The Lord ✔️

Chapter 39

Chapter 39: The North-East Tower

Andromeda's heart thudded faster as she climbed up the slope, little steps carved out with the snow, trying not to glance at the grand North-East Tower, bathing in the moonlight. Her nose was pressed against the ground as she sniffed, trying to smell any wolves around, but alas, she was downwind.
She braced herself for anything, trotting faster, her tail swishing. A blizzard had begun, but they just went past her. Maybe being downwind couldn't be that bad, after all.
Andromeda had realized what conditions Findrut was in. Nothing like Skystar, which was peaceful and had a good climate, but barren and desolate, with wildlife that was forced to migrate to better locations. And this was all Cora's fault.
She came to a stop when she reached a cave entrance: it was half-covered with a thick wall of snow, and rocks bordered it, some large, some small, but all jagged and sharp. Andromeda's breath quickened. She placed her first paw in, closing her eyes, wondering what would happen when she put both paws in. Would something leap out to grab her? Would she just die? But, she pushed those thoughts out of her head. She needed to enter the tower.
She placed her second paw in quickly, closing her eyes and wincing, bracing herself, but nothing came. Heaving a sigh of relief, she walked through the dark corridor cautiously. How could she get to the top level?
"Hello?" she asked, although it sounded more like a mere whisper to her ears. "Anyone there?" She glanced around, fear worming its way to her heart.
Then she heard paw-steps, getting gradually louder and coming closer and closer towards her. She froze, her eyes showing every hint of fear she held in her heart, and she dared not breath. Crouching low to the ground, her tail pressed down and not even moving a ant-length, she tensed more than ever. Maybe she'd have to fight the wolf. If it was a wolf.
When the paw-steps stopped, Andromeda sprung up and dashed forwards, trying to get to the top of the tower before she was caught. Her breathing was ragged and inconsistent.
The top of the tower was dark, but the small part of the cave, which Andromeda could only glimpse, had a small light glowing. It was not too bright, but Andromeda looked away. It seemed as if it was the sun, the brightest thing in the universe. Yet it was not. She placed one paw inside the cave.
Just as she was about to enter fully, a cruel laugh stopped her in her tracks.
"Well, well, well, look who we have here," the voice said. Andromeda turned to face her, a female, with a grey coat and bright, slit-like eyes. It took Andromeda a few seconds to realize fully who stood in front of her, a different demeanour shining upon her.
"Mother?!"