The path forward twisted through jagged cliffs and treacherous ravines, where the whispers of the Wilds grew louder with each step. Kael, Eryndra, and Thane had left the clearing behind, but the tension lingered. Each carried the weight of their victory against the god's avatar, tempered by the knowledge that worse was yet to come.
The Wilds, though quieter now, seemed to pulse with awareness around Kael. It was as if the land itself was watching him, waiting to see what he would do next.
Kaela stirred within his mind, her voice still weak but steady. The Wilds are more alive than you know, Kael. They sense what we've done, and they're beginning to respond.
"Respond how?" Kael asked aloud, drawing puzzled glances from his companions.
The bonds are changing. Other tamers and their beasts will feel it too. Some will come to us willingly. Others... may not be so kind.
Eryndra frowned, adjusting her quiver. "You're talking to her again, aren't you? What's the wolf saying this time?"
Kael sighed. "She says the Wilds are waking up, and we're going to start drawing attention—both good and bad."
Thane smirked, hefting his axe. "Good. I was getting bored with all the sneaking around."
Eryndra rolled her eyes. "You call fighting gods sneaking around?"
Kael cut in before they could argue further. "We need to find others like us—tamers and beasts who are willing to stand against the gods. If we're going to survive what's coming, we can't do it alone."
---
The First Ally
Their journey led them to a narrow valley, where the trees grew sparse and the air carried a biting chill. At its heart was a ruined village, its once-sturdy homes reduced to crumbled stone and splintered wood.
"Looks like something big came through here," Thane muttered, scanning the destruction.
Kael knelt by a shattered wall, running his fingers over deep gouges in the stone. "Not something. Someone."
A low growl echoed from the shadows, and the group immediately went on guard. Eryndra nocked an arrow, her eyes scanning the ruins, while Thane raised his axe.
From the rubble emerged a massive beast—a lion-like creature with midnight-black fur and glowing, silver eyes. Its mane shimmered with an eerie light, and its claws left scorch marks on the ground as it moved.
On its back sat a rider, a young woman with dark, braided hair and an air of quiet defiance. She held a spear with an intricate, glowing tip, her gaze locked onto Kael.
"You're the one," she said, her voice low but firm. "The one who broke the waystone."
Kael stood slowly, meeting her piercing stare. "I am. And who are you?"
The woman dismounted, her beast growling softly but staying by her side. "My name is Seris. This is Nyrax." She gestured to the lion-like creature, which lowered its head slightly in acknowledgment. "We felt the shift in the Wilds. The gods are stirring, and their servants are on the hunt."
Eryndra lowered her bow slightly, though her expression remained wary. "You're a tamer."
Seris nodded. "Like you. But not all tamers will side with your rebellion. Some crave the power the gods offer and will do anything to keep it."
Kael stepped forward. "And you? Which side are you on?"
Nyrax growled, his silver eyes flashing, but Seris placed a calming hand on his mane. "I side with the Wilds. And for now, that means siding with you."
Thane grinned. "Finally, someone with sense."
---
The Wilds' Warning
As they set up camp for the night, Seris shared what she had seen in her travels.
"The gods are sending their forces to destroy the remaining waystones," she said, her voice grim. "They want to sever the Wilds' connection to the land entirely. If that happens..."
Kaela's voice cut in, finishing the thought. The Wilds will wither, and the gods will claim full dominion. Every beast, every tamer—enslaved to their will.
Kael's jaw tightened. "Then we can't let that happen."
Seris nodded. "There's a waystone near the heart of the Wilds—a massive one. If we can reach it and protect it, we might be able to rally the Wilds' full power."
Thane frowned. "And what's stopping the gods from sending another one of their avatars to crush us on the way?"
Nyrax growled softly, and Seris smirked. "They can try."
Kael stared into the flames of their campfire, the weight of their task settling heavily on his shoulders. Protecting the waystone would be the key to turning the tide, but it would also make them targets.
As the others settled in for the night, Kael couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The Wilds had chosen them, yes—but there was no guarantee that choice wouldn't come with its own dangers.
---
A Shadow in the Night
Kael woke abruptly, his instincts screaming of danger. The fire had burned low, casting long shadows across the camp.
Kaela's voice rang sharp in his mind. Something's here.
He grabbed his dagger and scanned the darkness. Across the camp, Nyrax growled low, his glowing eyes locked on a shifting silhouette beyond the trees.
Kael moved silently, his heart pounding. As he neared the edge of the camp, he caught a glimpse of the figure—a humanoid shape cloaked in darkness, its eyes gleaming like molten gold.
The figure spoke, its voice a soft hiss. "You think you can defy the gods, boy? You are nothing but a pawn in a game far beyond your understanding."
Kael raised his dagger, the blade glinting in the dim light. "Who are you?"
The figure laughed, a sound like rustling leaves. "A messenger. A warning. The gods' patience is thin, and their wrath is endless. Turn back now, or face annihilation."
Before Kael could respond, the figure dissolved into smoke, disappearing into the night.
The camp stirred, and Seris was the first to reach him, her spear at the ready. "What happened?"
Kael lowered his dagger, his jaw clenched. "The gods sent us a message."
Thane joined them, his expression grim. "And what's the message?"
Kael turned back toward the campfire, his voice steady. "We're running out of time."