Chapter 2: Black Striped Wolf
It is already third day since Marrick left Tiger Valley City to venture and explore the world, and even though after years of experience, he was really good at preserving his food, he was still left with bread for at most two days. He was currently in a deep forest, it was beautiful and filled with vigorous greenery. One could hear constant chirps of many kinds of colorful and cheerful birds. But Marrick wasn't fooled by this treacherous sight and was treading very carefully. He knew fully well, that the forest was filled to the brim with dangerous monsters crawling everywhere. He was walking in the direction from which the sound of water was coming.
He hasn't drank since yesterday in afternoon and the thirst was becoming unbearable. But even though he was thirsty he didn't dare to rash in the direction of the river. After walking for another three hundred meters he finally saw his target. The river was in fact not that big. It was about five meters in width. An through the clear, crystalline water one could see that it was actually only three meters deep with fishes dancing around happily.
He hid behind a nearby tree and started scanning his surroundings. After making sure that there was no danger he darted towards the river. When he got to the river bank, he thrust his head into the water and started drinking greedily. After a moment he took his head back, and a satisfied burp escaped his mouth. After satisfying his thirst he started looking around once more.
After ascertaining his safety he pulled down his clothes. Under his clothes come off, there appeared a small scabbard on the back of the boy. It was tied with a couple of leather straps to his body so that it perfectly hid from the eyes of anyone who could think of stealing it, and in the same time it was just in the reach if he had to suddenly draw it out to defend himself. After taking off the scabbard, he paced it by the rock lying nearby and carefully started to clean his clothes. When he was done, he placed his clothes on a rock to dry and proceeded to jump into the river and started to clean his body. After a ten minute struggle he finally got rid of all the filth that accumulated on his body. When he got out of the river, it was an astonishing sight to behold, it was as if a completely different person came out.
With all the dirt washed off, his handsome and charming self has presented itself to the world. Even when he was five he already got such looks, one could only imagine what will happen when he grows up. When he walked out of the water he saw that his clothes will have to lay on that rock for about five minutes to fully dry on the sun. He decided to cach some fish, so that he could eat something to strengthen his body, and stop this dull bread diet. He found a couple of the more straight sticks to use them as javelins for catching fishes.
When he took it out if its scabbard a cold glint shined upon the edge, and even though it was unadorned and plain, one could see care that the owner put into maintaining it. Even though he didn't have the conditions to properly maintain it, still only a couple of rust dots appeared on its surface, regardless anyone who saw in could testify that it was a weapon and not a toy. When he was one his close were almost completely dry so he wore his clothes and after sharpening the sticks into makeshift javelins, Marrick started practicing throwing them at the fish. At the beginning he went completely off target. But he didn't stop. He kept practicing for couple of hours until sun was high on the firmament. When he felt hunger he would take a couple bites of bread, and when he was thirsty he would drink from the river. It went on until the sun finally came close to horizon. When he saw it was getting dark he finally stopped his practice. He was getting better and better at it. There were a couple of times when he was really close to catching come fish but ultimately he was left empty handed today. It was getting dark and he didn't see the fish anymore so he climbed a large tree at the edge of the river and laid on one of its branches. It was so thick that even if there were three of him, they would have no problems in sleeping on it. So after he adjusted himself and checked his surroundings for any danger, after that due to his fatigue after walking today some distance, and the later tireless practice, all with fis frail body, he instantly fell asleep.
It was already his third uneventful night since coming into this forest. He started to wonder if this forest actually even had any monsters, as he hasn't seen any yet. "Well I guess, I am rather lucky not to meet any, it is not that I wish to ever meet any." After stretching a little he carefully got off the tree. When he got down, he instantly paled. If he was wondering if there really were some monsters around here previously then now he was certain. When he looked at the ground he saw many signs of paws of many different kinds of animals. And it looked as if they were circling around the tree he was sleeping on. He was now certain that he must have been smelled by them. But it looks like they are gone now. He once again looked around carefully and only after he saw that he was safe for now did he breath a sigh of relief. Even then, he took his bundle with bread and javelins, dagger was already again at his back, and went further down the stream.
After walking for about an hour, only then he stopped to eat his breakfast consisting of... who would have thought... a piece of firm bread and water from river. When he was done with breakfast he once again started his javelin throwing on fishes. Whats surprising is that after a couple of tries he actually managed to stab on big fish. When he saw its size, he clearly knew that it would be enough for two days worth of food, Marrick was excited. He finally could eat some meat. Just the thought of it made him drool. After catching his prey, he went deeper into the forest to search for some dry sticks so that the fire he was going to make didn't produce much smoke, as to not attract unwanted trouble. After gathering sticks and some kindling, he started a fire with a flint from river and a dagger hitting each other repeatedly. It took him some time but finally after starting fire, flaying the fish and burying its guts so as to not attract wild beasts, the fish was ready to eat. He dug into its flesh he enjoyed this meal as if it was heavenly dish and not some normal fish without any seasoning.
When he was enjoying his once in a lifetime meal he suddenly heard some rustle. Startled he turned and instantaneously his charming face went pale, because behind him there was standing giant wolf. It was all white with a black stripe going right along its spine. Its blood red eyes were staring at Marrick deeply. Its lips drown back showing its snow white long fangs dripping with saliva. Marrick's instinct was saying him not to move. But in the end he was still just five-year-old kid. Panicked he quickly got up and started backing off. Provoked by this wolf started growling. When he heard it Marrick felt as if his soul was trembling. Scared he started running towards the river. But how could he outrun a magic monster that already awakened its consciousness and started cultivating? The Black Striped Wolf instantly caught up wit him and send a powerful swipe with its paw at boy's exposed back. In the last minute as if a god's interference Marrick felt that he must jump now or it will be all over. In that second Marrick jumped with all he had. All the five years of his bitter life flew past his eyes and he felt an unimaginable pain in his back, as if his whole body was being torn apart, and then there was suddenly nothing.
Only endless darkness shrouded his consciousness, and a strange yet pleasant voice started calling him.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
HuangShiFeng
HuangShiFeng I will try to post 3, eventually 4 chapters a week, if my circumstances allow it maybe more. But 3 for certain. Thanks for reading and all the support. If you can spare some time please rate this novel and vote.
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