The next day, and Midwak had felt the same. He somewhat thought that maybe the problem would just go away from sleeping on it.
Normally when something felt off, rest would settle it. His body had always adapted quickly, especially after fights or consuming stronger opponents. That had been the pattern for years now.
And although it didnât quite feel any worse, it certainly didnât feel better, and hunger was something that grew on one, and annoyed them even more as time had gone on.
It wasnât sharp pain, nor weakness. It was a constant gnawing feeling. Something dull, persistent, irritating. The type that lingered at the back of oneâs mind and slowly began to affect their thoughts.
Still, Midwak now knew that something was wrong, which was why he had decided to head to the others, at the river walk.
It was one of the nicest places in the city, and an area that Midwak grew to like. The sound of the water flowing through the canal, the distant chatter of people enjoying the morning, it was a reminder that the city had returned to some level of normalcy.
His crew had been invited, those that were close members of the strike force.
They were laughing among themselves when he approached, unaware of the weight sitting in his chest.
âThanks to all of you guysâ help this city has become pretty safe. Weâve done most of our job, but thereâs something that I have to do. Iâm going to leave this city for a bit, Iâll be back as soon as I can, maybe even tomorrow if I get things solved, so if any problems come up, you guys are the ones that need to solve it.â
It was sudden for the group, but they expected it to happen at some point.
Midwak wasnât someone that stayed still for long. They knew he had connections beyond Centrefield.
âWe understand Big Unc.â One said with a fist held down. âYouâre so strong, that the Howlers need you from time to time. They need you if theyâre discussing important things.â
The others nodded in agreement, and although that wasnât the case, Midwak thought it was harder and longer to correct them.
Explaining that he was leaving because he feared something was wrong with himself would only cause worry.
With that, everyone waved Big Unc off as he had gone to go to wherever he was going to, most thought Slough, Midwak himself thought he was going to head back to Ruin city, but not yet.
There was still a large thing gnawing at the back of his head, and he just wanted to check the entirety of Centrefield one more time.
He wanted to check to see if there were any more of those strange Werewolves. Although talking to Galdark was the right thing to do, there was no guarantee he would know anything and he could just be wasting time.
Midwak didnât know why but he felt like time wasnât his best asset right now.
That thought alone unsettled him. He had always moved at his own pace. Now it felt as if something was moving alongside him, quietly gaining ground.
Which was why he decided to do one last desperate search.
If he couldnât get answers directly from the strange looking Werewolf, then at least he could take its body back this time, and give it to Tom or something to at least investigate a little.
What Midwak also thought was, bad things tend to happen when strong people were away.
So in his head, if he had told everyone he was leaving the city, maybe they would get attacked by this strange Werewolf and he could come to save them.
The thought wasnât entirely logical, but instincts werenât always logical.
He searched day and night, but couldnât find any sign of the werewolves but he did find something else.
Trails of dead bodies, more than he expected.
Not all at once, not in piles. But scattered incidents. Reports of missing persons. Strange deaths with little explanation.
So much that he had even visited the police station to try get a bigger report on the picture.
âIâm sorry, weâre swamped, weâre helping you as much as we can because of how much youâve done for us, but we actually donât have the manpower to deal with everything thatâs coming in.â
Regardless, it told Midwak something, the deaths were even more than before they came.
The unknown cases of death.
âItâs almost like a Werewolf on a full moon, thatâs just telling me that thereâs definitely more of those guys here somewhere.â Midwak thought.
However even after looking, even when night fell, Midwak still was unable to find anyone related to the case he was looking for.
The hunger continued to sit in his stomach.
It hadnât faded.
So he decided to try and search more hidden places. Areas where one wouldnât be seen so much.
âIt would make sense for them to try and hide themselves.â
Midwak went to places he thought people would hide. He entered many toilet stalls but found nothing.
And visited areas where homeless people would congregate. He imagined that if these people were killed or being eaten, then they were those less likely to be reported on or found.
His mind began to draw darker lines.
Eventually Midwak found himself walking underneath a bridge that went over another branch of the river, it wasnât the main large river and was quite far from the main city.
The area was damp. The scent of stagnant water mixed with something else.
Thatâs when he stopped.
âI can smell you⊠your scent is incredibly strong.â
âHAHAH!â
A deep voice that almost vibrated the very ground itself was heard, stepping out of the shadows of the river, a large demonic furred creature was seen coming out.
The air around him felt heavier.
âYou could only smell me because I let you smell me, do I need to introduce myself?â
Midwak shook his head.
He didnât need the name spoken aloud. The presence alone told him.
âI know who you are, Unzoku.â
****