CHAPTER 2: WHISPERS IN THE WIND
1096 Words
After a period of turmoil, the woodland had become eerily quiet. Elara's ripped coat was stained with blood, and her chest heaved as she leaned against a tree. With his tiny body quivering and his tears muffled against her, Ari clung to her side.
Elara said in a barely heard whisper, "She's gone," as though saying it out loud would exacerbate the situation.
Kieran stood a few feet away, changing back to human form while his wolf form rippled. Despite the cuts and scratches on his skin, he had a concentrated, angular face. Grieving is not something we have time for. They’ll regroup.”
Elara rounded on him, her amber eyes flashing. “Regroup? They have my daughter! You—” Her voice broke, rage and despair fighting for dominance. “You brought this on us.”
“I’m trying to fix it!” Kieran snapped, his voice echoing in the stillness. “Do you think I wanted this? That I wanted them to take her?”
Elara’s throat tightened, her fists clenching. “You expect me to believe you didn’t lead them here? Every time you show up, they’re not far behind.”
A rustling in the underbrush silenced them both. Elara's wolf instincts kicked in, and she moved ahead of Ari while glancing at the darkness.
Kieran murmured, "It's just the wind," but he didn't seem to be persuaded either.
She was chilled by a faint sound that seemed like distant voices on the breeze. Fragments of speech danced through the woods as the whispers became louder.
"Elara..."
"Twins..."
"Blood moon..."
Ari buried his face in her side and sobbed. “What’s going on, Mama?”
Her hands were shaking as she knelt and cupped his face. "It will be well, my love. Stay close to me.”
Kieran crouched beside her, his gaze scanning the treetops. “This isn’t them. This is something else.”
“Brilliant deduction,” Elara hissed. “What exactly do you suggest we do about it?”
He met her glare with a grim determination. “Keep moving. If the rumors about the twins are spreading, we’re in more danger than we thought.”
Elara rose, pulling Ari into her arms despite the ache in her muscles. “And whose fault is that?”
Before Kieran could respond, a shadow darted between the trees, quick and silent. Elara froze, her wolf senses screaming.
“Did you see that?” she whispered.
Kieran nodded, his posture tense. “We’re being watched.”
The whispers shifted, growing sharper and clearer. "The boy..."
"Save her..."
"Blood for blood..."
Elara’s pulse thundered as she turned to Kieran. “What do they mean?”
His expression darkened. "I'm not sure; we can’t wait to find out. Go.
They rushed into the trees, the murmurs building to a crescendo, an invisible force bearing down on them.
Every step felt heavier, every shadow a threat.
A sudden voice cut through the whispers, clear and chilling. “You can’t save her.”
Elara spun, her wolf half surging forward as she scanned the trees. “Who’s there? Show yourself!”
Except for the sound of rustling leaves, the woodland seemed deserted. Kieran firmly took hold of her arm. “They’re playing with us. Don’t give them what they want.”
“What they want is my daughter!” she snapped, shaking him off.
The voice came again, this time closer. “Blood must pay for blood.”
Ari began to cry, his small hands clutching at Elara’s coat. She held him tightly, her heart breaking at his fear.
“It’s okay, Ari,” she murmured, though the words felt hollow.
Kieran’s jaw clenched as he scanned their surroundings. “We’re not safe here. There’s a cabin near the river. It’ll give us a chance to regroup.”
Elara hesitated, her instincts warring with her desperation.After everything, she still didn't trust him, but she didn't have a better plan.
"Take the lead," she murmured with clenched teeth.
The whispers followed them about, a spectral presence that would not leave them. Fear and guilt were entangled in Elara's racing thoughts. Her daughter's amber eyes were wide with fear as she was pulled away, and Lyra's face flashed before her eyes.
As though he could read her mind, Kieran responded, "We'll get her back."
"You'd better hope so," she said icily in response.
The cabin's dark wood blended into the woodland, and it emerged from the mist like a ghost. They snuck inside as Kieran shoved the door open.
With sore arms, Elara put Ari down. She wiped a tear off his face and said, "Stay close."
Kieran secured the door, his movements quick and practiced. “We’ll rest here for a moment, but we can’t stay long. If the Silverfangs catch our scent—”
A sharp knock at the door silenced him.
Elara’s heart leaped into her throat as she pulled Ari behind her. Kieran motioned for silence, his hand resting on the hilt of a dagger at his side.
The knock came again, louder this time. Then a voice, low and familiar.
“Elara, open the door.”
Her blood ran cold. She recognized the voice, but it was impossible.
“Caleb?” she whispered, her knees threatening to give out.
Kieran’s face darkened, his grip tightening on the dagger. “It’s a trick.”
The voice came again, more insistent. “Elara, please. It’s me.”
Ari peeked out from behind her, his eyes wide. “Mama, isn’t Caleb—”
“Dead,” she finished, her voice barely audible.
Kieran stepped forward. “Don’t open it. Whatever’s out there, it’s not him.”
But Elara’s hand was already on the latch, her heart pounding. If there was even the slightest chance—
“Elara, don’t!”It was too late, but Kieran snarled.
Her breath caught in her throat as she flung open the door.
Caleb stood at the doorway, covered in moonlight and blood.
He continued, his voice breaking, "Elara." "Lyra is with them."
As the weight of his words set in, her entire world began to shift. "How are you aware of that?"
Caleb’s gaze darted past her, his expression twisted with urgency. “Because they sent me to bring you to her.”
The cabin erupted into chaos as the whispers surged again, their words echoing in Elara’s mind like a death knell.
"You can’t trust him."
"You can’t save her."
"Blood for blood."
And a wolf's cry erupted deep in the woodland, a terrifying premonition of the hunt to come.
- Writer
