The Sword Mage Without A Path

Chapter 4: Saved By A Yellow Path Mage

Fred woke up to a throbbing pain in almost every part of his body.

His spine still ached from sleeping on a tree, his arms burned from yesterday's battles, and his legs felt as if they'd been weighed down by large boulders since the day he'd entered the forest.

Fred sat up from his resting place underneath the tree and stared blankly out at the morning sky.

He'd always known becoming a swordsman would be hard work.

But nothing in his dreams had prepared him for this.

He stood up with a groan and stretched his arms, wincing slightly as he did so.

He checked his supplies, making sure there was still enough food and water for the day.

Once he'd assured himself that he wasn't starving, he picked up the one thing he'd brought with him into the wilds of the forest.

The metal sword was pitted and marred with the scratches and dents of yesterday's battles.

These weren't enough to dull the blade, but they were proof that the weapon had actually seen some action - and that Fred could no longer call it simply his own.

Fred wrapped his fingers around the hilt of the sword.

"If I want to grow stronger, I have to continue fighting."

He ate a small breakfast and packed his meager belongings before continuing into the depths of the outer ring of the woods.

This time, he was far more careful in his movements.

Yesterday's experiences had taught him a valuable lesson - not to underestimate any enemy, no matter how seemingly weak or harmless.

A wolf didn't care that Fred was a first-time fighter, and a horned rabbit didn't wait patiently for the young traveler to regain his balance after a stumble.

Every creature in this forest was determined to survive.

And that, Fred knew, was a lesson he needed to learn as well.

After several minutes of walking, Fred realized that the forest had changed.

He couldn't hear the screeching of birds overhead, and he suspected that the smaller animals had grown quiet as well.

The swordsman paused and took a few cautious steps forward, gripping the hilt of the sword in his right hand.

Something was wrong.

Deep within the woods, a low growl rumbled.

Fred turned sharply to face the sound.

Two wolves emerged from the trees.

The young man's eyes narrowed as he took in the sight of them.

These were larger than the ones he'd fought yesterday, and their dark-gray fur seemed to glisten in the morning light.

Muscles bulged in their broad shoulders, and their piercing yellow eyes never left Fred as they took slow steps forward, spreading out to either side.

Fred's heart pounded in his chest as he realized what they were trying to do.

"They're trying to surround me."

He took a step back until his spine pressed lightly against the trunk of a tree, angling his body so that the wolves couldn't sneak up behind him.

One of the beasts took a step closer, circling aroundFred.

He kept his gaze locked on the other one, watching as it paused a few feet away before taking another step forward.

The moment the wolf to his left lunged at him, Fred twisted away from the attack and brought his blade up in a sweeping arc.

Blood slicked the leaves on the forest floor as the beast staggered back, but it quickly recovered and turned to face Fred again.

Before Fred could react, the second wolf pounced forward, slamming a set of powerful claws against the flat of Fred's blade.

The impact forced him backward, but he gritted his teeth and shoved against the creature's chest.

It was stronger than he expected, and its jaws tore open, snapping hungrily at his arm.

Suddenly Fred pushed with all of his might, his fingers slipping off the hilt of his weapon.

The wolf's momentum sent it tumbling forward, and Fred used the opening to step sideways and lunge at the creature's exposed neck with his sword.

The blow would have been a killing one if the wolves' thick coats hadn't been as sturdy as steel. He stumbled back as the beast spun around, its glowing eyes locking onto him again.

Fred inhaled sharply.

He needed to end this and get out of this place before his body gave out on him completely.

The first wolf was already charging, and Fred raised his sword to block its attack when a second shadowy shape loomed behind him.

Pain exploded in his side as the wolf to his right tackled him, knocking the wind out of his lungs.

He hit the ground hard, and his sword skidded away a few feet, landing in the dirt a good distance from him.

The wolf that had been knocked back by Fred's first strike leapt forward to finish him off, but he twisted out of the way, rolling across the ground.

Claws raked at the sod, leaving deep trenches in the earth where Fred's head had been only a moment before.

He scrambled backward, trying desperately to reach his sword, but the other wolf was already spinning to face him.

Fred's fingers brushed the hilt of his weapon, but the pain in his side made it difficult to focus.

His vision swam as he forced himself up onto his knees, gripping the sword tighter.

The wolf bounded forward, and Fred met the charge with a desperate lunge, driving the tip of his blade straight into its chest.

The creature crumpled to the ground, and Fred stood over it for a moment, catching his breath.

Then he turned his gaze to the second wolf, which was already sprinting toward him.

Fred raised his sword, but a blur of yellow forced him to throw himself out of the way just in time.

The shock of impact sent another wave of pain through his side as the wolf's jaws clamped down on his shoulder, sending him sprawling backward.

As his vision swam, Fred's gaze fell on something far more terrifying than the wolf coming toward him.

Lightning was crackling and popping around the creature's limbs, and a pale yellow glow outlined the beasts head.

Fred's breathing came faster, each inhale burning deep in his lungs as he struggled to shove his sword into the creature's heart again.

The pain made his fingers slip, and the sword clattered to the ground just as the wolf's claws raked at his stomach.

Fred's whole body went numb as the wolf reared back to deliver a killing blow.

But just as the creature's jaws came down on him, a sharp crack split the air.

Fred's heart stopped as a single bolt of yellow lightning arced across the space between them, slamming into the wolf's chest.