Intelligence in the Shadows
The forest surrounding Onyx Dusk territory was a labyrinth of gnarled roots and twisting paths, cloaked in thick mist that muffled every sound. Alaric moved with practiced ease, his golden eyes scanning the shadows for threats. Behind him, his team followed, their footsteps silent as death.
“We’re close,” Alaric murmured, crouching behind a cluster of moss-covered rocks. His sharp gaze cut through the fog, locking onto the faint silhouette of Malrik’s stronghold in the distance.
The massive structure loomed like a beast crouching in the dark. Its walls were carved from black stone, and eerie, glowing runes pulsed faintly across the surface, giving the stronghold an otherworldly aura.
“We set up here,” Alaric whispered, motioning for the team to spread out along the ridge. Each wolf took their position, binoculars and scopes trained on the fortress below.
Through careful observation, the team noted heavily fortified entrances, guards patrolling in pairs, and strange, shimmering devices near the gates.
“What the hell is that?” one warrior muttered, pointing to a relic embedded into the ground near the main entrance. Its surface glowed faintly, emitting a low, constant hum.
Alaric’s expression darkened. “A detection relic. Malrik’s using ancient tech to sense anyone who doesn’t belong. If we’re going in, we’ll need to find a way around that.”
Hours passed as the team meticulously mapped the stronghold’s defenses. They counted guard rotations, noted the timing of patrols, and identified weak points where the walls were cracked or the lighting was dim.
Then, from one of the towers, a faint glow caught Alaric’s eye. He adjusted his scope, and his breath hitched.
“Isla,” he whispered, his voice tight.
The faint figure of Isla appeared in the window, her silver hair catching the dim torchlight. She was standing still, her posture straight, but even from a distance, Alaric could sense the weight of her captivity.
“She’s there,” he murmured, his hands tightening around the scope. “But Malrik isn’t just guarding her. He’s got wards, relics, traps… We can’t rush this.”
Another wolf glanced at him, his voice low. “Do we wait?”
Alaric nodded grimly. “We wait. We bring this back to Draven, and we plan. Isla’s alive—that’s what matters right now.”
The team slipped back into the forest, their departure as silent as their arrival. But Alaric couldn’t shake the image of Isla standing in that window, her silver hair gleaming like a beacon against the darkness.
