The werewolf curse

The Howl That

k, the battlefield pa

a metallic screech, sparks arcing like lightning. He staggered, not becaus

gh cracks in the ground. The forest wasn't just

glowing steel. His armor shimmered with enchantments-wards against natur

senses sharpened to a blade's edge. He parried her first strike, but not the second

e the rest of

e like them

ound them, the battle roared. The Bound were holding, but barely. For every

ting a path through enemy lines tow

len whispered.

e. She traced another defensive circle into the soil, whispering the names

wind blew throu

pa

g new ha

hunter. Some

lowly, and her

shadows. Her eyes gleamed silver, and her presenc

ent dry. "That'

field. She felt it, too. Her gri

id-strike. "T

dn't he

ric, neither gaining ground,

wind passed over t

's h

linked

the old pacts and forged the Orde

nd the forest quieted. Even

and resonant, "is Seraphine. You

unding. The Bone Sigi

ed this?"

d. "With the rest of the old wa

around Ma

e one who

e on beasts and soil. From the madness of nature worship. The Boun

killed packs. You burned villages.

er," Seraphine

o one knee befor

d on his head. "

g to the Ash Tree. Even the forest spirits that had once surge

t last. "We can't fight her,

t have a

len whispered. "She is magi

d them. "Not immortal

l," Clara said, ar

e looke

it burned a small, flickerin

nd the last whisper of the Old Grove. If she's tied to

"You had th

le. "I only just finished

en-and vines died. Roots cru

for the sigil. Surrender it, an

aw. "We've had enou

d for the

ly one of Bound blood can

und," Ma

are more. And because of tha

widened. "

die in a blaze of glory?" Clara smiled

ding the Heartf

're not one of them. Yo

ybe. But weeds are the fir

e

and the earth shattered, v

ther. She leapt over a roo

reamed.

-and that moment of distra

e Bone Sigil

he moonligh

Every Bound on the battlefield shifted in unison. The t

orest

ne-and drove the Hear

cream-raw, fu

een flame. She clawed at the air

he was

ll lik

unter

ttle w

orest was

re