Chapter 105

It didn't take much instruction for my pack and the new, temporary additions to be ready to leave the security of the den and begin our march to the wolfstags' territory. In order to keep ourselves as strong as possible, I brought every single one of my pack with, Sybil easily agreeing to come along and bringing the rest of the more reticent members of the pack. My predictions and hopes for the weather to turn and allow the clouds to empty themselves over the jungle were granted, and as we exited from the nearest entry point for the den to the wolfstags, the rains were already underway. Usually, the pouring would continue for quite a few hours yet, but there were never guarantees in things like this, so I hurried the pack to the planned location of our first attack.

My plan for the extermination of the wolfstags was relatively simple. We had about the same number of combatants according to Rulac, but the wolfstags were, as a general rule, more capable in battle per individual, with only a couple of exceptions. Took, Treel, Foire, Brutus, Percral and myself were about the only ones that I could nearly guarantee could kill a wolfstag without sustaining any real injuries, and while I hoped that the newest additions would be valuable, I couldn't plan on them being particularly powerful. Beyond that, also I couldn't say that we had ever encountered the strongest of the wolfstags, and my focus needed to be on taking them out of the fight quickly.

On top of reserving myself and maybe Took to neutralize the strongest of our prey when they appeared, it would be best for our continued safety and most sure success not to allow the wolfstags to attack at the same time. As a matter of fact, ideally, they would never attack and would only be felled by our ambushes one by one, but that would never happen. Thus, my plan consisted of continuous ambushes for as long as we could sustain them, before finally going into their den and ensuring they wouldn't again be able to threaten us. 

I was of several minds with this plan. I was glad for the opportunities that this hunt presented me, to allow me to progress towards the evolution of [Pack Tactics], to strengthen my pack through the hunt and staying fed, to enable me to better begin to establish control over these two other packs. On top of that, I wanted to test myself against stronger and stronger foes, to conquer, to struggle and prove myself superior, and this wolfstag pack, massive and powerful as it was, was going to allow me that option.

However, though I was ever embracing the Keel mentality of conquest and searching ever for victory, I didn't want to exterminate the creatures. As a human, I'd participated in exterminations, exclusively of keelish. I couldn't deny that I felt some measure of vindication at being able to lead my pack in doing the same to others who would do the same, but there was a measure of hesitation. This wasn't a hunt. The ambush of the large pack of wolfstags was a hunt, even if we took more than we needed, but this was a war in which we intended to let no creatures survive. The weight of life, even if not a person, weighed on me. Would I turn my fangs and claws like this to a human village if it threatened me? Would I be able to disregard my instinctual desire to leave no opponents alive to challenge me?

Was this merely the first step of my becoming a true monster?

With a firm shake of my head, I stopped myself from thinking about what ifs and possibilities of descending into a depravity that frightened me. This hunt was an opportunity, and the wolfstags were a threat to be neutralized. If they had the opportunity that I had, they would do the same, and I didn't have the luxury of indulging in moral worries. If I could find a way to show a small mercy, I would, but if not, I needed to protect my pack before I worried about a competitor. 

"We're close enough. Foire is signing that there's a group coming. Twenty, maybe a bit more." Silf, who was quickly becoming Foire's right hand, quietly spoke to us. He must have gained some [Skill] that allowed him to better see, since even though our thermal vision was mostly unimpeded by the sheeting rains, Foire was far up a nearby burlraiz, and I could only see him as a warm splotch on the tree. I agreed with the statement, we were maybe three miles away from the den, enough space to continue to approach with the next ambushes as well.

"We'll prepare just as we planned." I quickly gave short commands to the group leaders that were following us on this attack–Took, Treel, Percral, Ytte, Khaa, Mrat, and Criit. The three Alphas led their own packs, but I didn't care to give them more specific commands as I had to my own subordinates. I readied myself and watched for the approaching wolfstags. Before they sprung the trap, I was struck by how amazingly useful Foire's magic or [Skill], whichever it was that let him scout so perfectly, was. 

Then, there was no more time to think. The wolfstags, heads down and tracking something, were being pelted with the rain just as we were, but we could see them. Just as the first time, we sprung the trap and my anxiously waiting troops smashed into both sides of the wolfstags' formation. The unsuspecting wolves were split into two groups as the hammer that was our initial assault tore through them. The canines howled in fear and to rally themselves, but it was too late, and as they were encircled completely, my scaled brethren tore into the sparking prey. These definitely were Voltaic, not Mistral wolfstags, and the scent of their electricity, the sharp smell of ozone filled the air. Then, as they were mobbed by at least three keelish each, their lights flickered out with their final whines.

I, for now, kept myself out of the combat, instead staying near Silf who kept his eyes on Foire who in turn was watching for any additional approaching creatures. It wasn't until the final wolfstag body was long since laying, cooling on the ground, that Silf received the message from Foire:

"Fifty coming. Going slowly."

This would be the first true fight, and since they'd seen that at least twenty would fall to this threat, they sent more. Beyond that, I was sure that they would finally send the elites, and they would definitely prove to be a threat to anyone within the pack.

I felt a grin crack my face at the thought of the challenge, then, felt it spread even further as I checked my [Status] and knew that this hunt would present even more opportunities to me.

[Pack Tactics: 2/10]