Paradigm Mine

Wulf-Gard

They had been marching briskly for roughly 25 miles through thick heavy fog. It wasn't someone's cruel sadistic choice to march them through Swamp like marshes, it was however the most concealed.
They somehow sensed his worry or anxiety and followed him in near silence for miles.

The thick pine trees gradually began to thin as a clearing ahead became more obvious. Beyond that; a prominent mountain range began to protrude from the flat plains.

Imaging the grandeur of Atmos Prime or perhaps another capital world; the mountain top seemed like a very logical place to live. The Wulf however lead them into a cave like system of tunnels instead. What made the Wulves go underground.

They had been sharing thoughts and stories for the last 23 miles openly in their nural link. With questions being answered as fast as they can be thought; the Nevicks and the Wulf became close friends rather quickly. This detour seemed odd to the hunters.

Protocols for the Nevicks lighted as they felt at home with the Wulf. He smiled the best a Wulf could; but Zyms ice cold eyes only blinked. His soft grey fur darkened around his eyes. His robin egg blue eyes only glowed even brighter under low lights. Beyond that; they did not know him..

In the nural link Zym perhaps noting the silence; "I would love to have you here during our new moon festivities. Every festival we have a hunt of the largest herbivore we can find- last year it was a creature that was nearly 2.5 metric tons! We ate well my friends-ha!" The memories came to Zym's mind and they too lived that day- in a mere thought. The Nevicks were openly honoured by this. He turned his gaze towards the three hunters and shared;

"We havent had a festival in a while now since the forests are now frequently used by our enemies the 'Wulfjagers.'"

The collective thought was; "the what?"

"The Wolf Hunters, camouflaged hunters that use swords. Some use Kortrat Tipped weapons. He smiled as he mentioned he was once honoured for his stealth. For a large creature like himself it was not an easy feat.

"When someone is shot by the WolfJager, do you ever see them again?" Mia asked as she placed a micro relay against the wall of the cave.

"No." He walled his mind in an instant. But looking at his inquisitive smooth faced humanoids, he sighed as he found their humanity entreating.

His pupils dilated and narrowed. Then speaking slowly; "most of my family were considered 'royalty' due to my Grandfather; so; we were targeted the most...I'm now the sole survivor of my Royal household..."

His words fell heavy in their minds. Then; before they could respond he continued; "to answer your question tho; we weren't ALL shot." He strained discomfort as he thoughtfully opened his mind. He stopped marching abruptly.

The rocks under his feet fell in slow motion as he shared one week of his terrified childhood.

Cred acknowledged his losses as his feet grew closer to the large Wulf. "You don't stand alone now; you will never need to again in the future." He tried not to think about how he looked right now; staring up to the Wulf. Forebodingly though; As close as their minds were, he held back a lot. The level of effort it was taking to keep his mind walled off was becoming more apparent.

They stood at the The cave entrance now. Even tho they spoke in silence, his words echoed in their hearts and minds.

While Zym often Looked down on his Hunter friends smaller form; he truly felt amongst other things; a true brotherhood with Cred.

Zym shook his gloved hand. As if they had sworn an oath. He marched forward as Mia got to ask,"These WulfJargers, do you have any information on them?"

Resuming marching Zym shook his head. "Honestly not much. They would come for a season. A handful of us would go missing. Then. Each month more would come; even more would go missing once more." Griping his fists he calmly sighed and shook his head from side to side.