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The Elder's Bargain
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POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 9 Into the Heart of Darkness
The early first distill of light barely touched the forest floor as Alec, Kade, Jax, and Luna packed the last of their supplies. There was tension and buildup for the impending journey ahead. They had laid out the map that Seraphina had given them on a makeshift table, its odd symbols and characters, looming darkly over them whilst they packed.Alec rolled the map up and locked it up in a waterproof tube. “We should head now,” Alec stated confidently. “The sooner we start, the sooner we can get it done with.”Kade echoed in as he nodded, crossing his arms. “If we've got food, water, and maybe some basic gear... we can only hope that it is good enough.” Jax was penning in the rest of his items; his movements were deserving and pristine. “We just need to be careful. Seraphina was not out of her mind about the dangers.” Luna had secured her pack on her shoulder, took a deep gentle breathing process, re-entering a deep level of breathing. She knew this journey was going to be another ch
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 10 The Hidden Truth
The forest was alive with morning sounds as Alec, Kade, Jax, and Luna wound their way back to the cabin. The early light filtered through the trees and cast pockets of shadows on the ground. Before long, they had returned to the cabin. The warmth and security of the little shelter was a welcome change from the oppressive silence and threat of danger in the old temple. They regrouped in the main room, the glowing relic sitting heavy and silent in its case on the table. Alec paced, his mind processing what had so abruptly closed the door behind them. Kade sat against the back wall, watching the relic. Jax leaned against the wall beside the fireplace, staring into the fire.Luna dropped into one of the chairs at the table, needing the support behind her and the extra comfort it could provide. She let out a ragged breath, her body and mind wanting to collapse entirely. The relic shimmered slightly in the reflected firelight, and she had to squint a little against its glow. It was beautifu
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 11: The Edge of the Full Moon
A shadowy haze enveloped the sky as Alec, Kade, Jax, and Luna arrived on the outskirts of the forest where they were supposed to perform the ritual. There was a tangible tension among them. Only two days remained until the full moon, and that basically meant that all their hopes were hanging on the unlocking of the relic power to stand a chance against the Nightborne.The place they decided upon was an ancient clearing in the interior of the forest. The clearing was, as they were told, a place of power, an ancient sacred site of rituals centuries old, where the wolves of yore had interceded.As they stepped into the clearing, the air seemed almost to hum with digitized energy, and it felt as though the very ground had recognized its intended purpose. The sun illuminated the trees while long shadows traversed the floor, all knowing that the full moon was about to rise."This should be a good spot for the ritual," Alec said, with a low and thoughtful voice as he took a look around.Luna
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 12: The Rising Storm
Morning unfurled across the forest, yet the unease of the night before had not left Luna. The clearing buzzed with life as she stepped out of her tent. The serious, hushed tones of Alec and Kade's exchange filled the air. Jax was a little farther away, sharpening the blade of a knife while watching the perimeter; it was a ritual that had always seemed to calm him when it felt like trouble was brewing.Luna felt considerably weighted down by what she had talked to Jax about the previous night. His vision of that forest burning, her vanishing, gnawed on the inside of her like an insistent whisper of doom. As much as she wanted to dismiss it, the fear of a ritual getting out of hand bore down on her."Morning." Alec's voice interrupted her thoughts as he stood some distance away, offering her a reassuring smile. "How do you fare?" Luna half-heartedly ducked her head, trying to shake off her anxiety. "I didn't sleep much.""None of us did," Alec said, unsparingly. He waved his hand towar
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 13: The Alpha’s Wrath
And the figure behind him radiated a terrifying power sweeping across the clearing, so that the very ground beneath Luna shuddered. She couldn't comprehend what she had actually seen. This one was not like the other Nightborne; she felt it was different: larger, more imposing; its aura crackled with the weight of ancient, dark energy.Alec was just managing to get back on his feet, his breath ragged. He looked up at the creature towering over him, and for the first time since Luna had seen him, real fear spread across his face."What the hell is that?" Jax growled as he stepped beside Luna, his knife still drawn but his body manned and tense, ready to act.Kade lay on the ground at the edge of the clearing, trying to stand. He bellowed, "That's no ordinary Nightborne. It's their alpha.""Their alpha?" squeaked Luna, her heart thumping against her ribcage.Jax clenched his jaw and stepped forward. "I've never seen one this powerful. We need to get Alec away from it, now!"But Alec did
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 14: Dark Awakening
A sharp bolt of pain jolted through Luna's body, reawakening her from the pool of unconsciousness. Trembling, she opened her eyes, slowly coming back to the struggle of reality around her. Against a blurry canvas of sound and motion, she heard Jax's growl but, more importantly, Alec's screeching call to her name. A heavy and sinister presence loomed nearby, that of the alpha.Her muscles twitched in varied strains, and with immense effort, she pushed herself to sit up, her sight swirling. The clearing was like hell-burned earth where uprooted trees and scattered debris had covered the ground, the glow from the relic now pulsating at an all-time weakness. Yet what made her blood run cold was the sight of the alpha a few feet away from the relic; it hovered its massive claws over the ancient object, just waiting to pick it up.“No,” Luna said softly, her voice weak but laden with fear.The alpha's eyes glowed a deep malevolent red with crimson-tongued snarls aimed toward Luna, as if it
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 15 The Forgotten Alpha
Luna gasped heavily for breath as the world raged around her in a spinning whirl. The ground became unfixed beneath her feet as the relic pulsed in her hand, barely alive. The impact of the alpha's fury throbbed in her body, but her eyes had frozen onto the figure emerging from the forest.Several seconds of silence loomed over the clearing, interrupted only by the resonating deep growl—the warning from the alpha itself. With its bright red eyes, it now turned and fixed on the newcomer. A sense of tension slowed time, thick and suffocating as if the forest collectively was catching its breath.Still panting with blood staining his clothes, Jax stepped forward. His knife was drawn—for what it was worth—but he was careful to appear neutral. "Who the hell is this?" he hissed under his breath. It was almost too quiet to hear.Alec standing several feet away seemed equally surprised. His sharp, calculated eyes widened. "I don't know..." he said, the voice trailing off as he looked at the f
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 16: Rise of the Chosen
Chapter 16: Rise of the ChosenThe night air grew colder as Luna stood at the center of the clearing, her heart steady and calm. The relic in her hand pulsed faintly in time with the flow of her blood, and as their connection deepened, the moon shone brighter above, its rays wrapping about her like a protective cocoon.The alpha stumbled to rise, his body all squashed and broken, yet highly furious. The beauty of his red eyes shone with that hatred, but beneath that boiling rage, something deep was sensed in the alpha for the very first time by Luna—something else beneath all the rage: fear. Real fear; down to the core."You think you have won?" snorted the alpha, a combination of acute rasping pain suffusing each barbed syllable, but on the underlistening of a contemptuous malice. "You think that epitome of your ancestral folly will help you? You are nothing, Luna. A half-breed child without an ounce of claim to power."Bitter, her chest tightened in offense, her doubts thereby bubbl
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POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 37: Whispers in the Dark
“Seek me, Luna… the darkness is false… not as shallow but as ever deep.” When the whisper thinned, Luna's heart raced and her breath hitched midway. She looked round, but the shadows encircling her remained still."What is it?" Alec's voice quickly stirred her as he saw the expression of concern in her eyes.Luna hesitated; her voice came out in the slightest whisper. "I think… I think Kael is calling me. But not just him. Something else… something buried that we have missed."Alec frowned, his brow knitting together with confusion. "What are you saying, Luna?"Before she could answer him, there was a tremor in the ground, and far away in the forest came a long, low rumble—an ancient and deep warning that struck fear in the hearts of those present. Luna's heart skipped as her eyes met Alec's."The dawn's not coming," she said, her voice quivering. "Let's go."Like a pack, the four of them melted into the darkened forest, following the retreating echo of Kael's call, every step taken
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 36: Echoes of the Fallen
With that, the four of them joined the rest of the pack in an area of the village. They gathered in a solemn circle around them. Luna took a step forward, the weight of her words behind them."We fought the Void and tested us in ways we would never have imagined. Yet he…" Her voice broke as if she needed to collect herself. "Kael sacrificed his life to ensure our return. He was braver than any of us knew."Jax's voice broke as he ended, his vulnerability on his sleeve, saying, "Kael wasn't just brave; he was selfless. He taught us that our strength is in each other. And I… I lost sight of that. But I'm not losing it again."A tear slipped from Luna's eyes, and Alec wrapped his arm around her. "We carry him with us. And we will keep fighting for the bond he protected.""Let's carry out his wish, for ourselves. He won't get us to die for nothing," said Kade, a sorrowful resolve in his voice.A hush fell in the air as the pack members bowed their heads in silent remembrance of Kael.As d
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 35: A Flicker of Hope
Emerging from the dark corridor, Luna, Jax, Alec, and Kade later stood on a clearing touched by moonlight, gasping as fresh air filled their lungs. The hollow grasp of the Void had given way; however, the chill still lingered and served as a reminder of what they had done - and of what they had lost.Alec decided to break the silence first while looking around the woods. "So, is that it?"Jax's expression morphed into the face of sorrows, though relief washed over him. "The Void is gone - for now anyways. I don't know if it's really over." Kade placed an arm on Jax, steadying him. “It’s over as far as we say it is. You fought hard, Jax, against something none of us saw coming, Kael…”The silence that followed was heavy. Then Jax lowered his voice and filled it with regret. “I still can’t believe it. I was so close to losing myself… and to hurting you. I… I don’t know how to face this.” Luna stepped close to him, picked up his hand into hers, and started to stroke it soothingly with
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 34: Shadows in the Light
The hubbub of sound that was left in the wake of Kael's passing crushed typical speech. Luna felt her heart flutter. She stretched her hand out, hoping against hope that there was still a hidden trace of Kael. But her fingers touched only empty space, driving an icy torrent deep into her bones. The once-thought formal presence of Kael was now just a void, a hollowness that looked pleased as it fed off their dejected emotion.Alec broke the silence first, his voice a choked sound. "He is gone. Kael sacrificed himself... for us."Luna swallowed, fighting back tears. "He did it to save us from what the Void was doing. To weaken its hold. But... I can't believe that he is really gone."Kade's grinding teeth directed us (its, casual or formal usage) toward the pulsing shadows in the walls. "If this sacrifice was for the sake of this, then we can't let it go in vain. We must bring Jax back and end this."Sensing their revived hopes, the stone walls widened toward a dark narrow tunnel that t
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 33: Echoes of Betrayal
The giant swallowed them without any conscious knowledge of their descent to depth. Luna felt unsound; the ground under began to fall in, drawing herself down into the depth of the void with her companions. Shadows wrapped her like tendrils, clutching in tight lightning flashes, all that now occupied her attention; she was on the verge of losing consciousness. But almost as it had come, the strange - now had shifted from something into which she could faintly step - an unyielding ground under her feet.The sceneries doomed: she found herself alone in a strange, dimly-lit space that seemed to warp in more directions than one. All of the walls stretched high and were carved upon with symbols that moved and breathed. The only light in the room came from a flickering flame that stood suspended high in midair, casting long shadows upon the stone floor; they danced with pure dread."Hello," Luna called out, her voice echoing into the walls. But there was no answer.Just as panic was creepi
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 32: Into the Abyss
She blinked open her eyes, and the blackness around her began to fade slowly, unveiling a large underground room. The walls were covered in markings of an unknown tongue, faintly glowing in the dim light. All over the air within the chamber, she could sense the ground pulsing as though alive with an invisible ancient force.She remained, breathless, seeking to establish where she was. Jorg had gone to thin air while Alec's voice in her mind called her name. But Seraphine's words kept echoing tauntingly in her head."Where... where am I?" she whispered, her voice hoarse.Then slow, bound footsteps drew near. She managed to lift herself up, aching all over her body, and finally saw emerging from the inky darkness a figure. A familiar countenance that sent an icy chill down her spine.Jax.But something was wrong with him, though. His eyes, strong and alive with feelings before, now dull, drained of vitality. Squaring his shoulders like a sentry, he stood in front of her; a frozen mockin
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 31 Shadows of the Past
As darkness faded away, Luna stood in a great empty plain. It was unreal: nothing, no color, no sound - Nothing but that nameless sense of energy which filled the air. Luna blinked, trying to adjust her eyes to see in the surrounding gloom."Luna!" A voice floated back distantly. Gently familiar. "Is that you?"Luna turned around abruptly, heart pumping. "Alec?" she called, trembling, "Where are you?"In front of her, the landscape rippled like a mirage, the shadows danced like candle flames. In her panic rising, she started to see someone: a figure, just emerging from the shadows."Alec!" She rushed towards him as he stepped into the light, revealing the concern on his face. "I thought I lost you!""I'm right here," he whispered, pulling her into a warm embrace against the immutable background of the unnerving surroundings. "I was so afraid-""What happened?" Luna interrupted, her gaze searching into his eyes. "The Void was…so overwhelming…and then everything just went dark."Concern
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 30: The Choice
As the pack's eyes bore into her moving forward, Luna approached the Void with each step pulling various fear and resolve in her body. Behind her head, she could hear Alec's voice in growing desolation.“Luna, wait!” Alec hollered with a voice cracking with panic. “You don’t have to do this!”“Luna!” Jax practically shrieked, over-urgent. “Think about what you’re sacrificing! There has to be another way!”But the energy of the Void pulsated around her, a magnetic tether pulling her inwards. With each footfall, she felt the relic thrum against her skin; it became more aglow with each step into destiny.I'm not going to let you destroy everything! Luna retorted defiantly. It starts here and now!The Void flexed; light-turned darkness, another terrifying roar escaped it. The air cracked for as far as she could see, and the ground shook underfoot. There was power, then pressure, a stream of energy locking onto her, sensing her determination.“Luna!” Kael's voice, flooded with grief, broke
POWERS OF THE MOON BEARER Chapter 29: The Awakening of the Void
This monstrous figure, surging above them, seemed to grow bigger with each passing moment. Its form transformed from light to dark, a combination of all things Luna despised. With eyes glowing with unearthly light, like the Balance incarnate, there stood something strange-that darkness was deep and damning.The splitting roar sent a tidal wave of nausea through Luna as the earth shook beneath them. The air grew thick and dense, making it difficult to breathe- and it was becoming unbearable to be pinned between two opposing forces.Alec yelled above the racket, his voice gaunt with panic. "Luna! We have to move, now!"But Luna's gaze did not waver from the creature. It was as though the creature locked its piercing gaze into her, pulling her closer. A semblance of familiarity wafted over her psyche with its energy, which tugged at the core of her being. Her heart raced, and the relic about her neck reacted by thrumming violently almost in rhythm with her panic."Luna!" Jax yelled as he
