LORRY SPRINGSTONE'S/KELLY THOMPSON'S POV
The Black Faes are relentless. For every one we injure, two more seem to materialize from the shadows. Their haunting cries echo through the forest, calling for reinforcements.
As the battle rages on, I feel Eden stirring against my fur. His tiny hands grip tightly, and I can sense his fear. But there's something else—a spark of power emanating from his small form. Suddenly, his eyes fly open, glowing with an otherworldly light.
A dense portion of the glow then escapes his orbits, and a shockwave of energy bursts forth, knocking the Black Faes off their feet. The forest falls silent for a moment, all eyes turning to the child in my grasp.
"The prophecy of Lady Arianrhod," Jason's voice echoes in my mind.
"He's indeed a special kid with a special power!" I reply to him through our invisible channel.
The Fae leader snarls, his face contorting with rage and desperation.
"Seize the child!" he commands, and his minions surge forward with renewed vigor.
But Eden's display of power has given us a second wind. Shelly's jaws snap shut on a Fae's arm, tearing it clean off. The creature wails in agony, black blood spraying across the forest floor. Jason's wolf lunges, his massive paws crushing another Fae's skull.
I feel a surge of pride and fierce protectiveness wash over me. Eden, still glowing faintly, clings tighter to Shelly's fur. His power has awakened something primal within us all.
"We need to get him out of here and find the emergency portal as quickly as possible!" Jude's voice rings in my head. "The longer we stay, the more danger he's in, and so are we."
Shelly growls in agreement, her thoughts merging with mine.
"Let's follow the direction of the wind. As we near the emergency portal, the wind seems to intensify." Jason's voice resonates through Jude.
We thus begin to walk eastward, Jason's wolf clearing a path with his massive bulk while also still in my wolf form, I flank him while snapping and snarling at any Fae that dares to come near. The wind whips through the trees, growing stronger with each step we take. Eden's glow pulses in time with the gusts, as if nature itself is responding to his awakened power.
The Faes pursue us relentlessly, their dark forms darting between the trees. But they seem hesitant now, wary of our child's newfound abilities. We press on, our paws pounding against the forest floor in perfect unison.
Suddenly, the trees ahead begin to thin, revealing a small clearing bathed in moonlight. At its center stands a shimmering archway, its edges flickering with an ethereal blue light. The emergency portal.
"There it is!" Jude's excited thoughts reach us all. "We're almost there!"
But the Faes aren't about to let us escape so easily. With an even more deafening bone-chilling shriek, their leader emerges from the shadows, his form twisted and grotesque. He's easily twice the size of the others, with razor-sharp claws and eyes that glow with an unholy light.
"The child is ours!" he roars, his voice like grinding stone. "Surrender him now, and we may yet spare your miserable lives!"
Shelly's hackles rise, a low growl rumbling in her chest. Eden whimpers, burying his face in her fur. I can feel the fear radiating off him, but also a fierce determination. He won't go without a fight, and neither will we.
Jason's wolf lunges forward, meeting the Fae leader head-on. They clash in a fury of teeth and claws, their battle a blur of motion too fast for the eye to follow. The rest of the Fae horde surges forward, emboldened by their leader's attack.
My wolf Shelly leaps into action, her jaws snapping shut on the arm of a Fae that dared to reach for Eden. The creature howls in pain, black ichor spilling from the wound. Shelly pivots, her powerful hind legs kicking out and sending two more Faes flying back into the trees.
"Run!" Jason's voice echoes in our minds. "Get Eden through the portal! I'll hold them off!"
Shelly hesitates for a split second, torn between the father of the child and the child himself. But Eden's safety must come first. So she bolts towards the shimmering archway, her sleek form a blur of motion.
As Shelly travels through the glowing path, I progressively retrieve my human form.
The portal's energy crackles around us, sending tingles through my reforming body. Eden clings tightly to my back as I shift from wolf to human, his small fingers digging into my skin. The Fae's shrieks fade behind us, replaced by an eerie silence.
We emerge on the other side, stumbling onto soft grass. The night air is cool and still, a stark contrast to the chaos we left behind. I take a moment to catch my breath, my heart pounding in my chest.
"Are you okay, Eden?" I ask, gently setting him down.
He nods, his eyes wide and alert. "Where's Daddy?"
Before I can answer, the portal flares brightly. Jason bursts through, his clothes torn and bloody. He collapses to his knees, gasping for air.
"Jason!" I rush to his side, supporting him as he struggles to stand. His eyes are wild, darting back and forth as if expecting the Fae to burst through the portal at any moment.
"We need to keep moving," he pants, gripping my arm tightly. "They'll find a way through soon enough."
I nod, helping him to his feet. Eden runs to us, wrapping his arms around Jason's legs. "Daddy, you're hurt!"
Jason manages a weak smile, ruffling Eden's hair. "I'm okay, buddy. But we need to go now."
We set off into the night, the unfamiliar landscape stretching out before us. The portal's glow fades behind us, leaving only starlight to guide our way. Jason leans heavily on me as we walk, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
"Where are we?" I whisper, scanning the horizon for any sign of civilization.
"We are back to our world...My Luna!" Jason answers, gently calling me his Luna for the first time.