LORRY SPRINGSTONE'S/KELLY THOMPSON'S POV
I'm in shock after Lady Arianrhod's declaration. It was totally unexpected. The pressure upon my shoulders becomes almost unbearable as I realize the weight of this responsibility.
"Me?" I stammer, looking down at Eden's sleeping face. "But I... I don't know much about magic or wielding powerful artifacts."
Jason places a comforting hand on my shoulder.
"You can do this," he says softly. "We've come this far. We'll figure it out together."
Lady Arianrhod nods solemnly.
"The scepter responds to intent and will. Your love for your child will guide you."
Elowen steps forward and offers her help, her eyes shining with determination.
"I can assist you. My knowledge of fae magic may prove useful in understanding its workings." She says with a comforting tone of voice.
I take a deep breath, steeling myself.
"Alright," I say, my voice now confident.
We then all follow the ethereal woman Lady Arianhod and come to a stop before a shimmering pool of silvery water. Lady Arianrhod waves her hand over the surface, and an image appears - a golden portal adorned with intricate drawings and topped with a glowing crystal.
"The Emergency Portal," she intones.
"It lies hidden in the heart of the Whispering Woods, guarded by ancient magic and cunning traps. Only the Scepter of Convergence can help open it." She then adds while staring steadily at the South pack's royal scepter in the hands of our son Eden.
Jason steps forward while placing a protective hand on Eden's shoulder and asks to the eldest of the shapshifters council members, his voice thick with anxiety: "But My Lady, how do we find the Emergency Portal ?"
"The path will reveal itself to those pure of heart," Lady Arianrhod replies cryptically. "But beware, for the Black Fae will surely sense the power of the scepter of convergence once you draw near the emergency portal." She reveals before shifting her attention back to me.
"Luna Kelly, you must thus act swiftly. If not…" she warns.
I swallow hard, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders. "If not...?" I prompt, dreading the answer.
Lady Arianrhod's eyes darken. "If not, the Black Faes will seize the scepter and use its power to shatter the veil between worlds and take Eden with them, whom they may feel like he's their reincarnated late King they have been seeking. Chaos will reign, and both our worlds will be plunged into eternal darkness."
A collective shudder runs through our group. Eden clutches the scepter tighter, his young face etched with worry.
"We won't let that happen," I say firmly, surprising myself with my own resolve. "We'll find the portal and cross it before the Black Faes arrive."
Jason squeezes my hand, his touch grounding me. "Absolutely," he affirms.
Lady Arianrhod nods approvingly. "Then you must depart at once. Time grows short. Take with you some supplies from the magical shelf over there! " She commands while pointing at some sort of levitating groceries store.
As we prepare to leave, Lady Arianrhod pulls me aside, her wizened face etched with concern.
"Luna Kelly," she whispers, "there's something else you should know. The Whispering Woods... they change. Paths that exist one moment may vanish the next. Trust your instincts, and listen to the forest itself."
I nod, trying to absorb this new information while my mind races with all we must do. Jason and Elowen quickly gather supplies while Eden stands apart, his small hands wrapped tightly around the Scepter of Convergence whose crystal is pulsing with an otherworldly light.
Set, we step out into the cool night air. A sudden wind then whips through the trees, carrying with it the faint sound of distant laughter. My skin prickles with goosebumps.
"The Black Fae," Jason mutters worryingly.
"No. It's an illusion. Once again, don't let yourself be fooled by most of the things you see or hear in this place filled with dark magic." Elowen advises like she did before we traveled to Lady Arianrhod's castle.
We plunge into the Whispering Woods, the trees looming overhead like silent sentinels. The forest floor is a carpet of fallen leaves, muffling our footsteps as we move swiftly through the shadows.
Eden walks between Jason and me, his small hand gripping mine tightly. The scepter in his other hand pulses with an eerie blue light, casting strange shadows that dance across the gnarled trunks around us.
Elowen takes the lead, her elven eyes piercing the gloom far better than ours. She moves with fluid grace, pausing occasionally to study barely visible markings on the trees.
"The path keeps shifting," she murmurs, frustration evident in her voice. "It's like the forest itself is trying to mislead us."
A low moan echoes through the trees, and I feel Eden stiffen beside me. I squeeze the latter's hand reassuringly, trying to project a confidence I don't entirely feel.
"Remember what Lady Arianrhod said," I whisper to him. "Much of what we hear isn't real."
But even as I say it, I can't shake the feeling that we're being watched. The trees seem to lean in closer, their branches reaching out like grasping fingers. I swear I can see faces in the gnarled bark, their expressions twisted in silent screams.
Jason falls back to walk beside us, his wolf 'Jude' inside him pushing to come out.
"We need to move faster," he urges, voice low and urgent. "The Black Fae may soon detect our presence. They'll be coming for us."
As if in response to his words, a shrill cry pierces the air. It's unlike anything I've ever heard before – part bird, part human, and entirely unnatural. The sound sends chills racing down my spine, and I instinctively pull Eden closer to me.
Elowen whirls around, her eyes wide with alarm. "Run!" she hisses, already darting forward.
We don't hesitate. Jason scoops Eden into his arms, and we sprint after Elowen, weaving between the trees as fast as we can. The forest seems to come alive around us, branches whipping at our faces and roots rising up to trip our feet.
The cry comes again, closer this time. I risk a glance over my shoulder and immediately wish I hadn't. A dark shape is moving through the trees behind us, its form shifting and twisting in ways that defy logic. One moment it seems to have wings, the next it's slithering along the ground like a serpent.