Echoes under the Moonlight

Lucien's body tensed as the wolves closed in on him. Their glowing eyes flickered like flames in the darkness of the forest. He could feel their hunger in the air, but he wasn't about to back down. He was ready. His dagger was already poised in his hand, gleaming with deadly intent.

Ava's heart ached in her chest as she watched him from the rocky slope. She felt the weight of his gaze on her, urging her to keep climbing, to escape. But every part of her wanted to stay and fight beside him. Her mind was a whirlwind of fear and confusion. She hadn't asked for any of this—these powers, these enemies—but she couldn't just abandon Lucien.

But as the wolves closed in, she knew she had no choice.

"Go," Lucien had mouthed. The words seemed to echo in her mind as her legs carried her up the incline, one step at a time. She could hear the growls and snarls, the sharp crack of twigs under the wolves' feet. The sounds mixed with the rush of her own breathing. Every muscle screamed, every part of her wanted to turn around and rush back to him, but she kept moving.

Ava reached the top of the slope, panting and shaking. She glanced back one more time. Lucien was fighting them off with incredible skill, his movements fluid and precise. His blade flashed in the dim light, cutting through the air, but the wolves were relentless. They were fast—too fast. They circled him, growling, snapping their jaws.

The first wolf lunged.

Lucien sidestepped, slashing his dagger through the air. The wolf yelped, but it wasn't enough to stop the attack. More wolves jumped in, taking advantage of his momentary distraction. Ava's hands trembled as she gripped the rocky edge, her heart caught in her throat.

"Lucien!" she shouted, but her voice was swallowed by the howls. Her mind raced, but the fear paralyzed her.

She couldn't stand there forever. She needed to do something. But what?

Then it hit her. The power inside her wrist—the golden light—hadn't disappeared. It was still there, faint but real. She had used it before. She had fought with it before.

Without thinking, Ava reached for it again. She didn't know how it worked, but it didn't matter. She couldn't let him face them alone.

The heat surged under her skin, a familiar warmth that she welcomed this time. She raised her hand, willing the power to flow through her. Her eyes locked onto the wolves, to Lucien, to the chaos unfolding below her.

And then, a blinding golden light shot from her palm.

The wolf nearest to Lucien recoiled, its body jolting back as though struck by an invisible force. The others skidded backward, confused by the sudden burst of energy. Lucien took advantage of the momentary gap, slicing through one of the wolves with his dagger.

Ava's breath caught in her throat. "I did it," she whispered.

She didn't have time to process it. The wolves were regaining their ground. One of them snarled and lunged at Lucien again, but he was ready. With a swift, powerful strike, he cut through its throat. The wolf collapsed, but it wasn't over.

The remaining wolves were more cautious now, their eyes flicking to Ava as they circled Lucien. They had felt the power, and now they knew she was a threat. The tension in the air grew thick. Ava could feel the weight of their gaze even from where she stood.

But there was no time to second-guess herself.

Ava's heart pounded as she gathered her focus. She didn't have control over this power, but she had to try again. The wolves were closing in. Lucien was fighting for his life.

"Please, let this work," she muttered under her breath.

She raised her hand once more, and the golden light flared to life again, brighter and stronger than before. The air around her shimmered with energy. She felt a sudden surge of power like a tidal wave crashing through her body. It wasn't just her wrist anymore—this time, it was everywhere, pulsing through her like blood in her veins.

The light shot forward, blasting into the clearing, hitting two wolves at once. They howled in agony as they were thrown backward, crashing into the trees. Ava stared in disbelief at the destruction she had caused.

The remaining wolves hesitated, now aware that Ava was more than just a helpless girl.

Lucien seized the moment. With a battle cry, he launched himself at the nearest wolf, his dagger slashing through the air. The wolf dodged, but Lucien was quick, and with a twist of his wrist, he buried the blade deep into its side. The wolf let out a final growl before it collapsed to the ground.

Ava watched, her heart still racing. She had done it. She had helped.

But they weren't safe yet.

The last wolf, larger than the rest, stood its ground. Its eyes glowed with a fierce intelligence, and it stared at Ava as if weighing her worth. Lucien raised his dagger, ready to strike, but the wolf didn't move.

"I don't want to kill you," Lucien said, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins. "But I will."

The wolf growled low, its ears flattening against its head. It took a cautious step forward, as if deciding whether or not to challenge him. But Ava felt something shift in the air.

The power inside her surged again. This time, it was different. It wasn't just a burst of light. It was like a pulse, a heartbeat, reaching out to the wolf. Ava blinked in surprise. She wasn't consciously doing this, but the energy was alive in her. She could feel it, not just in her wrist, but everywhere. It was as if the world itself was responding to her.

"Stop," she whispered.

The wolf froze.

It was a long moment of tense silence before the creature slowly, reluctantly, turned and slunk away into the trees, its tail low and its posture submissive.

Ava let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the rocky ground, exhaustion flooding her body.

Lucien was beside her instantly, his hand on her shoulder, his voice soft. "You did it. You saved us."

Ava shook her head, still trying to process what had just happened. "I didn't mean to…"

"I know," Lucien said, his voice steady and reassuring. "But you did. And that's what matters."

But before either of them could relax, a distant howl broke the silence. Ava's heart jumped in her chest.

More wolves. And they were closer.

Lucien cursed under his breath. "We're not safe yet. We need to move."

Ava looked at him, a mixture of fear and determination in her eyes. "Where do we go?"

Lucien's gaze turned toward the dark, foreboding trees. "There's a cave up ahead. It'll have shelter. But we have to move fast."

Without hesitation, Ava scrambled to her feet. They didn't have a choice. The wolves were closing in again, and this time, there was no room for mistakes.

Hand in hand, they ran into the darkness, the sound of howls growing louder behind them.