Lucan's eyes burned bright with denial. "That can't be true! Vera would never leave me! You lie to turn me against her!"
The trusted Elder, Theron, saw that he wouldn't open his eyes to the truth. And so he broke faith with Lucan then and there. He took nearly a third of their best warriors and marched away, leaving Lucan and Freya's family to stand alone against the invading force.
Outnumbered and stripped of strength, Lucan couldn't hold the line. Step by bitter step, they were driven back. "We can't hold this ground! Fall back! Make for the Mooncrest Clan!" Lucan commanded as he led the ragged survivors away, fleeing their rich, fertile lands, and leaving everything behind.
On the long journey, Freya wept without pause. Father had been struck down in battle and lay unconscious and st
