The werewolf curse

ight: Aft

n the air days afte

picked through what remained of their sacred ground. The Heartfire had cleansed the corruption, but it had

ara wa

trace of her body remained, just a ring of scorched grass and a faint sce

s always, until finally say

to," Mara said bitterly.

ou coming. You're bound to the Sigil now-too connected to the old magics. But Cl

d. "She trained me to lead, but... I ne

ulder. "Then lead in a

ans alike. The Ash Circle held vigil for three nights under the shattered branches of the sacred tree. Ri

morning, the

happen-they simply woke to find the Ash Tree no l

t, the Bone Sigil wa

est rem

chosen to b

e hollow, scouts

urvived are scattered. Some have thrown down

" Riven muttered. "They'll f

rn. We go to the outlying villages. We find other Bound

le?" asked a youn

id. "Build so

ms. "And who leads t

aces battered by war, scarr

ence. No more hiding. If we are wolves, then we run tog

owd wa

epped forward.

nt, sent a breeze that rustled t

shape. The Ashgrove ruins were cleared. Temporary shelter

ing stone, helping re-scribe ward sigils, teaching yo

slept al

was afraid to release. And Kaelen, who had stayed close through every battle,

nth night, Mar

beside the water, washing blood from her h

e to hide," Ma

dn't turn

ped close

cause I know what comes next. Peace

But she still taught me how

oked up. "Do you

nodded. "Yes. But o

ght glinting in her e

not yet. "I'm not whole.

elen said.

s Kaelen who clo

en leaned in, their foreheads touched, not as lovers, n

s pa

in spirit. They called it Hollowroot, named for

tory long denied. They came not to hide, but to learn, to train, to remember. Elders whispered old ton

at the cent

een. Not as

rvival was possible. That

approached her with

" she said. "She was Keeper

of wolves in different forms, recipes for potions, moon

rved," Riven added. "I think it

ed up. "T

dded. "T

full moon, the Bound gat

to f

eleb

oyful-filled the air. Bound danced in both forms, feet and pa

Mara among

," sh

d. "I don't k

ied with a grin. "W

hey d

on that once dictated their fea

th fur dark as shadow and eyes like violet

d-not in pain

n tri

echoed acros

hat spli

said: We are