By The Moon's Blade

7. Grasshaven, One Day Ago

The first snow of the season comes right on time and envelops the area in an icy blanket. The only thing I can see between the cracks of the wood paneling is stark white, and the occasional blur of a brown coat as people whiz by. I hear the sounds of children and adults alike, gleeful and excited and playing in the soft, dusty mounds.

But I sit inside, hardly getting a wink of sleep after last night's meeting with Zelvas. Fear has paralyzed my mind and I sit at the table with a pile of small rocks and Shimmersoul, etching little symbols into the stone in small, hollow scratches. I tried to sleep, but the sounds of whispers turned to shouts and I found myself incapable of shutting my eyelids.

After leaving the forest shadows, I walked around the edge of the village and began placing wardstones all around the perimeter. Unfortunately, my meager wardstone collection may not even do enough to keep them all safe. So I sit here, idly carving away, foolishly hoping that ten more rocks may stop the Demonclaws from pushing through our little camp.

I've spent a couple of hours in the freezing room with my father out making breakfast. I have my knees pulled up into my chest. I curl myself into the smallest ball as I possibly can, hoping that I can become small enough that I'll just wink out of existence.

Once I have a good pile of wardstones done, I walk out of the front door and into the blinding outdoors. The combination of snow and sun reflects pure light into my eyes and I squint to let my eyes adjust to the sudden change in brightness. And as I walk around with my wardstones in hand and make plans to drop them in strategic places around the village, I observe the happy families together. They've been through hell, and they're still here. Sometimes, it's easy for me to forget that there are more threats out there than Butchers and Plaguers.

They deserve to live.

And no matter what they think of me, I can't stay silent. I have to speak up.

Suddenly, I find my feet taking me to the middle of the campfire, looking around at all of the families gathered for a hearty breakfast to celebrate the first snowfall of the year. And at that moment, I notice just how quiet the common area has become. Aside from the crackling embers of the fire and the hushed tones of various conversations, the once lively area has died down to a low rumble in a matter of seconds. There are more people here than I remember. And more unfamiliar faces than I'd care to count.

I take a breath, mustering all of the courage from deep within my chest, before I raise my voice sternly, "H—hey, I know that we haven't talked much before, and for those of you that don't know me or might be new to camp... I'm Rozi. I— I need to tell everyone here about the threat that looms."

I hear mumbled questions from the crowd surrounding me —

"Did she say... threat?" "Does she mean one of the kingdoms?" "What is she talking about?"

"There's a power out there, a power that goes beyond our every understanding. A power that can't be stopped. They— they're called Demonclaws. Their population was thought to be destroyed but our history lessons have failed us. They've returned and they're amassing an army. Whatever you do, you need to leave here now."

Everyone looks around the group at each other with raised eyebrows and confused stares. If I can get through to just one of them... if I can just save one life.

"My mother's death was no ordinary attack at the hands of a rabid wolf, but a murder conducted by one of these Demonclaws. And if you don't leave here, y— you could be next."

And as my voice begins to crackle with anxiety and fear, I see the expressions of concern painted across their faces, but not for themselves. For me. Because, you see, this isn't the first time they've watched a Lunari crumble into madness. If I held a mirror up to my face at this moment, I'd see my mother's reflection. But they have no idea that she was right the whole time.