The journey back from the Circle of Elders was marked by a sense of urgency. Luca, Eva, and Erik moved through the rugged mountain paths with swift precision, their minds preoccupied with the elder's revelations. The shard they carried felt heavier with every step, not in weight, but in the significance of its power.
"We need to get this back to the estate quickly," Eva said, breaking the tense silence. "If Erebus knows we have it, he'll come for us."
"He already knows," Erik replied grimly, scanning the horizon. "The elders said the fragments are tied to him. It's like carrying a beacon."
Luca nodded but remained quiet, his senses sharp as he sniffed the air for danger.
As they descended into the forests bordering Valewood, the eerie ambience exuded a foreboding that spelt trouble. Broken branches, claw marks on the trees, and the faint metallic scent of blood hung in the air.
"This place feels wrong," Eva muttered, her hand on the hilt of her blade.
The group slowed their pace, moving cautiously as the forest grew darker. Suddenly, a rustling sound broke the silence.
"Ambush!" Luca growled, shifting into his wolf form just as a swarm of vampires emerged from the shadows.
The fight was brutal and chaotic. The vampires, clearly aware of the shard's importance, attacked with ferocity. Luca lunged at the first attacker, his claws ripping through undead flesh. Eva moved like a whirlwind, her blade flashing in the dim light as she fought off two vampires at once. Erik, always the brawler, used his strength to overpower his enemies, smashing them into the trees.
But the vampires were relentless. For every one they defeated, two more seemed to appear.
"We can't keep this up!" Erik shouted, his back against Luca's.
Luca's eyes darted around, searching for an escape route. "We don't have to win—we just need to get out of here."
Spotting a narrow path leading to a riverbank, Luca barked, "That way!"
The group broke through the enemy lines, running toward the river with the vampires in pursuit. As they reached the water's edge, Eva stopped and turned, her hands raised.
"What are you doing?" Erik yelled.
"Buying us time," Eva said, her voice steady.
Before anyone could stop her, she slashed her palm with her blade and pressed it to the ground, murmuring a spell she'd learned from the Circle. A wall of fire erupted between them and the vampires, the flames roaring high into the night sky.
"That won't hold them for long," Eva said, wincing as she clutched her injured hand.
"It doesn't have to," Luca said, his gaze fixed on a small boat tied to the riverbank. "Come on!"
The group piled into the boat, pushing off just as the vampires began breaking through the flames. The current carried them downstream, the sound of the vampires' screeches fading into the distance.
When they finally reached a safe point along the river, the group pulled the boat ashore and collapsed on the grass, exhausted but alive.
"That was too close," Erik said, panting.
Eva nodded, her face pale from blood loss. "We need to get back to the estate before they catch up."
Luca glanced at the shard, now wrapped tightly in cloth and secured in Eva's satchel. "This thing is more dangerous than I thought. If Erebus can sense it, we're putting everyone in Valewood at risk."
"We'll figure it out," Eva said, her voice firm despite her weariness. "We always do."
---
Back at the Alaric estate, Donovan and the other leaders listened intently as Luca's team recounted their encounter.
"We can't keep the shard here," Garrick said immediately. "It's too risky."
"And where do you suggest we take it?" Marla retorted. "Everywhere we go, Erebus will follow."
"The Circle mentioned something," Luca interjected. "If we gather enough fragments, we can use them to turn Erebus's power against him. But that means going after the others—and that won't be easy."
Magnus smirked. "Good. I've been itching for a real fight."
"This isn't about fighting," Donovan said sharply. "It's about strategy. Erebus has been one step ahead of us this entire time. We need to think carefully about our next move."
Later that night, Luca found himself alone in the estate's library, poring over maps and old texts. The weight of the prophecy loomed over him, its cryptic warnings echoing in his mind.
Eva entered, her footsteps soft. "You should rest," she said, sitting across from him.
"I can't," Luca admitted. "Every time I close my eyes, I see him. Erebus. The way he looks at us, like we're nothing but pawns in his game."
Eva reached across the table, placing a hand on his. "We're more than pawns. And we're not alone. We'll figure this out—together."
Luca met her gaze, a flicker of hope in his eyes. "Thanks, Eva."
---
The next morning, scouts reported another sighting of Erebus's forces, this time near the southern marshlands. The leaders convened immediately, deciding to send a team to investigate.
Luca, Eva, and Erik volunteered, joined by Kira and two other experienced warriors. As they prepared to leave, Donovan pulled Luca aside.
"Be careful," Donovan said, his tone serious. "Erebus is playing a dangerous game, and he won't hesitate to sacrifice his own to win."
"I know," Luca replied. "But we won't let him win."
---
The journey to the marshlands was grueling, the air thick with humidity and the ground treacherously uneven. The group moved cautiously, their senses heightened.
When they reached the heart of the marsh, they found another altar, partially submerged in murky water. This one was smaller than the others but radiated an ominous energy.
Kira approached it cautiously, her eyes scanning for traps. "It looks inactive," she said.
"Looks can be deceiving," Erik muttered.
As they examined the altar, the water around them began to ripple. Shadows emerged from the depths, forming into humanoid shapes.
"Great," Erik said, drawing his weapon. "Water vampires. Just what we needed."
The battle that followed was unlike anything they had faced before. The shadowy creatures were fast and fluid, their movements almost impossible to predict.
Luca fought with feral intensity, his wolf form giving him the edge he needed to keep the creatures at bay. Eva used her agility to strike at their weak points, while Erik relied on brute force.
Kira and the others worked to disable the altar, using the knowledge they'd gained from the Circle.
"Almost there!" Kira shouted, her hands glowing with energy as she chanted a spell.
"Keep them off her!" Luca roared, throwing himself into the fray.
---
Finally, Kira's spell reached its peak. The altar cracked, releasing a burst of dark energy that sent the shadowy creatures screaming into the void.
As the marsh grew silent, the group collapsed in exhaustion.
"That's another one down," Eva said, her voice shaky but triumphant.
"But how many more are there?" Luca wondered aloud, his gaze fixed on the broken altar.
The question hung heavy in the air as the group prepared to return to Valewood. Luca didn't know how much of the countless altar he could stomach, but he couldn't afford to give up, because that would mean an end to the werewolves of Valewood.