The Bride of the Lost Village

Into the Wild

The wind howled through the dense forest, whistling between the towering pines and ancient oaks. Alvin's pack had been travelling for over two weeks, each day blending into the next as they trekked through the wilderness. Their clothes were torn, boots muddied and faces hardened from the cold, yet no one had uttered a word of complaint. This was more than a journey; it was a test of their endurance, their loyalty, and their resolve.

Alvin led the way, his sharp amber eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of the Lost Village. The stars guided them at night, shimmering faintly through the gaps in the trees, but the journey had been long and perilous. They had faced raging rivers that nearly swept them away, thick marshlands that had swallowed their boots, and towering cliffs that they had to scale with nothing but their claws and determination. Every obstacle seemed to push them further, testing their strength as Lycans.

Thorne, panting as he caught up to Alvin, muttered, "This is insane, man. We've been walking for weeks and haven't seen anything remotely close to a village. How do we even know we're on the right path?"

Alvin, wiping the sweat from his brow, glanced at his friend. "We follow the stars, Thorne. It's the only way. The Lost Village moves with them. It doesn't stay in one place for long. We'll know when we're close."

Raven, who was trailing behind them, adjusted her pack and grumbled, "I just hope we find it before my feet give out. Lycans or not, even we have our limits."

Kade, the youngest in the group, bounded up beside them with a half-grin. "You guys sound like a bunch of old wolves. Come on! We've got this!"

Thorne chuckled, though his body sagged with exhaustion. "You've got the energy of a pup, Kade. Keep it up, and maybe you'll find your sorceress bride and start a family out here."

Kade's cheeks flushed, and he punched Thorne lightly on the arm. "Yeah, well, let's see who gets lucky first."

Despite the lighthearted banter, there was tension in the air. The pack had been pushing themselves to the limit, and the pressure of finding the Lost Village weighed on them. Alvin knew they couldn't go much longer without results. His body ached, but his determination was unshakable. He had a destiny to fulfil, and his bride was waiting for him—somewhere.

It wasn't until the end of the second week that they finally found something.

"Alvin! Over here!" Raven's voice cut through the trees like a blade.

Alvin sprinted towards her, his heart racing. Raven stood near a fallen tree, pointing to a set of faint, almost invisible markings etched into the bark. They were ancient symbols, older than any language Alvin recognized, but their meaning was clear.

"It's a sign," Raven said breathlessly, tracing her fingers over the carvings. "This must be a marker left by the sorceresses of the Lost Village."

Alvin crouched down, studying the markings. "It's the first real trace we've found. We're getting closer."

Kade ran up, eyes wide. "Do you think it leads to the village?"

"I don't think," Alvin said, standing up with renewed determination. "I know."

With renewed energy, the pack pressed on, following the subtle signs—footprints that faded into the earth, unnatural bends in the trees, and shimmering lights that appeared at night. It was as if the forest itself was leading them toward their destination, guiding them through the wilderness like a whisper in the wind.

It took nearly another month of searching, but finally, they reached what could only be the entrance to the Lost Village.

It wasn't an ordinary gate or path but a massive stone archway hidden beneath a waterfall. The arch was covered in moss, with strange runes glowing faintly in the dim light. The waterfall itself cascaded down from a high cliff, creating a veil of mist that obscured the entrance from view. If they hadn't been looking for it, they might have missed it entirely.

Thorne let out a low whistle. "Now that's something you don't see every day."

Raven nodded, her eyes wide in awe. "It's beautiful."

Alvin, however, could feel the magic in the air. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end, and his wolf senses prickled with awareness. This place was charged with ancient power, the kind that could only be accessed by someone with the right bloodline. His bloodline.

"This is it," Alvin said quietly. "This is the entrance to the Lost Village."

"But how do we get in?" Kade asked, stepping closer to the waterfall.

Alvin took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his ancestors' power coursing through him. He approached the archway, the mist swirling around his body, and placed his hand on the stone. The runes flared to life, glowing brighter than before, and a deep, resonant hum filled the air.

The ground beneath them trembled, and for a moment, Alvin thought the entire mountain might collapse. But then, the waterfall parted, revealing a hidden passageway that seemed to stretch into infinity.

"Alvin," Raven whispered, her voice filled with awe. "You did it."

Alvin's heart raced as he stepped through the mist. "It's not me," he said, his voice low. "It's the Lycan blood. This place recognizes it. It's the only way we could enter."

One by one, the pack followed him through the passage. As soon as they crossed the threshold, however, something strange happened. The moment Alvin stepped fully into the Lost Village, a wave of overwhelming magic hit him like a tidal wave. His vision blurred, and his knees buckled. He collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

Around him, the others fell too. Thorne, Kade, and Raven—each of them crumbled under the weight of the magical pressure that filled the air. It was as if the very atmosphere of the village was rejecting them, testing their worthiness. They all looked like pathetic pups, helpless against the force of the village's ancient magic.

"We're... being tested," Alvin managed to choke out as the world spun around him.

The power was too much, too intense for even his Lycan strength. He fought to stay conscious, but the pressure was relentless, pushing him deeper into the earth. His vision faded, and before he could resist any longer, darkness swallowed him whole.

When Alvin finally regained consciousness, he was lying on the soft ground. The pack was scattered around him, still unconscious but breathing steadily. Above them, the stars shone brightly through the misty canopy, and the air was thick with magic.

They had made it. They had found the Lost Village.

But now, the true test would begin.