LORRY SPRINGSTONE'S/KELLY THOMPSON'S POV
Elowen's voice cuts through the fog, steady and reassuring. "Keep moving. Don't stop, no matter what you see or hear."
We press on, our footsteps muffled by the thick mist. Time becomes impossible to track, and I can't tell if we've been walking for minutes or hours. The landscape around us constantly shifts, sometimes revealing tantalizing glimpses of familiar places in the South pack's territory.
I hear Eden whimper softly and instinctively tighten my grip on his hand.
"It's okay, sweetie," I murmur, trying to keep my own voice steady. "Just keep walking."
And out of the blue, a haunting melody drifts through the mist. It's beautiful and eerily familiar, reminding me of the lullabies my late mother used to sing so I could sleep. I feel an overwhelming urge to follow the sound, to seek out its source.
"Mom?" Eden's voice quivers. "Do you hear that?"
Before I can respond, Jason's grip on my arm tightens.
"Don't listen," he growls, his eyes fixed straight ahead. "It's not real."
I shake my head, trying to clear the fog from my mind. Jason is right. This is exactly what Elowen warned us about. I force myself to focus on Elowen's instructions as shed leads us deeper into the Misty Veil. The melody fades, but new illusions take its place. Shadowy figures dart at the edge of my vision, always just out of reach. Whispers and half-heard conversations swirl around us, tantalizing snippets that make no sense.
I keep my eyes strained on Elowen's back, using her as an anchor in this sea of confusion. The flowers breaded in her hair gleam faintly in the mist, a beacon guiding us forward. I concentrate on the solid feeling of Eden's small hand in mine, Jason's steady presence at my side.
Suddenly, the mist parts, revealing a familiar clearing. My heart leaps as it looks like the South pack's gathering place, the ancient oak tree at its center.
"Look! We have reached Lady Arianrhod's domain, mom, dad" Eden cries out.
I glare at him and at his father Jason, relief is obvious on their faces as it is on mine. But when we step forward, the vision shimmers and dissolves, replaced by more swirling mist. I hear Eden's disappointed sigh and squeeze his hand reassuringly.
"It's not real," I remind him gently as he begins to tap the scepter in his hand against the floor nervously.
"Remember what Elowen said about the illusions." I then tell him.
Jason nods grimly.
"The Misty Veil is toying with us. Stay alert, son."
We press on, the mist growing thicker with each step. The air feels heavy, pressing in on us from all sides. Strange scents assault my nose - the sharp tang of pine needles, the cloying sweetness of overripe fruit, the acrid smell of smoke. None of it matches our surroundings.
Suddenly, Elowen stops short, her body tense. "Something's wrong," she whispers. "The path... it's changed."
I strain my eyes, peering into the swirling mist ahead. The faint outline of the path we've been following seems to twist and warp before my eyes, branching off in impossible directions.
"How can that be?" I ask, my voice hushed. "You said the path was anchored by ancient magic."
Elowen turns to face us, her expression grave. "It is. Or it should be. Something is interfering with the Veil's natural order."
A chill runs down my spine. If even Elowen, with all her knowledge of this realm, is unsettled, we're in more danger than I thought.
Eden's grip on my hand tightens.
"What do we do now?" he asks, his voice small and frightened.
Before anyone can answer, a low, rumbling growl echoes through the mist. The sound seems to come from everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
Jason's protective werewolf instinct kicks in immediately. He steps in front of Eden and me, his muscles tensing as he scans the misty surroundings. I can almost see his ears twitching, straining to pinpoint the source of the growl.
"Stay close," he commands in a low voice. "Whatever it is, it's not friendly."
Despite the unwelcoming sounds, Elowen tries to reassure us.
"The Veil is just playing with our nerves," she explains quickly. "We must stay focused on our destination. Don't let it distract you."
Another growl, closer this time and I feel Eden trembling beside me. I thus pull him closer as the scepter in his hand begins to pulse with a soft golden light, responding to his heightened emotions.
I am surprised at the sight of the glow. I didn't know the scepter had such a hidden feature. I need to understand what's going on. So I call Jason who is focused on detecting any foe hidden in the fog.
"Jason, look at the scepter," I whisper urgently.
He turns, his eyes widening as he takes in the golden glow emanating from the artifact. "What the—"
"It's never done that before," Eden says, his voice a mix of awe and fear.
Elowen who heard has Jason's exclamation turns to look behind. Her brow furrowed at the sight of the golden light on what she believes is a mere prop.
"The prop is responding to the disturbance in the Veil. It's trying to guide us."
As if on cue, the light from the scepter intensifies, casting a narrow beam through the mist. It illuminates a path that wasn't visible before, cutting through the swirling fog like a knife.
"Follow it," Elowen commands, her voice leaving no room for argument.
We move forward, huddled close together, with Jason taking the lead and Elowen bringing up the rear.
The beam from the scepter flickers and wavers as we advance, casting eerie shadows that dance across the misty landscape. Each step feels like we're wading through molasses, the air thick with an oppressive energy that seems to push against us.
Suddenly, Jason halts, his arm outstretched to stop us. "Wait," he hisses, his eyes darting left and right. "Something's not right."
Before any of us can respond, a blood-curdling howl pierces the air, so close it makes my ears ring. Eden clutches the scepter tighter, its glow intensifying in response to his fear.
"Run!" Elowen shouts, all pretense of calm abandoned.
We sprint forward, following the golden beam as it carves a path through the mist. The howls multiply, echoing from all directions.