Shadow of the Moon

Chapter 11

Estella

I stumbled back, clutching my arm, my face contorted in pain. My vision blurred, and I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me. Kyros's arms tightened around me, his warmth and strength a lifeline in the sudden chaos. I looked down to see the flesh of my arm unmarred, perfectly intact.

No. No. No.

"Estella, what's wrong?" Kyros asked, his voice filled with alarm. His eyes darted around, searching the shadows for the source of the attack. "What happened?"

The air grew heavy with tension, the playful atmosphere shattered by the sudden intrusion of violence. Kyros's grip tightened around me, his protective instincts kicking in. He pulled me closer, shielding my body with his own, his gaze scanning the surrounding trees, searching for any sign of danger.

A scream, high pitched and pained pierced through the air. A scream threatened to tear out of my throat in response. I doubled over in pain, tearing at the flesh of my arm, trying to scratch off the burning pain.

I gasped, my breath coming in ragged sobs. "Astra," I choked out, my voice thick with fear. "She's hurt."

I tugged roughly on Kyros's arm, trying to ground myself in the hurt. He pulled me closer, his arms a comforting weight around me as my legs threatened to give out. “I need to get to her,” I breathed, my teeth clenched.

Wordlessly, he began to guide me towards the shimmer. He refused to leave my side, even as he was blinded by the darkness of Tenebris surrounding us. I didn’t think about it as I willed my body to shift. The light of the shift flashed as my body melted away and snow-white hair sprung free as I landed on all fours in my Haccu form.

An intake of breath next to me reminded me of Kyross’ presence. I had never shifted in front of him, not ever feeling comfortable shifting in the sun’s harsh rays. I nudged Kyros with my snout, urging him to climb onto my back. He fumbled in the darkness, his hands finding purchase on my thick fur, until he was securely seated.

With a powerful surge, I sprang forward, my paws barely making a sound as I raced through the undergrowth following the fading familiar scent of honey and citrus that was Astra. The forest blurred around us, the darkness a familiar comfort to me, but a disorienting maze for Kyros. I could feel his grip tighten on my fur as I leaped over fallen logs and weaved between the trees.

Another wave of searing pain shot through me, a sharp, burning sensation that mirrored Astra's agony. Tears welled in my eyes and a whine slipped out from my snout, but I pushed the pain aside, my focus solely on reaching my sister. I had to be strong. I had to be fast. Astra's life depended on it. Kyros’s hand brushed against my back, an attempt to sooth my racing heart.

The stench of blood pulled me towards a clearing probably 50 paces from the shimmer, she must have been running along the border of the shimmer while I was with Kyros. I burst through the clearing and paused, my nose lifting to the air to scent where she had gone from here. I felt Kyros slip from my back, and I took that opportunity to shift back.

“Astra!” Kyros called out when my own voice failed.

A whine sounded in the near distance and that’s when I noticed the white figure laying amongst the ferns, as if trying to hide under them. My heart pounded in my chest as I pushed through the undergrowth, to reach her. There, in a pool of crimson, lay Astra, her once pristine white fur now stained a macabre shade of red. Arrows, tipped with a deadly poison, protruded from her body, their barbs glinting in the dim moonlight.

A choked sob escaped my lips as I rushed to her side, my hands trembling as I reached for her. "Astra!" I cried, my voice filled with despair. "No, no, no..."

Her body was limp, her breathing shallow and ragged. The poison was clearly spreading, its deadly grip tightening with every passing moment. Her muzzle was bloodied and the scent of her blood mixed with someone else’s filled the air. I scanned our surroundings and found a bloodied arm that had been torn free, its owner nowhere to be found. Their scent, a distinct male scent, trailed off towards the shimmer. A growl built in my throat, a sound mirrored from Kyros as he also noted the direction of the assaulter.

Astra, drawing strength from my presence, shifted back into her fae form. Her face was a mask of pain, blood trickling from a deep gash across her cheek. Her arm, the one I had been holding just moments before, hung limp and twisted, the bone clearly broken. The sight of her injuries sent a fresh wave of anguish through me.

“Estella,” Astra rasped, her voice barely a whisper, blood staining her pale lips. My eyes shot back down to her as I held onto her, pulling her head into my lap. “He... was looking for you.” Each word was a struggle, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

“Who was?” I cried, my voice choked with despair as I stroked her hair from her face.

“Elorian,” Astra groaned, her gaze shifting to Kyros. “He was looking... for both of you.”

My heart dropped to my stomach, I looked at Kyros, my eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and fear. “Kyros,” I whispered, my voice hoarse with grief. He bent down, gripping Astras non-injured hand and giving it a comforting squeeze. He opened his mouth to speak, his own sorrow evident in his amber eyes, but howls from the distance behind us cut him off.

A-pa. Cyrus. They were coming, their howls filled with rage and pain.

My eyes widened with panic as I looked at him. “You have to go,” I said pressing my head into his chest as his arm came around my shoulders. “They will kill you if they find you,” I said my voice cracking.

Kyros's jaw clenched with determination. “I’ll find who did this.” he vowed, his voice rough with emotion as he pressed a tender kiss to my forehead. “I promise.” He whispered against my skin. I leaned into the touch, trying to seek any sort of comfort his touch brought, but too soon he pulled back. Too soon he was rising to his feet and turning and racing towards the shimmer, his footsteps echoing through the silent forest.

I watched him go, my heart shattering into a thousand pieces. Astra's breathing grew shallow, her grip on my hand weakening with every passing moment. My heart cracked into two, cleaving me down the middle. Once piece was lying in front of me, breaths and heart slowing. The other was racing away, away to a land that I would never see again.

The sound of approaching footsteps had my back stiffening, my canines extending. A low, vicious warning growl vibrated the ground of the clearing.

“Easy, Estella,” Cyrus said, his voice heavy. He knelt beside me, one arm wrapping around my shoulder, the other resting atop Astras head. Cyrus lifted his head, scenting the air before turning accusing eyes to me. I refused to meet his gaze.

He held his tongue, turning his violet eyes back to Astra as her breaths wheezed. Her own eyes met his, the light fading from her violet orbs that were a mirror of my own. He bowed his head and kissed her brow, a tear tracing a path down his cheek and falling to hers.

“I’m sorry,” she said her voice choking off.

“It’s okay,” he said against her forehead.

Then, with a final, shuddering breath, Astra went still.

It was a strange sensation, watching the face that was the mirror of your own slacken. To watch the light fade from the eyes identical to your own.

A wave of icy coldness washed over me, a sense of emptiness so profound it threatened to consume me. I leaned my head back, my eyes locking on the stars and moon high above and screamed. I cursed Nyx, cursed every god in the sky for this. It was heart-wrenching cry of despair that tore through the silent air. It was as if the land stood still and watched as her body stilled and her life ended.

Astra was gone. My twin, my other half, my protector, my confidante... gone.

Cyrus pulled me to him, his strong arms encircling me, his own sobs shaking his shoulders. I tried to fight him off, tried to push him away. I didn’t want to feel comfort, didn’t want to feel anything. But he held me tighter, rocking slightly as he stroked my back. I caved, my hands fisting in his tunic tight as I screamed, my cries muffled by his shoulder.

I almost didn’t notice when another presence joined us if not for Cyrus shifting slightly. Warmth enveloped me, wrapping around Cyrus and I in a near-bruising force as A-pa curled his body around us.

This was my fault. All of this.

The arrow, the poison, the attack... it hadn't been meant for Astra. It had been meant for me.