Lunar Fracture

Chapter 2

Zarek's eyes scanned the forest around them through the car's window, searching for something, anything out of place.

Nada. Nothing. The forest was calm and peaceful.

" I don't see anything."

Zarek nodded at the words of the man sitting beside him at the backseat. He had been scanning the forest as well. Zarek's eyes narrowed as a realization clicked; the forest was too quiet. No birds chirping, no frogs croaking and it was almost evening.

Strange.

" You should start..."

" No, Kael. Wait," Zarek stopped his companion. " Too quiet," he prompted, gesturing around the forest. " Something is really wrong."

The driver nodded. " The car tyre is flattened," he revealed.

A car honk sounded behind them, and they turned to see the car filled with the guards that had been following them. Just as Zarek reached for the handle of the car door, a deafening explosion reverberated through the forest, throwing his car into the air.

Zarek's head hit the ceiling of the car, the impact sending stars dancing across his vision. He groaned, his vision blurred as he struggled to regain his bearings.

The car landed with a thud, the smell of burning rubber filling the air. Zarek shook off his daze and looked around, trying to assess the situation. He could see no one, he could see nothing, just dense smoke.

" Alpha Zarek!” “ Alpha!"

The screams seemed to be coming from far away, but he knew it was his guards trying to find the car and himself in the dense smoke clouding the forest.

Zarek climbed out of the car, his eyes scanning the forest, searching for any signs of movement. He realized he was in enemy territory, surrounded by shadows that seemed to come alive with each rustle of a branch.

The air was still, but Zarek felt a presence lurking in the darkness. His senses heightened, he made out the faint sound of footsteps approaching. He turned to the direction of the footsteps, where the shouts from his guards were coming from too.

" Hey, Kael is still..."

A figure darted out from the shadows, a dagger flashing in the dim light. Zarek eyes widened in shock as he realized his mistake of letting down his guard. He swayed out of the way last minute, barely avoiding the blade's sharp edge.

Even as he felt the blade nick his upper arm as he swayed to the side, he registered the fight cries now coming from the direction of where his guards were. This was the assailants’ plan; the overturn of his car had served to separate him and his guards.

Kael climbed out of the overturned car, his eyes already fixed on Zarek's assailant, assessing the situation. He rushed forward to grab the assailant, but almost like a puff of smoke, he reclined back into the shadows.

Kael and Zarek's eyes met, their facial expression holding the same question.

What the hell?

The battle cries behind stopped as well, and the guards from the trailing car who were still alive, rushed to the scene, their weapons drawn. But before they could reach Zarek, a hail of arrows shot out of the darkness, striking down the guards with deadly precision.

Kael reacted instinctively, throwing himself in front of Zarek to shield him from the onslaught. His body tensed as he waited for the impact of the arrows, but the arrows never hit their mark. Instead, they veered off course at the last moment, ricocheting off an invisible shield and disappearing into the darkness.

Zarek's breath caught in his throat. The scene was surreal, as if time had slowed to a crawl. But before he could make sense of it, a sudden gust of wind swirled around them, blowing away the lingering smoke and arrows.

Zarek's heart pounded in his chest as he processed the strange turn of events. What had just happened?

Why had the arrows changed course, and what had created that shield?

"Stay close," Kael whispered, taking Zarek's arm and pulling him towards the remains of their car. They took cover behind its twisted frame, waiting for the next attack.

But the forest fell silent again, the only sound being the crackle of burning embers. The wind had vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving behind only a faint, smoky smell.

After a while and they still heard nothing, Zarek cautiously stepped out from behind the wreckage, his gaze scanning the woods. The silence felt too deliberate, almost ominous. Kael followed close behind, his eyes locked on Zarek.

"Kael, did you see...?" Zarek began, his mind racing. "How did those arrows change course like that? And the wind..."

Kael's lips curved into a smirk, but as Zarek turned to face him, the expression melted away like snow in the sun.

"It's the Moon Goddess' blessing," Kael replied, shrugging as if it was obvious. "Your mother invoked her protection in her letter, remember? She must have been answered."

Zarek made a sign of thanks towards the direction of the moon. His forehead furrowed, his eyes hardening and his lip turned up as he took in the dead bodies of his guards. He went from one to the other, trying to see if anyone had survived.

He stood up from the last body, his once enraged expression now one of confusion.

" They are all dead. The hit of the arrows were so precise."

" Assassins," Kael answered, coming to stand beside him. " It's obvious that this was a well planned ambush."

"Maybe..." Zarek trailed off, unconvinced. His instincts told him that something more was at play. "But we should investigate, find whoever ambushed us."

Kael shook his head, his expression turning serious. "No, we need to keep moving. Your father needs you."

Zarek hesitated, torn between his sense of duty and the unexplained mystery of the attack. His mind reeled from still trying to comprehend everything that had happened so suddenly.

"Come on," Kael pushed. " You are injured, and..." Kael looked around. "... We are in the middle of nowhere... Great!"