Zeph raised her hand again, and the air around them felt darker and more threatening. The shadows grew longer and twisted in weird ways. Everything became quiet and still. An unseen power came from her and hit Ryker like a strong blast of air. His smug smile faltered, and his eyes went wide. At first, nothing seemed to happen. Then, he gasped. He stumbled back, his body becoming stiff as if invisible chains were wrapping around his mind. His vision blurred, and everything looked strange. The battlefield disappeared, replaced by a heavy darkness. A soft, whispery voice echoed in his ears.
Then he heard it.
"You're worthless," a voice sneered. Ryker turned, gasping for breath. His own face looked back at him, twisted in disgust and disappointment.
"You have all this power, but what do you have to show for it?" Ryker clenched his fists. "This isn't real." The other Ryker smirked. “Oh, it’s real enough, isn’t it? Real enough for you to feel how worthless you truly are.”
Breathing became difficult as Ryker sensed heavy pressure. He saw visuals from his past that he wished to forget as the darkness surrounded him. He saw himself kneeling before his father, who used to be the leader. "You will never be strong enough," his father said. "A true Alpha does not lead out of desperation, but with dominance."
Then the scene shifted, and he saw himself challenging Terran all those years ago. Saw himself losing.
"You couldn't even beat Terran," his own voice taunted. You tried to prove you were stronger, but what happened? You were humiliated. You crawled back here, licking your wounds like the weakling you are."
Ryker growled, shaking his head. “Shut up!”
The illusion stepped closer.
“Terran was always better, wasn’t he? Stronger. Smarter. More respected.”
The words cut deep.
"You've tried your whole life to be better than him, but you can't. "You'll never be able to." Ryker stumbled backward, but he couldn't escape. Dark shadows wrapped around him, holding him in place.
He fell to his knees, holding his head as the terrifying visions overwhelmed him. He breathed in rough gasps, his whole body shaking as the hallucinations took over. Outside the illusion, Ryker's body shook violently, his eyes wide with fear as he swung blindly at enemies only he could see.
Zeph stood motionless, watching him fall apart.
Vixxen stepped beside her, his eyes narrowing at Ryker’s state. “What did you do?”
Zeph exhaled slowly. “I let him drown in his own nightmares.”
His breath came in ragged pants as he managed to choke out, “It’s too late…”
Zeph's face became even harder. "What are you talking about?" Ryker let out a laugh. “Terran’s pack…” His voice trembled. “By now… they’re already under attack.”
Zeph’s stomach twisted.
Vixxen stiffened beside her. “You’re lying.”
Ryker just laughed - a loud, crazy sound - as the terrifying visions took over, driving him insane. His body fell forward, his laughter fading into confused mumbling, his mind trapped in a never-ending cycle of fear.
Zeph inhaled; her hands clenched into fists. If Ryker's words were true... Terran's pack was in danger.
\---
The evening air was thick with urgency as they ran, their feet pounding against the forest floor. The trees blurred past them, but no matter how fast they ran, it felt like time was slipping away.
Vixxen suddenly swore under his breath. "We won't make it on time." Zeph's chest felt tight. She already knew it, felt it deeply, but hearing him say it made her fear feel like a heavy rock in her stomach. Terran's pack was under attack.
The dream she had—the one where the Terran’s territory burned to ash, where the cries of the wounded echoed through the night— became a reality. And they were too far away to stop it.
Her legs nearly failed her, the sense of being unable to help nearly unbearable. "I should have known," she said. "If I had known that the nightmare would occur quickly—" Her throat tightened as she balled her fists. "They would have been ready.”
Vixxen didn’t slow down, but his gaze flicked toward her. “Zeph, don’t.”
“No.” She shook her head, frustration and guilt clawing at her insides. “I should’ve warned them. I should’ve—”
“This isn’t on you,” Vixxen said firmly.
“But—”
“No.” His tone was sharp, but there was something else in it too—something raw. Regret. “This is on me. I told you not to tell Terran about the vision.”
Zeph’s breath caught.
“If anyone is to blame,” he continued, jaw tight, “it’s me.”
“No. It isn’t. You were advising me on the right action to take. I wouldn't have known if I hadn't been kidnapped in the first place.”
Ashral, running beside them, shot Zeph a sharp look. “Enough.”
Zeph swallowed hard, but Ashral continued, her voice unwavering. “This isn’t your fault, Zeph. None of this is. "We’ve wasted enough breath on blame, and right now, we need every ounce of our strength to fight.”
Zeph took a deep breath, forcing down the guilt clawing at her. Ashral was right—now wasn’t the time to dwell on regrets. Now was the time to act.
They pushed forward, moving as fast as their legs would carry them.
**
Back in Terran's territory, a fierce fight was happening. Terran punched a warrior's chest and sent him flying. Everywhere, the sounds of fighting filled the air – shouting and growling. Terran warriors fought bravely, but these attackers were not ordinary. The People of Kota.
A name he had heard in history, and in his meetings. One thing, his territory was peaceful, the next it was suddenly under attack.
A man—clearly the leader—stepped forward, his piercing gaze locking onto Terran. He stood firmly, unaffected by the surrounding chaos. On his shoulder was the symbol of Kota, a bright red mark that meant war.
"Terran," the man called out, his voice cutting through the noise. "Surrender her."
Terran narrowed his eyes. "Who?"
The man smirked. "You know who."
Terran’s stance didn’t waver. "I don’t understand?"
“The Woman of Destruction.” The leader’s eyes gleamed. “Hand her over, and we will leave.”
“There’s no one here by that name.”
The leader’s smirk widened. “As you wish.” He took a step forward, his warriors closing in around him. “We won’t stop. We won’t leave. Not until you give us the one who will fulfill the prophecy.”
Terran’s fists clenched.