Luna figured it out!

  Well – almost.

  First, she stumbled. Then she got up.

  Then she ran. A lot!

  Now she padded back toward her pack, tongue hanging loose, tail wagging weakly, fur matted and full of adventure. Each pawstep wobbled. Her breath came in happy wheezes.

  “Second!” she barked dramatically. “Luna tired!”

  Syl looked up from her travel pack, one brow arching over a soft smile.

  “Oh, are you now?”

  “Yes! Ran far! Fastest! But Luna tired. Little tired. Maybe small nap tired.”

  The elf’s expression stilled, thoughtful. Instead of teasing, she reached forward and ruffled Luna’s head-fur.

  Her fingers brushed the spot behind her ear – dangerously perfect, unfairly precise!

  Luna melted.

  “Mmh. Yes. Right there. Luna reward for hard work!”

  Syl chuckled.

  “Poor fastest wolf. Here, maybe this will help.”

  She rummaged in her satchel and pulled out a small glass vial, its contents shimmering a deep yellow under the morning sun.

  It smelled odd. Sweet, earthy, and slightly burnt – burnt soup and dirt pretending to be fancy.

  Luna sniffed.

  “Weird smell.”

  “Stamina potion,” Syl said. “It’s not meant to be tasty. Just meant to work. Though some use it like energy tonic, even mixing it with coffee…”

  Syl shuddered at that thought, but Luna just titled her head. She didn’t know what that ko-fee thingy was, or why her Second would react like that.

  But most importantly!

  “So… chew or drink?”

  “Drink.”

  Syl popped the cork and gave Luna to sip on.

  “Ooooooh…”

  Untingly tingly! Not spicy-tingly or mana-tingly, but buzzy, earthy, full-body sparkle-tingly! Her fur prickled. Her paws twitched. Her eyes went wide, shining with renewed vigour.

  She could feel it starting to course through her body fast, almost as fast as Luna!

  “Luna feels… awake!”

  Trianna laughed from her seat by the fire.

  “So, is our wolf friend done running for today?”

  Syl only smiled knowingly.

  “I doubt it.”

  The words hadn’t even left her mouth before Luna froze mid-tail-wag.

  Wait!

  Wait wait wait–

  New idea!

  Awoomazing idea!

  She turned sharply, eyes gleaming.

  “Second!”

  Syl blinked, wary now.

  “Yes?”

  “Can Luna has more potion?”

  “Oh?” Syl’s lips twitched. “No longer just ‘gib’? You’re learning manners.”

  Luna stood tall, tail waving proudly.

  “Luna always polite!”

  Syl’s hand patted her cheek gently.

  “But you know Luna, polite wolves say ‘please’, or maybe even ‘pretty plea–’.”

  “PWETTY PLEASE!!!”

  Syl snorted, covering her mouth to keep her composure.

  “Alright, alright. But use it carefully. Not too much at once, understood?”

  “Yes! Thank you, Second!”

  And then Luna was just gone.

  One blur of silver fur and excited yipping shot across the plains again, potion clutched triumphantly between her teeth.

  A few heartbeats passed before Sepio sighed.

  “You do realize those things are expensive, right? And you just gave her another one like it’s candy.”

  Trianna grinned.

  “You say that like it’s not adorable.”

  Syl tucked her pack away, shoulders shaking with quiet laughter.

  “I can always make more.”

  Ray watched the silver streak vanish into the horizon, his usual smirk softening.

  “You know… it is Syliana’s money to burn. And honestly…” His eyes glinted, following the rapidly moving wolf girl. “That might be the best investment I’ve seen yet.”

  Veric nodded once, approving in his quiet way.

  “Hrm. Agreed.”

  Sepio groaned, rubbing his temples as they began packing their gear.

  “Children and chaos…”

  But even he couldn’t quite hide the small, reluctant smile tugging at his mouth.

  Somewhere ahead, the wind carried Luna’s triumphant howl across the plains.

  The pack moved again, and for once, the road didn’t feel long.

  Second was the bestest Second. Ever!

  She gave Luna potion - which Luna tested. And managed to store in her Maw!

  Very nice!

  And she gave pats!

  And ideas!

  Yes, her Second was best.

  The wonderful yellow stuff tingled through Luna’s veins – warm, fizzy, alive. Every pawstep felt lighter. Every breath burned brighter.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  The world wanted her to run, and Luna was happy to oblige!

  Her paws barely touched the dirt before she was already three strides ahead. The plains blurred, grass whispering her name in every gust.

  Yes! Fastest wolf!

  But…

  She could be a fasterer wolf!

  Luna just had to chew out the how!

  “More Run!” she announced proudly to the grass, pacing in tight circles. Then stopped, ears flicking, thinking hard. But Run alone was not good enough, not fast enough.

  “So… maybe also Jump?”

  Run and Jump. That sounded smart!

  Luna nodded at her brilliant idea. And immediately went to put it into action!

  Run and Jump Tactics! Engaged!

  She bolted forward, leapt forward, landed, ran, leapt again. Each bound turned smoother, stronger – like rhythm made of wind. Her fur streamed behind her, and the world beat like a drum beneath her paws.

  The next leap stretched farther than expected. The one after that nearly doubled it.

  Each skill use demanded its price, but the potion delivered more than enough!

  “Ha! Fasterest Luna plan works! Genius!”

  She could feel as Momentum Claw thrummed in her bones, hot and eager.

  It didn’t need prey right now, but the motion made it sing! Energy coiled and snapped in her muscles, driving her to move again, again, again.

  Luna felt, that if she so wished… Momentum Claw would make short work of even the big ugly ogre thing!

  Her eyes gleamed, and she bounded forward, the thought forgotten.

  But the plains were still too big. Very big.

  And far too empty.

  Stretching too far!

  Run and Jump Tactics… weren’t enough alone.

  Her nose wrinkled in thought mid-sprint.

  Being even faster would be soo glorious!

  Luna just had to figure out how!

  Shadow Step?

  Maybe that would work?

  Luna blinked forward through her own movement, a streak of silver light. Then again. Then slowly skidded to a halt.

  It worked, made Luna cover more ground!

  But… it didn’t add anything to Run. Just… skipped Luna forward!

  And not very far either. Not much shadow on the plains.

  Cheaty-step. Fast, but lazy. No good for Run training!

  Still…

  Hm.

  Hm-awoo-hrm.

  But what if…

  Luna used her own shadow?

  Shadow might not be everywhere. But it was always under Luna!

  Oh yes!

  She frowned, panting. Sipped on potion. Thought long and hard again.

  No. Not good enough.

  Not for Shadow Step.

  But?

  Oh yes!

  Shadowmeld... It worked. It could work. It would work!

  Her shadow stretched long in the afternoon light, dark silk flowing under her paws. Always there. Always loyal.

  She grinned.

  “Perfect!”

  Luna dipped her focus into it, claws brushing the surface of its darkness like cool mud.

  Shadowmeld shimmered, thin and slick.

  And suddenly – Luna found her grip.

  No drag. No bounce. Only… slide. The shadow offered no resistance. The connection between her paws and the world melted smooth.

  Her Run surged. Her Jump lengthened. Her tail whipped behind her, balancing the rush.

  It wasn’t running anymore. It was gliding, streaking forward like a thrown arrow wrapped in fur and joy.

  “Ha! Luna genius wolf! Fasterest invention complete!”

  And then as her leap was about to end and her paws struck the shadow underneath her again… Luna had an idea.

  Shadow did not need to be faster. It just had to move as Luna wanted.

  And she wanted it to push, to slide her forward!

  Her paws struck shadow again, and the trick clicked in her mind with the precision of a perfect bite. The shadow no longer just followed… It moved as she willed it.

  She leaned forward, focusing hard. And then–

  “Go!”

  The world around Luna accelerated.

  The world tilted.

  The air screamed past her ears.

  Her heart hammered fast enough to outpace thunder.

  Level ups pinged.

  【Run Lv. 12 → Lv. 13】

  【Jump Lv. 8 → Lv. 9】

  【Shadowmeld Lv. 7 → Lv. 8】

  She didn’t stop to read them. Didn’t care!

  She was flying now – four paws, one grin, and a shadow that carried her faster than thought.

  The speed, it was amazing!

  One moment it felt like Luna was almost standing still.

  The next... she zoom-slided ahead.

  At first, the party watched her run out of idle curiosity.

  After all, how much could one wolf possibly sprint before getting bored?

  In Luna's case – it turned out the answer was 'until the legs give out'.

  Luna didn’t stop. She didn’t even slow. Every few seconds, a silver streak tore across the plains, kicking up a storm of dust before vanishing again.

  But as they watched, they realized she was going faster. And faster. And then she went so fast they could scarcely believe their eyes.

  The shadowy silver streak just zoomed into the beyond.

  “…What in the heavens and all the layers of hell just happened?!” Sepio shouted, his shield half-raised as if expecting divine smiting.

  Trianna blinked twice.

  “Was that… Run skill training or divine possession?”

  Ray’s jaw hung open.

  “I think that was the sound barrier.”

  Veric stood still, eyes narrowing in quiet calculation.

  “Speed like that doesn’t exist at Tier 0.”

  And only Syl grinned happily, a mischievous glint in her eyes. That soft, maddening smile that meant she had known something the whole time.

  “...She’s beginning to believe.”

  Sepio whipped toward her, incredulous.

  “She what now?! Syl, do not start with your elf riddles now! Are we REALLY sure she’s just a Tier 0 wolf pup?!”

  “Yes, I am sure of that.” Syl replied calmly, still watching the horizon where flashes of shadow and silver bent the very sunlight.

  “A Tier 0 Wildling. And she’s our companion. Though even now she continues to amaze, and is clearly still growing.”

  “Growing?” Sepio repeated, voice cracking. “She’s making me feel like a rookie again! We’re B rank adventurers, not– not–”

  “Not joggers?” Trianna finished sweetly.

  “Exactly!”

  Trianna giggled, resting her chin on her bow.

  “But she is adorable, though. Fast and adorable. And she took a Potion of Paw-er! No stopping her now!”

  Sepio groaned, and even Syl barely stopped herself from facepalming. Instead the elf hid her face and pretended to cough.

  Veric grunted, ignoring the terrible pun.

  “Adorable and dangerous.”

  Trianna’s grin widened.

  “Exactly my type.”

  “Please,” Syl sighed, a faint pink blooming across her cheeks. “Let’s not start that again.”

  "Alright, alright! And Veric is not wrong there, she is dangerous.”

  The others just nodded.

  “But you know, we're just baaarely B rank here? And we were only allowed on this mission because of our great lord and benefactor Syliana!"

  Syl flushed at that.

  "You know I'm no lord."

  "Yes, yes, miss amazing 'I was promised A rank if this mission was a success.' While the rest of us plebeians still have to prove our B rank worth~!"

  Although the words sounded accusatory, Trianna's tone was teasing, and her hugging Syl made it all but a joke.

  Ray, still half in awe, chuckled.

  “You all realize she’s technically Syl’s familiar, right? Which means our boss is also the boss of the fastest thing we’ve ever seen.”

  Trianna looped an arm around Syl’s shoulders dramatically.

  “Our beautiful, terrifying, wolf-raising boss!”

  Syl tried to look stern but ended up laughing, voice light and genuine.

  “You’re impossible.”

  Veric stretched, rolling his shoulders, a rare grin tugging at his face.

  “The wolf is right.”

  Sepio blinked.

  “What?”

  “She told us to run. And we did not run. Her training is bearing fruit, while we’re staying behind.”

  The swordmaster stretched his body while saying that.

  “You’re not actually suggesting–”

  "I'm going to run now. You're free to gawk. Or follow."

  Veric started running.

  Sepio froze.

  “Oh no. Oh no no no.”

  Trianna let out a whoop and sprinted after him. Ray sighed once, loudly, before jogging to follow.

  Syl’s laughter trailed them all.

  “Don’t fall behind, captain!”

  Sepio groaned skyward, then broke into a jog, armor clanking in protest.

  “I hate this party!”

  “You love us!” Trianna called back, laughing.

  And there, beneath the bright sweep of morning sky, the “serious adventurers” ran – boots pounding the dirt, laughter breaking through exhaustion, something wild waking in their steps.

  Ahead of them, one silver wolf streaked through the wind, potion clenched between her teeth, tail flying proud as a banner.

  The plains blurred. The horizon raced closer. The air itself seemed to sing.

  And Luna – Apex Predator, Fastest Wolf, Bestest Runner–

  –didn’t even notice she had taught her pack to run.

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