Crimson Bonds

Chapter 22: The Dawn After

The first light of dawn crept over the horizon, casting a pale glow over the forest. The Blood Moon's ominous presence had faded, leaving behind a lingering sense of dread, but the world was quieter now—calmer. The night had been long, and the battle hard-fought, but they had survived.

Babe stood on the edge of the clearing, staring at the spot where the avatar of the Blood Moon had loomed only hours before. The ground was scorched, blackened from the dark magic that had surged through the air, but the worst was over. Thanom and her witches had retreated, their power broken—at least for now.

He sighed, his breath clouding in the cool morning air. His body ached from the strain of the night's events, his magic still humming beneath the surface, but he felt lighter somehow. The weight of the Blood Moon's pull had lessened, though its presence was still there, lurking in the back of his mind.

Behind him, Billy approached, his footsteps soft against the dew-covered grass. Babe didn't turn around, but he felt the warmth of Billy's presence as he came to stand beside him.

"You okay?" Billy asked, his voice low, his usual playful tone replaced by a rare softness.

Babe nodded slowly, his gaze still fixed on the horizon. "Yeah. I think so."

It was a half-truth. He was okay—relieved that they had stopped Thanom, that they had survived the night—but there was a part of him that still felt unsettled. The Blood Moon's power wasn't gone, and Thanom's words echoed in his mind. This is far from over.

Billy watched him for a moment, his sharp eyes taking in the tension in Babe's shoulders. He placed a hand on Babe's arm, a silent reminder that he wasn't alone. They had faced the worst together, and they would face whatever came next the same way.

"What happens now?" Babe asked, finally turning to look at Billy.

Billy sighed, glancing back at the spot where the rogue witches had vanished. "We regroup. Figure out what the hell Thanom's next move is, and how we stop her for good."

Babe frowned, his fingers absently tracing the edge of a nearby tree. "She won't stop, will she? Not until she gets what she wants."

Billy's jaw tightened, his expression darkening. "No. But we won't let her. Whatever her endgame is, we'll figure it out."

Babe nodded, though doubt still gnawed at the edges of his thoughts. They had won this battle, but the war was far from over. Thanom was still out there, and the Blood Moon's power hadn't been fully broken. He could still feel it—a low hum in the back of his mind, a connection that wouldn't be severed so easily.

But even as those thoughts circled, there was a sense of hope, too. They had survived. Together. And that counted for something.

"Hey," Billy said, his voice breaking through Babe's thoughts. "We'll get through this. We always do."

Babe met Billy's gaze, and for a moment, the weight on his chest lifted. Billy had that effect on him—steadying him, grounding him when everything else felt like it was spinning out of control.

"Yeah," Babe said, offering a small, tired smile. "I know."

They stood in comfortable silence for a while, the weight of the night slowly giving way to the light of the new day. The sky above them was a soft shade of blue now, the darkness of the Blood Moon long gone. It was peaceful, even if only for a moment.

Krit and Elysia approached from the other side of the clearing, their faces marked by exhaustion but also relief. Krit's usual playful grin was back, though it was tempered by the fatigue of the night's events.

"Well, that was fun," Krit said, his voice light despite everything. "Next time, though, can we maybe not have a blood moon trying to kill us?"

Elysia rolled her eyes but smiled faintly. "I think we all deserve a break after this one."

Babe chuckled, the tension in his chest easing slightly. "Yeah, no kidding."

But even as they exchanged lighthearted banter, the seriousness of what they had faced still hung in the air. They had survived the night, but the battle was far from over. Thanom was still out there, plotting, and the Blood Moon's power was still a threat that couldn't be ignored.

"What's our next move?" Elysia asked, her gaze flicking to Billy.

Billy sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We need to regroup. Figure out where Thanom might go next, what her next target is."

"And the Council?" Krit asked, raising an eyebrow. "Are we going to tell them about what happened here?"

Billy's expression darkened slightly at the mention of the Council. "We'll have to. But for now, let's keep this between us. The Council's going to want to get involved, and they'll want control. But this... this is our fight."

Babe's heart skipped a beat at the possessiveness in Billy's voice. It wasn't just about protecting him anymore—Billy was fighting for something bigger. Something they were both a part of now.

Elysia nodded, her expression thoughtful. "We'll have to be careful. The Council's not going to like being kept in the dark."

Billy shrugged. "They'll get over it."

Krit chuckled. "Yeah, I'm sure Draven will be thrilled."

Babe shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips despite the seriousness of the situation. "We'll figure it out. One step at a time."

The group stood in silence for a moment, the weight of the night's events still hanging over them, but the tension was slowly giving way to a sense of resolution. They had survived, and they would continue to fight. Together.

Billy turned to Babe, his hand brushing against his arm in a silent, reassuring gesture. "You did good, Babe. Really good."

Babe's heart fluttered at the warmth in Billy's voice. "I couldn't have done it without you."

Billy smiled, a soft, genuine smile that made Babe's chest tighten. "You're stronger than you think. Don't forget that."

Babe nodded, though he wasn't sure he believed it just yet. But with Billy by his side, it didn't seem so impossible.

As the sun rose higher in the sky, casting a warm glow over the forest, the group began to make their way back toward the city. The road ahead of them was uncertain, full of danger and challenges they couldn't yet see. But for now, they had each other.

And that was enough.