1. A Secret of Snow and Ruin

Chapter XXIV

Alistair Wardwell

Elysia's head snaps toward the sound, her stance shifting as she readies herself for a new threat. The figures moving through the darkness are unlike anything I've seen before, their eyes glowing with a chilling, predatory light. The air around us thickens with tension, and I can see the fear in Elysia's eyes as she prepares to face whatever comes next. Her form is a striking contrast to the looming figures—one of steadfast resolve against an encroaching menace. I can't help but wonder if this is merely the beginning of a greater, more terrifying challenge.

The scene is set for an inevitable clash, and as the figures draw nearer, I realize that Elysia's bravery and strength will be put to the ultimate test. My own heart races with the weight of what's to come, the uncertainty of the forest closing in as the shadows take shape. I raise my hand and throw the wolf from Elysia. "Fractura" I yelled and the wolf whimpered as its bones were crushed under my spell. (Fracture)

When I looked up I saw something that paralyzed me. Elysia grabbed my hand as she too saw the wolves approach. There's wolves emerging from the darkness and that's when the wheels in her mind turn. I knew she had mind linked the rest of the pack; awaiting response.

This point was supposed to be cleared and now the wolves circle us like prey. Where did it all go wrong?

From behind us, Elysia and I heard shuffling. Elysia tore her grasp from my hand and raised her bow on instanct. I almost used my lethal magic to attack the lingering threat until I noticed who it was. The rest of the clan emerged; armed and ready. Each one of them was wielding a weapon of some sort. "Thank goodness you made it," Elysia said to Ries and the rest. She lowered her weapon aimed at them and shifted her target to the rabid wolves. The wolves ran faster towards us, their mouths open with an infinite hunger that could never be quenched.

The moonlight bathed the forest in an eerie glow, casting long shadows as the horde of rabid wolves closed in on us. I could hear the chaotic symphony of growls and snarls as they charged with frenzied hunger. My heart raced, but my mind remained focused.

I raised my hands, and the arcane runes I wove in the air began to shimmer with a protective light. "A tenebris protege, nil nocuit sano."A barrier of magic formed around us, its energy pulsing around everyone, and garnering us no harm if the wolves wished to shed blood. (Protect us from the darkness, and grant no harm amognst the sane)

To my right, Lennox wielded his staff with practiced precision. With each swing, the staff unleashed powerful shockwaves that disrupted the wolves' advance. Nearby, Blythe was in her element. Her hands glowed with verdant energy as she summoned vines and roots from the earth. They snaked out, ensnaring the wolves and dragging them down. Blythe's use of her magic wasn't deadly as she only meant to restrain them. But with each of her constraints, Cade would raise his claws and kill each wolf she had captured in her vines. The natural barrier she created bought us critical moments to fend off the crazed pack.

From an elevated position, Elysia was a whirlwind of deadly accuracy. Her arrows flew with a swift, decisive grace, each one finding its target in the heart of a charging wolf. I watched with admiration as her skill carved a path through the horde, her focus unwavering as she continued her aerial assault.

Ries and Jasper fought back-to-back, their swords flashing in the moonlight. Ries's powerful, sweeping strikes cut through the wolves with precision, while Jasper's agile movements allowed him to strike quickly and evade counterattacks. Their teamwork was flawless, each blade movement a well-coordinated effort to hold the line.

Damian was a calm presence amidst the chaos, his crossbow bolts finding their marks with methodical efficiency. Each shot was calculated, picking off wolves that tried to slip past our defenses. His steady hand was crucial in keeping the pack at bay.