Shifting Tides

"So, the Spectral Wolf Queen has been born and bound, while the Tinder Wolf King has been slain. Is there no greater drama then the unexpected?"

Roca watched as Wraith began to lead Luna deeper into the forest. She had grown, looming over him now.

'Lv. 50 Spectral Wolf Queen, Luna'

"So now I can talk to you without invading your mind?"

A small sniff was all he got in answer.

"And you imprinted on me, why?"

"Because Master smells nice."

He felt a thump on his back as she pressed her large head against him.

"Get on?"

Wraith looked back, his eyebrows raising.

'The combat mounts are said to be incredibly rare in this game. They don't become more mainstream until after I'm free, usually. Not just that, but she imprinted on me. Doesn't that mean eternal love and loyalty? And how the hell do I walk into town with a massive wolf on my heels?'

Wraith did as she asked, jumping onto her back and resting himself behind her shoulder blades.

"Where to?"

Luna turned her head back, looking up at Wraith.

"I'm trying to collect some things, so do you know Etra Lake?"

Wraith had collected many materials in his past life, each and every one harder to find then the last. Not just because they were rare, but some were one of a kind or otherwise hard to find. The scale was one of these items, though his use for it wasn't fully for crafting.

"Master, Etra Lake has many powerful water based creatures. Can we even fight them?"

He laughed softly.

"I'm a daredevil, but I'm not stupid. We aren't going in the lake, just the shore. If anything tries to attack, we just retreat. I don't want to risk respawning back at the original village."

Luna seemed satisfied as she began to sprint through the forest. Her muscles rippled under her fur, the sleek black color almost moving like water.

"So Luna, what do I smell like?"

Her constant remark had him curious. She liked his smell, but why?

"You smell like warmth and strength."

Wraith rubbed the bridge of his nose slightly.

"Weird, but if you like it so be it."

Wraith began to enjoy the ride, the wind pushing his hair back. His eyes locked on the two newest pop ups.

'Special Quest: Wolf Queen's Enhancement

-Increase Luna's level of trust.

-Luna reaches level 60

Reward: Race enhancement for Luna'

'Eliza: Hey! Was hoping to see you a lot sooner. Wanna meet up?'

Wraith's mouth dropped open. The private messaging system was removed two months into the game. By this point, he was already tucked away with the slavers. All of his systems had been locked. He had no idea she messaged him.

'Wraith: It's been a while. We can meet up sometime soon, just taking care of some stuff where I'm at.'

He smiled, thinking of the girl that was absolutely crazy about him.

'Eliza: Alright... looking forward to it. Good work on the achievements though! And watch out for all these girls... some of them are crazy.'

He laughed aloud, almost alarming Luna.

"Master?"

"Its nothing Luna. Just something on my mind."

She continued rushing through the forest, slowing steadily as they entered a clearing.

"Master, I have a question for you now. What are you?"

"What do you mean?"

He climbed down, running his fingers through her fur as he stepped within her eyesight.

"You look human, but what are you? Your smell is nice, but strange..."

Wraith shrugged slightly.

"Don't know. Guess I'm raceless?"

Luna nodded to him a little, giving a tiny bump with her nose.

'I have a plan to change that, but right now it's nothing more than a glitch from that visor. Everything was... and God I'm gonna be hurting. I've been laying there for twelve hours, so this'll be the biggest pain spike when I log out.'

He smiled to himself as a fun idea passed through his mind.

'Wraith: I just realized, I have no food at my place. Kinda scared to log out.

Eliza: Aww... I'm actually logging out right now. I've got a friend to go see, but I hope you can get something to eat.

Wraith: I'll probably log out in a couple more hours. Have fun with your friend.'

'I just manipulated my past life wife... I'm such a horrible person, but she's probably gonna lose it.'

His eyes scanned the lake. It was a large and beautiful body of water hidden within the forest. Little to nobody knew of its existence this early in the game.

"Luna, have you ever seen any Unknown Dragon's Scales?"

She lowered her head slightly, her ears drooping.

"Don't be sad. You don't need to know everything to stay by my side."

She bumped him with her muzzle again, this time not moving back. Wraith casually rubbed her head, almost feeling like he was patting his little sister or a puppy... kinda both?

'Is this really what it's like to have a sibling? Sure as hell wouldn't know, but I think it's wrong. Somewhat.'

Wraith slid down the hillside he was standing on, passing in between the trees as he made his way to the lake.

"Etra Lake. It's like the sky has its own private mirror back here. Luna, what kind of creatures are here?"

"Crab things and water nymphs. The ugly ones like to lure people in, while the pretty ones are scared. They've had too many bad run ins."

Wraith knelt by the water, placing his palm over it. Without causing even a tiny ripple, he touched the water and spread his mind below.

The lake looked massive, but deep below it, roughly halfway out, there was a massive cave system where the creatures lived. Wraith was probing this area, searching for what he desires.

"Luna, the scale I'm looking for is deep under the water. There's a Sea Dragon, deep below the Nymph Nest. Some of its scales are wrong, but I can feel a small few that are right. Needing five for each kinda kicks me in the gut."

Luna laid beside him, placing her large nose into the water. Ripples began, but they slowed quickly. She laid there for a few minutes before pulling her nose out.

"Master, the dragon is dead... isn't it?"

"Yea. You can feel the death in the water?"

She did a small nod, flicking water of her muzzle. Wraith sighed as he moved his hand away.

"I have one scale, but I need ten. This place has three of them. The last six are kinda tough to get to..."

He closed his eyes, thinking quietly.

"Why do you need these specific scales?"

Wraith opened his eyes, staring at Luna with a small smile.

"These ten scales are unique crafting materials. I plan on making a pair of gauntlets with them, though their true names aren't Unknown Dragon Scales. They're Chaos Dragon God Scales. Special stuff that'll help me a lot."

Wraith looked towards the sky, his mind wandering.

"I'm gonna have to disappear for a bit Luna. I'll be back pretty quickly, but I need to eat in my other body. After I'm back, I'll get stronger with you. Sound good?"

Luna seemed dejected as she curled up beside the lake.

"I'll see you soon, Master."

He tapped the log out button, blue particles surrounding him as he depixelated.