The distance between him and the caravan wasn't short, yet Alpha maintained a safe margin—dozens of heavy steps away. He didn't trust humans, nor did he want to be seen. They had continued on after the monster massacre, unaware of what lingered behind them... or so they thought.
After nearly an hour of trailing them through the shadows, Alpha climbed a small rocky hill, revealing a scene vastly different from the abandoned forest he had grown used to.
Towering stone walls stretched before him, built with a precision bordering on arrogance. Iron pillars shaped like spears jutted from the top at sharp angles, resembling the fangs of a furious beast threatening to devour the sky.
Through the gaps in the wall, he glimpsed squat towers, some of which bore circular windows like prying eyes, silently watching the passersby from above.
At the summit flew the city's banners—red and black—blending warning with domination.
