Episode 17:The Hunter's Moon
970 Words
Episode 17: The Hunter’s Moon
Nightmoor’s streets had always been dangerous, but now, something unnatural lingered in the air. The Hunter was near.
Kai couldn’t explain it, but every inch of his skin crawled, and every shadow felt like it was moving with intent.
“I don’t like this,” he muttered, glancing at the others. “It’s too quiet.”
Nox floated alongside him, eyes scanning the rooftops. “It’s the calm before the storm, my friend. Or—more accurately—the calm before a sniper’s arrow.”
Lira’s ears twitched. “She’s getting closer.”
Kai clenched his fists. “We need to find her before she finds us.”
The trio made their way to The Hollow Watchtower, the tallest structure in Gloomhaven, an ancient lookout tower that the Council’s Hunters used for tracking.
As they approached, they noticed a glimmering trap—a shimmer of silver-thread magic, invisible but perceptible to anyone with enough power to sense it.
Kai raised a hand.
“Don’t touch it.” Lira’s voice was low, warning. “That’s a Hunter’s Net. One of her toys.”
“Can we break it?” Kai asked.
Nox smiled. “Not without some flair. I have a better idea.”
A few quick incantations later, Nox had summoned a trio of distraction demons—tiny, winged, and filled with enough energy to light up a city block. They cackled like angry puppies as they fluttered through the shimmering net, causing the trap to overload.
The net exploded in a flash of silver light, but before they could fully react, a dark figure appeared—a blur of black and silver.
The Hunter was upon them.
Her eyes were pale, almost frosty, and her skin was a ghostly shade of porcelain. She wore leather armor stitched with silver runes, her cloak swirling like a wisp of smoke. In one hand, she held a bow, the string drawn taut with a ghostly arrow.
“Kai Velden.” Her voice was like cold wind. “The Mirrorborn.”
She stepped forward, silent but menacing. The air felt frozen around her. “I’ve been waiting.”
Kai stepped forward, putting himself between her and his friends.
“You won’t touch them.”
The Hunter’s eyes narrowed. “You think I’m here for your friends? No. I’m here for you.”
Before anyone could react, she released her arrow.
Kai raised his hand instinctively, a mirror-shield flashing into existence just in time to block the shot. The arrow collided with the shield, splintering into sparks. But the force behind it sent Kai stumbling back.
Lira howled, leaping at the Hunter, her claws outstretched. But the Hunter was faster, spinning and dodging with unnatural grace. She used her ghoststep magic to disappear into the shadows, leaving only a faint trace of ice in the air.
“Nice try,” she whispered, from the shadows behind Kai.
Kai’s pulse raced. “I can’t—”
But Lira was already on her tail, claws scraping the stone floor. “I’ve had enough of this!” She launched herself at the Hunter again, but the Hunter merely laughed, flipping backward and sending frost-chains to trap her.
Nox cursed, reaching into his pocket for another set of explosives. But before he could throw them, the Hunter locked her eyes on him.
“Your games are over.”
Kai realized something crucial.
“Wait!” he shouted, holding his hand out to stop Lira’s next attack. “She’s not here to kill me.”
The Hunter paused. “You’re smarter than the rest.”
Kai took a breath, trying to steady
himself. “You’re from the Council, aren’t you?”
She didn’t answer, but the slight tilt of her head was all he needed.
“The Council doesn’t send assassins for no reason,” Kai said. “So what’s your game?”
The Hunter stepped into the light, revealing her true face—pale, regal, and ancient. “My name is Kiera. And I’m not just a Hunter. I’m here with an offer.”
Lira growled, still trapped in ice. “Offer? You’re a killer. Nothing more.”
“Not entirely,” Kiera said, her lips curving into a cold smile. “You’re right. I’m here to kill. But I’m also here to give you a choice.”
She reached into her cloak and produced a silver sigil—a Council crest—glowing faintly.
> “The Council has lost its way. They’ve been corrupted. The true war is coming, and if you don’t act now, the entire night world will fall.”
Kai frowned. “What do you mean?”
Kiera’s eyes flickered darkly. “The Council has made deals with something older, something darker than any of us can imagine. And you, Mirrorborn, are the key to stopping them.”
Kai’s pulse quickened. “What are you asking me to do?”
“Form your final Pact,” Kiera said, stepping closer. “The Bloodline of Nightmares awaits you.”
Before Kai could respond, the wind howled. A sharp scream echoed from the sky. A massive shadow passed over them, like the wings of something too large to be real.
Kiera’s eyes narrowed.
“It’s here.”
And just like that, the Hunter vanished into the shadows.
Kai stood, a rush of emotions surging through him. “This isn’t over.”
Nox nodded. “It never is. Not with her.”
Lira flexed her claws. “And whatever this is—the Council, the Council’s enemies—it’s all going to come crashing down soon.”
Kai glanced up at the dark sky, where the shadow still lingered.
“We need to prepare for war,” he said, his voice steely.
And somewhere, high above the city, the Council watched.
- Writer
