r's

es. I forgot to pack my sword. I didn't require it. I spent a lot of time walking. Then I caught sight of her. She was standing beside the trees. The breeze rustled her cloak. She was staring at me. She didn't flee. She didn't grin. She did nothing except observe. I moved closer. Then, from behind me, I heard something. A gentle click. I quickly turned. Silas remained still. His eyes were frigid, but he grinned. He had a black blade in his hand. I was pointed at by the tip. I took a step back. Morgan didn't slow down. Between us, she ran. She had glowing hands. The earth trembled. Around her feet, leaves flew. Silas remained still. He raised the blade. It was old, he said. It might break bonds, he said. even real ones. Morgan's gaze widened. I was unable to decipher his meaning. Then her hand caught my eye. The light was going out. She lowered her gaze to her chest. She took a step back. Silas chuckled. The forest no longer trusted her, he claimed. According to him, the goddess returned her gift. I swung after grabbing a branch. Silas ducked. The blade dropped out of his grasp. Morgan took it up. Like she always did, she held it. She still had trembling hands. Silas started running. He was not stopped by her. Nor did I. I gave her a look. She gave me a look. We remained silent. However, we were both aware of the same thin

rther into the

nd dragged her along. We took off running. Branches broke beneath our feet. Behind us, the shadow moved quickly. It didn't move. Like smoke, it slipped. The wind pressed hard like a wall against us. I didn't turn around. I simply ran. Morgan had a chilly hand. She remained silent. She had large eyes. We arrived at a hill and quickly ascended it. I turned and stared at the top. The circle had vanished. There were only twisted trees and dark dust. No deity. No illumination. Just the shadow. standing. It didn't come after us. Not quite yet. Morgan collapsed on the ground. She inhaled deeply. She gazed up at the sky. I took a seat next to her. I remained silent. Then she reached into her cloak and took something out. A little stone. It was red. She said that Elira had previously given it to her. A present, a component of the connection. It was burning in her hand now. She set it down on the floor. The stone's light went out. She gave me a look. "The bond is completely gone now," she remarked. The trees were no longer audible to her. She was unable to sense the ground. I was at a loss for words. Next, both of us heard footsteps. We remained steadfast. Kaya ran from the trees. In her palm was a piece of paper. Thorne had woken up, she said. He said more. She handed the paper to me. The words weren't long. The letters were writ

gle package. She pul

er all ties. Not only hers, even mine. even that of the entire pack. A scroll was opened by Morgan. At the bottom, there was a mark. Not Silas's. Not mine. The Elders', no. A mark we had never seen before. It resembled a claw, but more extended. Sharper. She put her hand on it. The scroll came to life. There were words. older ones. Kaya took a sharp