Time slowly passed.
Outside the crevice, the Forest Wolves still stood guard.
Inside the crevice, we were all very weak.
Brownie remained unconscious, breathing shallow, chest barely rising and falling.
The three wounds on its back had stopped bleeding, but looked horrifying—almost exposing bone.
I leaned against the rock wall, pain everywhere, but at least my consciousness was clear.
Waspy lay nearby, wings drooping, occasionally glancing at Brownie, eyes full of worry.
"Gray..." Waspy said weakly. "Brownie..."
"It'll be fine." I said through gritted teeth.
But I wasn't certain myself.
Brownie had lost too much blood, wounds too deep.
If we didn't treat them soon...
I sank my consciousness into the space, searching through stored items.
Food, fruit, and some...
Right!
The soft moss we'd collected before, and some spider silk.
Things Brownie had used to arrange the space—perfect for now.
I took them out.
"Waspy, help me turn Brownie over a bit."
Waspy immediately crawled over, using its head to push Brownie, struggling to turn it sideways.
Now I could see Brownie's back wounds.
Three deep claw marks, blood congealed, but wounds still seeping.
I tore the moss into small pieces with my claws, gently pressing them onto the wounds.
The moss was somewhat damp, could absorb blood.
Then wrapped spider silk around to secure the moss.
Though crudely done, at least it would stop the bleeding.
I carefully observed Brownie's condition.
Breathing became slightly more stable, complexion not as pale.
I checked its panel.
[Brownie HP: 30/100]
HP stable at 30—no longer dropping.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
"At least... stabilized for now."
Waspy also relaxed. "Brownie will be okay, right?"
"Yes." I said. "It will definitely wake up."
All we could do was wait.
I leaned against the rock wall, looking outside.
The Forest Wolves still stood guard.
But I noticed they were taking shifts.
Earlier there were six.
Now only three.
The other three must have gone to rest or hunt.
"At least three will always be watching..." I thought.
That made escape slightly easier.
But only slightly.
Three Forest Wolves were still more than we could handle.
Time slowly passed.
Waspy and I took turns resting, watching out for each other.
Though the wolves couldn't enter, we didn't dare let our guard down.
Don't know how much time passed.
Maybe a few hours.
Maybe longer.
I felt drowsy—injuries and exhaustion made it hard to stay conscious.
Suddenly—
"Mmm..."
A faint moan.
I immediately opened my eyes.
"Brownie?!"
Brownie's eyes trembled, then slowly opened.
"Gray..." Its voice was very weak.
"Brownie! You're awake!" Waspy excitedly crawled over.
Brownie struggled to lift its head, looking around.
"We're... still alive?"
"Yes, we're all still alive." I said.
Brownie looked at the Forest Wolves outside—four were guarding now.
"They..."
"Still watching." I said. "Been over half a day."
Brownie fell silent for a moment, then looked at the wounds on its back.
Noticed the bandaged moss and spider silk.
"This is..."
"I did some basic treatment." I said. "Stopped the bleeding."
"Thank you..." Brownie said weakly.
"Don't mention it." I said. "How do you feel now?"
"It hurts..." Brownie gritted its teeth. "My back feels torn apart."
"Don't move yet." I said. "Let me get you some food."
I took out previously stored Burrow Rat meat from the space, along with some fruit.
"Eat something first. It'll help recover HP and magic power."
Brownie struggled to take a bite of meat.
Slowly chewed and swallowed.
After eating, its complexion improved somewhat, breathing more stable.
Waspy and I also began eating.
My jaw hurt when chewing, but I endured it.
Had to recover strength.
Magic beast meat contained magic power.
As food entered our stomachs, warmth slowly spread.
The pain from wounds lessened somewhat, magic power slowly recovering.
Though injuries remained, at least we weren't as weak.
We three ate silently.
Only chewing sounds in the crevice.
Outside, the Forest Wolves kept watch, occasionally growling.
After Brownie ate quite a bit, its complexion visibly improved.
It closed its eyes to sense.
"Magic power... recovered some..."
"HP is also recovering."
I nodded.
Magic beast meat was indeed effective—not only recovered magic power but also accelerated wound healing.
After more time passed.
Brownie ate more food, condition much better.
It took a deep breath.
"I... I'll heal myself first..."
"Right, your injuries are worst." I said.
Brownie closed its eyes.
"Vitality Bestowal..."
Pale green light emanated from it, wrapping around the three back wounds.
I could see the wounds slowly healing, flesh beginning to regenerate.
Though slow, they were definitely recovering.
The light lasted a while, then faded.
Brownie's back wounds had clearly improved, flesh slowly healing.
But magic power was nearly depleted.
Brownie gasped. "Still not enough..."
"Take it slow." I said. "Keep eating, heal more after magic power recovers."
Brownie nodded and resumed eating.
With each bite of magic beast meat, magic power recovered a bit, HP slowly increasing.
I watched, feeling relieved.
At least Brownie was awake and could heal itself.
We still had hope.
After more time.
Brownie ate lots of food, magic power recovered considerably, and healed itself again.
The back wounds had scabbed over—still painful, but no longer life-threatening.
"Much better..." Brownie said. "At least I can move now."
It tried standing—though trembling somewhat, it could stand steady.
"Gray, time to heal you." Brownie looked at me.
"You sure you have enough magic power?" I asked.
"Let me eat a bit more." Brownie said.
It continued eating, magic power slowly recovering.
Then crawled to my side, gently placing paws on me.
"Vitality Bestowal."
Warm green light enveloped me.
I could feel bones slowly healing.
The pain in my hind leg lessened, front paw could move slightly.
Wounds healing, HP recovering.
"Thanks." I said.
"We're companions." Brownie smiled weakly.
Waspy also crawled over. "Brownie, I..."
"Wait, let me rest." Brownie gasped. "Magic power consumption is too much..."
"It's fine, my injuries aren't serious." Waspy said. "You two recover first."
We continued eating, recovering HP and magic power.
Gradually, Brownie recovered some magic and healed Waspy once.
The wounds on Waspy's wings healed—it tried flying.
Though still a bit unsteady, at least it could fly.
All three of us were in much better condition.
Though not fully recovered, at least we could move.
I stood up—legs still hurt somewhat, but I could stand steady.
Looking outside, three Forest Wolves were guarding again.
They took shifts but always kept at least three watching.
I gritted my teeth, anger surging from deep inside.
"They almost killed us..."
"Almost..."
Waspy and Brownie looked at me.
"Gray..."
"I'm angry." I said, voice very low.
"They hunted us, pushed us to the brink."
"We almost died."
I looked at the Forest Wolves outside.
"Someday, I'll get revenge."
"But not now."
I turned to Waspy and Brownie.
"Now what we need to do is escape."
"Survive."
"Get stronger."
"Then..."
I didn't continue.
But Waspy and Brownie understood my meaning.
"How do we escape?" Waspy asked. "At least three Forest Wolves are guarding outside."
"And they're taking shifts, always staying vigilant."
"Can't beat them head-on." I said. "But we can outsmart them."
"Outsmart?" Brownie looked at me puzzled.
I nodded, looking at the three wolves outside.
"I have a plan."
"Misdirection."
I told Waspy and Brownie the plan.
"My magic power has recovered—I can use Spatial Dodge once more."
"I'll charge out first, draw their attention."
"Then use Spatial Dodge to gain distance."
"While they're confused, I'll release you two."
"We run in different directions, scatter their attention."
"Finally regroup at a designated spot."
Brownie said worriedly: "But your injuries aren't healed..."
"If they catch you..."
"They won't." I said. "As long as I can use Spatial Dodge to gain distance."
"With my speed, they can't catch me."
"Besides, we can't wait any longer."
I looked at the remaining food in the space.
Not much left.
"Food's almost gone. Our injuries improved somewhat, but can't fully recover."
"Rather than wait to die, better take a chance."
Waspy and Brownie fell silent.
They knew I was right.
"Okay." Waspy finally said. "We'll follow your lead."
Brownie also nodded. "Survive together."
I nodded. "Regroup point is the northern thicket."
"Terrain's complex there, good for hiding."
"If we get separated, meet there."
"Understood." Waspy and Brownie said in unison.
We rested a bit more.
Continued eating, recovering as much as possible.
Brownie healed us once more.
Combined with the magic beast meat's recovery effect, our condition improved considerably.
Though not fully recovered, this was our limit.
Brownie didn't have enough magic for more healing, and food was nearly gone.
Couldn't wait any longer.
I stood deep in the crevice, looking outside.
Three Forest Wolves currently on guard.
"Ready?" I asked.
Waspy and Brownie looked at me, eyes tense but determined.
"Ready."
I took a deep breath.
"Remember, run in different directions. Don't look back."
"Regroup at the thicket."
"Understood."
I put Waspy and Brownie in the space.
Then turned, looking toward the crevice opening.
Three Forest Wolf silhouettes clearly visible.
Every pair of eyes filled with killing intent.
"Come on..." I said quietly.
I started walking toward the opening.
One step, two steps, three steps.
Getting closer.
I could see the wolves' eyes now.
They saw me too.
Immediately alert, growling, ready to pounce.
I kept walking, reaching the crevice entrance.
Sunlight hit me—warm but also blinding.
Three Forest Wolves formed a semicircle, blocking the path.
The leader growled.
"Finally came out."
I looked at them, saying nothing.
Just breathing deeply, adjusting my state.
Then—
Run!