Their feet splash in the water as they move through the creak. "Alatar, while we search, I've been meaning to talk to you," Ishan says as he struggles to keep up with Alatar's rigorous pace. Hearing no response from Alatar, Ishan continues. "I wondered, how can you multiply your spells like that without incantations or even hand signs? That has to be extremely draining on you."

"I have the mana to spare," Alatar responds with no hint of emotion. "A crazy mana pool? Quite a gift you on your hands-" Alatar cuts him off quickly. "Trust me, this isn't a gift. Nor is it something you want." Ishan looks at him with a look of annoyance on his face. "Damn, you could've just said you were born with it, plain and simple." Alatar turns and looks at him, coming to a splashing halt. He pulls out his gun and seemingly aims it at Ishan. Trying to quickly move his hands to cast his shield spell, Ishan's eyes widened. "Was what he said yesterday a lie? Did he intend to scheme with his Princess and take us as slaves? I have to stop him! I...I'm not fast enough...if only I kept my guard up..." He closes his eyes, bracing for impact. BANG! he hears as his ears begin to ring. Water splashes him in the face as he opens his eyes. He sees a creature of matted black fur with purple blood as it shakes and twitches from the shot.

"If you're going to hunt with me, keep your guard up." He kneels down at the wolf and takes out his broken blade. He carves into its chest and searches through it. "What...what are you doing?" Ishan asks with morbid curiosity. Pulling out a jagged crystal, Alatar washes it off in the water and stuffs it into his pocket. "Searching for proof." he cuts off the wolf's ear and sniffs it. "And for a scent." He gets up and sniffs the air. "The scent is coming from multiple directions...maybe it is a cave system around here somewhere." He shrugs his shoulders. "Then we'll choose one and follow it." This entire time, Ishan is just flabbergasted by Alatar. "Ishan." Alatar says as he looks at him, "You coming? More will be on their way soon, and I need you to not slow me down, or I will leave you to die." Ishan nods nervously as he follows quickly behind Alatar.

They follow the scent to a murky swamp hidden by the valleys. They look down and see a cavern entrance near the water bank, with three giant wolves guarding it. "Are they expecting us?" Ishan asks, "No, there's probably a food chain here. They might be the servants to the beast, but that doesn't mean they are the second strongest creatures here. The Griffin, for example, was probably one of the creatures that attacked them, so they protected their homes."

"So what now?" Ishan asks, "Isn't it obvious?" Alatar says, standing up and unsheathing his broken blade. "We add ourselves to the top of the food chain." He dives down towards them, tackling one to the ground. It lets out a Yelp! Affected by the bravado, Ishan stands as he chants and makes hands symbols. "Transmutation: Mage Armor!" Green energy flows around him as bark-like armor appears over his body. He dives down. "Guardian's Hammer!" He says, holding his hand to the sky as a manifestation of a bronze warhammer with a wooden hilt appears. He grabs it and slams it onto the head of the other dire wolf. Alatar repeatedly stabs the wolf and is tackled into the neck until it limps dead.

The last wolf growls at the both of them as Alatar stands, his hand and blade soaked in purple blood, and Ishan puts his foot on the crushed head of the wolf. "Run along, pup, run to your master." It barks at them as it runs into the cavern entrance. Alatar goes in first; with Ishan just a little behind, he lets go of his hammer, and it disappears, using both hands to prep another spell. Right when they enter, he holds his hands out. "Conjuration: Dancing FireFiles!" Light fills the cave, letting him see more clearing as they chase the wolf through a maze of passages, crushing bones and slaying any wolf in their path.

"Water? Where is this wolf bringing us?" Alatar thinks to himself as he feels the ground under get more damp as they descend further down; the smell of dirt fills his nose. The wolf howls as it echoes through the entire cave. Coming to the edge, the wolf jumps into the darkness below with a splash. Alatar's eyes glow orange as he dives down. "Alatar, wait! We don't know what's down there! I need a to make-" Orange flames burst outwards as they stick to the walls. He pulls his blade out of the wolf's spine. He stands and looks around the area. Ishan jumps down to join him. "Flame Magic? No...this feels different."

The ground is uneven and murky from the dirty water. Alatar and Ishan brace themselves for confrontation and see the multiple eyes from the orange glow; they hear a cackle from above as they look up to see a sickly-looking wolf peering down at them. "Ehehehe! Two lovely snacks have come to us, brother and sisters! Let's rejoice in the treat!" He says with a howl! "Let me introduce myself! I am Omega! And welcome to Shadowfang Caverns!" More dire wolves, some even grotesque-looking, slowly enter the light. "We've come to talk!" Ishan says, holding his weapon ready. Alatar doesn't speak, and the smell of sulfur and Demon's blood only makes his blood boil. His rage once again beats his heart and fills him with newfound life.

Omega cocks his head in confusion. "Talk? Oh really? Why didn't you say so? What did you want to talk about?" He says, resting his head on the ledge to listen. "We know you were put here against your will! We can work together and take the Demons out!" Omega scratches his chin, thinking. "Hmm...do whatever I want or help you...Tempting.." he smiles, "but I will have to go with the first option." He stands in the wrong way of looking confident. "Brothers! Sisters! Let the battle commence! Feast to your heart's content!" He howled once more as the others howled in response.

They rush towards Alatar and Ishan as they stand back to back. Ishan takes a deep breath to calm himself; on the other hand, Alatar seems to let out a low growl. Ishan rears his hammer back and begins twirling it towards a wave of wolves as Alatar rushes past one, slicing its left side open. While smashing the wolves together, Ishan dodges the other wolves as they try to lunge at him. "Focus...use your hammer and focus!" He channels his mana into the hammer as thorns begin to grow. "Hailing Thorns!" he shouts, swinging his hammer down, and in an explosion, thorns are sent flying out in every direction. Omega barely dodges most as some stabs into his nose, causing him to yelp and run away deeper into the cavern.

Alatar grabs a wolf by its snout, crushing it, as it throws it into the flurry of thorns heading his way. He notices a flux of Ishan's mana going into his weapon. Alatar looks at his sword and channels the same. "Orange Flame Blade." he rushes the wolves and cleanly slashes through them. Their yelping caused the wolves to back off a bit in fear. Ishan turned and looked at Alatar, noticing him doing the same technique. "Ah, Alatar! I saw that you-" CRUNCH! A giant, dire wolf bites Ishan's arm clean off, taking his weapon. Taking this opportunity, the wolves begin to focus entirely on Ishan. He screams as they begin to tear into him in a mindless frenzy.

Alatar eyes widen slightly as he runs. "Longstrider x5!" he whispers as he zooms over there as they maul him. With clean and swift precision, he turns them into burnt pieces of meat. Ishan lies there as the fire from Alatar's blade diminishes. He holds up Ishan with one hand and looks over his body. "T-They got me good...huh.." Before Alatar can respond, he continues, "I'm sorry...I-I let my guard down." He coughs up blood as he looks at his jagged arm. Howls can be heard as more wolves head their way. Alatar examines his body. "You can't use healing hands...so don't even try," Vorgrimm says as he looks at Alatar through the reflection of the bloody water. "Use Transfer Vitality," he says with a sinister smile. Alatar holds out his hand as dark orange mana flows from it. "There is a catch: using it on humans will corrupt them. Then, they'll eventually become a Demon. Then you, Alatar, will have to kill him." Vorgrim says, pointing at Ishan with a slight eyebrow raise. Alatar grits his teeth. "Damnit!" He says, putting his hand on Ishan's chest; he's no longer responding as his breathing begins to slow. Alatar looks at him, "I just need to get you to one of those golden royals..." Dark mana begins to flow into Ishan. "Dark Magic: Transfer Vitality." His wounds begin to heal slowly, and even his arm grows back. "Only enough to heal, but it'll take time. Let me handle these mutts. Conjuration: Mold Earth." He says as the walls swallow Ishan to protect him.

He pulls out the blade once more as wolves come back out. Past the ones he already sees, he can see countless eyes. "You can kill them all, but where does your army go?" Vorgrimm asks. Looking up, Alatar sees the entrance where Omega first showed himself. "Let the hunt begin," Alatar says, heading for the entrance. The wolves are just a little behind as they growl and bark for him. Running through, he swipes up some blood and sniffs it. "Out of all the wolves here, you're the one that stinks the most...like a skunk." He goes through the passage as he slices through the wave of wolves. Alatar even cuts some passages off using Mold Earth to not kill as many.

"Aww, poor Omega...let me see." A feminine voice coos at Omega. The much more significant and beefy wolf puts her paw on Omega's head. Bearing scars carved into its fur. She has soft eyes for Omega. "What has happened, dear?" Omega whimpers, "Intruders have made their way into the cave...They are ruthless and are killing our brothers and sisters! Beta! We-we need to get the Alpha!" The wolf, now known as Beta, offers a small smile at Omega. "They are probably being dealt with at this very moment. We cannot call for the Alpha. He is out with a band of our strongest mid-rank to make plans to finish the Bronze Castle."

Hearing four shots, Omega sees Beta's legs fold under her as they fly from her body. "So he's not even here? Then that means I have no use for you two." Alatar says, walking out of the darkness dripping with purple blood. His eyes filled with rage. "Demons...the smell always pisses me off." Omega scurries back in fear as Beta struggles to balance herself on her snubs. He puts the smoking gun in Beta's mouth. "Where is his location?!" He asks as the inside of Beta's mouth sizzles. Yelping and hollering in pain, Beta looks at Omega. Omega stands up slowly. "I'll tell you! Just don't-" CLICK! Alatar cocks the pistol back. "WHERE!" He shouts, causing the cavern to shake as rushing footsteps approach them. "In the rocky cliffs near the castle! There are caverns everywhere that we use to watch you!"

"..." Alatar pulls the trigger as Beta's head explodes, leaving Omega in shock. "You said you wouldn't hurt her!" He shouts in a mix of anger and fear. "I can't hurt her if she's dead." Omega watches as Alatar walks towards him. Alatar outstretches his hand to his face. "You're going to show me exactly where those caverns are, but first, we're making a quick pitstop."