Chapter 500: Howl
…Dusk Valley Grasslands… Near the Great City of Hollow Shade…
In the dark hours of the night, the army of the Sylvan marched through the tall grass in solemn silence. Four battalions, comprising a total of about 4,200 Sylvan warriors, marched in formation. They were divided into small groups, mostly of their own tribes. Many of the 63 Sylvan tribes had their differences, but every single one of them would follow without hesitation the word of the Warrior Elect.
A little ahead of the 4 battalions marched the 5th battalion, the cavalry of Sylvan. 800 deep forest wolves, twice the size of the wolves roaming across the realm; And their bonded riders, the elite of the Sylvan warriors and hunters.
Ahead of the cavalry was a small pack of frost wolves, each standing a little over 3 meters tall. The frost wolves walked in solitude, save for four who carried riders of their own.
At the very front, leading the army, was the goddess of the moon. Her wolfen form towered over even the frost wolves. Stryg sat atop her head, in a small nook of white fur. He felt like a squirrel nesting atop a bear’s head, but it felt strangely familiar.
Stryg sat cross-legged, Krikolm resting atop his legs. He tried to meditate, to prepare for what was coming, but his nerves felt frayed, ready to explode at the slightest touch.
Hoping Lunae could shed some wisdom on the matter, he threw Krikolm over his back and crawled over towards Lunae’s brow. Grabbing tufts of fur on each hand, he leaned over her brow and looked directly into her face.
Her wolfen face was a still calm, impossible to read, yet somehow the minute expressions in her silver eyes told him she was troubled by something.
Perhaps it had something to do with the new moon. He knew her powers were at their weakest on such nights. But maybe it was more than just her powers that were affected. Her fur usually glowed brightly under the moonlight, yet tonight her fur seemed a dull grey.