The Reincarnated Wolf

And then there were 8

[REN POV]

Everyone remaining surrounded us to get a look at the map. Now I could see only thirteen of the original fifty of our party remained. I felt myself struggling to contain a smirk. All the people I had deemed somewhat decent had survived. Though a few of the annoying ones remained as well.

As everyone looked over the map, they began to argue again about what we should do now. I ignored their rambling and walked around surveilling the remnants of our fight. I looked over those on the ground. All dead. Somehow, I could sense that their lifeforce was gone by scent…or sound…or maybe just intuition.

Out of the thirteen remaining, only me and the taller guy seemed uninjured. Everyone else was covered in injuries. Some were worse off, but everyone was upright for the most part. Then I noticed the smallest of the bunch was also the youngest of the original fifty. His face was frighteningly pale, and his hand was clutching his side as he winced while leaning over to look at the map.

I felt my nose twitch as I caught the kid’s scent. Something was off. Among the kid’s natural musk, and among the blood coating his body, there was another smell. There was a hint of something very floral but also sweet.

Without hesitation, I moved very quickly over to him just as he collapsed forward. I made it to him just in time to catch him. I was surprised at how light his body felt. I laid him down onto the ground to look at the area he was still clutching.

When I moved his hand from the wound, I was reminded of the group of teenagers surrounding us. Everyone was back into a panicked frenzy. I calmed my breath and drowned out all their noise. Being able to ignore people so completely is truly a gift from the Gods.

The wound wasn’t deep. It should’ve healed already. Werewolves, even prior to their first shift, heal very quickly. The stronger the wolf, the faster and better it heals. However, upon observation, this wound wasn’t healing slowly because this kid had a weak wolf. The wound was festering and bubbling. Inflamed wasn’t a strong enough description of the skin surrounding the gash.

“He’s been poisoned!” someone’s frantic voice broke into my concentration.

“It isn’t poison. It’s bacteria. He’s been infected,” I said calmly.

Even though I sounded calm, I was internally panicking. I’d heard rogue bites alone could be deadly due to the bacteria in their mouth and saliva. Even consuming the blood of a rogue wolf could be deadly from all the toxins in their blood. Most wolves are taught at a young age not to ever bite a rogue just in case.

“What are we going to do?” One of the group cried out.

“Wait I was bit! Hey, didn’t one bite you too!” Another shouted.

“We’re all going to die!” one said hysterically.

“You with the red hair.” I gestured over to one of the teens who was still looking over the map like he was unbothered by everyone’s hysterics.

“Me?” He had just looked to steal another glance at the charade going on in front of him. I nodded. He was one that I’d kept a watch on these last few days. He was agile, swift, and most importantly good with a knife. I’d never seen someone with such steady hands and wondered if this kid shouldn’t pursue being a surgeon instead.

“You’re the best in the group at skinning. I need to use your knife to cut all the reddened skin around the wound. Can you do that?” I instructed. My tone wasn’t bossy or commanding. It was clear that I was trying to help this kid.

The red head jumped up and headed over. The group of teens around us were still freaking out. No one seemed ready to stop us though. The confidence in my voice must’ve convinced them that I knew what I was doing.

“We don’t have a lot of time before he regains consciousness,” I told the redhead, and he began to work.

I stood up and swiftly went on the hunt for a few herbs I’d seen along the path here. I heard a few voices question my actions, but I didn’t have time to explain. I had to address the infection before it killed that tiny kid.

“Apparently, Ren worked under a herbalist for a few years.” The lean kid spoke calmly as he continued to study the map.

He knew my name? I felt a slight pang of guilt because I hadn’t bothered to learn any of their names.

“How do you know so much about them?” I heard someone inquire.

“I read everyone’s files before we left. They are available at the recruitment center.” The lean kid spoke nonchalantly. He seemed completely unfazed by the surrounding chaos.

I wanted to ask him some questions, but I was busy gathering the few plants I needed. I was glad I spent my time gazing at the plants while we trudged through the forest. I’d thought it was a bit silly and just a way to pass the time, but it would come in handy now.

When I returned to the group, I had to improvise a pestle using a rock against a larger rock. It was rough, but it made a salve which should do the job. It wouldn’t cure the issue, but it would help hold it off until we reached proper medical care.

The red head was clearly the right choice. He had already skillfully removed the infected skin and around it. He looked over at me.

“Do you need help spreading that?” the redhead asked. I nodded and showed him how to apply the salve.

“Aren’t you scared to touch it?” Someone asked.

“It’s not dangerous by contact alone. If I had an open wound, I would be worried,” I said calmly, then gazed at the guy who asked. That guy had a few deep gashes in his hands that had only just started healing.

“Here’s the medical bag. I just remembered we had one.” A soft voice appeared next to me.

It was another one of the boys I’d personally chosen to help earlier. If anyone had to pick who the secret female was in the group, they would pick this kid over me. He was so…pretty. He had deep brown eyes and golden hair with a perfect curl. His eyelashes were long. He was also quiet. Which I realized almost everyone I liked here seemed to be quiet.

“Thank you,” I said with an appreciative smile. The boy with golden hair suddenly blushed.

“Sorry it took me a while to find it. I had to move a few bodies,” he admitted while continuing to blush.

Thankfully, the medical bag had bandages in it. Bandages aren’t usually necessary for werewolves, but with a group of young, unshifted wolves, they may and did come in handy.

The one with golden hair and the one with red hair helped secure the bandages over the kid’s wounds. I cursed at myself for not knowing any of their names.

“I have a general idea of which direction to go,” the leaner kid said.

“That’s great. We should pack up what we can and head out. We’ve lingered here too long.” The kid with golden hair spoke.

“Daren, can you carry Gage?” the lean kid asked.

I am assuming Gage is the kid with a bad infection. A large teenager with a gentle smile stepped forward. Without a word, the larger kid picked up Gage with ease. I am assuming the larger guy is Daren.

Daren was a sweet kid who I really didn’t understand why he’d joined. Sure, he was large and apparently strong, but he was also a genuinely kind person. He checked in on everyone throughout the walk. He’d volunteer to carry people’s gear if they struggled. He even tried talking to me multiple times. I hardly responded to him, but I took note of his positive influence on others. Which is why he was the first person I’d handed a blade to earlier when we were under attack.

Everyone began moving in urgency to pack up whatever gear they could. Without discussion, I grabbed Daren’s bag and carried it with my own pack. I mean my own bag only had a few uniforms I’d been given at the center before we left. The tall guy who was serving as our navigator grabbed Gage’s bag.

“You don’t have to carry my things.” Daren tried to object, but I just walked behind the tall guy.

“We need to stay here.” A strong yet annoying voice interrupted our departure.

“Warrior James is out there. Even if he’s injured, he probably mindlinked help. They’ll be heading here. If we leave, we’d be making it more difficult for them to find us.” A second voice chimed in.

Their argument was good, but I knew better. James was dead. He was too arrogant to call for help. And by the time he tried, he was too weak to form the connection. I saw the pitiful look in his eyes as he repeatedly tried to establish a link only to fail. No one was coming to save us.

And just like that, everyone was arguing again. The divide became eight against five. The majority of us wanted to leave. We weren’t waiting around to have rogues ambush us in our sleep.

“Fine, you five stay behind. We will head out. If we find help, we will send it back for you,” the lean kid said. But I could hear the hint of mockery in his voice.

“Fine! And when they come rescue us, we will tell them you all went that way.” One of the decenters shouted. I almost snorted.

And then there were eight.