The closer the pack got to the village, the livelier it became.
Laughter, chatter, and hymns of the people rose, cutting through the monotonous sounds of footsteps.
The trees parted, revealing a sloping path that led to a vibrant floodplain. There, scattered across the open fields, wolf-kin villagers worked beneath the golden light of the dusk.
Some carried woven baskets filled with herbs and greens. Others returned with strings of freshwater fish slung over their shoulders.
In the distance, the male and female wolf-kin bent over the soil, tending to rows of glistening green crops while the irrigation canals branched like veins across the land, feeding life into the fields.
Upon noticing Kael and the pack, the villagers halted their work and turned towards them. Their faces revealed warm smiles as their eyes glistened under the glow of the sun.
Voices rose.
"Chief, you are back!"
Then a wave of greetings swept across the plain like wind rustling leaves.
'What's with this warm atmosphere?'
Valen couldn't help but feel curious. He was astonished by this sight. He could see through their affection. He could tell it wasn't their fear that moved them, nor was it obligation.
But he couldn't help but find it strange.
These people trusted this fearsome individual. Unlike him, these people weren't intimidated.
Children came running next, their bare feet slapping against packed earth. With wild grins, they swarmed Kael, tugging at his arm, holding up wildflowers and small trinkets.
Witnessing this, Valen felt even more perplexed.
The intimidating warrior, whose very presence had frozen his blood not long ago, now knelt before them with a smile so warm it looked borrowed from another man.
Kael tousled a boy's messy hair, gently corrected a girl's crooked braid, and spoke their names like he had known them all their lives.
Valen blinked, stunned.
Is he the same person whose mere presence intimidated him earlier?
'This is the same person?'
He couldn't help but question.
The same abyss of a being that made his soul tremble?
Elior and Lina were equally stunned.
While greeting the people along the path, the pack moved. The children ran ahead of them, and some villagers followed behind like a slow-moving river.
As they reached near the village, the village finally came into full view.
For a moment, Valen held his breath.
More than just a village, it looked like a stronghold.
Towering wooden walls embraced the village like arms forged in battle. The wooden gate at the front stood proud, framed by two colossal watchtowers manned by vigilant guards.
Lina gasped softly beside him. Elior looked equally stunned.
"Chief!"
One of the guards saluted as they approached.
"You caught the lurkers?"
The guards cast a disgusted and fierce gaze at Valen and others as they conversed with their chief.
Just from their gaze alone, Valen could tell they were not welcome here.
However, he held the urge to retort.
The massive gates then groaned open, revealing the inner structure of the village.
Valen felt like he'd walked into a dream.
The streets were neatly paved with stone, with irrigation canals running alongside like silver threads.
Houses of clay and wood rose on either side, each built with care—angled roofs, painted shutters, small gardens bursting with vegetables and herbs. Clotheslines fluttered in the breeze. The scent of firewood, cooked meat, and wildflowers filled the air.
The street was bustling with life, and the people were thriving.
Their village couldn't even compare.
Before, he believed the wolf-kin must have just focused on defence, neglecting the inner village. But it appears he was wrong.
The street here was more polished and organized than any other village he had seen before. He could spot marketplaces, shops, and open places selling amenities.
The wolf-kin folks dressed well, their clothes neat.
He had heard from his father that the wolf-kin were a barbaric tribe. But it seemed like they were the barbaric ones here.
This village and its people looked much more civilized and elegant than any other tribe or village he had known.
Valen couldn't believe the sight he was seeing.
He blinked, unable to digest the sight.
'This is barbaric?' He couldn't help but feel like eating his father's words.
The streets continued to bustle with life, and different structures came into sight. Valen kept wandering his eyes, his heart enthralled.
He couldn't stop looking around. He felt as if he had walked into some dreamland.
Each new building mesmerized him.
This tribe of wolf-kin was thriving in these plains.
Seeing them thriving, he felt envious.
He felt envious of their roads, buildings, location, homes, and everything else.
If only their home were like this, how good it would be!
He wanted to usurp this place. He wasn't greedy, but witnessing this marvelous settlement, greed bloomed in his heart.
He was still being held captive, but he couldn't help but fantasize about living in such a place full of laughter and peace.
This place was far from any settlement, away from danger. He had also spotted a lot of wildlife forms roaming around the surroundings.
The lush fields seemed equally capable of meeting their demand for food.
On top of that, the settlement was near a clean water source.
This place had almost everything to sustain life.
So, how could he not feel envious?
'But why is every building decorated with that weird symbol?'
On their way, he had passed a lot of buildings, and all the buildings had this weird symbol of a crescent moon intertwined with a fang etched on them.
The symbol looked like a creepy smile, which gave him chills while staring intently at it.
'What are these creepy symbols?'
The elves revered nature as a god and prayed to trees, water, and other things found in nature. Hence, he was unaware of the presence of other gods.
Nonetheless, he couldn't help but feel curious about these symbols.
"Chief, you are back!"
Soon, they arrived at a place that looked like a barrack. Spread around the structure were folks of the tribe, practicing some sort of martial arts.
This was the place where the tribe trained its warriors.
"Lock them up," Kael ordered the warriors upon arrival.