The group had not encountered major difficultie.
They had came across few lonely wild beasts but they were dealt with ease by the guards.
Bold one's try to attack them and got killed. Few beasts watching the numbers, fled away.
Dinner that night was a stew prepared from few vegetables with white deer meat in it. It smelled wonderful.
Alan's mouth started watering from the aroma.
Everyone started to have their dinner except for the couple of guards who kept a watch on the surroundings.
This night they had stopped at a riverbank. There was an open space of around 25 meters from the treeline to the running water. As it was summer, the water was running low.
The horses were tied to the trees on the edge of the forest.
Everyone were having a good time chatting and having their meal, when they heard a Howl not far from where they had camped.
Everyone became alert.
"Captain Kevin, get everyone to finish their dinner quickly and let them be on Alert." John said to the captain of their guard.
He noded and relayed the message to the guards.
Within a few minutes they finished their meal and started packing their food to avoid the aroma of it attracting more beasts.
The howl came again. But this time it sounded further away from their place. The guards looked somewhat relieved. John was discussing with captain Kevin regarding their next plan of action, when all of a sudden Alan tilted his head towards the place where horses were tied, then got up slowly.
"What's the matter Alan?" Helen asked. John and captain Kevin also observed him.
Alan was quite for a few seconds. He looked towards John and Captain Kevin and wispered. " Get your weapons, there are wild beasts approaching the treeline."
Both John and Kevin were shocked. Although a bit skeptical, they took out their swords and signaled the guards to do the same.
Eight guards took out their bow, knocked an arrow and waited for a clear view to take down their target. They were less worried about an attack from their back because of the river.
There was a loud howl. Which sounded less than a couple of hundred meters now.
Its a pack of Wolves, Kevin exclaimed!!!
Alan unsheathed his sword and shouted. "They are going for the horses". And then he started running towards that direction.
Be careful, Helen shouted. She looked worried.
John wanted to join them but, he was slower than he used to be at this age and he knew better to stay here and take care of others.
They felt frustrated. As they knew they will not be able to use their bow and arrow.
Kevin started to follow Alan and called 6 of his men to join him.They knew if they loose even a couple of horses it will impact their journey.
The Wolves which were stalking till that point started to run towards the horses with loud growls and howls...
It was a terrifying scene. The wolf's had the sheer size and momentum in their favor.The horses started to panic and tried to break free. Unfortunately they were propelt tied up which was a curse at that sotuation.
Alan reached the horses even before Kevin could take 3 to 4 running steps.
From this position he saw the Wolves running towars him swiftly. He took an offensive stance. He felt like his Sword was ready to dance with the death and shot forward like an arrow.
By the time kevin and his men came near the horses, Alan was already swinging his sword, almost 30 meters away.
Before the guards took another step, the head of the wolf which was leading the pack rolled onto the ground.
Alan continued moving like "Water flowing between the Boulders". He was unstoppable. Wherever he moved, a head rolled down or an wolf was cut in half. He looked like he was performing a ballet with his Sword.
He was moving so gracefully... The guards were unable to see where the first swing of the sword stopped and the next one began. It was an art. An art of death and blood.
Before the guards could even take 10 steps while staring at the scene unfolding in front of their eyes, Alan had killed more than 18 Wolves including the pack leader. And there was a profound silence.
Each Wolf was almost as big as their horses and the pack Leader was even bigger than a noble bread war horse.
Alan stood their, his eyes closed and his head held high. It was a sight to behold. Everyone there were shocked to their core. They felt they were in a dream.
Alan turned slowly toward them and started walking back. He passed by the guards who still were in shock and routed to their place.
While waking he noticed that he was completly drenched in blood. Blood was still dripping from his sword. He continued his walk towards the camp.
There was a silence there too. They had to deal with only a couple of stray Wolves which were taken care by the archers.
Everyone was watching Alan walking toward them with their mouth wide open.
Helen came to her senses before anyone else. She started panicking seeing the state in which Alan was.
"Alan, what happened? How are you my dear? Are you injured badly? Come here.... let me see..." Helen called towards him in a fearful voice. She started taking out her medicinal bag and cotton strips to treat Alan.