The forest was eerily silent, save for the faint rustle of leaves in the cool night breeze. Amara clutched the glowing pendant as it pulsed with an otherworldly rhythm, casting a soft silver light on the narrow path ahead. Every step felt heavier, her heart weighed down by the thought of leaving her home—and Elder Lyra—behind.
The faint sound of rushing water reached her ears. Following the pendant's glow, she came upon a small creek winding through the trees. She knelt by the water, splashing it on her face to steady her nerves.
"You can do this," she whispered to herself, gripping the pendant tightly. "Elder Lyra believes in you. You just have to keep moving."
As she stood, a low growl cut through the stillness. Amara froze, her eyes darting toward the shadows. From the darkness, two glowing red eyes emerged, followed by the hulking form of a beast. Its black fur bristled, and its sharp fangs gleamed in the pendant's light.
A shadow wolf.
Amara's breath caught in her throat. The shadow wolves were creatures of darkness, often summoned by the Ember Shadows to hunt their prey. The wolf snarled, crouching as if ready to pounce.
She took a step back, her mind racing. She had no weapon, no training for a fight like this. All she had was the pendant.
The wolf lunged.
Amara's instincts took over. She raised the pendant, and a burst of silver light erupted from it, blinding the beast mid-air. The wolf yelped, skidding to a halt as it recoiled from the light.
Amara's heart pounded as the pendant continued to glow brighter, its warmth spreading through her body. The wolf hesitated, pacing back and forth, its red eyes wary of the light.
"Leave me alone," she whispered, her voice trembling but firm.
The pendant pulsed again, and the wolf let out a low whine before retreating into the shadows. Amara stood frozen, her hand shaking as the glow of the pendant dimmed.
"What... was that?" she murmured, staring at the artifact in her hand.
---
The encounter left her shaken, but there was no time to dwell. She pressed on, the forest growing denser with each step. The pendant's glow became more sporadic, flickering as though uncertain.
Suddenly, the underbrush rustled ahead. Amara tensed, ready to raise the pendant again. But instead of a beast, a figure emerged—a young man with fiery red hair and a blade strapped to his back. His dark cloak was torn, and his amber eyes scanned her cautiously.
"Who are you?" Amara demanded, taking a step back.
The man raised his hands in mock surrender. "Easy there, moonbeam. I'm not here to hurt you."
Amara frowned. "Moonbeam?"
He smirked. "Well, you're glowing like one. Name's Kael. And you might want to lower that fancy light show of yours before it attracts more of those shadowy friends."
Amara hesitated, glancing at the pendant. Its glow had softened, but the warmth in her chest remained. "You didn't answer my question. What are you doing out here?"
Kael shrugged. "Surviving. Same as you, I imagine. Though judging by the look on your face, you're not used to running for your life."
Her frown deepened. "I don't have time for this."
She turned to leave, but Kael stepped in front of her. "Whoa, whoa. Hold up. You're wandering into Ember Shadow territory, and trust me, you don't want to go there alone."
"I don't need your help," Amara snapped, trying to push past him.
Kael's smirk faded, replaced by a serious expression. "Look, I get it. You've got something important to do. So do I. But out here? Lone wolves don't last long. Stick with me, and you might actually survive the night."
Amara stared at him, weighing her options. She didn't trust him—he was brash and far too smug—but she couldn't ignore the truth in his words.
"Fine," she said reluctantly. "But if you try anything, you'll regret it."
Kael chuckled, falling into step beside her. "Fair enough, moonbeam. Let's see where that glow of yours takes us."
---
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