The morning air was crisp as Zeph, Terran, Ashral, and a group of warriors set out toward the territory Terran had chosen for her. The warriors carried her luggage, something she never imagined needing.
Zeph chuckled, glancing at the bags. "I entered your pack with nothing, not even a pair of clothes, and now I step out with full luggage set. Who would’ve thought?"
Terran smirked. "It all belongs to you, Zeph. You’re still a member of my pack, no matter what. If I had my way, I would’ve packed even more, but I know you wouldn’t accept it."
She rolled her eyes playfully. "Damn right, I wouldn’t. I’m leaving for just a little while, not relocating like some noble woman."
She turned to Ashral. “Why did you decide to follow me though?”
Ashral huffed. "If you must know, I’m coming because I want to protect my sister’s daughter with everything I have." Her tone softened just slightly before she added, "And, who knows? I might meet other Starlight pack members in that territory."
Zeph glanced at her, touched. "Ashral…"
"Don’t get emotional," Ashral cut in, waving her hand. "I don’t do well with mushy moments."
Zeph laughed, but it was short-lived. They all noticed the sudden shift in the air and everyone skidded to a stop, instantly alert.
“We are being followed,” Terran remarked.
“Could it be the Kota warriors?” Zeph asked as she looked around.
She suddenly felt a sharp presence behind her. Fast. Deadly.
She spun by instinct, throwing up a barrier.
Clang!
A spear shattered against it, scattering into the air.
“That should answer your question,” Ashral remarked.
“Did anyone see where it came from?” Terran said as they all pressed back against each other in a defensive formation, eyes scanning for any sign of movement.
"Everywhere," Zeph whispered as more spears came flying towards them. She took a deep breath and raised her hands. Her telekinesis kicked in, and the spears stopped in midair. Then, she sent them flying off in different directions.
Ashral let out a low whistle. “Damn. You’ve really gotten the hang of that.”
“Now’s not the time for compliments,” Zeph shot back.
“They could be using some kind of cloaking ability.”
“Can you see them?” Zeph asked Ashral.
“Yeah. It’s not a normal ability. But for you, it should be.”
Ashral continued, “You need to close your eyes. You will see the different energy around you. "When you see one that has more energy than the environment, just know it's them.”
Zeph hesitated. More spears were coming towards them. “Now?!
“Yes, now!” Ashral snapped. “I’ll cover you.”
Zeph closed her eyes, but she could still see everywhere. She could see the energy signatures of the tall trees, the rough ground and even the sky. But amidst it all, there were presences that stood out—thicker, denser energy signatures that didn’t belong to the environment.
A slow smirk formed on her lips. There you are.
“You can cloak your body,” she said, her voice steady, “but not your energy.”
Her eyes snapped open, and with a sharp wave of her hand, massive rocks tore free from the ground. She flung them in multiple directions with pinpoint accuracy, targeting the unseen enemies.
The impact sent dust and debris spiraling into the air.
When the dust settled down, figures emerged from the haze, their forms now fully visible.
“We have finally found the one to fulfill the prophecy,” one of them said.
“Surrender now or suffer for your actions.”
Terran stood in front of Zeph, his face dark and serious. "You'll have to get past me first," he warned. Ashral stood beside him, cracking her fingers. "And past me too." The Kota fighters quickly attacked, moving fast and precisely. Zeph could hardly keep up with them.
She knew Terran was still recovering. She could see it—the slight hesitation in his steps, the fraction-of-a-second delay when he blocked an attack. It wasn’t much, but against warriors this fast, it made all the difference.
A flurry of punches and kicks came at her, but she blocked each one, dodging fluidly. The Kota warrior attacking her was relentless, his blows sharp and calculated. But Zeph wasn’t the same weak girl she had been before.
Then the Kota members shifted into wolves. A dozen fierce wolves now surrounded them, their eyes looking deadly. Terran and his warriors quickly transformed too, their huge bodies jumping into the battle. Claws clashed and Zeph hardly had time to catch her breath before two wolves attacked her. She quickly moved out of the way, avoiding one wolf's claws and barely escaping the other's snapping teeth.
Then, she saw Terran out of the corner of her eye. Two wolves had him trapped, their teeth close to his neck.
Her heart lurched. “Terran!”
The split second of distraction cost her.
A sharp pain shot through her arm as the wolf's teeth dug deep into her skin. She cried out in agony, the burning pain spreading through her body. The wolf bit down harder, trying to pull her down. She felt a rush of emotions - fear, anger, and desperation. But they weren’t all hers.
She could feel the raw fury of Terran warriors, the bloodthirsty determination of the Kota wolves, the smug satisfaction of the one biting her.
It was overwhelming.
Her vision blurred, and suddenly, the surrounding air vibrated. The emotions—the power—they fueled something deep within her.
Without thinking, she let out a scream.
A shock wave erupted from her, invisible but powerful.
The blast sent everyone—Terran warriors, the Kota wolves, even the trees—reeling. Warriors stumbled, wolves whined, some even collapsed from the sheer force of it.
The fight stopped.
Everything was silent.
Zeph’s chest heaved, her hands trembling. She had never felt this kind of power before. She fell down weakly as she saw everyone struggling to get back on their feet, but their limbs felt impossibly heavy. Their movements were sluggish, their strength drained. It was as if something had sucked the energy straight from their bodies.
Zeph blinked, still breathless. Did I do this?
The Kota warriors looked worried, their fierce faces now filled with doubt. Then, one of them clenched his teeth and growled, "If we can't win, we'll make sure you don't live so that the prophecy will be revoked."
Zeph’s blood ran cold.
Another warrior, moving faster than her drained body could react, yanked out a small sack bag and tore it open. A fine, dark powder burst into the air, swirling ominously.
Ashral’s eyes widened in horror. “Poison!” she screamed. “Anyone who inhales it will die instantly!”
The powder spread fast, carried by the wind. Warriors stumbled back, some already coughing as it reached their lungs.
Zeph’s heart pounded. No, no, no!
She had to stop it—now.