### 329

Blinking the sleep from your eyes, you scramble to your feet and reach to your weapons. ‘Stand back to back,’ whispers Jarel, his keen eyes peeled for a sign of the beast among the densely packed trees. You remember hearing tales of the Taintor wolves during your travels through Eru, of their cruelty, speed, and savage cunning. At the time you thought the stories were greatly exaggerated, but now you are not so sure.

‘There, over there!’ hisses Jarel, pointing to a knot of pines with the tip of his sword. A scream rises from the darkness, which becomes a howl, high-pitched and horrible. The dark foliage rustles, and then a massive wolf-like creature bursts into view and runs towards you, its eyes rolling and its long, yellow fangs gaping wide.

If you have a Bow and wish to use it, turn to 70.

If not, turn to 187.