SWNOVELS Chapter 10
Lyra’s hand went to the crystal pendant at her throat, drawing comfort from its familiar warmth. “All the more reason to decipher this prophecy quickly. We need to know what we’re up against and how to stop it.”
Fenris nodded, returning to the grimoire. “You’re right. Let’s focus on the most urgent parts first. What does it say about these artifacts we need to gather?”
For the next several hours, Lyra and Fenris pored over the ancient text, combining their knowledge to slowly piece together the prophecy’s cryptic message. As the night wore on, a clearer picture began to emerge, though it was far from comforting.
“So, if we’re interpreting this correctly,” Fenris said, rubbing his tired eyes, “we need to gather five artifacts, each representing a different elemental force. And we have to do this before the next blood moon, or the barriers between worlds will be permanently weakened.”
Lyra nodded, her face pale with exhaustion and worry. “The Moonstone of Avalon for air, the Ember of the Phoenix for fire, the Teardrop of the Sea Witch for water, the Heartwood of the World Tree for earth, and…” She hesitated, her gaze flickering to Fenris.
“And the Fang of the Alpha for spirit,” he finished, his voice tight. “Because of course it couldn’t be something simple, like a rabbit’s foot.”
Despite the gravity of their situation, Lyra couldn’t help but smile at his gallows humor. “At least we know where to start looking for that last one. You must have some idea where your former pack is located.”
Fenris’s expression darkened. “I do. But trust me when I say that retrieving a fang from my old Alpha is going to be anything but simple. Ragnar isn’t the type to give up a part of himself willingly, especially not to a traitor like me.”
Lyra leaned forward, her emerald eyes intense. “Fenris, what happened between you and your pack? Why did you leave?”
For a moment, she thought he wouldn’t answer. Fenris stood, moving to the far side of their sanctuary, his back to her as he stared at the root-covered wall. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper.
“I left because I couldn’t be the monster Ragnar wanted me to be. He… he ordered us to attack a human village. Not just to hunt, but to slaughter. Men, women, children – it didn’t matter to him. He said it would send a message, establish our dominance over the territory.”
Lyra’s hand flew to her mouth, horror etched on her features. “That’s terrible. What did you do?”
Fenris turned back to her, and the pain in his eyes made Lyra’s heart ache. “I refused. I tried to stop him, to reason with the pack. But Ragnar’s word was law, and my defiance was seen as the height of betrayal. I managed to warn the villagers, give them time to evacuate, but…” He trailed off, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.
“But you had to run,” Lyra finished softly.
Fenris nodded, the weight of his past evident in the slump of his shoulders. “I’ve been alone ever since, always moving, always watching over my shoulder. Until now.”
Lyra stood, crossing the small space to stand before him. “You did the right thing, Fenris. You saved those people’s lives.”
“Maybe,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “But I abandoned my pack, my family. In werewolf culture, there’s no greater sin. And now, to save the world, I have to go back and face them all.”
Without thinking, Lyra reached out, taking Fenris’s hand in her own. “You won’t be facing them alone. We’re in this together now, remember?”
Fenris looked down at their joined hands, a mix of surprise and something softer flickering across his features. “Why are you so willing to trust me, Lyra? You barely know me. For all you know, I could be lying about everything.”
Lyra met his gaze steadily. “Because I’ve seen your actions, Fenris. You saved my life without hesitation, even though I was a stranger. You agreed to help me with this prophecy, knowing the dangers it might bring. Those aren’t the actions of someone I need to fear.”
For a long moment, they stood in silence, the weight of their shared destiny hanging between them. Finally, Fenris squeezed Lyra’s hand gently before releasing it. “Thank you,” he said simply.
Lyra nodded, understanding all that went unspoken in those two words. She turned back to the grimoire, trying to ignore the lingering warmth in her hand where Fenris had touched her. “We should try to get some rest. Tomorrow, we need to start planning our journey. The artifacts won’t be easy to find, and we have precious little time.”
Fenris agreed, and they set about making makeshift beds from soft moss and leaves. As Lyra settled onto her pallet, she found herself studying Fenris in the dim light. He was a mystery, this lone werewolf with haunted eyes and a noble heart. She wondered what other secrets he held, and how their forced alliance might change them both.
Sleep was slow in coming, their minds too full of prophecies and looming dangers. But eventually, exhaustion won out, and they drifted off to the sound of distant howls and the rustle of leaves in the ancient forest.
Morning came all too soon, sunlight filtering through the gaps in the tree’s bark to paint dappled patterns on the floor of their sanctuary. Lyra awoke first, momentarily disoriented by her unfamiliar surroundings. As the events of the previous day came rushing back, she sat up, her gaze immediately seeking out Fenris.
He was already awake, sitting cross-legged by the remnants of their fire, his eyes closed in what appeared to be deep meditation. Lyra watched him for a moment, struck by the peaceful expression on his face – so different from the guarded wariness he had shown yesterday.
As if sensing her gaze, Fenris’s eyes opened, meeting hers with a calm intensity. “Good morning,” he said softly. “I hope you slept well.”
Lyra nodded, running a hand through her tangled hair. “Better than I expected, given the circumstances. What about you? How long have you been awake?”
“A while,” Fenris admitted. “I was… connecting with the forest, trying to sense any lingering threat from those shadow wolves. All seems quiet for now, but we shouldn’t linger here much longer.”
Lyra agreed, and they set about preparing for their journey. As she packed the grimoire carefully into her bag, Lyra couldn’t help but voice the question that had been nagging at her since she awoke. “Fenris, are you sure about this? About helping me? I know I’ve
asked a lot of you, and if you’ve changed your mind…”
Fenris paused in his own preparations, turning to face her fully. “Lyra, I gave you my word. Whatever doubts I might have, whatever fears… they don’t change the fact that this needs to be done. You were right when you said the prophecy brought us together for a reason. I may not fully understand that reason yet, but I’m committed to seeing this through.”
Relief washed over Lyra, followed quickly by a surge of determination. “Thank you. I promise, I’ll do everything in my power to make sure your trust in me isn’t misplaced.”
A ghost of a smile tugged at Fenris’s lips. “I believe you. Now, shall we figure out where we’re headed first?”
Together, they bent over the map Lyra had brought, plotting a course to the first artifact – the Moonstone of Avalon. According to the grimoire, it was hidden in the ruins of an ancient temple, deep in the misty highlands to the north.
As they finalized their plans, Lyra couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and
trepidation. They were about to embark on a journey that would take them to the farthest corners of the realm, facing untold dangers and testing the limits of their newfound alliance.
“Are you ready?” Fenris asked as they prepared to leave the safety of the tree sanctuary.
Lyra took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. “As ready as I’ll ever be. Let’s go save the world.”
With a nod of agreement, Fenris placed his hand on the bark of the great oak, murmuring words of thanks and farewell. The hidden entrance shimmered into existence, and together, the unlikely pair stepped out into the dangerously beautiful world of the Whispering Woods.
Their quest to interpret the prophecy and gather the five elemental artifacts had begun in earnest. As they made their way through the misty forest, both Lyra and Fenris knew that their lives would never be the same.