The night was as dark as ink. The moonlight spilled onto the grass of the wilderness, casting light on the black wolf sleeping beside Kale. The wolf curled up at his feet, its chest rising and falling steadily. Occasionally, its ears twitched slightly, as if it was still immersed in a dream.
By the campfire, Alan leaned against a withered tree, holding his bow and vigilantly staring into the darkness in the distance. The woman sat on the other side, quietly wiping her blade. The firelight reflected on her face, revealing both her calm demeanor and a lingering trace of worry.
Kale looked down at the wolf pack, his heart filled with mixed emotions. This was the third wolf that had been eroded by darkness and saved by him. Every time he brought back their consciousness, Kale could feel his power being gnawed at by the darkness, and it was as if a crack was gradually widening in the depths of his soul.
"Kale," the woman's voice sounded in the night, gentle but tinged with a hint of doubt. "You can't go on like this."
Kale didn't look up. He gently stroked the black wolf's forehead. "I know what you're worried about, but if even I'm not willing to save them, the wolf clan might really be destroyed."
The woman was silent for a moment. Finally, she put down the knife in her hand and sighed. "You're too stubborn. Although the wolf pack is important, you also need to take care of yourself."
Alan interjected from the side, his tone slightly teasing. "Did you hear that? If you go on like this, one day you'll collapse, and then no one will be able to save you."
Kale gave a faint smile. "Maybe. But at least before I collapse, I can save more of my kind. That's enough."
As soon as the words fell, there was a faint rustling sound from the grass in the distance. Alan instantly tensed the bowstring and stared intently into the darkness. "Who's there?"
The grass swayed, and a thin figure slowly emerged. It was a ragged boy, around thirteen or fourteen years old, carrying a worn-out water bottle in his hand. His face was covered in mud, and it was obvious that he was in a very sorry state during his escape.
Kale stood up and walked towards the boy, but Alan quickly stopped him. "Wait a minute. Be careful of a trap."
"He's just a child," Kale shook his head. He stepped closer to the boy and stopped a few meters away from him. "Who are you? Why are you here?"
The boy looked up at Kale. There was caution and fear in his eyes, but he didn't answer. Instead, he took a step back.
The woman walked forward slowly and said softly, "Don't be afraid. We won't hurt you."
The boy hesitated for a moment and finally spoke. "I'm from the village..."
Kale's eyes flickered. "Which village?"
The boy lowered his head, his voice weak. "Moon Shadow Village."
Kale and Alan exchanged a glance, and their hearts sank. Moon Shadow Village was the place they had passed by, and it was also one of the villages rumored to have been attacked by black wolves.
"How many people are left in the village?" Kale asked in a solemn voice.
The boy gritted his teeth. "Most people escaped... But my parents... They were killed by wolves."
Hearing this, Kale's fist clenched slightly, and a trace of pain flashed in his eyes. He slowly squatted down and gently patted the boy's shoulder. "I'm sorry. We couldn't save your village in time."
The boy kept his head down, clutching the water bottle tightly, his knuckles turning white, and tears welling up in his eyes.
"But if you're willing, I can escort you to a safe place," Kale continued, his tone gentle.
The boy was silent for a long time and finally nodded heavily.
At dawn, the four of them set off together, heading towards the nearby refuge town. Kale walked at the front, the boy followed closely behind, and Alan and the woman stayed at the back, keeping an eye on the surroundings.
Along the way, the boy rarely spoke. He just silently followed, occasionally looking down at his worn-out shoes.
"What's your name?" The woman tried to start a conversation with him.
The boy answered in a low voice, "Yar."
The woman smiled. "Yar, nice to meet you. You're very brave to have escaped from the village alone."
Yar didn't respond and just continued walking with his head down.
Alan shrugged and whispered to the woman, "Don't bother. This boy's heart is filled with fear and hatred."
Kale heard Alan's words but didn't respond. He understood how Yar felt and also understood the pain of losing a loved one, because he had experienced the same suffering.
When they reached a small stream, they took a short break. Yar squatted by the stream, washing the mud off his face with water, revealing his delicate but slightly thin face.
Kale walked up to him and looked at the reflection of the two of them in the stream. He slowly said, "You hate the wolf clan, don't you?"
Yar's hand trembled slightly, and a trace of anger flashed in his eyes. "Of course I do! If it weren't for their attack on the village, my parents wouldn't have died..."
Kale let out a soft sigh. "I understand how you feel, but the wolf pack isn't as brutal as you think."
Yar suddenly looked up. "Then why did they attack us?"
Kale was silent for a moment and then slowly said, "They didn't do it voluntarily. The darkness is corrupting the wolf clan and making them bloodthirsty."
Yar frowned, obviously not quite believing it.
Alan walked over and sat down beside them. He smiled and said, "What Kale said is true. We've saved quite a few wolves recently. If the dark power can completely disappear, they might return to peace."
Yar clenched his fists tightly and said in a low voice, "But my parents are already gone."
Kale slowly squatted down to look him in the eye. "That's exactly why you should live on. Use your own eyes to see for yourself that one day the darkness will fade away, and you can also find a new home."
Yar looked up at Kale, and there seemed to be a glimmer of light in his eyes.
When dusk fell, they finally reached the refuge town. At the town gate, the guards stopped them.
After Kale explained their purpose, the guards let them in and took Yar into the town.
Before Yar left, Kale gently patted his shoulder. "Live on. That's what your parents would have wanted to see."
Yar looked at him, nodded heavily, turned around, and entered the town, gradually disappearing into the afterglow of the setting sun.
Kale looked at his back. The woman beside him said softly, "You did a good job."
Kale replied softly, "If I can't even save him, how can I save the entire wolf clan?"
Under the setting sun, the three of them continued on their journey, walking towards the deeper darkness.