CHAPTER 2
RYKER.
The night air clung to Ryker's fur, the air was heavy with the scent of blood and sweat. His pack members clashed with the rogue pack, their snarls and growls echoing. Ryker,tore through the grassland, his jaws snapping shut around a snarling attacker.
Rogue attacks had plagued the land, targeting vulnerable packs. Ryker's determination to protect his pack and avenge the fallen alphas drove him forward. His pack members fought bravely, but the rogues' numbers seemed endless.
As the battle raged on, Ryker pinpointed the rogue leader – a massive, scarred wolf. The air seemed to vibrate with tension as Ryker faced off against the leader. The leader's eyes burned with an evil intensity, making Ryker's hackles rise.
The leader charged, his jaws wide open in a snarling snout. Ryker dodged to the side, avoiding the leader's deadly bite by mere inches. He countered with a swift strike of his own, but the leader was too powerful, and he swatted Ryker's attack aside.
Ryker stumbled back, his ears ringing from the force of the leader's blow. Ryker got back on his feet, his eyes locked onto the leader as he prepared to attack again.
The battle went on, Ryker and the leader exchanged blows, shifting from their wolf form to human. The blows moved in a blur which the ordinary eyes could not register. Ryker's pack mates watched in awe as their alpha clashed with the rogue.
The leader landed a ghastly hit, sending Ryker tumbling across the clearing. Ryker's eyes blazed with fury as he regained his footing. He charged at the leader, the two wolves fought on, their strength evenly matched. The sight of Ryker's pack members who had been defeated sent a rush of power through him as his jaws locked onto the leaders throat and he held tight, his teeth sinking deep into the wolves fur.
The leader let out a defeated whimper.
Ryker pinned the rogue leader to the
ground, his jaws clenched around the wolf's throat. The rogue's eyes gleamed with defiance. "You'll never stop it," the rogue sneered, laughter bubbling up from his throat. "The Master's plan is already in motion. The moon will shatter, and your precious packs will burn." The rogue's gaze lingered on Aria, who stood at the edge of the clearing, a menacing grin twisting his lips.
Ryker's grip tightened. "Who is this Master? What have you done?" The rogue's laughter grew louder, his body shaking. With a final, mocking glance at Aria, the rogue's eyes glazed over, and his body went limp. Ryker released his grip, his mind reeling. What did the rogue mean? The moon shattering? A master promising power?
As Ryker's warriors tended to the wounded, Aria approached him, concern etched on her face. "Ryker, what's wrong?" Ryker hesitated, unsure how to share the rogue's ominous words.
"I'm not sure, Aria," Ryker said finally. "But I think we're in for a storm unlike any we've faced before." Aria's expression turned serious. "What did the rogue say?" Ryker repeated the words, his voice barely above a whisper.
Aria's eyes widened. "This sounds like a desperate threat. We can't jump to conclusions." Ryker sought Ezra's counsel, but the old sage's expression was guarded.
"Rumors of dark magic spread like wildfire," Ezra said. "We can't afford to chase every thing we hear" Ryker sensed Ezra was hiding something, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Determined to uncover the truth, Ryker pressed Ezra. "What do you know, Ezra? What's going on?" Ezra's eyes locked onto his, a hint of warning in their depths.
"I know that some rumors can be deadly, Ryker," Ezra said. "Be cautious." Ryker's instincts screamed warning, but he had no proof. The rogue's words seemed like a mere rumor, a desperate attempt to sow chaos.
Yet, the image of the rogue's gaze on Aria lingered, fueling his unease. As the night became near, Ryker stood atop a hill, gazing up at the moon. The rogue's words echoed in his mind, fueling a growing sense of unease.
What did they mean? And what role would he play? A shiver ran down his spine. The moon seemed to hang lower, its light casting ominous shadows. Ryker's braced himself for the unknown.
He felt like he was standing on the precipice, staring into an abyss. The darkness seemed to close in, anticipation and foreboding gripping his heart. Ryker's eyes never left the moon, his mind racing with questions.
What was the Master's plan? What did the moon's shattering portend? And what lay in store for his pack? The silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the distant howls of wolves.
Ryker's thoughts turned to Aria, and the rogue's ominous gaze. What did it mean? And what would tomorrow bring? As the night wore o
n, Ryker's senses remained on high alert.