THE LAST HUMAN IN WOLF TERRITORY

Episode 5

The world returned in fragments.

The smell of damp earth, crackle of fire.

A vague pain spread through Lyra's side with every breath.

She opened her eyes.

The ceiling above her was made of rough wooden beams.

She blinked, confused.

This wasn't her cabin.

She attempted to get up.

A sharp pain shot through her body.

"Don't."

The voice was calm but firm.

Lyra looked around.

An older woman stood near the fireplace, grinding herbs in a stone bowl. Her silver hair was braided neatly down her back, and a blue cloak draped over her shoulders.

“You will open the wound again, if you do.”

Lyra quickly reached for the leather pouch.

Her fingers found it resting beside her.

She let out a shaky breath.

The woman said without looking up, "You guarded it well.

"Where am I?"

"The Northern Outpost."

Lyra frowned.

“I have never heard of such a thing before.”

"I'm not surprised."

The woman walked across the room with the bowl of herbs.

“For centuries, humans have not been here.”

She carefully lifted the edge of Lyra's bandage.

The stitching of the wound was very precise.

"You were lucky."

"I don't feel lucky."

“You lost lot of blood.”

The woman applied the herbal paste to the stitches.

"You should be dead by now."

Lyra gritted her teeth as the paste stung.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Selene."

"The healer?"

Selene smiled faintly.

"So you've heard."

"I haven't."

"I just guess that's what you are."

Lyra couldn't help but smile.

Then the memories returned.

Elias.

The burning cabin.

The hunters.

Kael.

Then her smile vanished.

"Where is he?"

Selene tied the new bandage before she responded.

"Recovering."

"Was he injured?"

"No."

"Then why is he recovering?"

Selene's face became serious.

“Sometimes the deepest wounds have no blood.”

Voices outside interrupted Lyra before she could ask what that meant.

Raised voices,arguing.

Selene sighed.

"They've started again."

"Who?"

"The council."

She walked towards the door.

“They've been talking about you all night.”

"About me?"

Selene paused.

"Stay here."

She stepped outside, closing the door behind her.

Lyra didn't want to obey.

Ignoring the pain in her side, she slowly climbed out of bed.

Each movement hurt.

She managed anyway.

As she came closer to the window the voices grew clearer.

"...she's human."

It was an older man who spoke first.

"That alone is reason enough."

Another voice answered.

"But she saved the prince."

"And?"

"She deserves a hearing."

"No."

The first speaker hit something on the table.

“Our laws are clear.”

Lyra carefully peeked through a narrow gap in the wooden shutters.

A large gathering filled the courtyard.

Wolf warriors lined up in orderly rows.

There were several elders sitting around a stone table.

Kael was in front of them.

He didn't show any expression.

One elder pointed directly at him.

"You brought a human into Northern Territory."

"I did."

"You protected her."

"I did."

"You killed your own enemies to save her."

"I did."

Murmurs spread through the crowd.

The elder's face darkened.

"Explain yourself."

Kael didn't say anything for a few seconds.

Finally, he answered.

"I couldn't hand her over."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

The honesty startled everyone, including Lyra.

Another elder leaned forward.

"You expect this council to believe that?"

Kael met his gaze.

"I expect nothing."

The first elder stood.

"Your father will entrust you to lead this kingdom one day."

"I know."

"And yet you endanger us all for one human."

Kael's voice remained steady.

“I defended someone who was unable to defend herself.”

"But she's human."

"She was unarmed."

“She's still human, you know.”

Silence followed.

The elder looked around the council.

"The law is simple."

He raised his voice so everyone could hear.

“All human beings who survive are enemies of all the wolf kingdoms.”

Several warriors nodded.

The elder continued.

"The punishment..."

His gaze was fixed on Kael.

"...is death."

Lyra's breath caught.

They wanted to kill her.

Kael didn't react.

“Then kill me first," he said.

The courtyard was completely silent.

Even the wind stopped.

Rowan looked at his Alpha.

"My lord..."

The old men looked at each other in amazement.

"What did you say?"

Kael didn't hesitate.

"If protecting an innocent person makes me guilty..."

He drew out his sword.

"...then I'll accept the same punishment.”

The crowd gasped.

The first elder's hands trembled with anger.

“You would betray centuries of law for someone you met yesterday?"

Kael looked toward the cabin.

Though he couldn't see through the walls...

Lyra felt as though he knew she was listening.

His answer came quietly.

"No."

He turned to the council.

"I refuse to repeat the mistakes of our ancestors."

The words struck the elders like lightning.

One elderly woman stood up.

“You dare challenge our history?”

“Well I wonder if we have gotten the whole story.

The courtyard erupted into angry shouting.

"Blasphemy!"

"Impossible!"

"He's been deceived!"

Kael stood without flinching.

"You all saw the silver hunters right?."

The yelling gradually died down.

"They weren't trying to kill her."

He looked around.

“They wanted her to live.”

No one argued.

"If humans are truly our greatest enemy..."

He continued.

"...why would our enemies protect one?"

The question lingered.

There was no answer.

Not even the elders.

Then...

A young scout ran through the gate.

"My Alpha!"

He was on his knees, panting.

"Speak."

"We searched the battlefield."

"And?"

"We couldn't find Darius' body."

Kael's eyes narrowed.

"He escaped?"

"No."

The scout swallowed nervously.

"There wasn't enough left to bury."

Uneasy whispers spread.

"What do you mean?" Rowan asked.

The scout hesitated.

"We found..."

His voice shook.

"...tracks."

“What sort of tracks?”

The young wolf looked visibly disturbed.

"They weren't wolf tracks."

"Were they bear tracks?"

"No."

"Then whose?"

The scout swallowed.

"They looked..."

He had trouble completing the sentence.

"...human."

All the faces in the courtyard turned pale.

The elder who had demanded Lyra's execution laughed bitterly.

"Impossible."

"There are no humans."

The scout nodded quickly.

"That's what I thought."

He looked directly at Kael.

"But the footprints began where Darius disappeared..."

He took a shaky breath.

"...and ended without leading anywhere."

No one spoke.

Kael's eyes slowly turned towards the cabin.

Toward Lyra.

At that exact moment...

The crescent moon pendant under Lyra's shirt suddenly grew warm.

Very warm.

She pulled it out immediately.

The silver symbols carved into its surface began glowing with a pale blue light.

Lyra stared at it in shock.

The glow intensified.

Then a voice whispered inside her mind, soft and clear.

"Do not trust the wolves..."

Lyra spun around.

No one was inside the room.

The voice spoke again.

Stronger this time.

"...because one among them already serves the enemy."

She heard a loud knock on the cabin door.

Three sharp knocks.

Then Kael's voice came from outside.

"Lyra."

She quickly hid the glowing pendant beneath her shirt.

"There is something you need to see."

As she reached for the door...

The voice spoke in a mysterious way, giving one last warning.

"Whatever happens..."

"...don't let him touch the pendant.”