Hell...
To the many, especially those who follow a specific religion, it was a place meant for the damned after they died. A pit of eternal fire and eternal torture fit only for the most atrocious of people. That was hell.
Yet...
'When they said hell was below us, I didn't know they meant it literally.'
Yohan was still standing, seeing, hearing, feeling, breathing, and living. Yohan hadn't died yet. Yohan wasn't a terrible person. He was absolutely faithful to his religion and committed no crimes. Yet...
Yohan: THIS IS HELLLL!
That was the only way to describe this place he ended up in.
The pain he felt could be heard in his voice. It was so loud that several beings from afar lew away out of fright. They were winged beings that looked like birds. However, considering the place this was, it was far from the truth.
Yohan was afraid. In this hour, every moment was a death trap, to the point where it wouldn't surprise him if the air was a poison that was slowly killing him. When he survived one attack, another was ready to happen. Such was seen when that wolf appeared the moment he wasn't dangling on the cliff edge. He had only survived then because he was utterly weak, to the point where that weakness turned into luck, and now that same weakness would be his undoing. A weakness that couldn't deal with his next threat.
This was the same monster that caused him to lose his arm. If earlier ago, he couldn't survive through his own hands-- erhm, hand... then how was he going to survive against that wolf?
And so, they were at a deadlock, simply staring at each other.
Yohan brought his legs close together so that he wouldn't fall. His eyes were squinted so he could hold back his tears, and his hands were clenched into a fist so they'd stop shaking.
As much as he hated everything, he was also scared of everything, including that very wolf who he had every reason to kill. Just looking at that things hideous visage should've been enough to make his boil. However, he didn't have enough blood in him to boil anyway.
Meanwhile, the wolf, uninjured and quite healthy, took a stance as if ready to pounce on him at any moment. Why did it want to attack him?
After all, it hadn't been ordered to attack by its master. They would always wait and follow orders to the tee, no matter what. So why was it so defiant?
Yohan: Sneak...
Wait a minute, this wolf wasn't even hiding itself. Considering how close it was to the tall grass, it would've been natural for it to hide there, lying in wait for Yohan to take a step into it and catch him off guard. That was their operative. It was how these wolves worked. It was in their 'nature'.
Then again, did this wolf ever abide by that rule?
Yohan: Fuck...
The wolves would only attack him if it meant they would remain out of sight even in the event they did. That's why they attacked while hiding their form in the tall grass. That was why in the midst of a three pronged attacked surrounding him, they only attacked if his back was turned to them. They stuck to that operative through and through, even in death. However, this wolf never abided by that. The first time it appeared, it had attacked him head-on, going out of its way to jump out of the tall grass to reach him. It wasn't scared to show its face to him, despite it being a 'wolf' like the rest of its brethren.
Why did it differ from them? Was it simply an exception?
Yohan: Fuck...
That's exactly what it was. It was an exception to its own rules. Yohan had been able to predict the movements of the other wolves, but that didn't work with this one. Why it was like that was unknown. However, a situation where he couldn't predict its movements would be quite fatal.
Grrrrrrgggh -Sniff
It had then taken an offensive stance, ready to pounce on him.
Yohan: FUCK!
Instinctively, he closed his eyes and stretched his only arm out, inconsiderate of the possibility that he'd lose that one as well.
Immediately realizing the mistake of closing his eyes, he immediately opened them again, expecting to see that wolf in mid-air with fangs bared at him. However, it was still on the ground. His eyes were slightly blurred by his tears, but that black mass on the ground was unmistakably that wolf. Why hadn't it attacked him? It was clearly ready, still having adopted its offensive stance--
No, it actually wasn't an offensive stance. Yohan should've realized it at first. But he figured it out when he noticed that the wolf was closer to the bush than before he closed his eyes
Yohan: Did it take a step back?
That was exactly how it looked, considering there were footprints further in front of its paws. Why did it take a step back?
Grrrrh- Sniff.
'So it actually took a defensive stance?'
Why was it that this wolf took a defensive stance against Yohan of all people? Earlier ago, it had been the first and only one to take on the initiative of attacking him head-on, yet now, it wasn't so confident.
Grrrrh- Sniff- Sniff - Sniff.
Amidst its intimidating growl, the wolf couldn't help but sniff uncontrollably. Sniffing continuously as if it smelled something odd.
What did it smell? Yohan also caught a whiff of the smell to figure it out, but it wasn't the air around him that smelled bad
Sniff- Blegh.
It was actually him.
Yohan: G-G-Gosh, I stink.
It was understandable that he would stink a ton, though. He had been running, so he'd be sweaty. He'd pissed himself, so of course he'd stink of urine. He'd been injured, so he'd bleeding, not to mention being splashed with that putrid blood...
Yohan: Sniff - Wait...
Yohan then took a step closer to the wolf, and in turn, it took a step back.
Grrrh- Sniff Sniff.
It was, in fact, the blood that smelled so bad. As a matter of fact, this was the blood of the...
Yohan: So you're scared...
Earlier ago, when the monster had chased him, it blindly dived off of the cliff and into the hands of the giant. In turn, it was painstakingly crushed to death, blood spraying everywhere. And it just so happened that a ton of that blood ended up on him.
This was the smell of their leaders' blood.
Grrhh-Sniff.
They could smell it.
Yohan: Y-You're scared...
Back when he was hanging on that cliff, the giant had been killed. Though, it hadnt been him who killed it, but it was in fact the giant that did so, as hehad seen it with his own eyes. But did those wolves know the same?
Considering that he couldn't see the giant until he was on the cliff edge, anyone that was far from it couldn't have. This monster doesn't know who killed its leader, but someone happened to fit the bill just right.
Yohan: Y-You're scared...
Other than the giant, there was someone else present when the monster died and happened to have it's blood all over them. They had both ended up beyond the cliff, but only one of them came out. If it didn't know any better-- no, it didn't know better. In that moment, it believed only one person to be the one who killed its leader.
Yohan: ...Of me?
*****
Yohan had been terrified of the wolf standing in front of him. He had stood no chance against it. No amount of skill or luck would save him.
However, that same wolf also feared him, keeping its distance from Yohan.
Though when Yohan cracked a smile, it seemed to be on its own right about now. It continued to move toward the wolf, and in turn, it continued to move back.
Yohan: I-Is that so? Heheh...
When Yohan had climbed up, he had returned drenched in the blood of his enemy. However, he didn't kill it, yet this wolf fell for that exact misconception. It wasn't like him explaining that could change anything.
One thing was clear.
Rustle
Yohan: You guys too, huh?
He was the 'killer' of those wolf leaders, and he was feared for it.
*****
Originally, he had been the one backed into a corner, but now the tables have been turned. Inching closer and closer towards the wolf, he forced it to move closer and closer towards the tall grass.
Rustle.
That was the sound of something moving in the tall grass. And from his harsh experience with them, he knew what it was that hid there. But he paid them no mind.
His attention was only focused on the wolf in front of him, the one that dared to stand in front of him, now and before.
Out of all honesty, more than he feared it, he hated it. This wolf was the one at fault for him losing his left arm. It was completely gone, and he couldn't do anything to fix it.
But he realized that he could do something about it.
Yohan: Heh.
Inching closer and closer. His smile grew wider and wider. His hatred grew stronger and stronger. It was a feeling that grew more and more eerie. That was why the wolf's fear was so strong it could be seen in its eyes.
Yohan wanted it dead, but he couldn't really do anything. After all, readying a defensive stance, it would fight back against him if necessary. In that case, Yohan would die immediately since he was weak compared to it. The oppressive aura he emanated was a bluff formed by the fear he had culminated from it. So if that wolf were to attain the slightest sliver of courage, then it would be as good as a death sentence for Yohan. So, looking at it like it's time to die has come, he inched closer, and it moved back, until it was finally in the tall grass.
Yet he was sure of his own dearh much as the wolf was of its own . But he had to hide it completely. He grinned as if he were a villain ready to kill. Yet his stutter, which he struggled to hide, would've conveyed otherwise. He looked scary, but his fear was even worse. It took him all his mental fortitude to not take a step back instead of forward.
He had to keep up this facade, or else he would die. How long could he keep it up?
Rustle.
Yohan: You hear that...
Rustle.
That sound didn't come from that wolf footsteps but came from something else. That's when four golden eyes appeared hidden among the bushes.
He wasn't surprised that the number was four instead of six. He remembered that time he killed another one of the wolves who possessed two golden eyes out of necessity to survive a three-pronged attack that would've spelled the end for him.
Yohan: You're glad they're not dead, right? You're probably thinking they'll help you take me on.
Rustle.
He had been pursued by three of the four wolves and only killed one of them. He remembered that he only knocked them unconsciously.
They were also wolves who worked under the liege of that monster that 'he killed'. So, in essence, if this monster feared Yohan, then these other wolves must've also feared him. However, their fear was on another level. After all, he did kill their comrade in front of their very eyes, so of course they also believed in his capability to kill their leader.
Yohan: But bad news for you, buddy. I'm also glad they're alive.
Saved by a lie he built unintentionally, he maintained its validity through intimidation. However, he only needed to demonstrate his strength to instill fear in those other wolves.
Maybe they thought that running wouldn't save them. Maybe they thought that banding together wouldn't save them. Maybe they had come hear out of fear for reason...
To somehow convince him not to kill them.
Realizing this, Yohan took full advantage of this, and he wad quite lucky for them to hand themselves over on a silver platter.
Yohan wanted to kill the wolf who caused his arm loss. He needed to kill it. Yet, it risked him losing the facade and appearing weak in front of the wolves who feared him. Maybe they revered him, who would know.
But who said HE had to do it?
Yohan then pointed at the wolf, which he hated, and looked at the other two as if he were to command them.
Yohan: Attack him!
However, it produced no effect and only startled them.
He had a plan. He intended to make those wolves attack their own comrade, as they possessed the strength needed to do so in his place.
Considering that they all feared him, he believed that they would likely listen to his commands for the sake of not angering him.
Though, his plan failed.
Yohan: Ehrm-- I forgot you're not human.
Actually, there was a method. There was a way for him to order them to attack. Even in this short hour, he had become too familiar with it.
And so, drenched in the blood of their leader, he pointed his only hand at the wolf he hated, and at the top of his lungs, he uttered a dreadful command in place of their leader.
Like a tyrant, he took advantage of their fear and made them achieve his goal on his behalf.
"Wryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy"