Caspian's Legacy: The Scent of Truth (book two)

Chapter twenty: Whispers of the Moonlit Howl

"We are going to die on this quest, are we?" Soren asked as they stepped out into the morning light. Aurora glanced at him over her shoulder, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, Soren. For now, let's focus on finding the first tear." The three wolves set off across the rolling hills, following the faint trail that marked the border of the sacred lands. The air was crisp and clean, the scent of pine and earth filling their nostrils. As they walked, they began to discuss their plans, sharing stories and laughter.

"Maybe this isn't bad; maybe we can actually do this," Soren said as they walked through the lush forest. The trees were so tall, it felt like they were walking through a green tunnel. The air was cooler, and the smell of the leaves and damp earth filled their lungs. As they walked, Aurora paused to sniff the air, trying to get a sense of direction. "I think we should head north," she said, pointing up the slope. "I can smell the river from here," she said, her head pointing towards the river.

"Do you think there's life?" Caspian asked, his eyes wide with curiosity. "There could be, but we shouldn't get our hopes up." He slings his pack bag over his shoulders. "Let's move out."

They walked for hours, the landscape slowly changing from dense forest to rocky hills dotted with shrubs. The sun beat down relentlessly, and they were forced to stop frequently to rest and drink from the cool, clear stream that wound its way through the landscape. As they continued on, Aurora's sharp ears picked up a distant howl, carried on the wind. She paused, listening intently.

"Does anyone hear that?" she asked her companions, her blue eyes fixed on the horizon. Soren and Caspian exchanged glances; their ears pricked forward. "I think it's coming from that direction," Soren replied, nodding towards the east. They continued on, the distant howl growing louder with each step. As they crested a hill, they saw a lone figure standing atop a nearby rise, silhouetted against the setting sun. The figure howled again, a deep, haunting sound that seemed to echo through the very fabric of the world.

"Why is it so damn hot?" Oak complained, and she tried to brush her curly, tangled black hair away from her face. It was plastered against her forehead and neck again. She cursed under her breath and tried to move a bit more to find a comfortable position. The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow over the landscape. The sky was painted in shades of pink and purple, but it didn't seem to cool down at all. The air was still thick and heavy, making it hard to breathe. Oak sighed, feeling exhausted from the day's journey. She had been traveling for what seemed like forever, following the trail of a strange scent that had led her here. Now she was standing atop a hill, overlooking a vast expanse of rocky terrain. The smell was stronger here, almost overpowering.

"I think we should rest again," Caspian suggested, noticing Oak's fatigue. "It's getting late, and we still have some distance to cover tomorrow." Aurora nodded in agreement, sitting down on a nearby rock. They watched as Soren began to set up a makeshift tent, using their packs as shelter from the night air. As he worked, he glanced up at Oak, a question in his eyes.

"What do you know about the tear of Luna?" he asks, sitting down next to her. Oak takes a deep breath, debating whether or not to trust him. "I've heard stories about it," she finally says, "but not many people know the truth. It's said that whoever finds it can gain great power, but at a terrible cost." Soren nods, considering this. "I've always wondered if that cost was worth it," he says thoughtfully. "But I suppose we'll find out soon enough."

Oak gazes upon the darkened sky, a mixture of emotions swirling within her. She's not sure what she thinks about the whole situation. On one hand, she's been told that finding the Tear of Luna would give her the power to change the world and make it a better place. On the other hand, there's a price to be paid, and she doesn't know if she's willing to pay it. As she contemplates these thoughts, she feels a strange sense of determination welling up inside her.

"I'd love to use the tear to bring Phoenix back into the pack again. He died for us, for the stupid war with Solar. It wasn't fair." Oak's voice breaks on the last word as tears begin to fall. She never had the chance to tell him how she felt before he passed. "I just want things to go back to how they were, you know, before the war." Soren nods, understanding her pain. He reaches out a hand and gently wipes away a tear from her cheek. "We'll find the tear, Oak. We'll bring peace back to our world, and we'll make sure that Phoenix's sacrifice wasn't in vain."

She chuckled lightly through her tears. "Yeah, okay." Taking a deep breath, she wiped the last tear away from her eyes and nodded, determined to keep going. "Alright, let's get some rest. We've got a long journey ahead of us tomorrow." They all settled down for the night, using whatever makeshift beds they could find from their belongings. Despite the hard ground and the uncomfortable positions, they managed to fall asleep quickly, exhaustion overpowering them.