth, Kambi knew that it was wrong to ask for favors from people whose land was destroyed by her father. But she had no choice.

"One more thing... Make sure she is not branded. If the brands touch her, she could lose her wolf forever. No one can know about her. Do your best to keep her under the radar as much as you can."