roccoschili Chapter 105 On the way to the Klaus tribe, they were attacked by a pack of wolves in the middle of t
Chapter 105 On the way to the Klaus tribe, they were attacked by a pack of wolves in the middle of t
Chapter 105 On the way to the Klaus tribe, they were attacked by a pack of wolves in the middle of the night!
These words struck like a stone, the dull echo silencing everyone, leaving an awkward heaviness in the air.
"Alright," Tom broke the silence at the opportune moment, his voice calm, "Didn't you come to invite us to see the valley and the gold mine?"
"Yes!" "Snow Wolf" perked up and immediately straightened his back.
That evening, the lights flickered in the wooden cabin of Dutton House.
The family sat around a rough wooden table, discussing who would go to the Klaus reservation.
Suddenly, the cook Jonah blurted out, "This trip will take at least ten days to half a month. How about we just drive the cattle into the valley as well? That way we won't have to stay here worrying about them."
This suggestion was like a bomb, instantly silencing the room!
Driving this herd of cattle on a long journey to the Indian reservation?
The risk is too great!
Tom took a deep breath and turned his gaze to the "Snow Wolf": "How big is that valley?"
Upon hearing this, "Snow Wolf" immediately furrowed his thick eyebrows into a knot.
His frown sent everyone's hearts into their throats!
Seeing this, Tom softened his tone, trying not to put pressure on him: "Is it... as big as our ranch?"
""
"Yes!" Snow Wolf answered decisively, his brows relaxing as he did so.
Everyone breathed a long sigh of relief, their hearts finally settling down.
Little did they know that a tremendous surprise, enough to change their destiny, was quietly waiting for them in that mysterious valley!
After a night of debate and deliberation, the Dutton family finally made a decision: Let's go! Let's drive the cattle to the Crow reservation!
The Crow territory is located in the reservations of southern Montana.
The main body of that land stretches across the plain on the east bank of the middle reaches of the Yellowstone River.
The route was already etched in the "Snow Wolf's" mind: starting from Bozeman, heading east along the legendary Bozeman Trail for about sixty miles would lead to Livingston, a major town on the upper Yellowstone River.
In theory, two days would be enough, either on horseback or in a light carriage.
And then? Turn southeast from Livingston, follow the Yellowstone River, and traverse ninety miles of plains and hills to reach the emerging railroad hub of Billings.
Finally, heading south from Billings, one can plunge into the heart of the Crow reservation.
Theoretically, this route can be completed in three days.
But the words "in theory" seem so insignificant at this moment.
They weren't traveling light; they were herding over a thousand restless cattle!
These behemoths will stumble through the rugged mountain passes and struggle on the muddy plains after the rain.
Time? Even doubling that would be an understatement.
Manpower is an even bigger problem.
To manage such a massive "army of living creatures," you can forget about it without at least twenty experienced cowboys on duty day and night!
Even if the entire Dutton family came out, they still wouldn't be able to raise that many.
They need allies, they need the people of this land who know best how to deal with cattle and the wilderness—the Klaus!
Soon after, the "Snow Wolf" brought the reinforcements they needed most.
He was followed by a full twenty fierce Klaus warriors!
They stood silently in the morning light, their skin bronzed, their eyes sharp, long swords at their waists, bows and arrows on their backs, exuding a fierce aura that blended seamlessly with the wilderness.
An invisible sense of power instantly permeated the slightly tense atmosphere in the Dutton household.
The atmosphere of June has already quietly filled the air.
On the barren land, patches of green, brimming with tenacious vitality, finally struggled to emerge.
But at Dutton Ranch, the meager reserves of food and fodder finally ran out.
Time waits for no one!
The Duttons no longer hesitated.
The carriage was harnessed, and the luggage was secured.
At James Dutton's command, this massive caravan of men, cattle, horses, and vehicles slowly departed from Bozeman Ranch, embarking on its fateful migration into the unknown wilderness.
The torrent formed by more than a thousand cattle was powerful enough to shake the earth.
A slight mishap could escalate into a terrifying stampede.
In this life-or-death command, everyone in the Dutton family wisely kept quiet and handed over absolute command to "Snow Wolf." Driving the cattle was an instinct flowing in the blood of the Klaus!
Without hesitation, "Snow Wolf" scanned the restless cattle with sharp eyes, his voice steady and powerful, carrying an unquestionable authority: "Split into four teams! Each team two miles apart to prevent congestion!"
He turned to Tom and explained briefly, "By keeping them apart, there's time to react if something happens in front, and it also gives the cows room to spread out so they don't get crammed together and trampled."
Tom nodded emphatically, his face filled with unwavering trust: "I'll listen to you!"
At that moment, he completely placed the fate of the cattle herd on the shoulders of his Klaue friend.
"Snow Wolf" did not disappoint this weighty trust.
His professionalism was astonishing.
He sent out a team of elite Klaus warriors ahead of the main force, far ahead of them.
Their mission: to scout out the way forward!
Where are the steep slopes that need to be detoured? Where are the muddy areas that must be avoided?
Which sparse grassland can we briefly rest on? Where can we find a water source to replenish our supplies?
Snow Wolf meticulously planned every day's marching route, mileage, and rest stops.
He commanded this special "army," resolutely marching step by step towards the Crow territory, towards the direction of hope, in the post-disaster recovery yet perilous wilderness of Montana.
The Montana wilderness in June is chilly at night.
The Straw Creek Valley camp unfolds along the riverbank highlands, with four herds of cattle rising and falling like giant black islands in the night, separated by a two-mile buffer zone strictly defined by "Snow Wolves".
Around the campfire, the Dutton family and the Crow warriors took a break, with only the rhythmic clatter of the night watchmen's hooves echoing around the camp.
Tom leaned against the carriage, pretending to doze off.
Besides the smells of soil, cow dung, and cooking smoke, the air was also filled with a subtle, almost imperceptible restlessness.
Suddenly, he noticed that the two male wolves, "Wilderness" and "Hurricane," abruptly raised their heads and stared intently into the distance.
Immediately afterwards, the two she-wolves, "Winter" and "Giant Claw," also silently raised their heads, their ears spinning like radar, pointing straight into the dark depths of the northwest.
A very low, almost silent whimper rolled from deep within their throats, not a threat, but rather an extreme vigilance and fear of their own kind that came from the depths of their blood!
Their tails were tucked tightly between their hind legs, their muscles were taut like rocks, and their pupils shrank into two dangerous points of light in the glow of the campfire.
"Something's wrong!" Tom snapped awake, his heart pounding.
He was all too familiar with their state.
This is how wild instincts override domestication when faced with a truly deadly threat!
Tom's vision instantly blurred.
Almost at the same moment, the Klaus warrior responsible for perimeter security also suddenly reined in his horse. Although his senses were not as sharp as a wolf's, his rich experience allowed him to detect the faint fishy smell in the wind and the rustling sound of countless sharp claws lightly scraping the grass.
"Wolves! A wolf attack!" Tom shouted sharply.
As if to confirm their vigilance, a long, mournful, and primal wolf howl suddenly tore through the night sky from behind the low hill in the northwest!
This is not a test, it is the rallying cry for attack!