Tundra Wolf Cubs

While the knights easily killed the adult Tundra Wolves, Louis and his party had already slipped swiftly into the pack's den.

"Light the torches," Louis said quietly.

Several hunters immediately took out their torches and lit them.

Warm orange light illuminated the cave's interior. Its walls were rough, and the air was thick with the rank smell of wild beasts.

Everyone scanned their surroundings and soon spotted their targets deep inside the cave.

More than twenty Tundra Wolf cubs huddled together, trembling.

They were all fairly small, with thick coats as white as frost and eyes full of fear of humans.

"So many cubs!" one hunter exclaimed softly in delight.

Aig licked his cracked lips, his eyes gleaming. "Once these little fellows grow up, they'll be first-rate hunters..."

A few cubs let out low growls at the group, trying to warn off the intruders, though their fierce little voices were almost comical.

When you were weak, even your anger looked cute to others.

"These little fellows have quite a temper." Aig chuckled.

"Come on, little ones. Have something to eat."

A hunter gently placed pieces of meat in front of the cubs cowering in a crack between the rocks, deliberately stepping back half a pace to seem less threatening.

The meat had been specially coated with a sedative brewed from herbs.

It would soothe the cubs and help them relax without realizing it.

A few of the bolder, hungry cubs sniffed the scent of meat in the air. After a moment's hesitation, they finally edged forward and began nibbling.

Seeing that nothing happened to their companions after eating the meat, more cubs soon joined the scramble for food, even pushing others aside with their little paws for fear of missing out.

Within two minutes, however, the calming herbs began to take effect.

After eating the meat, the once-alert cubs grew bleary-eyed. Some could barely stand, their little bodies swaying.

"We can start now," Aig said quietly.

"Be gentle. These are our future war wolves," Louis reminded them.

"Understood."

The hunters gently wrapped each cub in a hide to keep it from struggling out of discomfort.

A few cubs remained awake and refused to submit, wriggling desperately against the hunters.

But they were too weak and were soon tucked securely into leather bags.

Just like that, all twenty-odd cubs lost the ability to resist and were placed one by one in specially made leather bags that would keep them safe during transport.

The task was complete.

Looking at the cubs packed into the leather bags, Louis smiled. "Let's go."

The hunters immediately shouldered the bags, left the cave to rejoin the knights, and hurried back toward the fief.

Once the cubs were brought back to the Red Tide Fief, Louis ordered them placed in a wooden enclosure prepared in advance.

The enclosure was spacious, with a thick layer of dry grass covering the ground. Several soft nests made from hides had even been set up in the corners, imitating the pack's living environment to ease their anxiety.

Even so, the cubs remained wary after the sudden upheaval.

They huddled together, their furry ears pricked up and their small but sharp teeth bared, ready to defend themselves against any outside threat.

Louis stood before the fence, his gaze settling on the most distinctive cub in the center.

This cub was noticeably sturdier than its companions, with long limbs and a defiant look in its eyes.

Even as the other cubs huddled together and whimpered softly,

it stood tall, its sharp gaze sweeping over the humans outside the fence without a trace of a young animal's panic.

The presence it exuded from deep within made its difference from the other cubs obvious at a glance.

"This one," Aig said in admiration, having noticed it too, "has the makings of a wolf king."

"The makings of a wolf king?" Something suddenly occurred to Louis, and the corners of his mouth lifted. "Then I'll call you Cold Fang."

The cub's ears twitched slightly, as though it sensed the humans were discussing it.

Yet Cold Fang showed no sign of backing down and watched them warily.

"Aig, how do you think we should tame them?" Louis looked away and turned to the hunter beside him.

Aig tensed.

The question sounded casual, but there was a subtle hint of a test behind it.

He knew his lord was assessing his abilities.

Not daring to take it lightly, Aig quickly gathered his thoughts and answered respectfully:

"First, we need to make them dependent on us. The cubs need safety and food. We must make sure they see humans every time they're fed, so they come to recognize us as their providers.

"But that alone won't be enough. Wolf cubs are fierce by nature; taming them with food alone isn't realistic. They'll guard their food and may even attack people. We must use more direct methods to teach them obedience."

"What methods, exactly?"

"If a wolf guards its food, we must discipline it immediately. If it fights back, pin it to the ground until it stops resisting. In a wolf pack, strength makes the rules."

Louis nodded in satisfaction. "Go on."

Aig immediately perked up, his tension easing a little as he continued, "The second step is to establish order."

He pointed at Cold Fang. "Wolf packs have a clear hierarchy. This is the strongest cub, and everything about its build, bearing, and gaze shows that it was born to be a wolf king.

"As long as we tame it, the other cubs will naturally follow."

At this, Louis thoughtfully reached out and tapped the fence.

Cold Fang instinctively looked up and stared at him, a trace of wariness in its eyes, but did not immediately back away.

"So, what do you suggest?" Louis asked.

Summoning his courage, Aig said, "You should tame Cold Fang yourself! Only when Cold Fang accepts you as its master will they be absolutely loyal to you."

The moment he said this, the surrounding hunters all glanced at Aig in surprise.

Asking the lord to tame a wolf himself? That took more than a little nerve.

Louis, however, gave a knowing smile.

The Daily Intelligence System had once told him that Aig was a master beast tamer.

Now it seemed that was indeed true. The old man knew his stuff.

Louis slowly rose and patted Aig on the shoulder. "Very good. From today onward, you'll be responsible for all beast-taming work in the Red Tide Fief."

Aig froze for a moment, then uncontrollable excitement surged through him. He abruptly dropped to one knee. "I will not let you down!"

A few months earlier, he had been a wretch wandering the Northern Frontier, barely keeping himself alive by hunting.

Had Louis's party not passed by, he would probably have frozen to death in the snow.

Now, not only had he earned his lord's appreciation, but he had also been entrusted with an important duty!

And given this lord's character, he would certainly be well rewarded if he did a good job.

The hunters watching cast envious looks his way.

"Aig's struck it lucky..."

"No kidding. His standing will probably be different from now on."