Scene 140 — "It Chose Him"
The three-headed wolf stood at the edge of the settlement.
Six eyes remained fixed upon the fleeing villagers.
Then—
a shout came from behind the Traveler.
"Move!"
Several hunters rushed forward.
Their weapons were already drawn.
Spears.
Blades.
Heavy bows reinforced with crystal.
The brother immediately recognized them.
"The hunters..."
The elder sister pulled the younger girl farther back.
The Traveler remained still.
The hunters spread across the road.
Seven of them.
Seven weapons.
Seven people standing between the settlement and the beast.
The largest hunter raised his spear.
"Hold the line!"
The others tightened their formation.
The wolf lowered its three heads.
The center head stared at them.
The left head opened its jaws.
A low growl rolled across the ground.
The hunters didn't move.
For one breath—
neither side moved.
Then the largest hunter shouted.
"Now!"
Seven weapons flew forward.
Spears struck.
Crystal arrows followed.
Blades flashed beneath the pale sky.
The wolf moved.
Too fast.
Its enormous body twisted sideways.
Several weapons missed.
One spear struck its shoulder.
The crystal tip shattered.
The hunter who had thrown it stared.
The wolf barely reacted.
Then—
the beast lunged.
The distance disappeared.
Its left head snapped forward.
The nearest hunter had only enough time to raise his weapon.
The jaws closed.
He vanished beneath the creature's head.
The other hunters froze.
The wolf lifted its head.
Then threw the motionless body aside.
A second hunter charged.
The center head met him.
The impact sent him crashing across the road.
The third hunter struck the beast's leg.
The blade broke.
The wolf turned.
One enormous paw slammed down.
The hunter disappeared beneath the dust.
Panic broke the formation.
"Fall back!"
They tried.
Too late.
The beast was already among them.
One hunter ran.
The right head followed.
The wolf caught him before he reached the houses.
The settlement fell silent.
The creature lifted its head.
The hunter did not return.
The remaining fighters stared.
The confidence was gone.
Only fear remained.
The brother's grip tightened around his spear.
The younger girl had gone pale.
The elder sister whispered,
"...They're losing."
The final hunters retreated.
The wolf did not pursue them.
It stopped.
Slowly—
all three heads turned.
Away from the hunters.
Away from the fleeing villagers.
Toward the Traveler.
The Traveler stood beneath the shadow of his hood.
Still.
Quiet.
The wolf's six eyes fixed upon him.
The brother stepped in front of the Traveler.
"Stay behind us."
The Traveler didn't answer.
The elder sister raised her blade.
The beast began walking.
One step.
Then another.
Every movement shook the earth.
The brother swallowed.
"Why is it coming here?"
Nobody answered.
The wolf passed the broken hunters without looking at them.
It wasn't interested in the settlement anymore.
It wasn't interested in the fleeing villagers.
It had chosen.
The younger girl looked at the Traveler.
Then at the enormous beast.
Her voice trembled.
"...Why you?"
The Traveler looked at the wolf.
His expression remained unreadable.
He didn't know.
But beneath his cloak—
the Anchor was burning warm against his side.
The wolf stopped.
Its three heads lowered.
Six eyes stared directly into the darkness beneath his hood.
For a moment—
the entire settlement seemed to disappear.
Only the Traveler and the beast remained.
Then the center head opened its jaws.
And the creature took another step.
Toward him.