The creature’s crimson eyes glowed brighter, burning through the shadows of the forest. It stood impossibly tall, its form wrapped in tendrils of darkness that writhed and twisted as if alive. Its presence was suffocating, pressing down on Lira like an invisible weight. Her wolf growled low, bracing against the primal fear that surged through her veins.
Lira tightened her grip on the glowing shard, its light dimming in the face of the creature’s overwhelming aura. The mark on her chest flared again, a searing heat that spread through her body. It felt as though her very soul was being ignited, but whether it would save her or consume her, she didn’t know.
The creature took a step closer, its movements slow and deliberate. Its voice was a deep, resonant snarl, filled with malevolent glee. “You cannot outrun me, little one. You carry what belongs to us—what will return us to power.”
“I belong to no one,” Lira growled, her golden eyes blazing as she shifted into her wolf form. Her claws dug into the ground, her body coiled and ready to strike. “And you won’t take anything from me without a fight.”
The creature laughed, a sound that echoed through the forest like a death knell. “Brave words, but bravery will not save you. The mark you bear is a beacon, a call to the darkness. It binds you to your destiny—a destiny you cannot escape.”
Lira’s wolf snarled in defiance, and before the creature could speak again, she lunged. Her claws sliced through the air, aiming for its throat, but the creature moved with inhuman speed. It sidestepped her attack effortlessly, its tendrils snapping out like whips. One struck her side, sending her sprawling to the ground.
Pain flared through her ribs, but Lira pushed herself up, refusing to stay down. The shard in her paw pulsed, its light growing brighter as if responding to her determination. She could feel its power coursing through her, urging her to fight, to survive.
The creature loomed over her, its crimson eyes narrowing. “You cannot win, child. The mark will consume you, just as it consumed the others before you.”
Others? Lira’s wolf stilled for a moment, her mind racing. What did it mean by “the others”? Were there more like her? More who bore the mark? But there was no time for questions. The creature lunged, its massive form hurtling toward her like a shadowy avalanche.
Lira darted to the side, narrowly avoiding its claws. She countered with a swipe of her own, her claws glowing faintly with the shard’s light as they connected with the creature’s arm. The blow sent a shockwave of energy through the air, and the creature recoiled, its tendrils writhing in agony.
The shard’s light burned brighter, its warmth spreading through her like a shield against the creature’s darkness. For the first time, she saw hesitation in its movements, a flicker of uncertainty in its glowing eyes.
“You are stronger than I expected,” the creature admitted, its voice a low growl. “But strength alone will not save you.”
It surged forward again, faster this time. Lira barely had time to react as it struck her, its tendrils wrapping around her legs and dragging her down. She thrashed against them, her claws tearing at the shadowy bonds, but they held fast, their grip cold and suffocating.
The creature leaned closer, its crimson eyes boring into hers. “You are already marked for death. You cannot escape the darkness.”
“No,” Lira snarled, her voice filled with defiance. The shard pulsed again, its light growing so bright it blinded her. “The darkness doesn’t own me. And it never will.”
With a surge of energy, she channeled the shard’s power through her body. The light exploded outward, burning away the tendrils and forcing the creature to retreat. It let out a roar of rage, its form flickering like a dying flame.
Lira scrambled to her feet, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The shard floated in front of her now, its light swirling with an intensity that made the air hum. It felt alive, as though it was waiting for her command.
The creature growled, its form solidifying once more. “You think your light can save you? You think you are safe because of the power you wield? Foolish girl. You are nothing without the other half.”
The other half. The words echoed in her mind, and suddenly, the shard pulsed again, sending a wave of images flashing through her mind—visions of a place she didn’t recognize. A towering mountain wreathed in mist. A stone altar bathed in moonlight. A figure standing at its center, their back to her, shrouded in shadow.
Lira stumbled, the visions overwhelming her senses. The shard seemed to be showing her something, guiding her toward the “other half” the creature spoke of. But what was it? And why did it feel so important?
The creature noticed her distraction and seized the opportunity. It lunged again, its tendrils slicing through the air with deadly precision. Lira barely managed to dodge, the shard’s light flaring to shield her from the attack. But she knew she couldn’t keep this up forever. The creature was too strong, too relentless.
“Run,” her wolf urged, its voice echoing in her mind. “You can’t fight this alone. Not yet.”
Lira hesitated, her pride warring with her instincts. But as the creature loomed closer, she knew her wolf was right. She needed to find the other half of the mark. She needed answers. And she couldn’t do that if she was dead.
With a growl of frustration, Lira turned and bolted, the shard’s light guiding her through the forest. The creature roared behind her, its footsteps shaking the ground as it gave chase. The shadows seemed to stretch and twist, reaching for her as she ran, but the shard’s light kept them at bay.
The forest blurred around her, the trees rushing past in a dizzying whirl. Her lungs burned, her legs ached, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t stop. The pull of the shard grew stronger, leading her toward something she couldn’t yet see.
And then, just as she thought she couldn’t run any farther, she burst into a clearing. The air was still, the moonlight casting an eerie glow over the open space. At the center of the clearing stood an ancient stone archway, its surface etched with the same glowing symbols as the shard.
The shard floated toward the archway, its light illuminating the symbols and activating them one by one. The air hummed with energy, and a faint glow began to emanate from the center of the arch, forming what looked like a shimmering portal.
Lira’s breath caught in her throat. Was this where the shard had been leading her? Was this the key to finding the other half of the mark?
But before she could move, the creature burst into the clearing, its crimson eyes blazing with fury. It let out a roar, its form towering over her as it prepared to strike.
And then, the portal flared to life, and a figure stepped through.
Lira froze, her heart pounding as the figure emerged from the light. It was a man—tall, powerful, with eyes that gleamed like molten silver. His presence was magnetic, commanding, and something about him felt achingly familiar.
The creature stopped, its rage giving way to something else—fear.
The man’s gaze locked onto Lira, and his voice was low and steady as he spoke. “You’re late, Lira.”
Before she could respond, the creature lunged for him. But with a flick of his hand, a wave of silver light erupted from his body, slamming into the creature and sending it hurtling backward. The ground shook as the creature hit the earth, its form dissolving into shadow.
Lira stared at the man, her mind racing. Who was he? And how did he know her name?
“Come with me,” the man said, extending a hand toward her. “There’s no time to explain, but if you want answers, you need to trust me.”
Lira hesitated, her instincts screaming at her to stay on guard. But the shard pulsed in her hand, its light aligning with his, as if urging her to follow him.
Before she could decide, the shadows began to stir again, and the creature’s growl echoed through the clearing.
The man’s eyes darkened, and his voice was filled with quiet authority as he turned to face the encroaching darkness.
“They won’t stop until they have you,” he said. “But with me, you might just survive.”
The shadows surged forward, the creature reforming in a mass of writhing black tendrils. And as the portal behind him began to flicker, the man reached for Lira, his silver eyes blazing.
“Choose, Lira. Stay and die… or step into the unknown.”