Debauchery In A Woman's World

The howl reverberated through the Orc camp like a thunderclap from the underworld. Even Ethan felt chills racing down his spine despite the poison sapping his strength. There was something familiar about the howl.

Garkash's axe missed Ethan's neck because of the disturbance, instead getting lodged in the conjugal mast. The Orc leader's grin faltered as the howl echoed again, closer this time, accompanied by blood-curdling screams from the southern gate.

[HP: 28/100]

Ethan's vision swam as the world tilted in a haze of green-skinned faces and flickering torchlight. What the hell was that? His mind, foggy from blood loss, latched onto the sound like a lifeline. Wolves? Here?

Orcs weren't exactly pet owners and ate anything that moved. Normal wolves would be scared to come near them.

Garkash abandoned his ax, and his beady eyes narrowed toward the chaos erupting at the camp's edge. "What the fuck is that racket?" he bellowed. "Wolves?"

Jibreel, the shaman, clutched his staff tighter, anxiously. "The energy I feel is not mortal. There is no doubt about it! They are minions of the Chaste Devil! Dark Nymphs!"

The shaman's words ignited panic among the Orcs like dry tinder. Even Garkash's face paled on hearing the name.

From the south, the air filled with the wet crunch of bones and the wetter spray of green blood. Orc sentries yelped and died, their bodies hurled through the air like ragdolls.

Dark Nymphs? Ethan was immediately reminded of the plant monster that tried to eat him back in Cromwell Castle. But then, Beatrix and Athena also accused Artis Lupine of being a Dark Nymph.

Three massive shapes burst through the palisade fence. They were hulking, snarling silhouettes, each the size of a warhorse. Their monster eyes were glowing like flames in the night.

The first wolf was midnight black. Its jaws snapped shut on an Orc archer's torso, bisecting him with a casual chomp. The second was silver-furred and lean. It leaped onto a cluster of spearmen, its claws tearing through weapon and armor like parchment.

The third was a gray brute. It barreled into a tent line, collapsing structures and trampling the occupants beneath.

The Orc crowd on the central platform erupted into chaos. Moments ago, they had been vicious themselves, chanting for Ethan's head. Now they scrambled for weapons to save their lives.

Garkash spat a curse. "Jibreel! I don't care if they are Dark Nymphs or holy spirits! Redirect the warband and crush these flea-bitten curs before they reach us! The Queen has escaped, but we can't lose the camp to beasts!"

Jibreel did as he was told, and half the nervous Orcs moved to meet the wolves head-on.

Ethan, forgotten in the confusion, forced his head up. The poison clawed at his insides, but the pain sharpened his senses. Through the stampede, he tried to see the wolves more clearly.

Dark Nymphs or not, their arrival had saved his life. Right now, with hundreds of Orcs moving in the direction, many paths were opened for him to escape. The only problem was that Ethan was too weak to move. And if he did, Garkash would just stomp him to death anyway.

Suddenly, a fourth shape appeared. It wasn't as large as the three monsters but moved faster, without attacking the Orc. Its fur was dirty lime green.

This wolf didn't charge blindly but weaved through like the wind. As it approached, its golden-green eyes locked onto Ethan. Recognition hit the boy like a bolt from the blue.

Artis Lupine!

What was she doing here, especially with three monstrous wolves? Were they her allies?

The green wolf bounded up the platform steps in two leaps, her paws cracking the wood into splinters. Up close, she was a nightmare of beauty and terror.

Artis lowered her massive head, nuzzling his side roughly. Her rough tongue licked the wound on his face. It burned, but the contact brought him hope again.

"You came to save me?" he muttered, gripping a fistful of her coarse fur. The wolf responded with another beastly lick to his face.

Ethan smiled bitterly. With a Herculean effort, he hauled himself onto her back. She growled, but didn't buck him off. Instead, she turned, and her muscles coiled like springs.

The camp was a madhouse. Orcs clashed with the three monster wolves. Perhaps they would eventually overwhelm them. Jibreel was busy chanting, possibly preparing a special spell to counter them.

AWOOO! Artis howled and jumped off the platform. The three monsters, on hearing the call, abandoned their rampage and galloped towards her.

Ethan clung on for dear life. The world blurred as the green wolf weaved through tents and cookfires. Arrows whistled past his ear, some of them embedding themselves in Artis' hide. She snarled, but didn't slow down.

Ethan squinted through the pain. As they neared the gate, he saw Beatrix and Athena fighting back-to-back against a group of Orcs. They were minutes away from being overwhelmed.

"Ethan!" Beatrix shouted, spotting him first. Her silver-blue eyes widened in relief as she blasted off a barreling Orc with fire. "You idiot! You were supposed to return after reconnaissance!"

Athena swung her massive blade, chopping off an Orc's arm. "Are you riding a wolf? What's going on?"

"There's no time!" Ethan yelled back. Artis skidded to a halt, her beastly flanks heaving. Behind them, the three mighty wolves broke free from the camp's edge, their muzzles dark with blood. They had numerous arrows sticking out of them, and it was likely that they had been sliced as many times with axes.

The remaining Orcs were overwhelming Beatrix and Athena in their fight. But the wolves' arrival turned the tide. The black one pounced on the lead Orc, its jaws clamping around his throat in a spray of blood.

The silver hamstrung another with a bite, taking the entire leg off. The gray beast barreled into the group, sending bodies flying like pins.

Ethan waved frantically as he approached the girls. "Ride the wolves! Bet on! They're with us!"

Beatrix looked scandalized. "Ride the wolves? Have you lost your bloody mind? Do you realize they are giving off Dark Nymph vibes!"

Athena chimed. "Ethan, they're beasts! Have they controlled you with sorcery—"

"Just do it!" Ethan barked, the effort costing him a fresh wave of dizziness.

[HP: 19/100]

Artis growled in agreement. The wolf pack fanned out, circling protectively, herding the women toward them.

Reluctance spread on Beatrix's face, her stubborn fear and pride clashing with survival instinct. But as she watched a hundred other Orcs coming towards them as reinforcements, led by Garkash himself, she vaulted onto the silver wolf, gripping its fur like reins.

"Fine! But if this mangy mutt tries to eat me, I will burn it to a crisp!"

Athena sheathed her sword and leaped onto the gray wolf with fluid motion. "We have no choice but to take the risk, Bea!"

Ethan pulled on Artis Lupine's fur and grabbed her in a desperate hug as his senses started slipping. "Let's go! Faster!"

The black wolf was riderless. It snapped at the last Orcs, buying them seconds. The green wolf galloped forward, leading the other three.

The pack surged on as one, through the northern perimeter and outside the gate. In a minute, they had disappeared into the forest's embrace, followed only by Garkash's scream for revenge.