Chapter 71: Haunted Past

Claire’s POV

Days had passed since the fires had died, but the smell of burning wood was still present in my nostrils. I gazed into the shadowed horizon where Midnight Moon used to flourish from the edge of Redwater's northern watchtower. There was no more curling smoke towards the sky, but there was no denying the devastation.

I had no desire for this.

There was no celebration, but the Redwater warriors walked among the wreckage of our triumph. Nothing but quiet. A thick, oppressive silence that held tight to my chest and would not leave.

I balled my fingers into fists.

Was this fair?

The idea twisted like a blade inside of me. My family and I had called Midnight Moon home. There was a part of me that had never given up, even after Jared had turned me down and they had thrown me out.

It was in ruins now.

And I would contributed to its destruction.

Later that evening, as the winds changed, Derek located me.

He remarked, "You have not eaten." He spoke in a low, cautious tone.

I did not look at him. "I do not feel hungry."

With a sigh, he moved in closer. "You can not continue doing this, Claire."

"I am all right."

"You are not."

My jaw muscle tensed up. Derek, what do you want me to say? That I regret retaliating? That I am sorry I defended Redwater? I shook my head and let out a sharp exhale. "Because I don't."

Derek looked at me for a long time before continuing. "That is not the point of this."

His words pierced my heart.

I wanted to correct him, to argue with him. However, I was unable to.

since he wasn't.

It had nothing to do with Redwater.

It had to do with the pack I used to call home. The pack that had left me behind. cheated on me.

Nevertheless, all I could see as I stood here now were the faces of people who had never had a choice. They were the fighters who had been made to fight. The families caught in the crossfire.

the number of lives lost as a result of this conflict.

Derek's fingers touched my wrist as he extended his hand. Just enough to ground me, but not much more.

He said quietly, "We did what we had to."

I took a swallow. "Did we?"

Even though his face darkened, he continued to look. "You are aware that we did."

Yes, I did.

It was not any easier, though.

That night, sleep did not arrive.

I could always see their faces when I closed my eyes. They were the fallen warriors. The people who had stood up for a leader who had gone astray.

What is the worst?

I doubted that Jared had ever had a genuine belief in the cause he was fighting for.

I had hated him for so long because of what he had done to me and what he had stolen. After all of this devastation, though, I could not help but wonder: Had he ever been in charge at all?

Was the fate of Midnight Moon predetermined even before this war started?

With a shaky exhale, I sat up.

I had to witness it for myself.

The sky had started to lighten by the time I arrived at the edge of what was left of the Midnight Moon.

Now, all that remained of the once-proud stronghold was a shattered skeleton. Structures had collapsed, blood still smelt in the soil, and the remaining warriors had long since retreated or given up.

Not all of them, though.

I froze when I heard a rustling from the darkness.

My pulse was racing when I turned abruptly, only to see a tiny figure huddled close to the remains of the former training grounds.

A kid.

She was probably no older than six or seven. She had tattered clothes and ash and dust-matted hair. Her eyes, however, were what kept me motionless.

Huge, frightened.

She shrank back as though anticipating a blow, flinching at the sight of me.

My heart tightened.

I moved forward cautiously. "Hey," I murmured. It is alright. I promise not to harm you.

She remained motionless.

I squatted down and spoke quietly. "What is your name?"

Quiet.

Then, just above a murmur—“Elena”.

I took a swallow. "Are you by yourself, Elena?"

A slight nod.

A knot of coldness grew in my stomach. "How is your family doing?"

Her lower lip quivered at that. Her eyes filled with tears, but she forced herself to hold them back. Rather, she uttered a single word in a whisper.

"Gone."

I exhaled the breath.

It was not just her, was it?

How many other people were there, hiding, afraid, or abandoned as a result of this conflict?

Due to me?

A gust of wind carried the sound of footsteps close by. Derek. I didn't even glance at him, I knew he was there.

He halted a few feet away, his eyes darting back and forth between the girl and me.

"What are we going to do?" My voice hardly rose above a whisper.

Derek hesitated.

He didn't have an immediate response for the first time because we first met.

But the truth was known to both of us.