Eric Vang's Quest of the heart

A Dangerous Path: Eric and Axel's Journey to Freehaven

The next day, Eric and Axel packed up their bags and ventured back into the forest. The journey to Freehaven would take them several long days. The path was not easy, with thick snowfall making it difficult to navigate. Despite the harsh conditions, they were ready to head to Freehaven, the city where they could sell their treasure and claim their reward for killing the dragon.

As they trekked through the snow, Eric couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The forest had grown quieter than usual, and the air felt thick with tension. His dragon instincts were on high alert, the scales on his back tingling with anticipation. The pups, Shadow and Snowflake, stuck close to him, their eyes darting around the woods, searching for any signs of danger.

The silence was broken by the distant howl of a wolf. Eric's grip on Storm's reins tightened. He knew the sound was not from one of their packs; it was the haunting call of a wild predator. The wolves grew tense, their fur standing on end, and Eric's heart raced as he scanned the trees for any sign of movement.

"Frost wolves," Axel murmured, his eyes narrowing. "They're getting closer."

The howling grew louder, more insistent. Eric could feel the vibrations in his chest, the very air seeming to shiver with the intensity of the call. He glanced around, his eyes searching the surrounding woods for any sign of the predators. The trees stood tall and silent; their branches heavy with snow that shimmered in the moonlight.

"They're hunting," Axel said, his voice low and serious. "We need to be ready."

Eric nodded, his hand moving to the hilt of his dagger. He knew the frost wolves were notorious for their cunning and ferocity. The pack grew closer, their howls echoing through the forest like a chorus of ghosts. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end, and his heart hammered in his chest.

"Stay close," Eric whispered to his companions. "We can't let them split us up."

The frost wolves grew closer, their howls piercing the quiet night. The trees shivered under the weight of their approach, snow cascading down like a silent warning. Eric's dragon eyesight allowed him to make out their forms, ghostly blue shadows weaving through the dark forest.

"Follow me," he murmured to Axel, leading them off the path and into the dense underbrush. The wolves would have a harder time navigating the thick growth, and it would give them a momentary advantage. The pups stuck to him like shadows, trusting his instincts implicitly. And Sliver was walking close by with Axel on her back.

The howling grew closer, the sound sending shivers down Eric's and Axel's spine. He had read about them in his books, but experiencing their hunt firsthand was far more terrifying. "Axel," Eric whispered, "What are the chances of taking them head on?"

Axel's grip on his ax tightened. "Against a pack of frost wolves?" He shook his head. "We need to outsmart them. if we are to take them on, but they're too close to due anything right now."

Their booted steps were muffled by the thick layer of snow as they moved through the underbrush. The wolves' howls grew louder. They had to act fast. He looked around, spotting a cave, large enough to hide them all. "Quick," he hissed, pointing to the makeshift shelter. "In there."

They dashed into the cave, their breaths coming in sharp gasps. The wolves' howls grew closer, their paws thumping against the ground. Eric and Axel moved a rock across the entrance, creating a temporary barricade. The sound of the wolves skidding to a halt outside the cave was a reminder about how close they were.

The cave was cold, but the armor they were wearing kept the cold away. And Eric had given Sliver the Frost dragon's core to her once the core was absorbed. Sliver had started to feel a lot warmer. They could hear the wolves outside, sniffing and scratching at the entrance.