Chapter 5: Into the Forgotten Wilds (Part 1)
826 Words
Moonlight spilled across the forest as Lira and Kael stumbled from the collapsed mountain.
Behind them, the entrance to the Moonwood Caverns disappeared beneath tons of shattered stone. Dust drifted into the night sky, illuminated by the full moon until it looked like silver snow.
For several long moments, neither of them spoke.
They simply stood there, breathing hard.
Their hands were still intertwined.
Lira noticed first.
She quickly pulled away, pretending to brush dirt from her cloak.
"We should keep moving."
Kael smiled, though exhaustion dulled his usual confidence.
"I was beginning to think you liked holding my hand."
"I was making sure you didn't fall over."
"I appreciate the concern."
"I wasn't concerned."
"Of course not."
Before Lira could think of another retort, a distant roar echoed from beneath the mountain.
The ground trembled.
Varyth was alive.
"So is the Moon Dragon," Kael said quietly.
Lira wasn't so sure.
The ancient dragon had sacrificed everything to give them a chance to escape.
She silently hoped that chance hadn't come at the cost of its life.
---
The forest surrounding the mountain felt...wrong.
Not dangerous.
Empty.
No birds sang.
No insects chirped.
Even the wind seemed reluctant to pass between the trees.
Rowan would have hated this silence.
Thinking of her werewolf friend tightened something inside her chest.
"We left everyone behind."
Kael nodded.
"I know."
"What if they think we're dead?"
"They won't."
"How can you be certain?"
He looked toward the stars.
"Because Rowan knows you."
A faint smile touched her lips.
"He's too stubborn to believe you're gone."
She hadn't realized how much she needed to hear those words.
---
Hours passed before dawn painted the eastern sky in shades of gold and lavender.
Both were exhausted.
The magical bond around their wrists had dimmed from brilliant blue to a soft silver glow, though it remained as unbreakable as ever.
Kael finally stopped beside a small stream.
"We need rest."
"We need answers."
"We need both."
Lira knelt beside the water and washed the dried blood from a cut on her arm.
Only then did she notice Kael favoring his left side.
"You're hurt."
"I've been worse."
"You keep saying that."
"Because it's usually true."
Without asking permission, Lira stepped closer.
"Sit."
"I can—"
"Sit."
He obeyed.
She blinked.
"I thought dragons were stubborn."
"We are."
"Then why are you listening?"
Kael shrugged.
"You sounded convincing."
She rolled her eyes.
"Take your jacket off."
His grin returned.
"I think we're moving rather quickly."
Lira smacked the back of his head with her staff.
"Ow."
"Jacket."
Laughing quietly, he slipped it off.
The smile disappeared from her face.
A deep s***h stretched across his shoulder and ribs.
Dark blood had soaked through his shirt.
"This happened during the fight."
"I noticed."
"You said nothing."
"There were more important things happening."
"You could have died."
"I didn't."
Lira took a slow breath, forcing herself to focus.
Blue runes appeared around her fingertips as she whispered an ancient healing spell.
Warm light spread across the wound.
Kael winced.
"It burns."
"Good."
"Good?"
"It means it's working."
"You witches have unusual definitions of comfort."
She couldn't help smiling.
"So I've been told."
The wound slowly closed, leaving behind only a faint silver scar.
Kael stared at it in amazement.
"I've never seen healing magic like that."
"My mother taught me."
The words escaped before she could stop them.
Silence followed.
"I'm sorry," Kael said softly.
Lira looked away.
"So am I."
---
As the sun climbed higher, they continued through the ancient forest.
Near midday, Kael suddenly stopped walking.
"Do you smell smoke?"
Lira inhaled.
Then she heard it.
Voices.
Children.
The sound of hammers striking wood.
"There shouldn't be anyone living this close to the Forbidden Mountains."
They crept through the trees until the forest opened into a hidden valley.
A village stood there.
Small cottages with moss-covered roofs surrounded a crystal-clear lake.
Children chased one another between gardens overflowing with flowers.
An elderly woman waved cheerfully as though she'd been expecting them.
"Travelers!" she called.
"You both look exhausted."
Lira exchanged a cautious glance with Kael.
"This place isn't on any map."
"No," Kael agreed.
"It isn't."
The old woman approached slowly, leaning on a carved wooden cane.
"You've come a long way."
Her bright green eyes settled on the glowing bond connecting their wrists.
"So..."
"It has finally happened."
Lira frowned.
"What has?"
The old woman smiled knowingly.
"The Heart has awakened."
Before either of them could respond, every person in the village bowed.
Not to Lira.
Not to Kael.
To both of them.
Kael's hand instinctively moved toward the sword at his side.
"I don't like this."
"Neither do I," Lira whispered.
The old woman chuckled.
"You have nothing to fear from us."
"We have waited five hundred years for your arrival."
Lira's heart sank.
Another prophecy.
Another mystery.
And somehow...
She had the feeling this was only the beginning.
- Writer
