Chapter 97 Mourning and Rebuilding
Amara’s POV
Smoke was heavy in the air, from the flames that now burnt in the clearing, not alone from the fires that had gnawed through the forest.
On the wooden pyres lie the bodies of our dead warriors. Wolves who had persevered till the very end. My brothers. Sisters. Companions.
I held the torch in front of them, my hands shaking.
The group gathered silently behind me. Some people sobbed in public. A few of them held each other. Some were too numb to cry and just looked. On one side of me, Rowan stood with his eyes angry and his mouth clenched. Kian stood on the other, his hands tense, his chest rising and falling with rapid gasps.
Every look weighed heavily on me. Neither Kian nor Rowan were in their line of sight. They had their eyes on me.
Mira said, "Amara," at my shoulder. "The time has come."
I took a deep breath and moved forward. Even though I spoke softly, the silence carried my words. “They gave everything. For us. For the group. For the future. Despite my constricted throat, I managed to utter the words. "We won't overlook them. Their names will endure. Our strength will come from their sacrifice.""
I lowered the torch to the first pyre. The flames rushed up to kiss the darkness as the fire swiftly caught. As the fire spread, gasps sounded through the audience. The other pyres were lighted one by one.
The air was filled with the sound of crying. Children sobbed in the arms of their mothers. The Warriors dropped to their knees. My chest began to sting until I lost control, and hot tears streamed down my cheeks.
Rowan put a steady, silent hand on my back. For a brief moment, Kian's hand touched mine, grounding me.
My face was raised to the moon. "Grab them, Great Moon. In your light, let their souls roam freely. Allow them to discover tranquility.
I heard the ragged, broken voices of the group echoing back. "Let them find tranquility."
I said to myself, I'm sorry, as I saw the bodies being consumed by the flames, which turned the flesh to ash. I ought to have kept more of you safe. I ought to have been stronger and faster.
I was startled out of my reverie by a little boy's cries. "Papa! Papa!" His mother pulled him back, crying, as he reached for the flames.
I tasted blood after biting my lip. His father would never be seen by the boy again. And it was my responsibility to ensure that no more kids grew up in this way.
As if souls were ascending to the sky, the smoke spiraled skyward. For the last time, I raised my voice. "People won't forget you. Not this evening. Not ever.”
As though responding to me, the flames raged higher.
However, I was not warmed by the fire. It made me feel cold.
I stood in front of the pack once again when the ashes had settled and the flames had subsided, which had taken hours. Tears were streaming down their faces, and sorrow weighed heavily on their shoulders. They looked to me for more than just solace, though. Hope was what they needed.
Even though my heart was still hurting, I wiped my eyes. “The Witch is gone,” I replied simply. “Her darkness is sealed forever. She won't ever get back up.
A whisper swept across the group. A few people let out a gasp. In relief, a few fell to their knees. Others simply held on to the words as if they were their sole source of support.
Rowan took a step ahead. "You heard her. The battle is over. Our folks are secure.
"Their sacrifice was not in vain," Kian added forcefully. We prevailed. We shall also reconstruct.
The pack's eyes returned to me. I looked into each person's eyes, even the broken and the kids. I said, "I promise you," and then spoke louder. "Peace shall prevail. There will be healing. Once more, the Obsidian Pack will rise.
First feeble, then louder, then stronger, the cheers erupted until voices filled the clearing.
A portion of the burden was removed from my chest. Hope was alive for the first time in what seemed like an eternity.
Mira, however, moved closer, her eyes dark, her face white. Despite being quiet, her voice was audible.
With a harsh, almost warning tone, she stated, "Peace must be guarded."
I scowled. "Mira"
She tightened her hold on my arm and shook her head. "Darkness never dies, seal or no seal. It waits. It observes. All it takes is a crack to come back.
Around me, the pack's applause appeared to wane. As I looked at Mira, a shiver went down my spine.
"What are you saying?" I said.
She leaned closer, her words like a whisper of thunder. "The war may be over, but the fight for peace has just begun," I say.
Her warning refused to go away, clinging to me like smoke.