I stood with a sword in one hand and a knife in another ready to engage with the beast before me. I didn’t think that we had any chance to defeat them all or scare them away, but if I could create an opening we might be able to escape. It’s regrettable but we must leave our food.

The big wolf stepped forward. Although I say wolf, it’s nothing like a typical wolf. It was covered with dark purple fur with unusually bulky body. The other small wolves stayed back, they seem to be waiting for something.

I brandished the sword in front of me and Elena loaded an arrow in her bow. Unlike me she didn’t have any experience in killing; her hands were trembling. I looked at our surrounding and determined that other wolves were not going to attack us. They were waiting patiently examining our strength. The Big wolf dashed towards us and I too quickly moved forward holding weapons in both hands. As the distance closed between us, I saw an arrow flew by and implanted itself on the ground several feet’s off to the side of the big wolf. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to give Elena the bow. It was not a problem giving her the bow, but letting her actually use it. Now that the wolves knew that she didn't know how to use the weapon, they seem to have gotten bold and were moving forward slowly.

I didn’t have time to tell her anything now; I prepared myself to clash with the big wolf. Upon getting into its range I swung the sword. The wolf dogged it and attacked me with its paw, I retreated a few steps back and without waiting for a moment, I jumped forward thrusting the knife I held in another hand. When I retreated the big wolf pounced at me but it was surprised when I suddenly jumped forward towards it. We both collided and my knife penetrated its left leg. Both the big wolf and I were thrown aside due to the collision. I quickly gathered the knife and stood up looking at the big wolf. Sure it was wounded deeply and blood started to taint its fur. It roared viciously and once again came towards me, but now its speed was a little slower than before.

Suddenly it changed its direction in mid way, heading towards Elena. It seems it had quite a bit of intelligence as it sensed that I was a tough opponent and it went towards Elena who seemed to be an easier target. Elena panicked and shot off another arrow. In the exact moment I threw the knife with all my strength towards the back of the big wolf. The arrow Elena shot went past the big wolf and impaled me above the elbow of my hand. It was really a bad idea to give her the bow; I acknowledged my stupidity as I pulled out the arrow from my hand and assessed the situation.

The knife I threw was lodged in hind leg of the big wolf, due to that it was not able to attack Elena. Elena seems to have thrown herself out of the big wolf’s path. She laid a few feet’s away from the big wolf and it was struggling to stand up. The small wolves stated moving towards us. They sensed their chance and closed in. I ran up to the cage in which the rabbits were trapped and opened it. Immediately the rabbits fled in different directions and a few small wolves went after it. I was so immersed in quelling their numbers that I forgot the big wolf. Somehow I made towards me and slashed at me. I turned myself on sensing it but was too late and the big wolf’s claws made their way towards my sides and tore the skin below my chest all the way to the back side. I on the other hand had impulsively raised the sword in my hand which miraculously pierced the neck of the big wolf from the bottom.

In the corner of my eye, I saw that Elena was surrounded by three small wolves and one of them even bit her thigh. Elena was stabbing the wolf with the arrow in her hand; just then another wolf pounced and bit her shoulder barely missing her neck. More wolves were stating to approach her and even more number of wolves were heading in my direction. With one big swing I cut loose the bag in which we had food and dashed towards Elena. Within a moment I was in front of her, I took another knife from my pocked and slashed the neck of the wolf which was biting her shoulder. I grabbed her hand and forced her to run along with me. The wolves were distracted by the new found food and majority of them didn’t pursue us, only six of them were following us. Elena kept up with me and ran as fast as she could. One of the wolves pounced at us, I turned back aiming the sword perfectly in its direction and it impaled itself on it. Both Elena and I fell from the force. I quickly stood up brandishing my sword and swooped another wolf which was headed directly in our direction. The remaining four wolves stooped in their tracks seeing their comrades fell without much effort. They stood there for a moment eying me and ran back after judging that there weren't a match for me.

I went to Elena’s side and discovered that blood was flowing out of her wounds. Her dress was torn revealing quite an amount of skin. I took the medicine pouch from her and applied it quickly on her wounds. Then tore off my shirt and bandaged her to arrest the bleeding. She was breathing heavily. I knew it was not safe for us to stop as the wolves may come back after having their fill with our food. I asked Elena if she could continue to walk. She stood up with a lot of effort and tried to step forward but immediately fell as her legs gave out.

“I am unable to walk, Leave me here and go.” She said to me crying in pain.

I tore her upper cloth and made a few strips out of it.

She had horrified look when I tore her upper cloth, I didn’t have time to explain things to her. I turned and bent my knees, telling her to get on my back.

She protest once again told me to leave her and escape on my own.

I told her that I won’t be going anywhere without her and that If she insisted then I would rather perish with her than abandon her. I did not come this far to let her die or be killed myself.

With a lot of effort she held herself on my back. Using the strips I made earlier I bound her body with mine so that she didn’t have to put much energy to stay on my back.

I started moving forward in a fast pace. I was feeling dizzy myself, maybe because of poison from the arrow. I didn’t know if I would be able to survive the poison but I moved forward hastily as I was in no condition to counter the wolves again.

“You should have left me there, I am being a burden to you” Elena spoke with difficulty.

“I don’t want to talk about that, don’t talk. Keep quiet and preserve your energy” I said to her in a stern tone.

When faced with crisis one has to stay strong. Often times losing hope is the major cause of demise rather than lack of strength.

“I am always causing trouble, others end up making sacrifices in order to protect me” Elena continued without heeding my words.

I stooped in my tracks “That’s not true; you sacrificed yourself to save your mother. You think too lowly of yourself; it’s time you gain some confidence. You can always make amends and help those who have shown kindness to you but everything is over once you die. You cannot move forward untill you accept your weakness, misfortunes, anger and guilt. Unlike me you have a home to return to and have people waiting for you. It’s worth to endure the pain and hardship for them. And I am not going to give up on my promise. If you don’t stop talking I will bind your mouth to stop you from speaking”

On hearing my words she started crying again. Her tears flowed on my shoulder and made its way to my chest. A cold chillness spread though my body and I started walking again putting the uneasiness at bay. I had walked quite a distance and was sure that the wolves won’t be able to catch up anytime soon; I slowed down my pace but kept walking.

After a while I sensed that Elena stopped crying and her breath became regular. I noticed that she had fallen asleep. I too was exhausted and wanted to take a nap, but I kept walking anyway. I felt my whole arm going numb maybe because of the poison. I didn’t stop though and kept walking.

I didn’t knew when I passed out, I woke up to find myself laying on my stomach on a small patch of grass, Elena still wrapped to my body. I loosened the straps and separated her from me. Both of our bodies were smeared with dried blood. My wounds were completely healed, the rate of recovery seems to get faster as time passed and even the poison seems to be taken care of. I looked at Elena, she was still unconscious. Her clothes were torn in many places, She had a clear soft skin and if not for the blood she would have looked much more beautiful.

I started taking off her bandages and she woke up. Our bodies were too close and it seemed like I was removing her cloths.

“What… What are you doing” Elena said in a shocked tone and then covered her chest in embarrassment.

“It’s not what you think it is.. I was just.. just check your wounds” I said to her hurriedly. I didn’t want her to misunderstand my intentions.

She stayed there silently in the same position for a few seconds before letting me examine her.

She had a deep bite mark on her shoulder where the wolf bit and flesh was visible from the wound. One the other hand I was surprised to see that the wound on her thigh was healed completely. Does she also have the power to heal just like me? I thought to myself but quickly dispelled the thought on seeing her shoulder again.

That leaves only one possibility. It has to be my body that healed her. I thought it over for a few minutes and came to the conclusion. I was bleeding from my elbow and it was in direct contact with her thighs when I carried her. I took the knife and cut my hand, blood started flowing from the wound. Elena was shocked on seeing me cut myself but before she could respond, I placed my blood stained hand on her shoulder. Elena screamed in pain and struggled a bit. I placed my hand firmly on her wound and let my blood flow freely on it. Elena calmed down after a few minutes but still tears ran down her cheeks. I took my hand away from her shoulder and once again bandaged it carefully.

I carried her and placed her under a big tress. She looked a little better now. She still covered her chest in embarrassment and it was awkward to look at her.

“I am going to find some food, if something happens just shout my name loudly and I will hurry back here” I told her trying to hide my own embarrassment.

I walked a few paces then turned back and said “and don’t even think of wielding that bow again.”

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Here is an extra long chapter for today. Do let me know if you guys like it.