25: The Council Divides
The Council met in the Circle of Thorns, a sacred place on the mountain. Mia and Kaian stood at the center, still worn out from the Hollow's attack. Kira was under guard, protected but also watched closely. The Council members disagreed on what to do with Kira, who bore the Mark and was part of a prophecy. Some wanted to sacrifice her to prevent Nyxar's return, while others, like Kaian and Mia, wanted to protect her.
The debate turned heated, with Arthritis suggesting that Kira be sacrificed according to the Old Law of Annihilation. Kaian and Mia strongly opposed this, and Kaian vowed to protect his daughter and mate. The Council divided, with some siding with Kaian and others against him. The Alphas who opposed Kaian left, taking their followers, and the Council was broken.
Kaian and Mia knew that the opposing Alphas would go to the Temple to use Kira's blood for their own purposes. They decided to stop them, even if it meant fighting. The fate of Kira and the Hollow hung in the balance, and Kaian and Mia were determined to protect them, no matter the cost. The stage was set for a confrontation that would decide the future of the pack and the world.
The Breaking of Oaths
As the rival Alphas left the Circle of Thorns, the ancient oaths that held the pack together began to break. The Hollow's oldest wards, tied to unity among the ruling bloodlines, shuddered and fractured. Velian, a neutral Elder, looked at Kaian with sorrow, "This hasn't happened in over 800 years. Last time, a god died." Kaian clenched his fists, "Then we'll be ready if another needs to."
The Crescent Rebellion
That night, Arthritis and his loyalists, marked with the Shadowmark, snuck into the Hollow to abduct Kira. Kira sensed their presence, feeling the mark pulse with warning. She stood firm, and when the attackers entered her chamber, she unleashed a burst of silver coldfire, repelling them.
The attackers were taken aback by Kira's power, and one of them hesitated, "You're not supposed to be awake." Kira's response was calm, "I don't sleep well anymore." The mark flared, and she focused, summoning chains, smoke, and a distant heartbeat. The room erupted in light and silence.
When Mia and Kaian arrived, they found the attackers gone, and Kira stood alive but shaken. Kaian held her tight, while Mia assessed the scene, "She burned shadow without touching it." Kaian noted, "She's getting stronger." Kira looked up, her voice raw, "They said... if I go to the Temple... he comes back." Mia reassured her, "You are not a door. You are the flame they fear. And we will not let them use you."
The next dawn, Velian brought grim news: the rogue Alphas had joined with the Children of the Eclipse, marching to the Temple. Kaian turned to the war table, "How long?" Velian replied, "Four days if they move fast." Mia unsheathed her blade, "Then we move faster." The stage was set for a confrontation that would decide Kira's fate and the future of the pack.
The Hollow was tense and quiet, like a bowstring ready to snap. The warriors were preparing for war against their own kin, and the enemy wore familiar faces. Kaian stood on the ramparts, looking out at the warriors below, while Mia joined him, her cloak damp with mist. They discussed the Eclipse faction's plan to reach the Temple, and Mia suggested splitting up to get there faster. Kaian was hesitant, but Mia proposed taking Kira through the Mirror Path, a dangerous but shorter route.
Kira, meanwhile, stood alone in her chamber, her reflection dancing in the Veil-mirror. The mark on her palm pulsed, and a whisper echoed in her mind, "Come home." But Kira stood firm, "I am not your echo. I am the flame that will burn you clean." As Mia and Kaian departed in opposite directions, the Hollow seemed to hold its breath, sensing that the final confrontation was approaching. The gods were stirring, the wolves were choosing sides, and Kira was rising, ready to face her destiny.
The stage was set for a climactic battle, with the fate of the Hollow and its people hanging in the balance. Mia and Kaian's plan was to reach the Temple before the Eclipse faction and prevent Nyxar's return. But the journey would be treacherous, and the outcome uncertain. Kira's determination and power would be put to the test, and the future of the world would be decided.