Jasion slowly walked through the jungle brush, the golden light of the day shining on his red hair. He was happy to see that Caperiol’s team of wolves were all working together really well, even if she didn’t want to admit it. Jasion was now on his way to meet Reveriol where she was busy at work trying to get the wolves to start making a running course as well as large wooden statues for fighting practice.

Jasion was wondering if he was going in the right direction that Caperiol had told him to go in when he came across the loud sounds of wolves chatting and fighting. He walked a little faster and soon came into a newly made clearing where Reveriol and the wolves were making their fighting course. As Jasion entered the clearing he quickly saw the source of the sound. Several wolves were in the middle of a log-made fighting ring. Reveriol and the rest of her team were watching as the wolves tried to fight each other in an attempt to show Caperiol what they were good at.

Jasion walked past the distracted wolves and over to Reveriol who was carefully watching the fighting wolves, trying to figure out if they would be better with a spear or a sword. Jasion stood quietly by her side, not wanting to disturb her as she studied the fighters. Reveriol jumped as she realised Jasion was standing next to her.

“Oh, hay,” She said, quickly regaining her composure her eyes refocusing on the fight. They watched in silence for a few minutes as the wolves finished their fight. The fight came to a draw as both were incompetent enough to end up not being able to land a hit on the other as they could barely use the sticks they had to fight. Seeing their lack of skill Reveriol raised her hand and yelled, stopping the fighting. The wolves all rushed over to her and sat around her legs like children waiting for a story.

“So, to put it simply you all have the fighting equivalent of two birds that have their heads cut off,” Reveriol said, making the ears of all the wolves droop down out of shame. Reveriol ignored the sad wolves and walked over to the pile of sticks they planned to use of fighting. Jasion smiled, it seemed that it would take a lot of time to make the wolves into decent fighters, but he believed in Reveriol’s skill. She picked up one of the sticks of the pile and slapped it against the ass of the wolf that Jasion had stopped from being sacrificed.

“You, you will be first to learn,” Reveriol said, hitting him a bit harder and making him jump up off the ground. Jasion smiled and started to walk off towards the village. The wolves that were left behind seemed upset at him leaving, they wanted the person they saw as their saviour to watch them become stronger.

Jasion soon returned to the village, the small blue dragon was playing around with some of the local children. Jasion couldn’t help but smile, he was hoping that the children could think of a name for the dragon as he really didn’t want to accidentally give it a name that sounded shit. Renra was sitting at a long wooden table over in the eating area, talking to some of the other head leaders of the village. Jasion ignored them as he walked quickly back to his hut. He reached the thick wooden door but stopped before his hand could grip the door handle. He wanted to start making the weapons, as well as practice, but he also wanted to look around the jungle that surrounded the village, in case he needed to find a quick evacuation plan for the wolves in the event that Pelana was to attack.

Jasion turned from his door and looked around the village. He picked a direction and started to walk through the village until he got to the village’s border. He looked at the beautiful, lush jungle, its green leaves and plants sparkled in the sunlight. He walked towards the jungle, passing through the tall grass that surrounded the tree line. He soon came into a clearing, perfect for relaxing and making weapons.

He walked to the centre of the open grassy land and sat down. He then started work on making the swords and spears from the black mist. The rest of the day he spent making around 40 spears made of the black mist and 70 swords, and just in case the wolves with Caperiol really couldn’t make any bows Jasion made about 30 bows and 200 arrows as well.

The sun was only just about to set as Jasion sat outside on the grass surrounded by the weapons he had made. Caperiol and Haunily walked out into the open grassy area. The people in the village said they had seen him go towards a large open area of grassland near the village. The girls looked around the tall grass, looking for Jasion.

“Jasion!” Haunily yelled as she and Caperiol started to walk off into the tall grass in search of him. Caperiol jumped as her foot hit something metal and hard.

She looked down to see a fairly well-crafted black metal sword lying on the ground. She bent down and moved the long grass aside. There were several more swords, then some spears came into view, and then more swords and soon her gaze fell on a deep in sleep Jasion. she smiled, from how she had seen him fight, she knew he had a lot of potentials to become powerful, but to see such a potentially powerful person sleeping so soundly. She was happy that she and her sister could finally have a new life because of him, but she didn’t want him to find out just yet, after all, he could just think that they were using him, even though in a way they were.

“Over here!” Caperiol yelled to Haunily who soon found herself skipping through the piles of weapons that had been covered by the grass.

As soon as Haunily’s eyes landed on Jasion, she leaped onto his chest and bombarded him with soft loving licks and kisses. In her mind, since they shared a bed together and he didn’t protest against it when they woke, he was now her mate, and only hers. In wolf culture after all it was commonplace for wolves to mate from a young age like her. Jasion’s eyes soon creaked open as Haunily continued to kiss and lick at his face. He smiled happily at her, he knew what she was doing was by his standards weird, but her happy and gentle face made him happy to see. Jasion peaked over the top of Haunily to see the darkening sky.

“Holy shit how long was I out?” He said as he started to sit up, Haunily jumping off him as he did so. Caperiol offered her hand to him, and Jasion took it, using it to pull himself to his feet.

“I don’t know, but it looks like you have done some very good work” Caperiol commented as she picked up one of the swords. Jasion smiled proudly, he wished he could have stayed awake to make some armour as a surprise, but it seemed his fatigue had caught up to him.

He wiped his eyes of sleep and gazed around at all the weapons he had made. He had no clue how many he had made, but he hoped that it was enough. Jaison looked over Caperiol’s shoulder as he heard the sound of feet stamping through bushes. He was surprised to see Caperiol’s and Reveriol and her group of wolves coming out of the tree line and over towards them. A look of excitement spread across the faces of the wolves as they started to see the weapons Jasion had made spread out across the ground. Jasion moved over to the wolves and picked up 3 of the black metal swords.

“you all better start picking these up, I can’t bring this back to your village all by myself,” Jaison said, giving them all a warm smile. The wolves all happily complied and started to pick up as many weapons as they could safely carry. They then started to walk back to the village, many of the wolves singing or chatting out of excitement at their new weapons.

Jasion was being helped by Caperiol and Reveriol back to the village as making that many weapons in a day had drained all the magic he had in his body, it would probably take 2 or 3 days to regain it all. Jasion slowly fell asleep in the arms of the two Angelics, making them laugh slightly as they noticed his tired puppy-like face.

Reveriol helped him back to the hut as the rest of the girls and wolves stored away from the weapons in makeshift storage houses, some wolves kept a handful of weapons out though to show at the party the wolves were planning to have that night in celebration of them finally becoming stronger as a people.

Reveriol gently pushed the door to Jasion’s hut open and walked him over to the nearby bed. She pulled back the covers and carefully placed him onto the soft furs. She looked down at his sleeping face and smiled. He was a weird person. He barely knew her or her sister, yet he seemed to trust them full-heartedly. She could see in his eyes that this would probably be a problem for him in the future, or it could be something that could save him, she didn’t know but either way, it was something she was starting to like about him.

She slapped the sides of her face out of anger, she couldn’t believe she was complimenting a lesser being such as him. Her wings flapped slightly, a sign of embarrassment. She stared down at him for a little longer before smiling again and jumping up. She left him alone in the room to allow him to rest.

The party was starting to rage on outside as the villagers celebrated their newfound might. Reveriol and Caperiol were starting to get drunk and were hurling insults at the wolves as they downed and another after another large jug of wine. The blue dragon was happily chasing around some of the village kids, blowing very small and precise puffs of fire at their feet, making them laugh and giggle.

Haunily was sitting along with one of the long wooden benches, a half-empty bottle of wine in one hand, the other hand was lazily lying across the table. There were probably 10 to 15 empty cups of wine scattered around her.

“Jakkan!!” she yelled, slamming her bottle of wine onto the table. The man who Jasion had saved from being sacrificed pricked up his ears and turned to her, a happy smile on his face.

“BROTHER!” she yelled, causing him to jump slightly and quickly run over to her.

“Yes…” He said he knew his sister couldn’t handle alcohol well and the fact she had seemed quite sad recently she really wasn’t in a good mood.

“How do I become stronger!” She yelled, grabbing him by the hand and forcing him down to her side. Her ears were drooped down to the side of her head but jumped up suddenly as she hiccupped.

“Why don’t you ask one of the Angelics, they have become much nicer since Jasion took them off into the woods the other day for a talk. I wonder what he offered them…” he was cut off as Haunily slapped the table loudly, attracting the attention of a handful of wolves, but only for a few seconds as they soon went back to partying.

“NO, I don’t like them, they are too friendly to Jasion and sleep next to him! That is my spot!” She yelled, taking another swing of wine.

“The wine really isn’t that strong; you shouldn’t be getting this drunk,” He said gently patting hero on the back.

“Also, it really isn’t your spot, you have only known him for 3 days and you only spent time with him for 1.” Jakkan continued. Haunily obviously didn’t like the answer as she threw her now empty cup with pinpoint accuracy into Jakkan’s forehead. He stumbled slightly and walked off, knowing it was best to leave her until she had calmed down a little.

Reveriol and Caperiol were sitting together on a wooden bench, happily chatting and drinking.

“Hay did I tell you something I learned today,” Caperiol said to Reveriol. Very drunk as she was now on her 34th drink, Reveriol nodded, flapping her wings excitedly.

“I learned that Jasion was really a human! Isn’t that amazing!” Caperiol said, leaning onto her friend, laughing. Without saying a word, Reveriol jumped out of her seat and swiftly flew over to Jasion’s hut. She couldn’t believe he was really a human, like the ones her parents used to tell her in stories. To them humans were like a mythical race of people that fought with weapons made by the gods themselves, they were a people that could crush any army, and now she had one right in front of her.

She took in a deep breath and opened the door. She looked over to where Jasion was sleeping on the floor and approached him. All she wanted to do was touch his chest and face a little, just so she could see what a human male looked and felt like. But she interrupted by an extraordinarily drunk Haunily who stood in the doorway. She pushed past Reveriol and stood of Jasion. She walked around him for a few seconds, marking her territory and warding off Reveriol. Once satisfied she gently curled up on his chest and started to drift to sleep.

Reveriol sucked in her cheeks like an angry child. Even though Haunily hadn’t said a word, Reveriol felt as if she had just been denied access to Jasion. Very drunk and determined to see a human up close, Reveriol moved to his side and wrapped her wings around him, engulfing the now deep in sleep Haunily as well. Reveriol wanted to touch and study him in his sleep, but before she knew it, she was already falling into a deep sleep against his warm arm. She couldn’t help herself in her intoxicated state as she wrapped her arms around his left arm and started to give in to her exhaustion.

A few drunken hours later Caperiol soon entered the hut. Her vision was so blurry from drinking she didn’t even notice Reveriol’s wings spread out across Jasion and Haunily. She walked straight past them and into bed. Soon the wolves outside finished their food, put away their weapons, and made their way to bed.

Jasion slowly creaked open his eyes. He felt as if he had been asleep for a thousand years. He chuckled a little to himself, for all he knew he had been, there was really no telling what the black mist could make him do. He looked down onto his chest to see Haunily cuddling against him, he couldn’t help but blush at her cuteness. He gently pushed her off and stood up. He noticed he wasn’t wearing any clothes, they had to have taken them off him while he was sleeping. He soon found them speared out in a nest-like shape around the blue dragon. He smiled and using the black mist summoned a new set of clothes onto himself.

He quietly walked to the door of the hut and snuck out into the morning light. The breeze felt good on his face as he gazed around the village. It didn’t seem like any of the wolves had woken yet, they were probably still tired from the day before. Deciding it was too early for food, Jasion started to walk towards the village’s border, wanting to take a walk before doing any more work that day. As he walked to the edge of the village, he noticed something wasn’t right. A long-spiked fence now surrounded the village, with tall watchtowers as well, they couldn’t have made that in just one night, right?

Turing his body into the mist he made his way to the top of the tower. A young wolf slept peacefully in the tower while another watched out over the forest. Grinning cheekily to himself Jasion moved up behind the wolf and placed a hand on his shoulder. The wolfman jumped and stabbed his spear at Jasion. Jasion managed to dodge the spear, catching it in his hands and wiping it away from the wolf and onto the floor.

The wolf looked sacred for a few seconds as it gazed at Jasion, but it soon smiled as it realised who he was. The wolf bowed down onto one knee, much to the surprise of Jasion.

“My lord, we thought you were dead!” The wolf exclaimed loudly as he woke his friend. Jasion looked at him confused, then started to feel a sense of crippling hunger come over him as if he hadn’t eaten in weeks.

“What are you on about? I was asleep for 1 day, by the way, when did you get this thing made?” Jasion said gesturing to the wall the surrounded the village.

“But master you were asleep for at least 3 weeks?” the wolf said as his friend awoke, giving the same amazing look as the first wolf. The second wolf shot past Jasion and ran out into the village yelling and screaming. Jasion wanted to stop him, to tell him that he would wake everybody, but it seemed it was no use as half-naked and excited wolves burst from their huts at the mention of Jasion being awake.

Jasion felt a chill run down his spine as he saw the door to his hut burst open and (on all 4s may I add) Haunily burst onto the ground. Her eyes darted around until they locked onto Jasion like homing missiles and before he could even react, she was onto him, licking his face. He pushed her off and stared up at her face. Tears ran down her cheek as she stared at him.

“YOUR ALIVE!” She screamed through her tears as she started to smother him in kisses. He pushed her off again and looked at her confused.

“I don’t understand, the fuck is going on,” Jasion said, not knowing if he was going insane or the wolves were all just playing a big prank on him. Something else seemed off though. Haunily looked different, she looked stronger, she looked faster.

“After the day you made the weapons, you fell asleep, but you didn’t wake for 5 weeks. Caperiol and Reveriol had to use a special type of ani-detection magic they called it to keep amazon scouts from finding our village.” She said smiling happily at him. Jasion looked worried, but he was happy that the Angelics seemed to have misled the amazons in another direction.

Jasion’s smile only grew as Caperiol and Reveriol flew up the watchtower and to his side. They smiled gratefully at him before bowing their heads in respect. The rest of the village was soon outside, all at once trying to get Jasion’s attention to tell him about all the training and building they had done in the time he was asleep.

Jasion had to admit, in the time he was asleep these wolves really had become something he was proud of. He started to think about why he passed out in the first place and decided he would just ask the demon later, but for now, he just wanted to make sure the wolves were happy and safe. The wolves only calmed after Renra and the boy that Jasion had saved for being sacrificed arrived. He believed that his name was Jakkan.

“Jasion!” Renra yelled a joyful look on his face, his eyes dazzled with enjoyment. The man wrapped his arms around Jasion, but quickly let him go and stepped back.

“Come, let's sit, eat and drink,” Renra said, walking Jasion and the crowd over to the eating area. They sat and had something to eat and drink. They talked for a while until Jasion brought up a topic he had wanted to hold back for a long as possible.

“Mr. Renra there is something I need to say…” Renra’s ears poked up as he smiled at him.

“I will be leaving the village soon… and I wish to know where the next village or settlement is so that I can start gathering companions to help me with the making of my city,” Jasion said, his voice solemn. The mood of the village dropped immediately when they heard about his plan to leave. There were a few seconds of silence before Renra spoke.

“There is a city of high elves not too far from here, Thank you for your help….” He said, obviously trying to hold back tears. Jasion didn’t feel good about leaving the wolves, but he knew he wasn’t anywhere near being strong enough to protect them from Pelana.

“One day, I’ll come back I promise,” Jasion said giving the wolf a reassuring smile. Jasion wasn’t good and goodbyes, they made him remember when he left his home within the city of thieves to join the army.

He hurried off to his hut and started to pack his things. He knew what he was doing would probably be seen as impolite and probably offensive, but he also didn’t want the wolves to see him as he teared up slightly. He summoned his mask to his hands and placed it over his face. Caperiol and Reveriol moved into the hut and looked at Jasion.

“Are we really leaving?” Caperiol asked a tint of sadness in her voice.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to…” Jasion said, packing the final load of his things. The girls looked at each other and nodded in agreement.

“We will go with you.” The girls said in unison. Jasion smiled under his mask, he was happy to see he wasn’t going to be alone on his journey. The girls packed their things and left the house. The wolves were all crowded outside, a dismal and depressing feeling hung in the area.

“I’m sorry, but I should leave, if Pelana finds your village don’t hesitate to tell her where I went if it means it keeps you all safe,” Jasion said placing his hand on Renra’s shoulder. The blue dragon sat around Jasion’s legs, not understanding what was going on.

“Which direction is the elven city?” Jasion asked, trying his best to hide the crackling in his voice as he held back his tears. Renra walked away, leaving Jasion, the Angelics, and the wolves. Each and every one of the wolves seemed to be in a deep state of depression, something that made Jasion feel like a monster.

“I’ll be back one day, I promise, so just hang on for now.” He said to the crowd. He noticed a good half of the wolves were either crying or trying to hold back tears. Haunily moved through the crowd and wrapped her arms around him. Jaison was taken aback.

“NO!” She yelled, tightening her grip around his chest.

“I’m sorry…” He muttered out.

“I’ll GO WITH YOU THEN!” She yelled, her tears soaking into his shirt. He looked to the side. He didn’t have the heart to look at her and say no. She was a good person, she really was, and he didn’t know what lay ahead and if he would ever need to do something that would make him look like a monster in front of her. Renra soon returned and smiled sadly as he saw his only daughter hugging the man she saw as a close friend.

“Here, please take good care of my daughter!” Renra said, passing the map to Jaison and bowing his head before scampering away before Jasion could say no.

“Wait but I-” Jasion was cut off by Haunily jumping up to his face and bombarding him with loving licks. He looked down at her overjoyed face as she thought he was taking her with him. Against logic and better judgment, Jasion let his overly kind heart take over.

“Fuck it, fine,” He said, not wanting to see her cry again. Caperiol and Reveriol who stood behind him seemed to understand what was going through his head and laughed slightly at his dismay. Jakkan was the next to step forward, an eager and brave look on his face.

“I want to come as well, to repay my debt!” Jakkan yelled. Jasion looked to the wolf's side, he seemed to already be holding a bag of his things. Like Haunily, Jasion was about to say no but when confronted with the idea of seeing him cry if refused, Jasion gave in and allowed him to follow along as well.

Jasion couldn’t help but be annoyed though. He wanted to leave quickly before anyone could make a big show out of it, but it seemed he was wrong. He sucked in his breath and alongside, alongside the two wolves and two Angelics, plotted their way to the High elf city and to their new steppingstone on the way to make their city. After a few more hours of work, preparation, and goodbyes the small team left the village each happy to see the world that lay before them, and sad about the people they were leaving behind. But all together they were on their way into the world.

The wolves waved the group goodbye, Renra cry at the sight of his two children, Haunily and Jakkan leaving, he hoped he could see them again one day.

2 weeks later

“Chief!” A wolf yelled, dressed in full leather battle armour, and wielding one of the spears Jasion had made. Renra looked up from the injured wolf soldier he was treating and looked to the approaching wolf.

“What!” He yelled as he tried to stop the wolf below him from bleeding out from the Amazonian arrow that was deeply lodged in his side. The wolf messenger couldn’t answer though as a roar of white fire lit him ablaze and several amazons riding large warhorses entered the village.

Pelana gazed down at the petrified wolves. Her Jasion was smart to try and lead her in the wrong direction and away from where he truly was, but the blood magic she had used to first find his location led her back on the right path soon enough. As she stared at the wolves, she couldn’t help but lick her lips and turn to Jenkari, who was in the middle of cutting off the tail of a young boy wolf.

“Sister, how long has it been since we had a nice wolf for dinner?” She asked pointing to Renra.

“Not long enough!” Tanua said as she approached the wolf.