A bunch of folks rummaged through some lost grass in the middle of the glaring heat. Others utilized it for medicinal reasons, while others used it as a main meal. It's been weeks since the great village exodus.
Many locals became depressed since they didn't know what to do and had lost hope. "If the great chief had not died inside our village, he would have survived and led us; maybe we would have known what to do," one of the village survivors explained.
"We can't do anything; those bandits attack us unexpectedly and without hesitation." A lady embraces a bundle of grass and asks, "Why do those bandits attack us? Is it because we agreed to call an adventurer from the guild?"
After Screw and the adventurers leave the settlement, everything happens so quickly. They have the impression that someone is following their every move after they leave. They first assumed those were the creatures from outside the hamlet, and they were certain that the adventurers they had recruited would be sufficient to cope with them.
But as darkness fell, they attacked. They initially assumed it was a monster attack, but the true perpetrators were the kingdom's soldiers.
What prompted the troops to assault them? They may go negotiate first because there is no army; the only people who can fight are peasants who can defend their crops. They attempted to question the troops first, led by their chief villager. Unfortunately, before the conversation can conclude, he is stabbed in the heart, causing chaos in the town.
The troops did not capture, torture, or harm any of the civilians they witnessed. They only moved when an order was given, and they attacked anything and everyone, including children. Fortunately, several peasants are astute and flee with the others. After running for many hours, they come to a halt and regroup, making plans to flee and hide again, while some advise traveling to nearby villages or towns for assistance.
Others, however, rejected this concept; even if they knew which way to go, there were innumerable creatures who would chase them, and perhaps the military would have ordered them out.
A quandary gnawed at their hearts: they also had children to feed and protect. A lady said, "What happened to the person we sent outside the village?"
"Who?"
"The man in the bird mask," she said, "we sent him out with the adventurers, right?" She went on, "Does anyone know where he is?"
"Perhaps he's already dead?"
A man with a red nose said while stuffing some grass into his mouth, "Yeah, right, he never came back."
"Or maybe this has been one of his plans all along!" A man with a red cup and no brows remarked, "Listen here, folks, who's that man anyway?"
The man continues to stare at the other, adding, "He just popped up from somewhere, right?"
"Perhaps this was their plan all along!" He got up and waved his shoulder as if he were sure.
Others are mocking him; everyone knows Screw. He's been one of the best instructors and mentors to the villagers for many years, and he's greatly helped and improved their way of life.
He is also the one who advised that the adventurers be led beyond the forest. "Okay— Alright, I just said maybe he is, you know?" The man with the red cup and no eyebrows lifted his hand and yielded, knowing that if he kept pushing, he'd be dead for now.
Gura had overheard their conversations and knew that his master was still alive and well. She'll stay with the surviving villagers for the time being, and whenever her master returns, she'll accompany Lulu on their next journey.
"Gura?" Lulu says as she walks alongside her, "Are you okay?" "Yeah," Gura said, smiling. "I'm waiting for my master," she said, picking a random piece of purple grass and putting it inside her bag.
They go around for a time, plucking medicinal and edible grasses or fruits. They have no equipment or a method to assist others in hunting rabbit meat, so this is all they can do.
-----
Night.
It's a windy night, and a tiny campfire is in the midst of the gathering. "OK, this is all the food we had; it's not much, but it will help us gain energy for tomorrow's journey." A man with a broad shoulder smiled at everyone; he is the group's current leader. "Let's eat and prepare our belongings because we're moving again tomorrow."
"Where should we go? Are we going to the north-east?" an elderly guy asked. "Yes, we will," he said.
"We're going to ask for immigration in the next village we see."
"Will they allow us?" others questioned.
"Why wouldn't they?"
"Look at us? There are only a handful of people and children here."
"There's no harm if they help us, right?" The current leader offered; all of them agreed, and one by one, they walked to their different tents or resting areas to sleep.
During the middle of the night. A troop of wolves began to advance carefully; they first inspected their surroundings before moving to their present pack leader. When he saw the sleeping villages over the hills, he decided to howl.
A howl of death.
The people who were still alive heard this, woke up, and started getting ready to go or fight. All the man who were still strong enough to wield a machete sought to defend the other survivors, while the remaining women roused the remaining children and brought them outdoors to flee with them.
"What now?" Gura said, rubbing her eye. "Let's get moving, Gura; they're going to attack us," Lulu urged, pulling her hood up.
"By whom?"
"Wolves!"
"Ooh..."
"Haven't you heard their howling?" Lulu was taken aback by Gura's keen observation. Anyway, they both rapidly stuffed their belongings into their bags and dashed outdoors to join the fleeing villagers.
"Help!" screamed a man who had been bitten by a wolf. The other man rushes over and raises his stick to bash the wolf down, but two other wolves knock him to the ground. Both of them died helplessly.
For the last five minutes, a pack of wolves has been assaulting the helpless villagers before the pack leader arrived. Their leader sniffed the ground and looked in the direction of a fleeing group of humans. The leader smirked with excitement before howling again, sending a message that 'No survivors permitted.' All the wolves answered by howling in unison and proceeded to run in the direction where the remaining villagers had fled.
The remaining villagers are aware that they are unable to flee anymore, and when they heard another cry, a swarm of wolves began to run and chase them.
It's hard to believe because they know that once the pack of wolves has completed its kill, they will cease. But right now, that's not what's happening; they intend to wipe them out.
A wolf sprang and pounced on one of the kids. He cried for help, but no one came to his aid; everyone was running, terrified. A mother with a baby was the next victim to fall. They were slain one by one until there were just two children left alive. Gura and Lulu.
Lulu was helplessly terrified while screaming as she hid in the rear of Gura. "We were going to die!" she cried out. The little girl bravely geared up her weapon and said, "No, we are not going to die!"
While terrified, she raised her weapon high, ready to defend. A wolf lunged at her, and she bashed the animal's skull, knocking it to the ground. Another wolf followed, and she continued to strike their bodies without missing a single one. They all backed off, but Lulu's position was open, and the wolves took advantage of the situation to assault her.
Lulu and Gura were near each other yet appeared to be far apart. Lulu was bitten and pulled away from Gura.
She witnessed how they tried to devour her best friend; she didn't think twice and ran to help her, but it was too late. Lulu's body was covered with bite marks, and her neck was dripping with blood.
Dead. She's the last surviving survivor.
Gura, on the other hand, was bewildered by the circumstances; she didn't cry, get terrified, or feel sorry for what happened to Lulu.
She is composed.
Too relaxed.
In contrast to being terrified, she feels pleased. Even though she began to wonder if she was still sane, she quickly denied it.
She confronted the wolves with a sly grin. "You want me dead?"