The next day, the team continued their journey. This time Freya told Eli to walk on her own as Freya carried Astra with her. Eli ended up using her wind magic to keep up with the others.
"Hey, look over there!" Eli alerted the others.
On their way to their destination, they saw a little girl stuck on a tree. Below that said tree surrounding the girl were some hungry hyenas.
"We have to save her," said the witch.
Freya was quiet. She kept running without even a glance back.
"Why? That person is not our main objective," argued Lilith.
"But that's a little girl. She's probably the same age as Evan. We have to save her!" defended Eli.
"Human have overpopulated the earth. Losing a life will actually bring balance to the world. Besides human died everyday," answered Lilith.
"That's insane! Freya?"
But Freya ignored Eli and kept her pace. The witch looked at Astra. She knew Astra would feel the same as her.
"Frey, we should help that girl," Astra requested softly while stroking Freya's fur.
In an instant Freya changed her direction. She dashed towards the girl and that made her outside Lilith's magic range. With her body exposed she leapt towards the hyenas at lightning speed. Astra held on to Freya tightly so she won't fall down.
The wolf scared the hyenas. They backed off but they were not going anywhere. Freya prompted Astra to get down and help the girl. After making sure her mate was safe, the big white wolf chased down the hyenas away. Her overall big physique alone was enough to threatened the wild animals. A few bites and growls were enough to make the animals ran scared.
In the mean time, Astra helped the little girl down. There was hesitation, but the girl followed Astra in the end. Not a second later, Eli and Lilith decided to join the group.
"Would you please warn me the next time you decided to change course," Eli said.
Freya turned back to her human form. Sweat was obviously drenched her hair. The werewolf walked over to Astra who had the little girl hiding behind her.
"Are you okay?" Freya concerned as she touched Astra for any possible injury.
Astra simply moved Freya's hands away and chuckled. "I'm fine, Freya. Thank you."
Eli tried to approach the little girl, but she ended up hiding if possible even further behind Astra, out of reach from Freya or Eli. The witch felt dejected. Then she thought of another way.
"What is that spell again? The one to translate stuff," she openly wondered.
"Your word is my word. Let me hear as you hear. Let me speak as you speak," came Lilith's reply not long after that.
"Right."
Eli repeated after Lilith until the spell was casted. She tried to approach the little girl again. She tried to make her talk for the magic to work. But of course the girl stayed quiet and afraid. She only believed in Astra who saved her life, and Freya in her wolf form.
"We need to send her home," suggested Astra.
"How do we know where she came from if she doesn't even want to talk to us?"
"Come on, Eli. There has to be a way."
Freya approached the girl gently. She reached out her hand and actually smiled.
"May I?"
The little girl was hesitant, but there was something in Freya that made her feels save. She ended up took Freya's offer. Freya sniffed the girl's hand tracking her beginning. She stood up straight and moved left and right trying to find the girl's trail.
"There," Freya pointed east.
"Is that where your home is?" Astra asked using her hands to help.
The little girl timidly nodded her head.
"Don't worry. We'll take you back home," Astra smiled at the girl.
The group walked together. It was a long journey. By time the little girl warmed up with the others. She was still not talking, but she would play with Astra or Eli along the way. Though she knew not to approach Lilith, but sometime she would test her luck on Freya.
"She likes you," Astra whispered to Freya.
The werewolf smiled. "No, she doesn't. She's afraid of me."
"She keeps stealing glances at you, anymore and I might be jealous."
"I like to see you jealous over a child," Freya chuckled.
Astra puffed out her cheeks. "You also acted like that with Evan. Seriously why do kids like you?"
"I don't know. Why do you like me?"
Astra blushed. "I'm not a kid," Astra pouted.
Freya patted Astra's head. "Of course you're not. I love you more than I love any children."
After another 30 minutes of walking, they saw the village. The little girl ran away to her semi-nomadic house. The girls stood in amazement over this native tribe. The village could easily carry around 300 people and everyone was busy running their part.
Soon, the little girl returned while dragging what they assumed as her mother. The quiet girl finally talked. She told what Freya and the rest did to save her. Her mother showed a shock expression and looked at her daughter's saviors in disbelief.
Astra and Freya stood idly enjoying their conversation, even though they didn't understand. Eli with the help of her spell could easily catch up with it.
"Thank you for saving my daughter," the mother said to the group.
"It's nothing. We're lucky to be at the right place at the right time," replied Eli using the same language.
"The chief would gladly welcome you. Please wait until he and the hunters return," the mother offered.
"Of course."
The mother and daughter left them to theirselves.
"So?" prompted Freya.
"She is the kid's mom. She wants us to stay until the village chief returns," Eli answered.
"We're good to spend more time here?" asked Astra unsure.
"This place is near the werewolves mark. The chief probably knows something about it," said Lilith.
"Yes, what she said," agreed Eli for once.
Alright then let's wait for this chief," Freya finalized.
They waited until sun down before the hunting group returned. The little girl's mother took them to meet the Chief. It was easy to guess where his house is with how bigger and more complicated it was compared to others. The group sat humbly before the village chief as some women served them food.
"I am thankful for what you did for my people," the Chief began.
Eli was about to reply but Lilith cut her and said, "yes, they love to help those in need."
"Tell me what he's saying," whispered Freya to Eli who returned a nod.
"Please tell me what can I offer to return your kindness," offered the Chief.
"Ask him about the wolves," said Freya.
"We are wondering if you ever saw a wolf pack around here. Not just any ordinary wolf," asked Lilith.
The Chief looked surprised when he heard it. "There are rumors," replied the Chief. "Not many seen it, but they say there are wolves bigger than lions inside Serengeti. Legends said not even the fiercest animal dares to enter the dark plain where the wolves believed to live."
"Have you seen any of these wolves with your own eyes?" asked the witch.
The Chief nodded. "Once. He saved me from a lion by eating it. I ran before I became his dessert."
"Can you show us where it happen?"
"Sure. We can go after sun rise."
"Thank you, Chief," Lilith nodded respectfully followed by the others.
The four of the girls left the Chief's hut. They followed the girl's mother back to her house and spent the night there. It was quite small for 10 people that snuggled up together, but it should suffice at least for tonight.
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A/N: Another update finally. I'm still working on the other chapters please bear with me, but it's still running slowly. Anyways happy reading hope it worth your while. Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it and Happy New Year. See you next year for another update.