The Forest Pact

the clearing with a peaceful illumination,

em. And amidst the quiet calmness, there was an inexplicable heat inside her chest,

respite

f the heart weakened, and a cold shiver seeped into the c

t over," h

clutched his arm. "What do y

sion. "They were only the start. I can sense it; the fo

ing and deeper than anything Aurora had ever heard. Her blood chill

tle of shadow fur, and his eyes

shrank from him, the light patterns on

led, his voice a thre

w tightene

gut knotting at the strain

eader many years ago, before my time. He was banished for atte

imited perspective, Silas. I searched for power. Liber

despite the terror churning within he

grew. "Ah, the human. You've formed a conn

otectively in front of A

erything is intertwined: the heart, the pack, the forest, and her." His scarlet ey

thudded. "Wha

peared, and a cold g

ed you here, human. You're not an observer you're pa

darkness around him seemed to take on a life of its own. Dark tendrils slith

as bellowed, ch

ht with a ferocity t

of the shadows provided him with an advantage. Aurora stared

re racing. She could

and the Heart need

ath, she walked towa

t was staggering, yet she

e thwarted, the He

rested her hands agains

ough her, and she gasped as visions swirled into her mind

connection to the Heart, and the

c represented: a darknes

oice whispered in her mind. It was ge

ed, a determinatio

glowed more intensely,

, her voice standing

eyes growing wide as he watc

what are

erting itself. "The Heart is linked wit

ny time, nodding in

nergy running through her, a

ded, filling the clearing wi

nd retreated, their

ing with rage. He directed his gaze

know what y

voice unshakable. "I hear y

the light from the heart burst

ows came apart, his body wa

ilent again. Malric had vanished, and the

from the exertion. Silas was beside her i

breathed, his voi

him, her own breath t

s gentle as he pushed a lock

azing, you

ntly. "I'm beginn

ng tree, and Aurora experienced a sense of

ime being, but she knew thei

r in a bond greater than words. The forest had selected them, and