The Dragon Tamer [On Hold]

Chapter II

It was only the first afternoon of my journey and I had already gotten into trouble. I brought Asimi to the stable like I was told to, then I went into Calton to get some breakfast. After stocking up on some bread and cheese, I ventured into the woods.

A warm spring breeze blew around me as birds sang in the trees. Every once in awhile, a squirrel would jump out of a tree and dash to another followed by another squirrel. It was a perfect day and not as hot as in Pettersville with all the dragons blowing smoke and fire. Here, the temperature was perfect. The only problem was the long trail that seemed to go on forever. With all the twists and turns, I hoped I didn't go the wrong way and considered dropping bread crumbs like in the stories I read as a child.

When the sun was high in the middle of the sky, I sat down on a rock next to the path and took out some bread to eat. Not long after, I heard a low growl coming from the trees and froze. I didn't dare move but my hand was at my side, ready to grab my dagger.

Nothing moved and I thought I had imagined the growl but then there was a flash of white in the corner of my eye.

Suddenly, something came charging out of the trees in front of me and I quickly whipped out my dagger. The beast stopped when it saw the dagger in my hands being pointed in it's direction.

It was a wolf. Snarling, it took a few steps back but more came out of the trees and stood around me. They looked like normal gray wolves but there was a black marking on their foreheads that looked like an animal or a head with a mask.

I looked around for any possible escapes but the wolves had me cornered with my back against a tree. Instead, I tried to look at the wolf in front of me in the eye. He seemed bigger and the symbol on his head was more bold so I assumed he was the head of the pack. His black eyes looked hungry but not as souless as I thought most wolves would be like.

Suddenly, an arrow whizzed out of the forest behind me and landed next to the feet of the wolf. The wolf jumped back as the other wolves tensed up and got ready to pounce at whatever came out of the woods.

A figure appeared, slightly taller than me and had a black cloak that covered most of themselves, including their eyes so you couldn't tell much of how they looked. Their bow was also knocked and aimed at the wolves, ready to shoot.

"Don't make me shoot," a feminine voice said to the wolves. They stared at each others for several moments before the head wolf barked a few commands and the others retreated. The wolf hesitated for a few seconds but he eventually backed up slowly into the woods. The hooded girl stayed still a few moments longer before dropping her bow.

"Your lucky to have gotten away from those wolves. Not many do." She said taking off her hood, revealing her amber eyes and letting her dark brown hair fall over her shoulders.

"Are they going to come back?" I asked her.

"Not likely. They'll probably go take down a deer, bear, or another traveler if their lucky." My eyes widened at the thought of someone else dying.

"If they might kill someone else, then why didn't you at least injure one of them?"I exclaimed.

"It's not very easy to take down a whole pack of wolves." I couldn't argue with than logic. "Besides, you never hurt the wolves of Athimer."

"The wolves of who?" Mythology had never been my strong suit but I don't recall being told about Athimer. The girl looked me up and down.

"Your from Taldin aren't you. Calton is possible but maybe around Pettersville or Harmstead. And judging from your face I am correct."