Chapter 136. Hidden Routes

QUAIN

I could hear shouts and cries of alarm echoing faintly in my mind. And then I heard a strange whistling sound rising above the others as if someone were blowing a whistle. Or someone trying to blow their own death whistle. Then another sound came again, louder this time. More shouting. A cacophony of voices calling out for help. Screaming. Shouting.

I didn’t hear the screams, nor did they reach my ears. However, I did hear a low growl, which gradually became a snarl. A creature materialised slowly out of the darkness, crouched over. Its body appeared to be covered in dark fur, except for the white markings that ran up its entire length.

There was no doubt about its identity. This was a bear, one of the largest I had ever encountered. It roared menacingly once, and then leaped upon one of its companions. Its huge claws dug into its victim’s shoulder, and the poor fellow fell to the ground with a pained grunt.

With one powerful swipe of the bear’s paw, th