The forest lay in a tense quiet, the sun climbing higher but barely piercing the thick canopy. Blake crouched on a flat stone overlooking the clearing, muscles taut, senses heightened, eyes fixed on the Codex open before him. Alder Rowan sat cross-legged beside the ancient book, his silvered eyes calm, his demeanor steady—a stark contrast to the energy coiling within Blake's massive form.
"You've made impressive progress," Alder said softly, tracing a symbol in the air with a finger. "Most beings never even recognize the flow of energy around them, let alone manipulate it. But you…" He paused, glancing at Blake, "you are extraordinary. What you learn now will define your ability to survive, even when you return to human form."
Blake's amber eyes glimmered with intensity. "Human form," he murmured, claws flexing. "I can barely imagine moving like that again, feeling my bones weaker, my body… smaller. But I want to be ready. I want to… still be me, still be able to protect."
Alder nodded. "Exactly. The Codex doesn't only enhance your wolf body. It teaches control, awareness, and channeling. Skills you can carry into any form, any state. You'll be able to protect, react, and survive, even if your physical advantages are reduced."
Blake exhaled, a low rumble vibrating through his chest. "Show me."
Alder extended his hand toward the Codex. Symbols rose faintly from the pages, glowing with soft pulses of energy. "First exercise," he said. "Perception beyond physical senses. You must feel without touching, anticipate without seeing, react without moving."
Blake focused, closing his eyes. The forest's sounds grew sharper. The rustle of leaves became more distinct, each drop of water hitting the ground resonated through his senses. The subtle movement of insects, the wind shifting through branches, the heartbeat of his pack—everything became a pattern he could read.
"Now," Alder said, voice calm, "project your awareness outward. Feel beyond the clearing. Not just your body… your energy, your presence, your connection to the world. Understand the flow and react to it."
Blake exhaled slowly, the energy within him tightening like a spring. His senses extended, reaching through the trees, scanning the ridges, valleys, and distant streams. He could detect subtle movement: a bird landing on a branch, a small deer shifting in the undergrowth, the faint stirring of a human figure crossing a path far away.
"You feel that?" Alder asked.
"I do," Blake said, voice low, rumbling. "It's… overwhelming. But I can feel everything at once."
"Good," Alder said. "Now focus. Use the energy to create a projection of yourself. Not physical… but a presence that can influence perception. Humans may not see you. Beasts may not notice. But they will feel you, hesitate, second-guess. This is a skill for survival in human form."
Blake extended his claws slightly, and the air around him shimmered faintly. A ripple of subtle energy pulsed outward, almost like a shadow of himself radiating from his body. A small branch fell nearby, rustling unnaturally as if sensing his presence and responding.
"Excellent," Alder said, eyes gleaming. "That's a significant step. Now, channel it with intent. Not just to observe… but to influence. To guide the flow of the battlefield without entering it directly."
Blake exhaled and visualized the energy as a conduit flowing from him into the clearing. Every leaf, every branch, every creature responded, subtly, almost imperceptibly, to the flow. He could shift animals' movements, nudge the humans' awareness, even redirect faint threats before they arrived.
"Now combine it," Alder said, voice steady. "Move the projection into a defensive pattern. Imagine protecting not just yourself, but your pack, your allies. Human form or wolf, you will maintain this awareness, this influence."
Blake focused, the energy rippling outward in a translucent shield, sensing the invisible boundaries of his influence. The Codex pulsed faintly, resonating with him, enhancing the effect. He could feel the difference: the energy moved fluidly, responding to his intent, anticipating outcomes even before he consciously realized them.
Hours passed. The sun climbed higher. Blake's claws dug into the stone, muscles tense, breathing steady, as Alder guided him through further exercises:
Amplifying sensory perception across distance
Creating multiple energy projections simultaneously
Manipulating minor environmental elements for defense and offense
Blake felt a surge of power coursing through him, deeper than anything he had experienced even in his wolf form. Sweat slicked his black fur, and yet, every movement, every thought, was precise, controlled.
And then, halfway through the afternoon, a sudden tension gripped him—a visceral sensation he couldn't ignore. He opened his amber eyes, scanning the forest around them. The wind shifted. The leaves whispered in ways that felt… unnatural.
"I have a bad feeling," Blake murmured, voice low but carrying the weight of thunder.
Alder paused, eyes narrowing. "What is it?"
Blake exhaled, muscles tensing. "Something's coming. Not here… not yet. But soon. And it's… serious." He rose to his full height, towering, and flexed his claws as his energy flared subtly. "We need to prepare."
Alder studied him carefully. "You sense it in the flow of the forest?"
Blake nodded. "Yes. And in the energy… in the patterns. Something unnatural. Something… sent."
"Then we act preemptively," Alder said. "If you feel it, you are correct. The forest speaks truths even humans cannot comprehend. What will you do?"
Blake's eyes flickered with resolve. "I'll send scouts. Not the pack in full, not yet… just those I trust most. They can assess the threat, buy us time if it's serious, and report back. No unnecessary risks. This isn't the time to test raw strength—it's the time to test judgment."
Alder nodded slowly. "Then choose wisely."
Blake exhaled and turned, his massive silhouette cutting across the stone. From the edge of the clearing, two figures emerged. Tall, imposing, and sleek, they mirrored each other perfectly in size and movement. One was male, broad-shouldered, wearing a vest reinforced with spikes across the chest—he was Spike, Blake's older brother-like wolf. The other was female, agile, with fur glinting black in the sunlight, carrying twin long swords strapped to her back—she was susan, his sister-like companion.
"You two," Blake said, voice calm but commanding, "assess the incoming threat. Observe. Report. Intercept only if absolutely necessary. Do not engage blindly. I trust your judgment."
Spike's eyes gleamed with determination. "Understood, Alpha." He flexed his claws, muscles rippling under the black fur. "We'll handle it."
susan twirled her swords lightly, eyes narrowing. "We'll find it before it finds us. And if it moves wrong… we'll respond."
Blake exhaled slowly, the bad feeling pressing against his chest like a storm yet to arrive. He studied the Codex briefly, then looked back at the forest. "Go," he said. "Move fast, stay silent, trust your instincts. You know what to do."
The twins nodded simultaneously, then melted into the shadows, moving with speed and precision. Their movements were a blur, blending perfectly with the forest, the energy of the land guiding them.
Blake watched them disappear, a faint tremor of unease passing through him. The feeling was growing stronger—an echo of danger in the forest's pulse, a shadow stretching across reality. Alder noticed the subtle shift in Blake's energy.
"You're sensing it clearly," Alder said. "Trust it. And remember what we've practiced. If the forest speaks, you will understand. If danger approaches, you will respond."
Blake's claws flexed, tail lashing slowly. "I feel it. And I don't like it. Something big is coming. Something… beyond anything we've faced."
"Then we prepare," Alder said. "Control your energy, focus your intent, and trust the pack. Even in human form, you will manage this. You've learned enough to extend your influence, to protect, to anticipate. And soon… you'll test it fully."
Blake exhaled slowly, feeling the Codex pulsing under his fingertips. "Yes. Soon. But for now… I wait. And I watch."
He rose fully, towering over Alder, muscles tense, fur glinting in the sunlight. "Spike, susan… watch closely. If this is what I fear… the Continuum is escalating. And we'll need every advantage to survive what's coming."
Alder nodded. "Then continue your training, Alpha. Strength and awareness must remain ready, even when you send scouts. The forest, the pack, and your mind… they are your tools. Sharpen them."
Blake closed his eyes briefly, taking a deep breath, feeling the flow of energy through him, the heartbeat of the forest, the bond with the wolves. The twins had vanished into the shadows, leaving only a ripple in the forest's energy. And yet, the bad feeling remained, pressing against him, warning him, demanding attention.
He exhaled again. "Whatever's coming," he murmured, "it won't catch us unprepared. Not now. Not ever."
And with that, Blake resumed his training, energy flaring, claws flexing, senses sharpened, and mind focused. Outside the clearing, the forest shifted, whispering of an approaching storm—a threat that Blake and his pack would soon face. But for now, his two most trusted wolves were already moving to intercept, to scout, and to survive, carrying with them the first sign that Blake's foresight and training might be enough to face the coming challenge.