The ground trembled as the Shadow Fangs charged.
Massive bodies burst from the trees like dark storms tearing through the forest. Their glowing emerald eyes locked onto Lyra, their growls vibrating through the earth beneath her feet.
Seven.
Seven ancient predators.
Lyra's heart hammered in her chest, but fear never came.
Her wolf rose instead.
Hungry.
Ready.
The silver aura around her body brightened, swirling like living moonlight as energy gathered beneath her skin.
Behind her, Darius remained still, arms crossed as he watched.
This was her trial.
The Shadow Fangs spread out, circling her with calculated precision. They were intelligent hunters—each one positioning itself to cut off escape.
Not that Lyra planned to run.
One lunged first.
Its enormous claws slashed through the air toward her throat.
Lyra ducked and spun, silver energy flashing from her palm. The blast struck the creature's shoulder and forced it back several steps, but the others were already moving.
Two attacked from the left.
Another from behind.
Lyra leapt upward, twisting through the air as claws snapped beneath her feet. She landed on a fallen log and immediately launched herself forward again, striking one of the beasts directly between the eyes with a burst of Moonborn power.
The creature snarled, shaking its head but refusing to fall.
"They're stronger than the first," Lyra muttered.
The pack leader growled deeply.
The sound echoed like thunder.
Then they attacked together.
The forest exploded into chaos.
Massive bodies lunged from every direction, claws carving trenches into the ground. Lyra moved like liquid silver, dodging and countering with bursts of power that illuminated the clearing with flashes of light.
But the Shadow Fangs were relentless.
One slammed into her side.
The impact sent her crashing through a tree trunk.
Wood splintered.
Lyra hit the ground hard, breath knocked from her lungs.
Pain shot through her ribs.
Before she could rise—
Another Shadow Fang leapt toward her.
Its jaws opened wide.
Lyra threw up her arm instinctively.
Silver energy burst outward—
But something else happened.
The energy didn't explode outward like before.
Instead…
It ignited.
A brilliant silver flame erupted around her body.
The Shadow Fang recoiled instantly with a startled snarl.
Lyra blinked.
"What…?"
The fire didn't burn her.
It moved with her.
Like living light wrapped around her skin.
Behind her, Darius's eyes widened.
"Moonfire…" he whispered.
Lyra slowly stood.
The silver flames flickered across her arms, shoulders, and back like a crown of power granted by the moon itself.
Her wolf roared with exhilaration.
Energy surged through her veins stronger than ever before.
The Shadow Fangs hesitated.
For the first time since the battle began…
They looked uncertain.
Lyra lifted her hand.
The silver fire followed the movement like liquid light.
"Alright," she said quietly.
"Let's try this again."
One of the beasts charged.
Lyra stepped forward instead of retreating.
Her fist struck the creature's shoulder.
Moonfire exploded on impact.
The blast sent the enormous beast flying across the clearing.
It crashed into a boulder with a thunderous crack.
The other Shadow Fangs froze.
Lyra stared at her glowing hands.
A slow smile spread across her face.
"Oh… this is new."
The pack leader roared angrily and lunged.
Lyra moved faster.
Moonfire trailed behind her like comet tails as she dashed forward. She ducked beneath the creature's attack and slammed both hands into the ground.
Silver flames erupted outward in a powerful shockwave.
The forest floor cracked.
Energy blasted through the clearing.
Three Shadow Fangs were thrown backward.
Another skidded across the ground.
The pack leader landed heavily but remained standing.
Its emerald eyes burned fiercely as it stared at her.
Lyra's aura flared brighter.
Her silver flames now illuminated the entire clearing.
Behind her, the watching warriors whispered in awe.
"She's controlling it…"
"That's Moonfire…"
"It hasn't appeared in centuries…"
Darius watched silently.
But pride gleamed in his eyes.
The pack leader growled again.
But this time…
It didn't attack.
Instead, it slowly lowered its head.
The other Shadow Fangs followed.
One by one.
Seven ancient predators bowing before her.
Lyra blinked in disbelief.
The Moonfire faded slowly from her body, though the energy still pulsed faintly beneath her skin.
The forest fell quiet again.
Darius finally stepped forward.
"Well," he said calmly.
"I'd say that answers the question."
Lyra turned to him.
"What question?"
He stopped beside her.
"Whether you're ready."
Lyra crossed her arms.
"For what?"
Darius looked toward the deeper forest.
The shadows beyond the trees felt darker now.
Watching.
Waiting.
"For the war that's coming."
Lyra's smile faded slightly.
"You keep saying that."
Darius's voice dropped.
"Because it's closer than you think."
Just then—
A sudden chill swept through the clearing.
The wind stopped.
Even the Shadow Fangs lifted their heads uneasily.
Lyra felt it immediately.
A presence.
Cold.
Ancient.
Powerful.
Her wolf growled deep in her chest.
Something was watching them.
From somewhere beyond the forest.
Darius's expression hardened.
"They felt it too."
"Felt what?" Lyra asked quietly.
Darius's golden eyes scanned the trees.
"Our enemy."
Far away…
Hidden deep within the mountains…
A tall figure stood on a cliff overlooking the forests.
His crimson eyes glowed faintly in the darkness.
"And so," the man murmured softly.
"The Moonborn wolf awakens."
He smiled slowly.
"Good."
His voice echoed into the wind.
"Let the hunt begin."