The Ritual of Ashes
The Shadowmoon valley, once a vibrant sanctuary, was now a place of profound and desolate silence. The small band of survivors—Kieran, Lyra, Derek, Anya, Shadow-Eyes, and Whispering-Wind—descended into the scarred earth, the weight of their loss a heavy shroud over them. The air was thick with the scent of corrupted essence, a sickeningly sweet aroma that made their pureblood senses ache. The sight of their home, reduced to rubble and choked by a green-black haze, was a blow that no amount of preparation could soften.
Their first task was not to rebuild, but to mourn. Under Kieran’s quiet guidance, they set up a temporary camp on the far side of the valley, a safe distance from the epicenter of the corruption. The camp was a somber, silent affair, consisting of little
