Chapter 48: The Forsaken Ascent
Melissa’s POV
As though the forest itself were holding its breath, the air felt heavy. With everyone feeling the effects of Damon’s transformation, we made our way back to the camp in quiet. I was tormented by his new body and his icy comments. A sinister spirit out to wreak havoc had taken the place of the Damon I had known.
I observed the wolves gathering about Kane from my position close to the middle of the camp. Whispers filled the room as tension crackled in the air like electricity.
Through the whispers, a voice said, “We can’t fight him.” One of the leaders of an allied pack, Lucas, was there. “Damon was already powerful. Right now? He is a completely different person.
“We’ve encountered worse!” Doubts were silenced when Kane’s speech echoed loudly across the audience. Even though Damon has changed, he is still vulnerable. We can stop him if we work together.
“Is it possible for us to?” Another voice, filled with anxiety, added their voice. “How can we be sure he won’t target us again?”
I took a step forward, trying to maintain my composure. “Damon is more than simply a danger to us. Everything is at risk from him, including humans, wolves, and even the gods. We will all fall if we don’t stand together.
Uncomfortably, the crowd shuffled, their distrust evident. Kane put a comforting hand on my shoulder as I felt my confidence falter. I was steadied by his strength.
“Melissa’s right,” he stated firmly. “Damon is relying on our fear to maintain our division. But we have a chance if we band together.
Lucas paused for a long moment before nodding. “All right. But we must have a strategy.
Meetings and disputes filled the following several days. Each of the allied wolves expressed their concerns and reservations, and the atmosphere was heated. Despite the taxing nature of mediating, Kane and I persisted.
Maps and notes littered the table between the pack leaders and me as we sat in a makeshift council room.
I pointed to a map with red rings on it and said, “We cannot afford to wait.” These temples are being targeted by Damon’s army. We lose important pieces of our history-and our strength-if they destroy them.
“What makes temples important to Damon?” Lucas crossed his arms and inquired. “Tradition has never mattered to him before.”
I said, “He’s not Damon anymore,” with a hint of annoyance in my voice. “The goddess told me that he’s something more than that now. Those temples hold the secret to whatever he has planned.
Kane stated, “Then we defend them,” in a tone that left no space for debate. We’ll divide up and protect the surviving temples. Damon will need to go through us if he wants them.
Although there were mutterings of agreement, the tension persisted. I could see the worry and the doubt in their eyes.
With hesitation, a junior leader questioned, “What if we fail?”
I looked him in the eye and tried to keep my voice steady. “We won’t. Because there is no room for failure. Not with so much on the line.
As we waited close to the first shrine, I realized that the strategy was too straightforward. With its stone walls covered in moss and runes that gleamed dimly in the moonlight, the ancient building loomed tall in the middle of the woodland.
The hush surrounding us was unsettling as Kane and I stood with a small group of warriors.
“Do you believe he will visit us?” I hardly raised my voice beyond a whisper when I questioned Kane.
“He has already begun,” he said sombrely. “We simply have no idea where or when he will strike next.”
A scout with a pallid face raced toward us. “They’ve arrived,” he gasped. “Damon’s army is on their way directly to the temple.”
The fighters in our immediate vicinity firmed up clutching their rifles. Despite my racing heart, I forced myself to ignore my fear.
I pushed myself to go and shouted, “Kane, take the left flank.” “I’ll remain with the main group here. We must prevent them from getting to the shrine.
With a determined gaze, he nodded. “Be careful, Melissa.”
The conflict was a haze of noise and mayhem. Not only were Damon’s man wolves, but they were also shadows, black beings with abnormally high speeds. Their eyes were full of hate as they ripped through our fortifications.
“Remain on the line!” My voice broke through the confusion as I yelled. “Avoid letting them get through!”
The beasts continued to advance toward the shrine despite our efforts. Together with the others, I fought, but the darkness felt unending and oppressive.
We were on the verge of defeat when a ray of light burst from the temple, scattering the darkness. With a hiss, the creatures withdrew, their bodies melting into the fog.
Even though the warriors surrounding me cheered, I had the overwhelming impression that this was just the beginning.
We regrouped within the temple after the battle. The air was heavy with fatigue and anxiety.
A weak-looking woman with sharp eyes, an elder from the temple, came toward us. The softly glowing staff she grasped had inscriptions on its surface that matched those on the walls of the temple.
“You’ve done a good job protecting this place,” she replied in a quiet but firm voice. “But you have to realize that this is just the beginning.”
As I moved on, I remarked, “We know Damon is after the temples.” However, why? What is it that he desires?
The elder’s eyes found me, her face solemn. “The temples are more than only artefacts. They serve as anchors, tying the divine and our world together. The equilibrium between wolves and gods will also be upset if they fall.
“Why is that important to Damon?” With a perplexed brow, Kane asked.
The elder responded, her voice fading to a whisper, “Because he seeks the Heart of Creation.” Somewhere deep within the temples is a source of boundless power. He will become unstoppable if he asserts it.
The impact of her comments caused the room to become quiet.
“This Heart of Creation, where is it?” My voice trembled as I asked.
After a moment of hesitation, the elder gestured toward a map on the table. “This is it. The Solace Temple. It is the key to the heart and the last anchor.
A scout, his face white with fear, rushed into the room before I could comprehend what she had spoken.
“They’re approaching,” he exclaimed. “The Temple of Solace is where Damon’s forces are going.”
The realization made my heart race. We didn’t have time to be ready or get more help. It would be over if Damon arrived at the temple before us.