A Fragile Alliance Expanded
The soldiers swarmed into the clearing, their movements swift and coordinated. Misery moved first, her blade flashing as she deflected the initial attack. “We don’t have time for this,” she snapped, her voice sharp. “They’re coming for all of us.”
Eryon growled, his wolf instincts flaring as he tore through the nearest soldier with brutal precision. His claws shredded armor and flesh alike, but his gaze kept darting toward Lyra, who stood frozen with the artifact glowing in her hands.
Adrian sidestepped an attack, his movements graceful yet fierce. He blocked a sword aimed at Lyra, his own blade flashing as he parried. “Stay behind me,” he ordered, his voice firm but protective.
Lyra’s eyes darted between the three of them, her heart pounding. “I can fight,” she said, though her voice wavered.
“No, you can’t,” Misery shot back, her crimson eyes blazing as she slashed through another soldier. “Not with that thing making you a target.”
Eryon roared, tearing through another enemy before spinning to face Misery. “Stop telling her what to do!” he snarled. “You’re not in charge here.”
“Neither are you,” Misery snapped, her blade slicing cleanly through an enemy’s throat. “And we’ll all die if you can’t get over your pride.”
Adrian stepped between them, his blade raised to block another strike. “Focus! They’re not here to argue—they’re here to take the artifact.”
The chaotic battle forced the group to work together despite the tension that simmered between them. Adrian stayed close to Lyra, deflecting any attacks that came her way. Eryon fought with unmatched ferocity, his wolf form giving him the upper hand against the soldiers’ strength. Misery darted in and out of the fray, her movements precise and deadly as she exploited every opening.
Despite their efforts, the soldiers pressed forward, their numbers seemingly endless. One soldier broke through the line, grabbing Lyra by the arm and yanking her backward.
“No!” Eryon roared, his voice thick with fury as he lunged toward her.
The artifact’s glow intensified, its energy spiraling out of control. Lyra screamed as the whispers grew deafening, their commands drilling into her mind. The soldiers fell back momentarily, shielding their eyes from the blinding light.
Adrian reached for her, his voice desperate. “Lyra, let it go! You have to let it go!”
But the artifact pulsed violently, its energy sending shockwaves through the clearing. The blast knocked everyone off their feet, the trees around them shaking with the force.
Lyra collapsed to the ground, her body trembling as she clutched the artifact. “I can’t stop it,” she whispered, her voice broken.
The soldiers regrouped quickly, their leader barking orders as they moved in again. Misery stumbled to her feet, blood dripping from a cut on her cheek. “They’re not giving up,” she muttered, gripping her blade tightly.
Eryon stood protectively over Lyra, his claws dripping with blood. His amber eyes burned with a mixture of rage and desperation. “Then neither are we.”
