Chapter Three: The Hunt Begins
The silence that followed Ash's request was thick, stretching between them like a taut wire. Ember's mind raced, weighing his words against the dangerous reality she had lived with for centuries. A phoenix hunted by wolves. It was nothing new.
But the idea of another phoenix—out there, running, hiding, just like her—shifted something inside Ember. A flicker of old memories she thought were lost stirred within her. She had always believed she was the last of her kind, or at least the last who had survived. The idea that someone like her was out there, on the run, in danger, sent a cold shiver down her spine.
"Why would you betray your own pack to save her?" Ember asked, narrowing her gaze. "What's your real motive, Ash? And why should I trust you?"
Ash's jaw tightened, and he glanced away, as if searching for the right words. When he spoke, his voice was rough, laced with a frustration that seemed to have built up over years. "Because I didn't choose to be a hunter. I didn't want this life. It was forced on me—on all of us."
He met her gaze again, and this time there was something raw in his eyes, something unguarded. "My father was the alpha. He raised us to believe that hunting phoenixes, dragons, all magical creatures... was our duty. He told us we were protecting the world from chaos. But he lied. We were just killers, taking lives to secure power. When I finally saw the truth, it was too late. I couldn't save the others my pack hunted, but when I met her, the phoenix I let go... I couldn't do it. I couldn't watch her die."
Ember crossed her arms, her skepticism evident. "And now your pack is after you because of it?"
Ash nodded. "They'll kill me if they catch me. But first, they'll finish what I couldn't. They'll find her. And once they do, they'll hunt you down, too. It's only a matter of time."
The weight of his words settled over her like a heavy cloak. Ember wasn't a stranger to running, to hiding, to slipping away before anyone could get too close. But this was different. She could feel the urgency in Ash's voice, the quiet plea buried beneath his rough exterior. He wasn't lying. The danger was real. And if his pack found out there were two phoenixes in the world, they wouldn't stop until they had both their heads.
Still, trust didn't come easily. She had lived too long, seen too many betrayals. "What makes you think I can help? If you let her go once, why not find her yourself?"
Ash hesitated, glancing down at the scars on his hands, the old wounds that told their own story. "Because she's been hiding for years, and I haven't been able to track her. Phoenixes have a way of disappearing when they want to. You're the only one who might be able to sense her. You've lived this life. You know the signs, the places she'd hide. I can't do this alone."
Ember chewed her lip, her mind racing. She didn't want to be pulled into this—didn't want to be involved in some hunt that would inevitably lead to pain. But the thought of another phoenix out there, scared and alone, called to something deeper within her. She knew what it was like to run, to be hunted. Could she really turn her back on someone who needed help?
Before she could respond, the door to the inn swung open, and Garek stepped inside, wiping his hands on a rag. The innkeeper glanced between them, sensing the tension in the air but saying nothing. Ember took the moment to compose herself, locking eyes with Ash once more.
"If I agree to help," she said slowly, "it's on my terms. I'm not some weapon you can use. And I'm not getting caught up in your pack's fight."
Ash nodded, a flicker of relief passing through his eyes. "I wouldn't ask for anything else. I just want to find her before it's too late."
Ember took a deep breath, the weight of the decision settling in her chest. There was a part of her that screamed at her to walk away, to vanish into the mist like she always had. But for the first time in years, she found herself standing still, facing the fire instead of fleeing from it.
"Fine," she said, her voice firmer now. "I'll help you. But if I sense anything off, anything that feels like a trap, I'm gone. Understood?"
Ash's eyes softened with gratitude, and he offered a small, respectful nod. "Understood."
The conversation might have ended there, but Garek's heavy footsteps returned, carrying a tray of food and a steaming pot of tea. The innkeeper set it down on the nearest table, his friendly face a stark contrast to the tension that had filled the room moments before.
"Didn't mean to interrupt," Garek said, his voice light. "Just figured you two could use something warm."
Ember smiled faintly, grateful for the distraction. She sat down, motioning for Ash to join her. He hesitated for a moment but then took a seat across from her, eyeing the food without much interest.
As Garek left them to their meal, Ember reached for her cup of tea, the warmth of the ceramic grounding her. She glanced at Ash, who was watching her with an intensity that made her skin prickle.
"So," she said, keeping her tone light, "where do we start?"
Ash leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "We need to head north. That's where I lost her trail. There's an old forest near the mountains, where the trees are so thick that daylight barely touches the ground. It's the kind of place a phoenix would go to hide. If she's still alive, that's where she'll be."
Ember nodded slowly, her mind already beginning to map out the journey. She could feel the faint stirrings of her magic, the fire within her flickering as if in response to the looming danger.
"How long until your pack catches up with you?" she asked, her voice quieter now.
Ash's expression darkened, and he glanced toward the window as if expecting to see shadows lurking in the fog outside. "Not long. A few days, maybe. They'll send scouts first. Then the hunters."
Ember's heart quickened. They didn't have much time.
"Then we leave at dawn," she said, setting her cup down. "No more delays."
Ash nodded in agreement, but there was something in his eyes—something unspoken, like the beginnings of a storm. He reached for his own cup, taking a slow sip before meeting her gaze again.
"Thank you, Ember," he said quietly, and for the first time since he'd arrived, his voice was laced with sincerity.
She didn't respond immediately, instead focusing on the flames crackling in the hearth. She could feel the weight of his gratitude, but there was still a part of her that remained guarded, unsure of what lay ahead.
"You saved one phoenix," she said softly, almost to herself. "Let's hope you can save another."
