#98 The eye of the Hurricane

We all turn around, and get ready.

The hurricane from before has grown much bigger, like a black storm taking over the battlefield. Perhaps because it felt our rise in power, the Curse ought to get stronger too. If I am fully honest, it is scary to look at. The rain is still pouring around us, the thunder growling above, and we're just about to run into much worse than that. The storm is loud and yet it doesn't fully cover the sounds of the raging battle all around us. The golems are like hellish silhouettes of muds scattered around the battlefield to slow the groups of wolves and men down. And many are down already. I feel a heavy weight fall down on my heart as I take a second to notice the bodies, furs of all colors dirtied by blood, and the lifeless limbs sometimes sticking out of the ground...

"Let's go," I both say and mindlink.

Moving like one, the white and black wolves start running with me across the battleground, all of us aiming at the gigantic hurricane. Nathaniel and Damian each cover our flanks, and in front of me, Liam is running like a bullet shot right ahead, his black figure not slowed down at all by the slippery ground or heavy downpour. Seeing my mate run before me is like a lamplight in the darkness. I just need to follow him, trust him. I feel our mindlink, stronger than ever, like our minds holding hands and not ready to let go at all. I feel his gentle strength pushing me, and I borrow some of his fearless confidence. I've never realized how perfect we are for each other until this very moment. How Liam is perfect to protect me against my fears, support my boldness, and feed the fire of my bravery. We truly are meant for each other. I feel his trust in me, and it's like another boost I can use. It fuels more of that fire in me, and appeases my heart.

I'm in a strange state during that last race to the end. I feel the pain of everyone around me, all the fights going on. I feel a wolf's body violently hitting the mud. The warm blood dripping, and their pain. The tired body, the fear and the anger. But I can feel their bravery too, as they stand back up. That's right. No wolf is running away, and they are all standing, next to the humans, to defeat the enemy as one. The heart of Silver City is beating right there, with them, men and wolves, and I can almost feel its spirit. It's beautiful, powerful, and yet so fragile...

We keep running, nothing able to stop us in our race. I feel like my feet barely touch the ground, we're flying above the mud, the hills and the traps on the way. Selena is like a flashing bolt, breaking the formation at times to dash through a Golem, fry it and come back, making reckless zigzags all around us. Nora is more careful and sticking to me, probably worried about my health and more cautious about what's coming next. I can't blame her; the closer we get to that thing, the scarier it clearly is...

This isn't about what we see. That hurricane is scary, but that monstrous aura is much, much darker and worse. It feels colder than death, scarier than hell itself, like a mountain ready to crush us any second. Even knowing the Curse is going to try and instillate fear into our minds, I can’t help but shiver. I have to focus on my inner flame to get over it. I keep running, holding on to my fire and using it to spread that same feeling of warmth and courage to the others through the mindlink. I can hardly describe it, this strong sense of community between the six of us. Like one wolf, one family. One body with very different limbs, and Liam and I at the head. Even his brothers seem to finally let me in. I can't explain how, but I feel their wolf minds, and instead of scaring me as usual, I feel them like two strong beings I can rely on. Like... big brothers, really. That's kind of nice, especially when Damian Black glances his silver eyes at me, and I suddenly feel supported too.

And I'm going to need their support, because we finally arrive at the bottom of that hurricane, and it's strength is already trying to blow us all away. I dig my feet in the mud, and the wolves all do the same.

*How are we going to get past that!* Shouts Nathaniel in our heads.

*I think I can get us through,* I nod. *But I'm going to need everyone to stick real close, and Nora, Selena, you two to help me through...*

*We got you.*

I nod, and right away, all the wolves get near or behind me, ready for it. I take a deep breath, and try to harness both my fire and water power together. This hurricane is made of dark aura, some steam, and wind. I may not remember my school days, but I'm pretty sure wind is just all about cold or hot air... I try to calm down internally, and like before, split my fire and water power, one in each hand. It takes me a few seconds, but, this time, I'm not alone. The fact that Selena has fire magic and Nora some water magic helps a ton. It's like trying to reach out for them, I know exactly where to direct my magic, on each hand. On my left one, I feel my fire, strong like a little brasero, and on the right one, water flowing gently in a small circle. Now, I need to use it all to get us a passage through.

I step forward, fighting against the strength of her hurricane, but at least, Selena and Nora's presence near me are like shields against the dark aura. They don't erase it completely, but it's more like they fade it, allowing me to move without too much pressure. They make it so much more bearable for me... I hear the Black brothers growling together, probably feeling the darkness more than they can see it. Liam's just one step ahead, next to my leg. I take another step, and so does he. If I move, he moves. I know he's not leaving me to face this alone, he's sharing his strength with me.

I start using my magic with all of them supporting me, each in their own way. I focus like never before, and, stronger than ever, I push the winds away from us. It's like trying to undo a gigantic knot, pushing my cold water magic one way, the hot fire one the other, and struggling to let our group through. The hurricane resists, and increases its strength, but I won't let go. I extend my arms, one each way, and create like a bubble of protection around our little group. I feel Nora and Selena too, understanding what I'm doing and sharing some of their magic, like vessels I can drag more power from. One step after another, we advance, in the deafening noise of the winds bashing all around us, trying to crush us. The pressure is so terrible, I feel it in my arms and all of my body. If I let go of my focus just one second, we will all die. I can't let go. I keep pushing, and slowly advancing. I feel all of them, moving with me, like one body again. We are doing this, we're advancing and pushing our way into the eye of the hurricane.

*You're doing great, Mara. Just a bit more...*

I can't answer; I'm too focused into getting us through this. The pressure is burying my feet into the ground, and the pain in my shoulder is getting... too much. I'm sweaty, feeling gross and like I'm getting squeezed from all sides. The wind is blowing in my ears, and I need to close my eyes to stay focused. One foot after the other, I keep pushing, hoping we're getting close. It's worse that I don't know when we'll reach the middle of this, if there's even one... I feel Liam silently sending me encouragement, and I just focus on my inner fire, on the core, to find the strength to continue.

*Get ready, everyone. We're almost there...*

I keep going, silently praying I'm not going to empty my recently refilled magic on this. I just need to keep us alive though. To make sure we make it inside...

*Mara!*

I feel suddenly grabbed, and thrown forward on the floor. To my surprise,I land on a dry, warm ground. Liam runs up to me, helping me up.

"Are you alright? Sorry, as soon as we saw the opening we figured we should rush in..."

"Thanks," I gasp.

I'm still feeling a bit tired from the effort before, but at least now I can stretch my sore arms and shoulders a bit. Oh, I'm so going to feel that for the next few days. Once I'm up, I finally look around. The others are spread like a square around me, growling at all sides, to the hurricane still going on around us, but it's... strangely quiet in here. I feel the wind, but it's as if we're in some sort of a bubble. I can even see the sky far above, not blue but at least not as dark grey as before. So this is what it's like inside... if what we are seeing is real.

I feel some magic going on, all around us. I do not like this...

"So you made it after all."

We turn around and, surely, risen from the ground is... Luna. How is that possible? It's really her, with long white hair, blue eyes, and wearing a familiar black dress. Where have I seen that dress before... Oh, Moon Goddess. She's using Ravena's dead body as her own. The Black brothers growl, and I feel disgusted too. I didn't recognize her before because her traits are somehow superposed with the Earth witch's, and she changed her eye and hair color somehow.

"...Necromancia," I whisper.

"That's right," she says, with a surprisingly gentle voice. "A true witch, who masters all three elements, can obtain power over life and death. Of course, Luna first omitted to mention this when she began training me. However, now I understand that magic was capable of bringing back my mate... of erasing her mistake."

*...Something feels off. And it stinks, too.*

*She's using a dead body, what would be surprising about a corpse stinking...?*

*No, Selena's right. The corpse can't be that rotten already, but it smells like a fucking cemetery. Something really is off.*

I stay focused, but I can't ignore their conversation either. I look down, and try to search for clues on the ground. I feel her magic, powerful and overwhelming, all around us, slightly beneath the ground, in the soil... Did she use Ravena's powers again? I look up, and stare at Luna, trying to understand her.

"...You were right," she finally says. "I can't expect witches to stop falling for wolves, for our mates."

"Great," I sigh, wondering if that really could be that easy. "Will you put an end to the Curse now, then?"

"No. I won't have to, if I get rid of all the witches first."

...say what? Her eyes go down on Selena and Nora, and both of them growl, but before I can react, Luna's expression suddenly goes dark, and the ground beneath them moves. Damian is the first to react. The large black wolf jumps in to push his mate out of the way. On the other side, Selena felt it coming at the last second, and jumped back to avoid the wood spike that suddenly came out from the ground.

"You shouldn't have made them witches," says Luna. "Now I will have to kill them too."

"It's temporary, and it's to stop you," I retort.

"...You know, I never really liked fighting," she sighs. "Despite my Alpha blood, I'd always leave the fights to the males in our packs... I am much more fit to protect."

What Is she getting at? She is so calm and ironically, it's making me nervous as hell. The others too, I can sense they are ready for her next attack, the next threat. Luna steps forward, and our group steps back as one. She chuckles.

"You think you have found a new pack... You think they can replace the family you lost," she whispers.

"They are not replacing anyone," I retort before she can spread any doubt.

However, Luna is not looking at me. Her eyes go to all my companions, one after the other, and a wry smile appears on her lips. The ground beneath our feet starts shaking again, and we all get on guard, ready for the next attack. What is it going to be, this time? More golems?

"You think you're the good people; You think the Lunas are all powerful, and you have all the answers, but... What happens when the past comes back to haunt you?"

*I have nothing to be afraid of,* growls Selena.

"Really?" Suddenly says Luna, turning her head to the golden-eyed wolf.

Bloody hell, she can hear our mind-links? We all exchange looks, but no one dares to use it anymore. If she can read through our mind-link, this is one hell of an advantage lost to her... The ground gets louder beneath us, and I'm really starting to freak out about what the hell she'll throw at us next. A hill suddenly seems to climb up in front of Nora, and she backs away, Damian growling too right next to her.

The ground seems to form a new shape, just as it did when it was about to free the golem, but, instead of a humanoid shape, this time it's... a wolf. Oh moon goddess, and the smell is just horrible. The soil retires slowly, and I'm not sure what I'm looking at. It looks like a wolf, but... this thing is dead. It's standing on all fours, and growling loudly, but the exposed skull on its head, the opened ribs, and that flesh almost gushing out, that thing is definitely, a hundred percent supposed to be dead. Oh, I feel like throwing up. Even Ben's horror movies don't get that disgusting.

The one thing I'm worried most, though, is Nora's reaction. She's stopped growling, and instead, she's slowly backing away, looking... in complete shock. Damian immediately takes a protective stance in front of her, growling furiously at that thing for a reason I don't understand.

*It can't be... It's... Vince...* Mutters Nora.

"Can someone update me?" I growl.

*That guy abused Nora years ago. But he's also been dead for years!*

I turn to Luna, who has a smile on, visibly satisfied with that terrible joke of hers.

"See? Power on life and death," she says.

*You damn bitch,* growls Selena. *If you can hear that, note that I'm going to rip your...*

"Rip my heart out?" Finishes Luna, raising an eyebrow. "Like you did for your ex?"

Another dead wolf suddenly emerges from the ground, at least in a better state than the previous one, except for that very visible bullet hole in its head... Selena immediately starts growling at that thing instead, joined by her mate.

*Diego...*

Before I can say anything, both Damian and Nathaniel jump like one, each on the enemy facing them. The four wolves fight brutally, the already torn flesh being ripped apart under the furious growls of the Black brothers. I can tell they are dead serious, and very, very mad. Without their wives having to move an inch, it's over. The remains on the ground clearly won't get back up for another round this time. I'm... surprised it was that easy, but when I look back at Luna, instead of looking even surprised, she just smiles... As she's still staring, the ground suddenly swallows the remains, burying them deeper into the ground again. Nora suddenly throws up, and I can't blame her.

"That was fucking disgusting of you," I growl at Luna.

"Was it?" She smiles. "Well, it's easy when you have to fight against an enemy, but... What happens when you have to fight those who were once your loved ones?"

The ground starts shaking again, and more little hills appear, all around us this time. Oh, Moon Goddess, no, no... More wolves suddenly appear, and this time, the shock in the wolves eyes is much worse. Nora is paralyzed in front of the black and white male wolf facing her.

*...William...*

Moon Goddess, that's... William Blue? My... half-sibling?

"Stop it!" I yell at Luna, realizing what's going on.

She just keeps smiling, and more bodies are unburied. I'm getting really nervous and panicked this time. She's bringing back a fucking lot of them. Liam gets closer to me, growling furiously. Another wolf appears in front of Selena, and this time, she doesn't growl, but backs away.

*No, no, no...* I hear her. *Mara, I can't fucking fight Levi... Not him...*

From the brown fur, I can already tell this is Ben and Bonnie's deceased older brother, who was once her best friend. I know he died in the previous war, but... He's standing in front of her right now, as impossible as it sounds. His eyes are... dead, but the wolves all around us are real, and moving. Luna is bringing back fucking zombies of their friends, of everyone they lost before. Holy shit...

"Dad..." Mutters Liam, and his older brothers are growling at the same huge, black wolf that looks like them.

What the... even Judah Black? She can't! I turn to Luna, furious.

"Stop it!" I yell, trying to find the root of her necromancy spell beneath us. "Leave them alone!"

"Them?" She says. "Do you think I'll spare you?."

"Sorry to disappoint, but I have yet to lose anyone in Si..."

Before I can finish my sentence, the ground starts shaking in front of me, another hill forming. Oh, Moon Goddess, no, no... I see the ground opening again, and another wolf steps forward to face me, growling. I feel my heart sink, and everything else inside. No, no, no. I can't... I can't believe it.

It's Lysandra Jones.