In the dream, Lara found herself standing barefoot beneath a starry sky in the heart of a forest, under a low, brilliant moon. The moss beneath her feet glowed with a faint, ethereal light as she took a step forward.
Strangely, the forest didn't feel foreign at all, they felt like a long-forgotten memory, like returning home to a place she hadn't realized she missed.
A howl rose from the forest, long and low, but full of sadness. Then a huge white wolf stepped forward. It was calm but looked proud, its fur shining like moving light. Its golden eyes stared into hers, she could see the sadness within it.
"Nymeria," Lara whispered, though she didn't know how she knew the name.
The wolf lowered its head and walked closer. As it moved, stars seemed to swirl behind it. Lara held her breath. This was not just a random wolf. She just knew it.
When she reached out and touched its fur, a warm feeling rushed through her fingers. It wasn't just heat, it felt like a memory coming back to life. The world burst into color and images. Everything lit up in her mind like a dream she was starting to remember.
She saw herself as a small child, held tightly in a woman's arms while thunder rumbled in the sky. The woman's eyes were filled with pain and love as she whispered, "You must live."
She saw a man standing in a burning doorway, blocking shadows with claws from reaching her. Blood was on his face, but he stood strong.
Then she saw glowing hands raised as though performing a ritual. Light poured into her little body then suddenly darkness.
A deep voice echoed in her ears. "The blood of the Moonguard."
Then came the screams.
She was being carried through a snow storm, a faint trail of light spilling from her fingertips.
The white wolf stepped in front of her again, guarding her from a tall shadow figure. Its eyes were red, glowing beneath a black hood.
But this time, Lara didn't back away. She moved toward it.
The wolf lifted its head and howled. The sound split the sky and the shadow shattered like broken glass.
Light spread across the forest. The trees, the rocks and everywhere.
And then her name echoed all around.
"Lara. Moonguard. Daughter of starlight. Keeper of flame."
Then… everything went quiet.
Lara jolted awake, sitting upright in bed. Her chest rose and fell with quick, shallow breaths, her heart pounding heavily in her ears. A faint gasp escaped her lips into the quiet room.
Everything around her was still. The fire in the hearth had burned down to glowing embers, and pale, quiet moonlight poured through the tall window, fading softly as dawn neared.
She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to steady the storm raging inside her. Her pulse refused to slow, racing far too fast, far too foolishly.
It was only a dream, she told herself. Nothing more than that.
Yet the ache in her heart lingered, stubborn and strange, as if some part of her had been stirred awake and would not settle.
She couldn't sleep anymore, so she just lay there.
The sun was just beginning to rise over Vargorath when a soft knock came at her chamber door. Mira peeked in, smiling gently.
"My lady," she said softly, bowing her head. "His Majesty has summoned you… It concerns your family."
Lara's heart leapt.
She barely remembered pulling on the soft cloak Mira handed her. Her thoughts raced, with hope and fear in equal measure. Were they safe? Had they been hurt? Had they been told what happened to her?
The guards parted silently as she approached the courtyard.
And there they were.
Her mother stood first, her eyes wide with happiness. Her father looked like he'd aged a decade.
And behind them was Liam. Her little brother run to her with a cry, hugging her waist tightly with his face buried in her side.
Lara dropped to her knees, her arms wrapping around him as she shook with quiet sobs. Her mother joined her a heartbeat later, then her father, and they all held each other like time had stopped.
"We didn't know what happened," her mother whispered, tears falling freely. "We thought we'd lost you."
"I'm okay," Lara whispered back. "I'm safe now."
She clung to them, breathing in their familiar scent, the warmth of home. For a moment, the pain, the fear, the questions, it all faded. In their arms, she felt whole again.
Behind them, standing quietly near the edge of the courtyard, Thornak watched.
He didn't step forward. He simply stood there with his arms crossed, as if seeing something sacred.
Kael appeared beside him, glancing at the touching reunion with a small grin. "Touching isn't it."
As Lara turned to speak with her mother, Thornak's gaze lingered on her for one more heartbeat then he turned to Kael.
"They're waiting in the war room, Scouts brought news. It's not good." Kael told him.
Thornak's jaw clenched. "Let's go."
He cast one last look toward Lara, her arms wrapped around her family. A part of him wanted to stay, to watch her a little longer. But another part, the king part, knew duty never waited.
Kael fell into step beside him as they moved quickly down the corridor. "It's not just rogue movement this time. There's evidence of another summoning."
Thornak's expression darkened. "Where?"
"Near the Shadowridge outpost. Same burn marks. Same scent of black magic."
A growl rumbled in Thornak's chest. "He's getting bolder."
Kael's voice dropped. "What if he's not just summoning anymore? What if he's preparing something bigger?"
Thornak's eyes gleamed gold. "Then we remind him whose land he's desecrating."
Together, the brothers strode into the heart of the castle, leaving the warmth of reunion behind.