It would take two weeks to make it to Castus, Rose’s kingdom, and those two weeks would be hard. The wolves often hunted, and would bring back animals-deer, rabbits, foxes- and while Alec had to cook his they’d eat it raw.
When they happened on rivers or ponds they’d fill their water bottles, and bathe. They had no confrontations during the trek to the kingdom gates, didn’t run into any other real sentient beings. There wasn’t much talking after the first day, and the older two often stayed in their “true” forms, stalking as beasts and going after anything that moved.
Alec was content to the quiet; he just thought of what it would be like in Castus. He couldn’t help but picture a gothic town full of red eyed creatures and bloodied human corpses. He pictured Rose in her blue sundress drinking from a human’s neck, blood splattered on her clothes and face, red eyes and low fangs, claws gripping the body to keep it from escaping.
Though other times he just pictured Rose, the “human” Rose. Quiet and aiming to please Rose-dead. He saw her in a white funeral gown, face death pale, soft eyes closed, hands crossed on her chest holding a blue flower from her favorite plant. It was that image that kept him running to keep up with the never tiring canines.
Finally, only a day away from the gates the wolves took human form again. They rested around a fire while Alec cooked. “Alec, once we get to the gates you’re on your own. Be wary inside, vampires will kill humans, or otherwise take you as a slave. We’d go with you if we thought it would help but…” Viren was ripping into the leg of a deer while Stella spoke.
“It’s alright, thank you for bringing me this far, I wouldn’t have been able to survive without you.” He chuckled, but it was true, he wouldn’t have been able to hunt for himself. As they were putting out the flame they heard heavy footfalls coming down the path ahead. They looked up and Alec pulled out his gun. Stella and Viren smelled the air, and quickly reverted to wolf form once more.
A small army of Anima were coming their way. Alec saw the gray grotesque blobs running, tongues lolling out of mouths, white teeth gleaming in the morning sun. He aimed his pistol towards them, and shot when they were within yards. He heard the one he hit screech before falling, the wolves tore and bit at the masses, green blood spurting all over their fur.
It was strange to Alec, but these Anima seemed less determined then the other batch he had faced prior. They didn’t try and go after him; they just stayed and fought the wolves, but didn’t cause much damage. When they were injured, even slightly they backed off, giving Alec a clear shot. When the 20 something blobs were in lakes of green he looked to his companions, theirs clothes stained as they walked over to him.
“They were sent by the general, he’s residing in Castus.” Viren was cold.
‘A general huh?’ Alec thought with a smirk. ‘I just can’t catch a break.’
