Moonfire Rebellion

Her Plan

It was around 3 a.m. The fireworks finally subsided, but the party was far from over. People danced and sang like there was no tomorrow. Wine flowed like rivers; varieties of food were arranged for the guests. Everything seemed so perfect.

But Thorian was worried. This was exactly what he feared. He thought that the wolfbane would poison her slowly and finally he would get rid of her. He wanted her to be alive until the wedding was over. The optics would look bad if a noble girl like her died during such an important event. After the wedding, he would fabricate a story of how she couldn’t take the embarrassment and took her own life.

"That witch!" Thorian slammed his wrist on the table.

The Elder Seer came into the room wearing a long black robe-Varun walked behind him. He was one of the most respected people in the clan and a master of the dark arts.

"This had better be good Thorian ... "I was in the middle of something..." said the Elder Seer taking off his hood.

"It’s the witch-Sylvia- she's trying to gain powers- I wish I had had her killed..." Thorian said, walking towards the Seer. He was visibly anxious.

"Oh! You worry too much... it is only a matter of time until the wolfbane..." replied the Seer .

"The wolfbane is not enough!"

"No wolf can survive the wolfbane, my boy. It is my concoction after all... far deadlier…even the Gods fear the Wolfbane..."

"Then why is she carving sigils on the prison walls?"

"Sigils you say... huh? Well then lets pay her a visit ..."

"Now?" Varun questioned. But the Seer glanced at him with such anger that he kept his mouth shut.

Thorian agreed to the Seer and the three of them secretly left the party and walked out through the back door into the darkness....

The prison was 10 minutes away, and they made sure no one saw them. Thorian was scared now, he had heard stories of Luna clan being blessed by the moon goddess herself. He had heard how powerful Lunas can be once their powers are awaken. And if Sylvia were to escape from the prison, his plan would be ruined. No! He has to deal with it tonight. Maybe kill her quietly.

"You look worried!" remarked the seer as the three of them walked through a secluded path surrounded by thick bushes and trees.

"It’s nothing- " replied Thorian and walked on ahead.

The guards immediately bowed to Thorian as he ordered them to open the central gate. This gate led through a corridor which then led to the inner chambers which held the prisoners. The prison was rarely used these days- these are the times of great peace! Many hidden chambers still remained unexplored and have not been used for ages. Rumours are that these ancient Moonclaw dungeons once held up to a thousand prisoners and there are many sub levels hidden underground. These days the dungeons have turned into nothing but a historical monument. Very few prisoners were held there. This is because anyone who stood up against Thorian and his family were killed off so quietly that even their bodies were not found after. His family controlled the leaders of the pack, corruption ran rampant and whatever they say became the law…

Thorian walked through the corridor that led to the chamber. A strange chill ran up his spine as he drew closer- the hallway was lit dimly with torches. An overwhelming scent of decay made him cover his nose. It has been years since he had set foot in the dungeon. He looked around-the entire structure seemed thousands of years old and was made up of huge stones that looked like they would fall apart any moment.

“It's right up that narrow alley- I’ll wait for you here- “said Varun as he directed the two of them to the prison.

Moments later they stood right in front of the prison that held Sylvia.

“There she is! Hey! Wake up! You still breathing?” said Thorian holding the iron bars from outside.

But Sylvia lay silently on the ground with her back towards them. Thorian called out to her again- no response!

“See? The poison has rendered her useless- she can barely move…” remarked the Seer.

“I guess you were right- it seems like she won’t make it through the night but I don’t trust her- Varun! Open the gates!” Thorian ordered and Varun came running with the keys.

The gates were opened and Thorian and the Seer walked in to the prison. Thorian stood near her and called out to her once more. When she didn’t respond. Thorian kicked her in the back to wake her up. She barely moved.

“It will be so much easier just to kill her now and dump her body!” remarked Thorian placing his hands on his hips.

“So, what’s stopping you dear boy? Be done with it!” replied the Seer.

Thorian looked at him with surprise.

“Look at her- you want her gone anyway and what better day than today? You are starting a new life, why not get rid off the old one right now?” the Seer added.

Thorian though for a moment and looked at Sylvia. Her fragile body would crumble beneath his strong hands. He kneeled beside her and rolled her body towards him. Her eyes were closed. Her clothes torn and her hair unkempt. She was barely breathing but still alive. He looked at her- something was not right- she seemed different…

“You need a moment?” asked the Seer sarcastically.

Thorian took a deep breath and took out a knife from his coat. He was going to finish her right there. But the Seer had suddenly noticed something –

“Stop!” the Seer exclaimed.

“Not here!” he added.

“Look! The moon’s watching…” he said pointing towards the moon through the vents of the cell.

“What?” Thorian looked in disbelief “It’s just the moon- what could it possibly do?”

“Take her somewhere else- right now! Somewhere dark and secluded!” ordered the old Seer.

“Ugh!” Thorian was frustrated. But he had to listen to the wise old Seer. He broke her chains with his bare hands. And with the cufflinks still attached to her limbs, he carried her in his arms.

“Where to?” he consulted the Seer.



“You know where!” said the Seer walking out of the dungeons.

Thorian smirked as he too walked out of the prison cell with Sylvia lying still in her arms. Varun followed both of them behind. He understood there was a change of plans. He knew where they were taking her- a place he never hoped to visit again- a place so dark and haunted that even the bravest of the alphas avoided it- The Tar Pits. Located just a mile north of t he dungeons, in the deepest parts of the forest, the Tar pits were the unofficial cemetery of the clan. A place where hundreds of bodies were dumped- bodies of dissenters, of people who knew too much or spoke too much, people who did not agree with Thorian- were simply killed and their bodies dumped in that god-forsaken place. It is said that the place was haunted and was frequently used by black magic -practitioners, mages and seers to gain their powers. But these were all rumours- of course nothing could do them harm as long as the Seer was with them!

Meanwhile, Thorian decided to put the unconscious Sylvia inside a big black bag and asked Varun to carry her on his shoulders. All of them thought that she was almost at the brink of death but Sylvia was cunning – this was her plan all along. She wanted to scare Varun so much that he would inform Thorian and she knew that he would come running to finish her off. She also knew that the Seer would accompany him- without him Thorian would not dare take another step. She pretended to be unconscious all along- even when Thorian kicked her, she did not move- her body had gone numb anyways due to the poison. All she wanted was to be free of those infernal chains and get rid off the wolfbane pumping into her body. She wanted them to take her out of the prison towards the forests- where an ambush would be waiting for them- her plan was coming to fruition at last!