Chapter 12 (The Pack's Remnant)
1673 Words
Raven muttered, looking into the darkness ahead, "Said no one was left."
"I was certain," Dax answered, his voice tense. "Kael also held that belief."
Still covered in blood from the previous night's renegade fight, they huddled under a downed tree trunk. Once more, the woodland was too silent. However, this time there was more than simply silence—there was anxiety.
Raven heard it again, and her ears perked up.
A shuffling motion.
A gentle inhalation.
A silent cry.
She gestured for Dax to stay with a raised hand. Then, keeping her body low and her senses keen, she moved forward stealthily.
She caught a glimpse of movement behind a mass of dense brambles. A frail, tiny, trembling form.
Gently, Raven murmured, "Come out." "We don't intend to harm you."
There was a stir from the bushes. A kid came out. Pale face, cheeks smeared with grime, and big, fearful amber eyes.
Raven slowly knelt. It's alright. My name is Raven. What is your name?
The girl muttered, "L-Lira." "Silverfang."
Behind her, Dax's breath caught. He got to his feet, looking about.
He said, "There might be more."
Lira looked around. "They're in hiding. within the former burrow. Don't hurt us, please.
Raven vowed, "We won't." "Take the lead."
The girl spun around and ran from tree to tree. Raven trailed closely behind, her pulse racing with each stride. Is it possible? Were there others?
They arrived at a thickly vine-covered rocky outcrop. Raven followed Lira inside after she slid through a c***k.
At first, the darkness was dense, but her eyes adapted.
They were there.
Another seven wolves. unclean. Weary. I'm afraid.
As Raven walked in, some glanced up. One rose swiftly, snarling low. "Who are you? How did you discover us?
"My name is Raven. I was Kael's partner—" she paused, then went on, "—once."
Despite being frail, the snarling wolf was towering and powerful. He crossed his arms tightly. "You were turned away. Why have you come here now?
Because of the death of your pack," she stated firmly. "And it must be fought for by someone."
Then Dax went inside. He glanced around, his gaze narrowing.
Raven looked around the gathering. "Kael has survived." Alive but wounded. We're not the only ones who survived the rogue attack on your village.
There were whispers in the room.
Another woman came forward. She appeared to be an elderly warrior. She spoke in a gruff tone. "What about Elias?"
"Remaining alive," Dax whispered. "Unfortunately."
The tone was altered by that.
Shocks.
Growls.
Among the men, one moved forward. "Is that traitor still on foot? The worst is still to come.
Raven gave a nod. "That's why we need your assistance."
The tall wolf yelled, "No." "Everything is gone. We remain concealed in order to survive.
"You'll die in hiding," Raven retorted. "He's coming for everyone, and he won't spare a child when he finds you."
Her words were heavy.
However, it was insufficient.
Until Lira said anything.
She stated in a low voice, "He killed my mom." "I witnessed him do it. He chuckled.
Quiet.
Anger rippled slowly through the wolves.
She caught the tall wolf's attention, followed by the others.
"Tonight, we'll talk," he said. "However, we fight on our own terms if we do."
Raven gave a nod. "That's reasonable."
They shared what little food they had, tended to wounds, and made plans in silence for the remainder of the day. Dax avoided contact with the group, his eyes never stopping.
Raven sat close to the entrance of the cave and gazed into the trees.
She noticed it at that point.
A form. Far away. observing.
Her heart thumping, she cautiously stood up.
She muttered, "Dax." "Come on over here."
He moved to stand next to her. "What?"
"There."
He looked after her.
The figure moved, then disappeared into the woods.
Raven stepped up and declared, "I'm going after it."
"I'll accompany you."
"No," she replied. "Remain. Keep them safe.
She ran without saying another word.
She was swiftly engulfed by the trees. Now, though, she could smell the presence. Not a rogue. unfamiliar. Another stuff.
She accelerated.
Twigs broke under her boots. Her breath came quickly.
She pursued the figure farther into the forest.
It stopped abruptly.
Raven came to a skiding stop.
Ahead, a woman with long, silver hair stood wrapped in shadow.
"You shouldn't be here yet," the woman stated in a melodious, icy voice.
"Who are you?" Raven insisted.
The woman's head tipped. "Someone who can recall things you've forgotten."
Raven moved forward. "What are you discussing?"
The woman grinned. "Do you still fail to see it? who you truly are. What you actually carry
Raven's chest grew constricted. "What do you mean?"
The lady held out a hand. From her palm, a glimmer of silver light pulsed. Raven's body went cold.
The woman muttered, "I've waited centuries." "And now... it starts over."
The ground shook beneath Raven's feet before she could move.
The trees let forth a moan.
A wail shattered the darkness. It was one she had never heard of.
Something old. Something angry.
The woman disappeared into the fog.
And a voice snarled from the darkness behind Raven.
"Girl, you should have remained hidden."
Raven turned.
Her eyes became wide with fear.
A monster emerged. Not a rogue. Not a wolf. Something more ancient.
Horns twisted.
Fire-like eyes.
Too long for a wolf's mouth are fangs.
It gave her a smile.
Then it lunged.
The woodland was torn in two by the roar of the beast.
Just as claws sliced into the area where her chest had been, Raven leaped to the side.
It was moving too quickly.
It wasn't a rogue. Not even a wolf was involved.
It was something far more serious.
Branches tore at her arms and legs as she rolled, clambered to her feet, and rushed into the trees. The beast charged behind her, its massive boots thumping the earth like a battle drum.
Raven didn't turn around.
She was unable to.
The air felt darker and thicker around her. As if she had entered a nightmare that had been waiting for her all along.
The battle with the outlaws left her with a sore body. The weird woman's usage of silver light caused her head to throb. She couldn't stop now, though.
Not when she was being pursued by something so strong.
Not when the cave was occupied by a kid like Lira.
The woodland abruptly fell into a gulf.
Raven realized too late.
With a thud that knocked the breath out of her lungs, she hit the bottom after skidding and falling over dirt, rocks, and leaves.
The globe whirled.
Her ears ringing.
Then there was a hiss.
Now closer.
It was on the way.
Pain shot through her leg as she attempted to stand up.
ankle twitching.
She suppressed a scream.
Above, the trees moved. The beast moved to the cliff's brink.
Her eyes met its blazing ones.
It didn't leap.
It grinned.
It was not required to pursue her. It had some knowledge.
Raven's heart pounded like a battle drum as she scurried back.
The woman's voice replayed in her mind, "You're not supposed to be here yet."
What was meant by that?
What was it she had overlooked?
The thing retreated from the brink, its body disappearing once again into the darkness, as if it had never existed.
Every part of Raven's body was screaming as she sat in the mud, panting and her heart pounding.
Then there was stillness.
No birds.
No wind.
Her breathing alone.
The silence was soon broken by a whistle.
Sharp.
Human.
Known.
She noticed a stranger approaching her as she blinked through the trees.
She initially thought it was the beast once more.
However, this man had a purpose to his steps. during the day.
His cloak was silver.
The woman's hair is the same shade of silver.
"Raven," he called.
She stopped.
"How are you aware of my name?"
He grinned.
"I have been observing you."
She tightened her jaw. "Who are you?"
"I'm Caelum," he introduced himself. "And I am here to assist you in recollecting your identity."
"I am aware of who I am."
"No," he muttered. "You're only aware of half of it."
Raven remained still. Her entire body begged her not to put her trust in him.
Her wolf, however, did not snarl.
Her wolf was interested.
Caelum extracted a pendant from his cloak, an ancient one that was shattered in the middle and worn with time.
Gently, he threw it at her feet.
Raven gazed at it.
The form.
The hues.
The mark of burns.
She owned it.
In her nightmares, she had seen it. Again and again. since early childhood.
However, it had never belonged to her.
Had she?
Her breath caught as she said, "Where did you get this?"
According to Caelum, you wore it once. "Prior to the fire. prior to your first shift. prior to the memory being stolen.
Captured?
Once more, she gazed at the pendant.
Out of instinct, her hand went for it.
However, before her fingers could make contact with it—
A shriek ripped through the forest.
The cry of a child.
Lira.
Raven's heart fell.
When she raised her head, Caelum was gone.
disappeared.
At her feet, the pendant remained.
Ignoring the ache in her ankle, she gripped it and raced, pushing past trees like fire, her lungs burning.
Ahead was the cave.
It emitted smoke.
Mist, not smoke. dense. Silver. Not natural.
Raven plunged into the open space.
The kids were out.
Dax loomed before them, snarling and brandishing his blade.
Elias stood opposite him.
And next to him?
Kael.
Kael's eyes, however, were off.
They had a silver glow.
empty.
Lost.
Raven didn't blink when he yelled his name.
didn't recoil.
remained motionless.
Elias grinned.
Calmly, he said, "I warned you." "But you didn't pay attention."
He held up a hand to Kael.
"He's mine now."
- Writer
