He had already drawn blood, and even with their simple minds, the ogres instinctively recognized him as the most dangerous opponent on the battlefield.
The three ogres focused their attacks entirely on Zion, refusing to let him draw any closer.
"Zion... are you okay?" Addison called out as she rushed toward him. She quickly scanned the battlefield, relieved that she had reminded the warriors earlier to stay on guard.
Knowing she intended to check on Zion, they coordinated to draw the ogres’ attention away from her as they feint attacks, circling, and pressing just enough to keep the monsters occupied.
But even then, they couldn’t close the distance. Unlike Zion, they lacked both his agility and his raw strength, so their efforts were mostly distractions. In the end, he remained their main attacker, the one they all relied on.
Addison skidded across the ground, sliding to Zion’s side before immediately checking his condition. His chest rose and fell in heavy breaths; fortunately, he was only temporarily knocked out.
Relief washed through her, but she quickly set to work, running her hands over his body and checking his vitals, searching for any sign of broken ribs or bones.
"Zion, hang in there..." she murmured, her palms brushing over the thick, soft fur of his sides and belly.
That was when Zion’s massive wolf eyes suddenly flickered open. He fixed her with a sharp, knowing look, and for a split second, Addison swore she could hear him saying: ’Don’t take advantage of me while I’m unconscious. Do it when I’m wide awake.’
Startled, Addison froze and quickly raised her hands in surrender, cheeks flushing.
"I was just checking if you had any broken bones," Addison clarified quickly, meeting Zion’s piercing gaze. She watched as he pushed himself up, staggering slightly before giving his massive head a hard shake, trying to steady himself against the dizziness.
"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice laced with worry as she hovered close, ready to catch him if he fall.
Zion gave Addison another long look before leaning in to lick her cheek, as if to wordlessly reassure her not to worry. He took a moment to steady himself, the blow still making his head swim, but he masked the discomfort with a teasing glint in his eyes, letting her know it wasn’t as bad as it looked.
Within seconds, his wolf’s healing ability worked through the lingering pain, and his strength returned. With a sudden burst of energy, Zion darted forward and threw himself back into the fray, while Addison remained where she was, watching the battlefield with thoughtful eyes.
Once Zion rejoined the fight, the crushing pressure on the warriors’ shoulders eased. They shifted their focus to supporting him without getting in his way, knowing full well that forcing themselves too close to the ogres would only lead to injuries, and worse, force the others to waste time rescuing them.
From Addison’s earlier words, it was clear she didn’t want needless casualties right now. So the warriors held their ground, biding their time, surviving the onslaught while letting Zion take the lead as their main attacker, ready to strike only when he created an opening.
"Grrr..." Zion snarled, his irritation rumbling through the air as he threw his challenge at the ogres. Their attention snapped back to him at once, and they lumbered forward, closing the distance one heavy step at a time.
Thud...
Thud...
The ground trembled with every step, each footprint gouging deep into the earth. Their weapons dragged behind them, carving harsh lines into the dirt. Then, without warning, the first ogre swung the massive uprooted tree it carried straight at Zion.
He darted left in a blur, instincts razor-sharp. Dodging or leaping wasn’t an option because the tree’s roots, still clotted with soil, twisted and jutted like snares could easily cover a wide area.
One misstep could have left him tangled or crushed in an instant. Better to stay clear, circling wide to keep his distance.
But just as Zion darted out from the left flank, the second ogre was already there, swinging its two massive clubs as if it had been waiting for him all along. The twin weapons came crashing down toward him like hammers meant to pulverize the earth itself.
Zion’s teeth clenched; he’d almost been caught by this same ogre once before.
Zion spat the torn flesh from his jaws with a wet thwack, leaping back to gain distance. The three ogres regrouped, hulking forms pressing close together as they guarded one another. In response, the corner of Zion’s wolf’s mouth curled upward into a taunting smirk, his golden eyes gleaming with challenge.

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