Chapter 36 Blood and Fire
Dawn came with dark clouds and cold rain.
Mara stood at the edge of camp, looking at the battlefield that had been chosen. A flat plain between two hills. Perfect for watching. Terrible for hiding.
Both armies would be there. Watching their champions fight. Waiting to see who would lead them.
"Are you ready?" Zevran asked. He was already in his armor. Prepared to fight if the battle turned into a full war.
"No. But I am going anyway."
"You could still back out. Let someone else fight Brutus."
"Who? You? Riven? Luna?" Mara shook her head. "No. This is my responsibility. I will finish it."
The messenger returned. "Brutus accepts your challenge. He will meet you at noon on the battlefield. Same rules as before. Fight to the death. Winner leads both armies."
"Good. Tell him I will be there."
The morning passed slowly. Mara tried to eat but the food tasted like ash. Tried to rest but her mind would not stop racing.
At noon, she transformed into her white and black wolf and walked onto the battlefield.
Thousands of wolves lined the hills. Some cheering for her. Some for Brutus. The noise was deafening.
Brutus was already there. His massive gray wolf form looked even bigger than before. He had scars from their first fight but they had healed.
"I am surprised you came," he growled. "I thought you might run like the coward you are."
"I came to finish this. One way or another."
"Then let us finish it."
Elder Sage stood between them. "The challenge is accepted. Fight to the death. No mercy. No surrender. May the strongest wolf win."
She stepped back.
Brutus attacked immediately. No circling. No waiting. Just pure aggression.
Mara barely dodged his first strike. His jaws snapped shut inches from her throat.
She countered with shadow speed. Bit his shoulder. Drew blood.
Brutus howled and spun. His claws raked across her side. Pain exploded through her.
They separated. Both bleeding. Both breathing hard.
"You are stronger than last time," Brutus admitted. "But still not strong enough."
"We will see about that."
They crashed together again. This time, Mara used both her powers at once. Light for defense. Shadow for offense.
She created barriers of white light that blocked Brutus's attacks. Then struck back with shadow claws that actually hurt him.
The combination was devastating. Brutus started accumulating wounds. Bleeding from a dozen places.
But he was experienced. He adapted.
He stopped trying to overpower her. Started using strategy instead. Feinting left. Striking right. Using his size to his advantage.
He caught Mara off guard. His jaws closed on her back leg and twisted.
Mara heard bones snap. She screamed.
"That was for humiliating me last time!" Brutus snarled.
He threw her across the battlefield. Mara hit the ground hard. Could not get up. Her leg was useless.
"Surrender now and I will make your death quick!" Brutus walked toward her slowly. Savoring his victory.
Mara tried to heal her leg but the pain was too intense. She could not focus.
This was it. She was going to lose.
No. Not like this.
She reached deep inside herself. Past the pain. Past the fear. To the core of her power.
She remembered what Theron had taught her. What the Moon Goddess had said. What the Shadow King had warned her about.
Balance. Always balance.
Mara let both powers flow freely. Not controlling them. Not forcing them. Just letting them move through her like a river.
Silver light erupted from her body. Brighter than ever before.
Her broken leg healed instantly. Better than before. Stronger.
She stood up. Her entire body glowed with silver power. Pure and balanced and unstoppable.
"What?" Brutus backed away. "What are you?"
"I am the Moon Wolf. And you are finished."
Mara moved faster than thought. One moment she was standing still. The next she was behind Brutus.
Her jaws closed on the back of his neck. Her shadow claws pierced his sides.
Brutus tried to fight back but he was too slow. Too weak.
Mara's power overwhelmed him completely.
"I surrender!" Brutus gasped. "Please! I surrender!"
"You said no surrender. No mercy. Fight to the death." Mara's voice was cold. "Those were your rules."
"Please! I was wrong! I am sorry!"
Mara wanted to kill him. Wanted revenge for everything he had said. Everything he had done.
But she remembered who she was. Not a killer. Not a monster.
A protector.
She released Brutus. Stepped back.
"I am not like you," she said. "I do not kill those who surrender. Even when they do not deserve mercy."
Brutus collapsed. "Thank you. Thank you."
"Do not thank me. Just leave. Take your followers and go. Never come back. If I see you again, I will not show mercy twice."
Brutus transformed to human form. Blood covered his body. "I will go. I swear it. You have my word."
He limped away. His supporters followed him. About half of them anyway. The other half stayed behind.
"We wish to follow the Moon Wolf!" they called out. "She is the true leader!"
Brutus did not look back. He just kept walking until he disappeared over the hills.
The armies erupted in cheers. Mara had won. The war was over before it really began.
But Mara did not feel victorious. She just felt tired.
Zevran ran onto the battlefield and pulled her into his arms. "You did it! You won!"
"I did not want to win like this. I wanted to avoid war entirely."
"You did avoid war. You ended it with one battle. That is better than most leaders do."
Mara transformed back to human form. The silver light faded. She collapsed against Zevran, exhausted.
"I need to rest. For a week. Maybe a month."
"Rest later. Right now, everyone wants to celebrate." Zevran helped her stand. "You are a hero. Again. Get used to it."
They walked back to camp together. Wolves cheered and howled. The cat warriors had arrived and they cheered too.
That night, there was a feast. Food and drink and music. Everyone was happy.
Mara sat at the head table, feeling uncomfortable. She hated being the center of attention.
"Smile," Isla whispered. "You are supposed to look happy."
"I am happy. This is my happy face."
"That is your constipated face. Try harder."
Mara tried to smile. It probably looked fake but no one seemed to notice.
Queen Adira of the Cat Clan approached. She was tall and elegant, with golden eyes and sharp features.
"Moon Wolf. I am impressed. You defeated Brutus without killing him. That takes great strength."
"Thank you, Queen Adira. And thank you for sending your warriors. We might have lost without them."
"Call me Adira. We are friends now, yes?" The queen smiled, showing sharp teeth. "I have a gift for you."
She clapped her hands. Two cat warriors brought forward a chest.
"What is this?" Mara asked.
"Open it and see."
Mara opened the chest. Inside was a beautiful sword. The blade was silver and glowed with its own light.
"That is Mooncleaver," Adira said. "Forged a thousand years ago for the first Moon Wolf. It was lost when she died. My people found it in the ruins of the Old Kingdom. Now it belongs to you."
"I cannot accept this. It is too valuable."
"You must accept it. The sword only works for Moon Wolves. It is useless to anyone else." Adira gestured to the blade. "Touch it. See what happens."
Mara reached out and touched the sword. The moment her fingers made contact, white light erupted from the blade. It recognized her.
"It is yours now," Adira said. "Use it well."
"Thank you. This is an incredible gift."
"You are welcome. Now, we should talk about the future. About alliances and trade and—"
A scream cut through the celebration.
Everyone went silent. Turned to look at the source of the noise.
A wolf stood at the edge of camp. His fur was matted with blood. His eyes were wild with terror.
"They are coming!" he screamed. "Everyone run! They are coming!"
"Who is coming?" Riven demanded.
"The dead! The dead are coming!"
The wolf collapsed. Healers rushed to him but it was too late. He was already dying.
"What did he mean?" Luna asked. "The dead?"
Then they heard it. A sound like wind through bones. A chorus of moaning voices.
From the darkness beyond the camp, figures appeared. Wolves. But wrong. Their bodies were rotting. Their eyes were empty. They moved with jerky, unnatural steps.
"Zombies," Nyra whispered. "Someone raised an army of zombies."
"How is that possible?" Marcus demanded.
"Dark magic. Very dark magic. Only someone with immense power could do this."
"Morgana," Mara said. Her blood ran cold. "She is collecting her payment early."
"What?" Zevran stared at her. "You think she did this?"
"Who else has this kind of power?"
As if answering her question, Morgana appeared. She stood on a hill overlooking the camp, red eyes glowing.
"Hello, Moon Wolf!" her voice carried across the battlefield. "Did you enjoy your celebration? I hope so. Because it is about to end."