Beneath the Rising Tide
1330 Words
Before the first rays of dawn touched the Ocean Tide Pack, Astera was already awake.
The palace was silent.
Only the distant sound of waves crashing against the cliffs echoed through the halls.
She quietly changed into her training clothes—a fitted black combat outfit beneath a loose navy jacket. She tied her blue hair into a high ponytail and fastened the bracelet around her wrist. Every gadget she had salvaged from her secret laboratory was securely attached to her belt.
The tiny dragon stretched lazily on the bed.
Its red-and-yellow fur puffed up as it yawned before jumping onto her shoulder.
Astera sighed.
"I suppose you're coming too."
The little creature rubbed its head against her cheek.
Without another word, she slipped out of her room.
The palace corridors were almost empty. The few guards on duty simply nodded politely at the young woman they knew as Ariana Tidewell.
None of them knew she was Astera.
None of them knew she had escaped the Forbidden Volcano.
None of them knew the greatest secret of the Wolf Realm was walking past them.
Outside the palace gates, Alpha [Uncle's Name] was already waiting.
Beside him stood an older man with broad shoulders and silver streaks in his dark-blue hair. A long scar crossed his left eyebrow, giving him the appearance of someone who had survived countless battles.
"This is Commander Orion," the Alpha said. "He fought beside me for more than thirty years."
Orion smiled warmly.
"So you're the girl His Alpha Majesty refuses to stop talking about."
Astera raised an eyebrow.
"I doubt that."
The Alpha cleared his throat.
"We're wasting daylight."
The three of them left the city and followed a narrow path along the sea cliffs.
After nearly an hour, they reached a place hidden behind a roaring waterfall.
Astera looked around in amazement.
Behind the curtain of water lay an enormous circular arena carved directly into the mountain.
Ancient stone pillars surrounded the training ground.
Hundreds of sword marks covered the walls.
Broken weapons rested near the edges.
The place carried the weight of history.
"The Sanctuary Arena," the Alpha said quietly.
"For generations, the heirs of the Ocean Tide Pack trained here."
"No outsiders know it exists."
Astera slowly stepped onto the stone floor.
The air itself felt different.
Heavy.
Powerful.
Almost alive.
"This will be your training ground until the Moon Challenge."
---
The first lesson began immediately.
"There will be no mercy here," Orion said as he tossed a wooden practice sword toward her.
Astera caught it.
"Good."
Without warning, Orion attacked.
Clang!
Astera barely raised her sword in time.
The impact sent her sliding backward.
"So slow," Orion remarked.
He attacked again.
And again.
Each strike came faster than the last.
Within seconds, Astera was completely overwhelmed.
She tried to predict his movements.
Failed.
She tried to counterattack.
Failed again.
One powerful strike knocked the sword from her hand.
It landed several meters away.
Orion lowered his weapon.
"Dead."
Astera bent down, picked up the sword, and returned to her stance.
"Again."
The commander smiled.
"I like that answer."
---
The morning became a blur of pain.
Swordsmanship.
Hand-to-hand combat.
Knife throwing.
Balance drills across narrow poles suspended over deep water.
Running through obstacle courses while avoiding swinging logs and hidden traps.
Every exercise pushed Astera beyond her limits.
Again and again she fell.
Again and again she stood.
Her palms bled.
Bruises formed across her arms.
Sweat soaked her clothes.
Yet she refused to complain.
Whenever Orion offered a short break...
She used the time to improve one of her gadgets.
She adjusted the tension in her grappling bracelet.
Improved the trigger on a miniature smoke capsule.
Strengthened the locking mechanism on her wrist cable.
Watching her, Orion shook his head.
"I've never seen anyone repair equipment during training."
Astera tightened a tiny screw.
"I don't like wasting time."
The Alpha exchanged an amused glance with Orion.
"That's exactly what her..." He stopped himself before finishing the sentence.
Astera looked up.
"What?"
The Alpha simply shook his head.
"Nothing."
---
After lunch, the training became even harder.
The Alpha led her toward a cliff overlooking the ocean.
"The Moon Challenge doesn't test strength alone," he said.
"It tests adaptability."
He threw six wooden discs into the air.
"Hit them."
Astera reached for her throwing knives.
"Not with weapons."
She frowned.
"Then how?"
"Figure it out."
The discs scattered in different directions.
Thinking quickly, Astera fired her grappling wire.
The hook struck one disc.
She redirected the cable, causing it to swing into another.
She released two small magnetic spheres.
They collided with the remaining targets before falling into the sea.
The Alpha smiled faintly.
"You don't fight like a wolf."
Astera lowered her bracelet.
"I never had the chance."
For a brief moment...
Neither of them spoke.
---
As evening approached, Orion finally left to inspect the surrounding area.
The Alpha walked toward the far side of the arena.
Astera remained behind, drinking water.
Once she was sure no one was watching...
She climbed onto a high cliff.
Her heart raced.
Slowly...
She closed her eyes.
The strange warmth spread through her back.
Golden-silver light shimmered beneath her skin.
A moment later...
Two magnificent wings unfolded.
They caught the sea breeze immediately.
Astera inhaled sharply.
"They're getting easier..."
She whispered.
She jumped.
For several terrifying seconds she lost control.
The wind pushed her sideways.
She almost crashed into the rocks.
At the last moment she steadied herself.
She circled above the hidden arena once.
Then twice.
Each flight lasted only a few seconds.
But it was progress.
When she landed, her breathing was uneven.
The wings disappeared as quickly as they had appeared.
No one had seen them.
Or so she believed.
---
Not far away, behind the waterfall, the Alpha stood with Commander Orion.
Neither had interrupted her.
Orion broke the silence first.
"How much longer are you going to keep the truth from her?"
The Alpha kept his eyes on the distant ocean.
"Not yet."
"She deserves to know."
"So does every child."
Orion frowned.
"She thinks the world abandoned her."
The Alpha's expression grew heavy.
"I know."
"Then why?"
The Alpha remained silent for several moments before speaking.
"If she learns everything now..."
"She'll stop searching for answers."
Orion looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
The Alpha's voice was quiet.
"She'll seek revenge."
The commander sighed.
"You underestimate her."
"No."
"I know exactly how strong she is."
He watched Astera picking up her practice sword again despite her trembling arms.
"What I don't know..."
"...is whether she's strong enough to carry the truth."
Orion folded his arms.
"And her mother?"
Pain briefly crossed the Alpha's face.
"She made the only choice she could."
"One day Astera will understand."
"Today..."
"...is not that day."
Neither of them noticed the tiny dragon hiding behind a nearby rock.
Its golden eyes moved between the two men.
It couldn't understand their words.
But it sensed the sadness in their voices.
---
The sun slowly disappeared beneath the horizon.
Astera stood alone at the edge of the cliff.
Her hands were bruised.
Her muscles ached.
Every part of her body screamed for rest.
Yet her determination burned brighter than ever.
She looked toward the endless ocean.
"Everyone keeps telling me to wait."
She tightened her fists.
"Wait for answers."
"Wait for my wolf."
"Wait for the Moon Challenge."
A bitter smile touched her lips.
"I've waited my entire life."
Her blue eyes hardened with resolve.
"I'm done waiting."
Above her, hidden among the crimson clouds, an enormous shadow passed silently across the sky.
For the briefest moment...
Silver wings reflected the fading sunlight before vanishing into the heavens once more.
Far beyond the borders of the four great packs...
A mysterious figure watched through an ancient crystal mirror.
Only the outline of the stranger could be seen beneath a dark hood.
The figure smiled.
"So..."
"You survived."
"And your destiny has finally begun."
- Writer
