Whispers of the Cursespiltspilture's unnatural stench remained strong in the air after it had vanished. The disappearance of the creature did not stop Sylara's heart from racing or her muscles from tightening as she continued to replay the voice she heard.
"You should not be here, Moon-Touch,ed.combineddt fists formed in her hands while painfumemo,riesrsustained intoto her consciousness. It had known her. Her fear penetrateo depths she refused to recognize.
Vaelrick stood only a short distance away keeping a steady her with hisyes. He wasn't stupid. He knew she was hiding something.
"I need you to tell me what was said." He maintained his composure as he spoke in a soft tone.
She maintained eye contact with him while concealing her emotional chaos behind a composed facade.
He advanced another step before responding with hostility, "The hell it doesn't."
Sylara left the confrontation behind and moved toward where she last spotted the creature. The dirt was untouched. No, blood. No ash. No remnants,s or indicators existed to confirm the creature's presence in the area.
Just like the disappearances.
A cold shiver crawled down her spine.
Vaelrick let out a soft breath and started to ask Sylara about her hidden secrets.
Sylara turned around to disclose that the matter held no significance.
His jaw tightened, but he didn't push. He should have. An aspect of him actively fought against understanding what the true outcome would become.
The wind shifted and directed an unknown scent toward their location. Smoke.
Sylara's eyes snapped to Vaelrick's.
They rushed silently toward thcentreer of Moon City.
---
The Crimson Eye Pack's Territory
Burning wood filled the air between Sylara and Vaelrick as they ran through dense forest while dodging fallen branches anmanoeuvringng between huge trees. As they moved toward the territory of the Crimson Eye Pack the acrid scnt that surrounded them intensified.
Then they saw it.
Fire.
A fire engulfed the village while flames reached its borders and illuminated the night sky. The wolves howled through the dark sky while their pack moved in disarray as warriors hurried to put out the expanding flames.
Sylara didn't hesitate. She jumped into her sprint and turned mid-flight to stand upright before she raced toward the nearest burning buildings. The Crimson Eye warriors observed her and immediately dashed toward her.
Upon recognizing her approa,ch one of the warriors shouted o,ut "Randolph!" No torches, no sparks—nothing! The fire just appeared!"
Her stomach clenched. Not normal. Not natural.
Vaelrick came to an abrupt halt beside her through a rapid backward motion. He cast a quick look over the catastrophe and cursed under his breath.
She anticipated his next words before he spoke.
A thunderous crack split the air as burning embers were propelled into the sky by the structure's collapse. Her heart jumped into her throat when she spotted a young girl who appeared to be no more than ten years old trapped and screaming inside the collapsing building.
Before she could think, she was moving.
Vaelrick cursed again. "Sylara, wait—!"
She ignored him.
The enveloping heat overwhelmed her as she raced through the flames while intense burns to her lungs made breathing difficult. Blinding smoke filled the air with its thick density as she pressed forward.
She settled into a curled position in the distant corner where violent coughing fit her frail body into shaking movements.
Sylara settled to her knees and wrapped her arms around the child while tenderly telling her "I've got you."
The girl barely responded, her breaths shallow.
Sylara bit her teeth and lifted the child to her back before standing up on her feet.
Too late, she sensed it.
Something moved in the fire.
A shadow, just beyond the flames.
Watching.
A whisper curled around her mind.
"Moon-Touched."
Fear flooded her entire body but she forced herself to keep moving.
She ran.
The fire clung to her skin as she burst through the collapsing doorway before tumbling into the dirt with the building's structure falling behind her.
Strong hands grasped her to help her stand up.
Vaelrick.
His powerful grip kept her close while his golden eyes scrutinized her face before they moved downward to examine the child she was carrying.
The smoke-filled air choked Sylara as she gasped out, "She's alive."
He clenched his jaw as he nodded and reached out to pick up the child. His arms were steady, careful.
His eyes swiftly moved upward to observe the burning village around them.
Sylara swallowed hard. "I know."
He turned his dark expression toward Sylara before asking "Did it speak to you again?"
She hesitated.
That was the answer enough.
Vaelrick ran his fingers through his hair and exhaled before starting his conversation with Sylara.
A bloodcurdling scream cut through the air.
Their eyes immediately focused on the village centre.
Their vision captured a warrior whose bodwas y violently contorted in painful convulsions. The warrior's mouth opened wide as if he were trying to scream silently while his veins turned pitch black.
Sylara's stomach dropped.
Vaelrick stiffened beside her. "Shadow Poison."
The warrior's body fell to the ground before she could take actioe his skin turned grey and lifeless.
A deathly silence fell over the village.
And then—the whisper came again.
"You should not be here, Moon-Touched."
The fire flickered. The night held its breath.
And Sylara finally understood.
This wasn't just a threat.
It was a warning.
And something far worse was coming.