Kael followed the river for hours, his legs growing heavier with each step. The terrain became rougher, the air colder, and the shadows longer as twilight crept across the Wilds. Despite his exhaustion, he pressed on, the phoenix egg cradled in his arms. The glow of its shell was his only light in the deepening gloom.
The Wilds didn't rest at night. Rustling leaves and distant howls reminded Kael that he was far from alone. Every noise set his nerves on edge. Yet, as night fell, he noticed something strange: a flickering light ahead, faint but steady, piercing through the trees.
A campfire? Or a trap?
Kael crouched low, creeping closer until he could make out a small clearing. A fire crackled in the center, its warmth and light beckoning. Beside it sat a lone figure wrapped in a dark cloak, their face obscured by the hood. A large, hulking shape lay nearby—a beast, slumbering in the firelight.
Kael's breath caught. The creature was unlike any he had seen before, a massive feline with fur like obsidian and glowing red eyes that flickered open at his approach. It growled low, its sharp teeth glinting in the light.
"I wouldn't come any closer," the stranger said, their voice smooth and calm. "Unless you're eager to become Shadowfang's next meal."
Kael froze, his heart pounding. The stranger turned toward him, lowering their hood to reveal a sharp, angular face framed by silver hair. Their piercing blue eyes locked onto Kael with an unsettling intensity.
"Well, what do we have here?" The stranger rose, their movements fluid and deliberate. They were tall, their presence commanding, and their cloak shifted to reveal a belt lined with weapons and talismans. "A boy with a phoenix egg. Now that's something you don't see every day."
Kael's grip on the egg tightened. "Who are you?" he demanded, trying to keep his voice steady. "What do you want?"
The stranger smiled faintly. "The better question is, what are *you* doing out here, carrying something so... valuable?" They took a step closer, and the beast—Shadowfang—rose to its feet, its eyes fixed on Kael. "Do you even know what you have there?"
"It's none of your business," Kael said, taking a step back. He glanced at the river, calculating his chances of escape. The mark on his palm began to tingle, a faint warmth spreading through his hand.
"Oh, but it is," the stranger said. "You see, Ætherborn aren't just wandering the Wilds by chance these days. Something's stirring them, waking them from their slumber. And that egg of yours? It's like a beacon, calling them here."
Kael's stomach churned. "What do you mean?"
The stranger tilted their head. "You haven't felt it yet? The pull? That egg is bonded to you now, and it will bring you power beyond anything you can imagine. But it will also bring danger. Every beast in the Wilds will hunt you, drawn by its call. And unless you know how to protect it—and yourself—you won't last long."
Kael's mind raced. He wanted to dismiss the stranger's words as a ploy, but the weight of the egg in his arms and the mark on his palm told him they were right. He had already seen the truth of it in the azure wolf's eyes.
"What do you want from me?" Kael asked.
The stranger smiled, a sharp, knowing smile. "I'm offering you a choice. Come with me, and I'll teach you how to survive. How to fight, tame, and thrive in the Wilds. Or..." They gestured to the dark forest around them. "You can take your chances out there, alone."
Shadowfang growled, its eyes glowing like embers, and Kael felt the weight of the stranger's words. He looked down at the egg, its warmth steady against his chest. The vision he'd seen of the phoenix flashed in his mind, and with it, a sense of purpose.
Kael lifted his chin. "Why should I trust you?"
The stranger chuckled softly. "Smart boy. Trust is earned, not given. But I think you'll find I'm your best chance at survival. And besides..." They gestured to the mark on Kael's palm. "That bond of yours isn't something to take lightly. If you don't master it, it'll consume you. Or worse."
Kael hesitated, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. He knew the stranger was dangerous, but their words rang true. If he stayed on his own, he wouldn't make it far. And if this person could help him understand the bond and the power of the phoenix egg, maybe he could finally find a way to protect it—and himself.
"All right," Kael said, his voice firm. "I'll go with you. But if you try anything—"
The stranger raised a hand, cutting him off. "Relax, boy. If I wanted to kill you, you'd already be dead." They turned back to the fire, their cloak billowing behind them. "Now, sit. You'll need your strength. The Wilds aren't forgiving, and your training starts at dawn."
Kael hesitated, then stepped into the clearing, the egg still cradled protectively in his arms. Shadowfang growled but settled back down beside the fire, its eyes never leaving him.
As Kael sat across from the stranger, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had just made a pact as dangerous as the one with the phoenix. But deep down, he knew there was no turning back now.