Chapter 75 - 075: Wolfrine

Kai looked ahead and slowed down "I think we are close."

Anaria adjusted the baby against her chest and looked toward the distance.

A large wooden wall appeared between the trees.

Beyond it stood tall wooden structures, wide pathways, and many people moving around.

Anaria’s eyes widened "That’s Wolfrine?"

Kenai nodded"It looks bigger than Ravenfall."

Much bigger.

As they approached the entrance, Anaria noticed several guards standing near the wooden gate. Unlike Ravenfall, there were beastmen of different appearances entering and leaving freely. Some had horns, some had tails, and others had ears that clearly belonged to different beasts.

Merchants pulled carts loaded with goods while travelers carried bags over their shoulders.

Nobody stopped them for being outsiders.

Anaria looked around as they entered.

Wolfrine was beautiful.

The settlement was still made of wood, stone, leaves, animal skins, and other materials that suited their primitive world, but everything was arranged carefully. The paths were wider and cleaner, the houses were larger, and there were more structures than she had ever seen in Ravenfall.

Then she saw the market.

It stretched across a huge part of the settlement.

There were stalls everywhere, filled with dried meat, fruits, herbs, animal skins, tools, weapons, jewelry made from bones and stones, colorful fabrics, pottery, and strange items Anaria had never seen before.

Beastmen from different clans moved through the market, talking, bargaining, and exchanging goods.

Anaria stared for a moment "This place is really lively."

Kai chuckled "You sound surprised."

"I am."

Kenai looked at her "You want to look around?"

Anaria glanced at the market again before shaking her head.

"Another time."

Her expression became serious "We’re here for Rylan."

Kenai nodded "Then let’s find out where he is."

They moved deeper into Wolfrine.

Instead of asking everyone directly about Rylan, Anaria decided to be careful. She did not know who could be trusted, and she had no idea what had happened to him after he disappeared.

They started with the merchants.

Kenai approached a stall selling dried meat while Anaria and Kai remained a short distance away.

"Have you seen a wolf beastman around here recently?" Kenai asked casually.

The merchant shook his head "Many wolf beastmen pass through here. Which one?"

Kenai described Rylan.

The merchant thought for a moment before shaking his head again. "No. I don’t remember seeing him."

Kenai thanked him and walked away.

They tried another stall Then another but the answers were the same.

Some people had seen wolf beastmen. Others had heard travelers mention wolves from distant clans. But nobody knew the wolf they were describing.

Anaria grew increasingly frustrated.

She shifted the baby when the child began moving against her chest.

"She’s getting restless," Kai said.

"I know."

Anaria gently patted the baby’s back.

The child quieted for a moment before making another small sound.

"We should find somewhere to stay first," Kenai said.

Anaria nodded.

They could not keep walking around with the baby and their bags while searching.

They eventually found a modest place where travelers could stay. It was not luxurious, but it was clean enough and gave them somewhere to rest.

After settling inside, Anaria placed the baby down on a soft covering while she unpacked their supplies.

The child immediately began moving her little hands.

Anaria smiled "You finally decided to wake up properly."

Kai sat nearby "She has been sleeping most of the journey."

"She must be tired of being carried."

Kenai placed their food beside them.

"Then we should let her rest while we figure out our next move."

Anaria nodded, but her thoughts were already elsewhere.

Rylan was somewhere in Wolfrine. She was certain of that but the problem was finding him.

Anaria sat beside the baby while Kenai and Kai went over the information they had gathered.

"Nothing," Kai said.

Anaria looked up "Nothing at all?"

"Nothing useful," Kai replied. "Most people don’t know anything about him."

Kenai leaned against the wall"We need to change how we’re searching."

Anaria looked toward the entrance of their room.

The noise of Wolfrine’s market could still be heard outside. People were constantly moving through the settlement, but somehow, none of them had given them the answer they needed.

She had expected finding Rylan to be difficult. She had not expected it to be this difficult.

The baby suddenly began whining.

Anaria picked her up and held her against her chest "What’s wrong?"

The baby moved her face against Anaria’s chest, clearly hungry.

Anaria sighed softly"Alright. I understand."

She settled down and fed the baby while Kenai and Kai continued talking quietly.

Afterward, the child remained against her chest, one tiny hand resting against Anaria’s skin.

Anaria looked down at her before speaking "We can’t keep asking random people."

Kai nodded.

"Agreed."

"Rylan is royal," Anaria continued. "If he really belongs to the Wolfrine Clan, someone important must know about him."

Kenai looked at her "You think we should find someone with authority?"

"Yes."

"But that could be dangerous," Kai said. "If the wrong person hears us asking about him, they could become suspicious."

Anaria knew he was right.

She had no idea what kind of situation they were walking into. For all she knew, the person responsible for Rylan’s disappearance could still have people searching for him.

"We need information without exposing ourselves," she said.

Kenai nodded. "Then we start with the people who know what happens inside Wolfrine."

Anaria looked at him. "The guards?"

"The merchants who have been here for years," Kenai replied. "Hunters. Travelers. Anyone who regularly moves between clans."

Kai nodded."That gives us more chances without asking about Rylan directly."

Anaria agreed.

They would need to be careful. For now, though, they had to rest.

The journey had exhausted all of them, especially with the baby needing constant attention.

Anaria looked down at the child sleeping peacefully against her. "We’ll continue tomorrow."

Kenai looked toward the door. "Tomorrow?"

"Yes." Anaria adjusted the baby carefully. "We’ve finally reached Wolfrine. We aren’t leaving until we find him."

Kai smiled faintly. "Then tomorrow, we search differently."

Anaria nodded, She looked around their small room.

It was not home, and she did not intend to stay there for long. But for tonight, it was enough.

They had reached Wolfrine, they had found the clan they had been searching for. Now they only needed to uncover where Rylan was hiding.

Anaria settled the baby beside her and finally allowed herself to rest.

Outside, Wolfrine remained lively, with merchants calling out to customers and travelers moving through the market late into the evening.

Somewhere within the same settlement was the answer they had been searching for.

Anaria just had to find it.