Episode 9: The Winter God
772 Words
The colossal hand gripped the edge of the frozen abyss.
The mountains trembled as ice shattered for miles.
A cold unlike anything the werewolves had ever felt spread across the battlefield.
The air itself seemed to freeze.
Every breath became painful.
Even the Moon Crown dimmed.
Varek stared into the darkness below, his crimson eyes filled with dread.
“No…”
“It can’t be.”
⸻
The Frost Titans remained kneeling.
Not a single one moved.
They lowered their heads as if welcoming the arrival of their creator.
Then…
A second gigantic hand emerged.
Followed by a towering figure cloaked in swirling snow.
His skin shimmered like crystal ice.
A crown of frozen stars rested upon his head.
His glowing white eyes contained no anger.
No mercy.
Only endless winter.
The world fell silent.
“The Winter God…”
Cassian whispered.
⸻
The ancient being stepped onto the mountain.
His feet never touched the ground.
Instead, ice bloomed beneath him with every movement.
He looked across the battlefield.
His gaze passed over Kael.
Lyra.
Ryker.
Varek.
Then stopped on Elara.
For several long seconds…
He said nothing.
Finally, he spoke.
“So…”
“The Moon has chosen another child.”
His voice echoed like an avalanche.
Elara instinctively stepped forward.
“Who are you?”
The being smiled faintly.
“I have had many names.”
“But long before your kingdoms existed…”
“They called me Boreas.”
⸻
Damian swallowed hard.
“Gods have names?”
Selene whispered,
“I don’t think that’s the important part.”
⸻
Boreas slowly raised one hand.
The sky instantly turned gray.
Snow began falling faster.
Rivers froze.
Trees became crystal statues.
Everything within sight was consumed by winter.
Lyra tried to use the Moon Crown.
Its silver light barely flickered.
“It isn’t responding.”
Cassian looked horrified.
“The Moon’s power is fading.”
⸻
Ryker stepped in front of Elara.
“You won’t touch her.”
Boreas looked amused.
“You believe you can stop a god?”
Ryker tightened his grip on his sword.
“I don’t have to stop you.”
“I only have to protect her.”
For the first time…
Boreas laughed.
The sound echoed across every mountain.
“Courage.”
“A beautiful weakness.”
⸻
Without warning—
A spear of ice shot toward Elara.
Ryker pushed her aside.
The spear pierced his shoulder.
He cried out in pain as he fell to one knee.
“Ryker!”
Elara rushed to him.
Blood stained the white snow.
The wound instantly began freezing.
Blue frost spread across his arm.
Astrid gasped.
“The Frost Curse…”
⸻
Boreas lowered his hand.
“The heir of Frost has fulfilled his purpose.”
“He will soon become ice.”
Elara looked desperately at Lyra.
“Mother!”
Lyra placed the Moon Crown over Ryker’s wound.
Nothing happened.
“No…”
“It won’t heal him.”
Varek slowly walked over.
“The Frost Curse can only be removed…”
“…by the Moon’s true light.”
Elara frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Varek looked into her eyes.
“The Moon Crown rejected you.”
“But it never rejected your heart.”
⸻
Before Elara could respond—
The pendant around her neck began glowing.
The silver crescent that had belonged to Queen Seraphina floated into the air.
Moonlight surrounded Elara.
The glow spread through her body.
Her emerald eyes slowly turned brilliant silver.
Everyone stared.
Even Boreas.
“What is this?”
Elara instinctively reached for Ryker’s frozen shoulder.
The moment her hand touched him…
Warm silver light flowed into his body.
The frost shattered.
His wound slowly healed.
Ryker opened his eyes.
“You…”
Elara looked at her glowing hands in amazement.
“I didn’t do anything.”
Varek smiled.
“No.”
“You finally believed in yourself.”
⸻
The light surrounding Elara grew brighter.
Far away…
Inside Mooncrest Palace…
The cracked Moon Crown rose into the air.
Its black cracks began disappearing.
A single beam of silver light shot across the kingdom toward the Frozen Peaks.
Boreas watched silently.
Then his expression hardened.
“So…”
“The Moon has awakened her.”
He slowly raised both arms.
The Frost Titans stood.
Hundreds more climbed from beneath the ice.
The mountains echoed with their roar.
Boreas looked directly at Elara.
“Very well.”
“If you wish to become the Moon Queen…”
“You must first survive a god.”
The snowstorm swallowed the battlefield.
The final trial had begun.
🌙❄️🐺
- Writer
