Chapter 9: The Frost Wyrm
787 Words
The shadow moved across the mountainside.
Massive.
Ancient.
Terrifying.
The Frost Wyrm slowly emerged from the snow-covered cliffs, its scales glittering like blue ice beneath the morning sun. Its glowing eyes fixed upon the travelers below.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody moved.
Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
Then the creature roared.
The sound shook the valley.
Snow cascaded from nearby peaks.
"HIDE!" Darius shouted.
The group scattered as the Frost Wyrm unleashed a blast of icy breath across the mountainside.
The frozen wind slammed into the ground where they had stood moments earlier.
Trees became statues of ice.
Rocks shattered.
The Frost Wyrm spread its enormous wings and launched itself into the air.
Rayna stared in disbelief.
"It's flying!"
"Not helping!" Adrian yelled as he dove behind a boulder.
Darius transformed instantly into his wolf form.
His silver fur flashed in the sunlight as he raced toward higher ground.
"We need to get it away from the others!"
The Moonclaw warriors followed.
The Wyrm noticed the movement.
Its attention shifted.
Exactly as Darius intended.
The creature lunged after him.
Unfortunately, Darius had underestimated how fast it was.
The Frost Wyrm slammed into the mountainside beside him.
The impact threw him across the snow.
"DARIUS!" Rayna screamed.
Without thinking, she ran forward.
"Rayna, stop!" Adrian shouted.
Too late.
The pendant around her neck began glowing.
Silver light spread across the snow.
The Frost Wyrm paused.
Its glowing eyes narrowed.
Instead of attacking, it stared at her.
Almost as if it recognized her.
The entire valley became silent.
The creature lowered its massive head.
Its icy gaze remained fixed upon the Moon Heir.
Then something extraordinary happened.
Ancient silver symbols appeared beneath the snow.
The same symbols connected to the prophecy.
The Frost Wyrm stepped aside.
Revealing a hidden stone doorway buried within the mountain.
Everyone stared.
The creature had not been guarding the mountain.
It had been guarding the entrance.
Several minutes later, the Frost Wyrm disappeared into the clouds.
No one was eager to chase it.
The expedition gathered before the ancient doorway.
It was enormous.
Covered in glowing runes.
"This wasn't in any map," Adrian said.
"Because it was hidden," Lucian's captain replied.
Rayna approached carefully.
The symbols on the door began glowing brighter.
The pendant around her neck grew warm.
Darius stepped beside her.
"You okay?"
She nodded.
"Just nervous."
"Good."
She blinked.
"Good?"
Darius smiled.
"Brave people are careful. Foolish people aren't nervous at all."
Rayna rolled her eyes.
But she smiled anyway.
Taking a deep breath, she placed her hand against the ancient stone.
The mountain trembled.
The runes exploded with silver light.
Slowly, the massive doorway opened.
Cold air rushed outward.
The darkness beyond seemed endless.
"We found it," one of the knights whispered.
Not the Heart of Luna.
But the path leading to it.
The group entered cautiously.
The tunnel stretched deep beneath the mountain.
Crystal formations glowed along the walls.
Silver light illuminated their path.
Hours passed.
The deeper they traveled, the stranger the tunnels became.
Ancient carvings covered the stone walls.
Humans and werewolves stood together in the images.
Fighting side by side.
Laughing together.
Building cities.
Rayna stopped before one carving.
A human queen and a werewolf king stood beneath a silver moon.
"They really lived together."
Darius nodded.
"My people always believed these stories."
Rayna traced the carving gently.
"Mine forgot."
A sadness settled over her.
How much history had been lost?
How much hatred had grown from forgotten truths?
The tunnel eventually opened into a vast underground chamber.
Everyone stopped.
At the center stood a crystal pedestal.
Resting upon it was a glowing silver orb.
The Heart of Luna.
The artifact from the vision.
Its light filled the cavern.
Beautiful.
Pure.
Ancient.
"We found it," Adrian breathed.
For one brief moment, hope filled the chamber.
Then applause echoed from the shadows.
Slow.
Mocking.
Dangerous.
Every warrior reached for their weapon.
A figure stepped into the light.
Black robes.
Crimson eyes.
A cruel smile.
The Dark Sorcerer.
The real one.
Not a servant.
Not a hunter.
Him.
At last.
"Thank you," he said calmly.
His voice echoed through the cavern.
"I've searched centuries for this place."
Rayna's heart sank.
"No..."
The Sorcerer's smile widened.
"Oh yes."
Dark shadows gathered around him.
The temperature dropped instantly.
"I knew the Moon Heir would lead me here eventually."
Darius stepped protectively in front of Rayna.
The Sorcerer laughed.
"Still trying to protect her, Prince?"
His crimson eyes shifted toward Rayna.
"The Heart of Luna belongs to me."
Silver light erupted from the crystal.
Darkness answered from the Sorcerer's hands.
The entire chamber shook.
Ancient magic awakened.
The final race for the Heart of Luna had begun.
To be continued...
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