Deborah's POV
Matthew stepped forward, his voice low and powerful. "You might not believe me, but I am a werewolf—one with golden eyes."
He paused for a moment, letting his gaze sweep across the confused and anxious faces of the ordinary people before continuing. "Deborah and I went through countless dangers to find the only safe haven on Earth's surface—Tirfothuinn. You have no idea how perilous that journey was."
His tone grew more urgent, laced with a hint of fear.
"Almost every day, we encounter terrifying mutant animals. There were bats with wings so large they could block out the sun; rats bigger than anything you've seen in Murias, nearly as large as a human, with teeth sharp enough to rip apart their prey in seconds. And the giant moths—they can drain the blood from a person in the blink of an eye."
As his words sank in, the ordinary people began murmuring among themselves, their faces paling in horror.
Though life in the underground city had been hard, at least it had been free of monstrous creatures.
Matthew pressed on, his voice growing heavier. "If you want to survive and reach Tirfothuinn, the only way is to respect every werewolf and every FDB member. Remember, they aren't obligated to protect you now. They aren't even required to save your lives. Now, we are what's left of Murias, reborn."
He glanced at the survivors, "Our numbers have dwindled from 55,351 to 31,791. That's a hard reality for us all. If you want to make it through this migration alive, we have to be united. We have to treat everyone as equals."
Matthew's words struck them like a hammer, and the expressions of the ordinary people slowly shifted, reflecting a newfound understanding of the danger they faced.
As whispers spread throughout the crowd, people began to realize that only by coming together—by respecting the werewolves and the FDB, symbols of strength—could they hope to survive this perilous migration.
After the speech, everyone was assigned to different groups based on their skills and professions.
The werewolves, led by Matthew, formed their own team.
David led the FDB forces in charge of security.
There were also medical and childcare groups to ensure all needs were covered throughout the migration.
Surprisingly, I was the only witch left in all of Murias. I hadn't expected this.
Could it be that Maeve from Tirnanog never had children?
The werewolves handed over their Amulets and took on the responsibility of carrying the heavy loads.
They helped transport supplies and carried the elderly and young children who couldn't make the journey on their own.
As the group resumed its journey, the strain of the trek began to take its toll
The first to show signs of fatigue were the weaker children.
Some started to lose strength in their limbs, being unable to walk.
A few even experienced dizziness, vomiting, and nosebleeds.
The werewolves took it upon themselves to care for these vulnerable children.
At the back of the large migration group, one tall werewolf gently cradled a pale, sickly boy, softly rocking him.
"Don't worry," he murmured, "we're almost at the new home. Once we reach Tirfothuinn, you'll feel better. What you're experiencing now is normal. You'll be alright." He spoke with quiet reassurance, patting the boy's back. The child weakly leaned against the werewolf's shoulder, a faint smile of comfort appearing on his face.
As they witnessed the werewolves' selflessness, the ordinary people began to let go of their prejudices.
They saw that the werewolves weren't just powerful and resilient but also incredibly compassionate, caring for the elderly and children without complaint.
The werewolves' extraordinary strength had become something everyone depended on during this difficult journey.
However, as the migration progressed, the group's food and water began to run low.
Exhaustion set in, even for the werewolves, whose stamina was being tested by the relentless desert heat.
The situation grew increasingly dire as the group's survival became more precarious.
***
After an entire day of grueling walking, night finally began to fall just as dusk settled over the horizon.
As the sun dipped below the skyline, the intense heat of the desert started to fade, but what followed was an unexpected and biting cold.
In the desert, the extreme contrast between the scorching days and freezing nights was shocking.
And we were already exhausted.
Many had shown serious signs of dehydration after a day of strenuous walking and exposure to the relentless sun.
Some hadn't rationed their water properly, having drained the last of what they'd brought from Murias during the day.
Now, there wasn't a drop of water to be found in the desert, and people's throats were parched, lips cracked, and some had even begun experiencing hallucinations, their minds clouded.
Matthew quickly took command, directing everyone to stop on the leeward side of several sand dunes.
Though the sky was growing darker, the fear in everyone's hearts hadn't subsided, especially in the face of such harsh natural conditions.
Everyone's nerves were stretched taut.
The werewolves immediately stepped up, using their incredible strength to dig sand pits for shelter from the cold night ahead.
Their movements were swift and precise, their hands easily cutting into the soft sand, pulling up huge amounts of it with each motion.
They swung their powerful arms as though this was no effort at all.
Each werewolf displayed astonishing strength and speed, and within minutes, they had dug enough sand pits to shelter everyone.
Next to them, the FDB soldiers struggled.
They couldn't match the speed of the werewolves.
Sweat poured from their foreheads, accompanied by labored breaths.
But even so, they pushed through, fighting exhaustion to complete their tasks.
The soldiers, though well-trained, couldn't hide the stark difference in strength between them and the werewolves.
As the sand pits took shape, David led the soldiers in organizing the people into their assigned shelters.
Matthew continued issuing orders, reminding everyone to conserve their strength and avoid unnecessary movement. His voice was firm but filled with care and responsibility.
"Everyone, sit and rest as much as possible. Limit your activity," he said, glancing around, his voice laced with exhaustion, though he maintained the role of a leader. "This is only the first day of our migration. There are many more challenges ahead."
Then, he reassured everyone, "Though the desert environment is harsh, there are no threats from mutant animals here. You can rest peacefully tonight. The werewolves will take turns keeping watch to ensure your safety."
I looked at him, feeling a surge of warmth in my chest.
At such a critical moment, Matthew remained calm and had taken responsibility for everyone's safety.
I knew that the road ahead would be full of unknown dangers, but with him by my side, I felt secure.
To ensure everyone stayed warm during the night, I used my magic to light fires in each of the sand pits.
The flickering flames illuminated the tired faces around us, providing a brief moment of peace.
I didn't know how long my magic would last, but I had to do it—to give them warmth and a glimmer of hope.
The werewolves began their shifts, keeping watch over the camp.
In the firelight, their golden eyes gleamed with a sharp vigilance, cutting through the darkness.
Every werewolf stayed on high alert, ensuring that no unforeseen events would occur.
Meanwhile, Ashen Light gathered with the werewolves to discuss the next steps.
I told them, "The werewolves have been sealed, so the night of the full moon will be when they are at their weakest. We need to reach a ruined city before then. Though supplies are scarce there, it's safe—there are no large mutant animals at night."
I continued, "Don't worry, as the only wizard of Murias, I will do my best to find a way to lift the seal."
Matthew added, "Only small creatures may appear, and the temperature will be more bearable. If there's any danger, the FDB soldiers will be able to handle it."
The five of us exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.
Soon, the entire group, except for the werewolves on watch, settled into a state of rest.
The desert night was eerily quiet, with only the occasional crackle of the fire breaking the silence.
As the first light of dawn faintly illuminated the sky, I opened my eyes to find myself lying in Matthew's arms.
I slowly sat up, the blanket slipping from my shoulders.
Cora, next to me, looked at me with a teasing smile.
"You two are moving along quickly, huh? Seems like you've been together for a while," she grinned, her eyes filled with mischief.
My cheeks flushed slightly, unsure of how to respond.
Cora leaned closer, her smile widening. "Matthew really is a reliable guy, no wonder you're so devoted to him."
Noticing I was awake, Matthew gently wrapped the blanket back around me before standing up. "Get some more rest. I'll go check on everyone."
I watched him leave, a wave of warmth washed over me.
Cora leaned in again, her voice a playful whisper. "It's obvious he really cares about you. Like a little puppy." She paused, then smirked, "No, not a puppy—a little wolf cub."
Suddenly, a piercing scream rang out from the camp, shattering the peaceful dawn.