Chapter 72. Impure

On day eight, I stumbled into an unknown dense dark forest at the base of a smaller mountain that was relatively secluded, finally finding somewhere that seemed easy to defend, was pretty, and had a good cave for a possible long-term dwelling. Dense enough to feel safe and a nearby water source. Sheltered and a good supply of wildlife for hunting. No humans around for miles, and no signs that any had been there in forever.

It didn’t take long to be chased out by feral wolves who caught my scent in their territory, though. Natural wolves, not my kind, though, because my kind would probably have strung me up and gutted me for straying there. Outside of Radstone, the packs still have deep ingrained rivalry and feuds.

They chased me all the way to a cliff edge before I had to jump into the river below to escape unscathed. I don’t think I could have fought off more than a dozen rabid wolves on my own, and I don’t have the energy to turn and heal myself right now. I’m spent. I