I stopped running and silently walked downwind on the wet muddy forest floor to avoid any she-werewolf interested in hunting instead of winning. My wolf and I were also at alert listening for any wolf or human steps. I crouched low to the ground, looked at my surroundings, then I heard a screech, I panicked, my hair stood on end and my nails turned to claws. I looked at the direction of the sound and noticed it was a bird. 'Just a bird Elena, just a bird, calm down.' I said to myself. I was about a mile from the entrance into the forest when I saw two she-wolves fighting in their wolf form. I didn't linger and immediately took another path that I hope might give me a clue. I had an idea to camouflage myself with the forest so that I won't be seen easily. I stood beside a tree putting on camouflage when I noticed the tree was marked with a red arrow pointing up. I looked up and saw a note stuck to the tree with an arrow. I climbed the tree and took the note. I checked if one of the tree branches could hold my weight, it did. I sat down and read the note. The note says 'Two trees to the left, three sister trees to the right, my companion awaits'. 'Two trees to the left' I repeated, I looked to my left and counted two trees, I decided to check it out I was about to get down from the tree when I saw a form run past my tree. I froze and waited till I didn't hear the person's footsteps again. I got down and raced towards the trees on my left, noticed a hidden path and took it. I saw an injured she-wolf along the path and stopped to see if I could help her; she couldn't breath properly, I moved closer and she growled at me. 'I just want to help' I raised my hands up in a non-threatening way to show her I meant no harm. I noticed there was nothing I could do for her, I stroked her fur and told her I was going to cover her with leaves so that she can stay hidden and not be found till the trial ends. I felt sorry for leaving her there. She whined and closed her eyes though still breathing. I followed the path and noticed some broken branches like someone had hacked through them. I decided to leave the path since it was exposed. I noticed three trees that looked exactly the same lined up. I moved towards them and saw another red marked tree. I was about to climb the tree when I heard a growl behind me. I froze and turned. I saw a grey she-werewolf with bared teeth growling at me 'Let me out' my wolf screamed at me. I was about to do just that when I heard cracking bones, the she-wolf had begun to change. The change makes a werewolf quiet vulnerable; we also change with our clothes and whatever belongings we might be carrying at the time. I stopped wondering why she was putting herself in such a dangerous situation then, I saw her face. 'Rein, oh my god, am I glad to see you' I said running towards her and hugging her. 'I didn't know it was you, I was about to tear your limb off' she said 'Glad you didn't, have you seen Amara?' 'No, but I am sure she is fine we trained together. She can hold her own. Did you find the clue? I followed the note I saw here.' 'Yes it's on that tree, I was about to get it.' I said, but Rein jumped so far up the tree in ninja style and took the note, she was really impressive. We huddled together and read the note. 'Follow where the wind blows and stands still, there lies your freedom' Wonderful, just wonderful I guess I won't be staying downwind for long. The path to freedom seems to be the direction the wind is blowing; I am sure a she-werewolf marked by the air moon goddess is the one controlling the path the wind will take. Rein folded the small piece of paper into her pocket, I noticed a sword almost similar to mine tucked into one of her belt holes. 'We need to go, I am sure others have found their clue as well and are already on their way to the exit. Elena, we need to be ready to fight all of us might be going in the same direction. The goal is to get to the exit no matter what' she said as a matter of fact 'Alright' I nodded. We started running towards the path where the wind was blowing the strongest, it was almost as if the wind had a mind of its own and was leading us to a particular destination. While running I noticed a brown wolf running along the tree lines, and watching me. 'Elena' I heard Rein shout, she gestured to her left and I saw another wolf following her. We were being hunted. I started to run like my life depends on it, but the wolves were catching up 'You need to let me out, you can't outrun them on your human legs, we need to fight' my wolf said. I really thought I could avoid fighting, I really wanted to avoid it. 'Elena, we might have to fight they won't let us through' she pointed at an opening I could see far ahead that led out of the forest, we were almost there. However, the wolf I saw at the tree line had run ahead and was almost at the opening. 'Cover me while I shift' Rein started to shift while running. I unsheathed my sword ready to swing it any way I could at the wolf at her left, if she tries to attack. I didn't need to, she shifted to her wolf form faster than before. That was impressive. It was my turn to shift, but mine was slower during mid shift. I noticed the other she-werewolf was about to attack, but Rein in her wolf form pounced on her before she could attack. The she-wolf moved back and continued the chase. 'Finally, now let's end this' my wolf said. She ran beside Rein as fast as her legs could carry her and she enjoyed it immensely not considering the danger ahead. Looking through her eyes, I noticed the brown she-wolf was blocking the opening ready to attack while the other she-wolf blocked Rein. This is a fight we cannot escape from. Almost immediately we were attacked; the brown wolf came for me, my wolf swiped her muzzle with her paws and growled while the brown she-wolf leapt back trying to avoid my wolf's paws, she barreled at us and almost had my wolf on her back, my wolf twisted to the right to reduce the force of her hitting us directly, my wolf bit down at her exposed neck, but didn't bite down enough. She shook herself free from the bite, moved back and accessed my wolf. We were both panting looking for the upper hand, she once again ran towards my wolf very fast; this time around my wolf didn't move fast enough. She bit hard into her paws and I felt a sharp pain and a bone snap, my wolf howled and the scent of iron filled the atmosphere. We were in a vulnerable position, limping on just three paws instead of four, the next thing I know, the she-wolf barreled us into a tree so hard my wolf's head hit the trunk of the tree and we almost blacked out. My wolf struck her head so hard on the tree that she was going in and out of consciousness. I knew this was it, when I died. The brown she-wolf was about to deliver the killing blow when I saw a grey blur smack into the she-wolf with bone-jarring force, then I heard a sound like a gong in the distance and I blacked out.
