Chapter 8 - Moonshadow Pass
1302 Words
The sun disappeared behind the mountains.
Luna stood at the edge of Lunaris with Kael, Elder Rowan, and a small group of warriors.
Beyond them stretched the Moonshadow Pass.
The mountains rose like enormous walls on either side, their peaks disappearing into clouds.
No birds flew above the pass.
No animals moved among the trees.
Even the wind seemed afraid to enter.
Luna looked toward the darkness.
“This is the fastest way to the Bloodfang kingdom?”
Kael nodded.
“If we survive it.”
Luna glanced at him.
“That isn't very encouraging.”
Kael gave her a faint smile.
“I wasn't trying to encourage you.”
“You really need to work on that.”
“I'll consider it.”
Elder Rowan approached.
“There is still time to take the longer route.”
Kael shook his head.
“We'll lose two weeks.”
“And the Bloodfang may move the queen before we arrive.”
Luna looked at the pass.
“Then we're going through.”
Elder Rowan sighed.
“As you command, Princess.”
The group entered the mountains.
---
For the first few hours, nothing happened.
That worried Kael more than an attack would have.
The trail became narrower.
Mist covered the ground.
Luna rode beside Kael.
“Why is this place forbidden?”
“Because the Moonshadow Pass belonged to the first werewolves.”
“The first?”
Kael nodded.
“Long before Lunaris existed, our ancestors lived here.”
“What happened to them?”
“No one knows.”
Luna looked into the mist.
“Maybe they left.”
Kael's eyes remained focused ahead.
“Or something drove them away.”
A low growl echoed through the mountains.
Everyone stopped.
Luna's horse became nervous.
Kael dismounted.
“Stay here.”
Luna sighed.
“Again?”
“Luna.”
His tone was serious.
She stopped arguing.
Kael disappeared into the mist.
A minute later, a howl echoed.
Then silence.
Luna waited.
Nothing.
“Kael?”
No answer.
She dismounted.
“Kael!”
Still nothing.
She stepped into the mist.
The world suddenly changed.
The others were gone.
The trail had disappeared.
Luna stood alone.
“Kael?”
A voice answered.
“Luna.”
She turned.
Her mother stood several meters away.
“Mother?”
Queen Selene smiled.
“My daughter.”
Luna ran toward her.
But as she reached out, Selene disappeared.
Luna stopped.
Her heart broke.
“Wait!”
A whisper surrounded her.
Trust no one.
Luna looked around.
The mist thickened.
Then she saw Kael.
He stood ahead of her, covered in blood.
Luna ran toward him.
“Kael!”
He looked at her.
His golden eyes had turned red.
“You should never have trusted me.”
Luna froze.
“What?”
Kael raised his sword.
“I was the one who betrayed your mother.”
“No.”
“You trusted the wrong person.”
Luna stepped backward.
“You're lying.”
Kael smiled.
A cruel smile she had never seen before.
“I killed the queen.”
“No!”
Luna screamed.
The illusion shattered.
She fell to her knees.
“Luna!”
She looked up.
Kael stood in front of her.
His face was normal.
His golden eyes were calm.
He reached toward her.
She instinctively moved backward.
Kael stopped.
“What happened?”
Luna stared at him.
“I saw you.”
“What did you see?”
“You betrayed my mother.”
Kael's expression changed.
“The pass is showing you your fears.”
“How do you know?”
“Because it did the same thing to me.”
Luna looked at him.
“What did you see?”
Kael hesitated.
“My father.”
Luna waited.
“He told me I was responsible for his death.”
She slowly stood.
“And was it true?”
“No.”
“Then why did you believe it?”
“Because the pass knows exactly what hurts you.”
Luna looked around.
“So it can read our minds?”
“Something like that.”
Kael stepped closer.
“But there is one thing it can't create.”
“What?”
“Trust.”
Luna looked into his eyes.
She wanted to believe him.
But fear remained.
Kael lowered his voice.
“You don't have to trust me blindly.”
He extended his hand.
“Trust what you've experienced.”
Luna looked at his hand.
Then she took it.
The mist began to disappear.
---
The group reunited several minutes later.
Elder Rowan looked relieved.
“You survived the Moonshadow.”
Luna frowned.
“Barely.”
Kael looked toward the mountains.
“We're not safe yet.”
A roar echoed through the pass.
This time, it was real.
A massive creature emerged from the mist.
It looked like a wolf, but it was far larger than any werewolf Luna had ever seen.
Its fur was white.
Its eyes were completely silver.
Elder Rowan fell to one knee.
“The Moon Guardian.”
The creature stared directly at Luna.
Luna felt a strange pull inside her.
She slowly stepped forward.
Kael grabbed her arm.
“Don't.”
“It isn't attacking.”
“Yet.”
Luna gently pulled away.
“I think it wants me to come closer.”
The creature lowered its head.
Luna approached.
The moment she touched its forehead, the mountain shook.
A brilliant silver light surrounded them.
Luna saw a vision.
An ancient kingdom.
Thousands of werewolves kneeling before a woman wearing a silver crown.
The woman looked exactly like Luna.
But she was much older.
A voice echoed through the vision.
The Moonfang heir will return.
She will unite the clans.
But before she can wear the crown, she must face the one who betrayed her blood.
Luna gasped.
The vision vanished.
The Moon Guardian stepped backward.
A small silver crystal appeared on the ground.
Luna picked it up.
Kael stared.
“What is that?”
“The Moon Guardian's blessing,” Elder Rowan whispered.
Luna looked at the crystal.
“What does it do?”
Elder Rowan smiled.
“It will reveal the path to the Moon Crystal.”
Kael looked toward the distant mountains.
“Then we're getting closer.”
---
They continued through the pass until they reached an enormous stone bridge.
Beyond it stood a dark fortress carved directly into the mountain.
Luna stared.
“Is that the Bloodfang kingdom?”
Kael nodded.
“The fortress of Dreadfang.”
A horn sounded from the fortress.
Then another.
Red torches appeared along the walls.
Luna counted them.
Dozens.
Then hundreds.
Kael drew his sword.
“We've been seen.”
Luna tightened her grip around the silver crystal.
“How many guards?”
“Too many to fight directly.”
“Then how do we get inside?”
Kael looked at her.
“I have an idea.”
“What?”
He leaned closer.
“We don't attack the fortress.”
Luna frowned.
“Then what?”
Kael's eyes gleamed.
“We let them think we're coming to surrender.”
Luna stared at him.
“You're joking.”
“No.”
“You're completely insane.”
“Probably.”
Despite herself, Luna smiled.
Then Kael's expression became serious.
“But once we're inside, we find your mother.”
Luna nodded.
“And the traitor.”
Kael looked toward the fortress.
“Yes.”
They crossed the bridge.
But neither of them noticed the figure watching from the highest tower.
A woman stood behind the curtains.
Her silver hair moved in the wind.
Her eyes were filled with tears.
She whispered one word.
“Luna.”
Then she turned away from the window.
Queen Selene was waiting for her daughter.
And someone inside Dreadfang was preparing for their arrival.
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