Kael and a small team of Lycan warriors reached the edge of the Veil of Thorns, their eyes scanning the dense wall of smoke that obscured everything beyond. They tried to push forward, but the darkness swallowed them and it became too hard to breathe.
Reluctantly, they pulled back, unwilling to risk going blindly into the unknown.
"This is it," Kael muttered. "The king and his men had to come through here."
"The smoke's too thick… we can't see a thing. Are you certain they made it through?" Aedric asked.
Kael looked through the smoke, searching for any movement. "I'm not sure," he admitted. "But if they did, they're trapped now. That smoke wall doesn't seem natural. I have a feeling it's holding them inside."
Aedric frowned. "Trapped? Then how do we get through?"
One of the men stepped forward hesitantly. "If I may, Prince Kael… my grandfather and I once ploughed these mountains. There's a hidden entrance in the mountain. It can bring us out on the far side."
"Hidden entrance?" Kael asked.
The man nodded quickly. "Its a small tunnel that only a few know of. The smoke won't reach there."
Aedric glanced toward the wall of smoke curling against the sky. "If what you say is true, it may be our only way through."
Kael turned to him.
"Show us."
....
The healer studied Lara as he carefully unwound the bandages, muttering under his breath.
"Well now," he said, rubbing at his beard. "That's not what I expected."
"What do you mean?"
"Your bruises are fading, even the cuts are almost gone… and you are, sitting up straighter than a girl with broken ribs." He shook his head, more in wonder than reproach. "A girl without a wolf shouldn't heal this quick."
"Still," he went on, pressing lightly along her side, frowning when she winced, "the bone's being stubborn. Bones always are. They take their own sweet time, no matter how quickly the rest of you tries to heal faster."
He rubbed on a balm that smelled so strong it made her eyes water, then he began binding her ribs again.
"There." His tone softened as he tied the final knot. "Rest, little one. Healing fast doesn't mean you're made of steel."
Lara managed a small, genuine smile.
"Thank you," she whispered. "For caring for me."
"Hush now. Someone has to keep you in one piece, and I suppose it's my job."
....
When Kael and the Lycans arrived, the air was damp and cool, and the smoke went over the mountain. He slashed through the thick vines with his claws, cutting them away until a dark, rough tunnel opened before them.
Inside, the tunnel was dark. Roots hung from the ceiling, and fungus dotted the walls. At first it was narrow, then it grew wider. The stone was rough, as if cut long ago by hands.
They moved quietly, their Lycan eyes adjusting quickly to the darkness. At the tunnel's end, a tangle of bushes blocked the way. With a few swift motions, they hacked it aside...
And froze.
Before them, chaos raged.
Smoke curled in the cool mountain air. Thornak and his men were locked in brutal combat with half-burned rogues, their flesh blackened yet still moving with unnatural strength.
Kael's jaw clenched. Aedric muttered a curse under his breath. None of them had expected to step from the shadows into the teeth of hell itself.
They quickly joined the fight against the scorched rogues. Kael's eyes caught Jax, the great black Lycan, ripping through the burned beasts with savage force.
"Thorn!" Kael called to him.
Thornak froze for a second, then drove into another rogue. "Brother, how did you get here?"
Kael slid to his side. "We cannot stay here. There's a passage through the mountains."
Thornak gave a quick nod. "Lead the way, brother."
He signaled to the others to follow.
When they came out of the mountain passage, the rogues were still chasing them, their snarls echoing through the stone walls.
Thornak raised his voice.
"Lycans, form the wall!"
The warriors obeyed, standing shoulder to shoulder, claws and fangs ready. The first wave of rogues slammed into them, and they faught them.
"Hold the line!" he shouted, striking down a rogue with one heavy blow.
Another leapt at him, but Jax tore it from the air mid-jump, breaking its neck with a snap.
Kael slid to Thornak's side. "Too many, brother! We must close the path!"
"Then burn it." he growled, slashing through another rogue.
Kael darted back, pulling out a flask of oil. He smashed it against the rocks, spilling it across the dry brush. A rogue lunged at him, but Kael spun, his claws ripping its chest open. Then he struck a spark and fire roared to life.
The flames raced across the brush, climbing the walls of the passage. Rogues screamed as the fire caught their fur.
One came through the flames, blackened and burning, but Jax slammed it to the ground, crushing it with his weight.
Another group forced their way past the smoke.
"Cut them down!" Thornak commanded.
The Lycans roared and charged, their claws flashing like steel crashing them to death.
"Behind you!" Kael shouted.
Jax spun, catching a rogue mid-strike. He shoved his hand through its chest and hurled it back into the fire.
Soon the passage was clogged with burning bodies. The few that made it out stumbled into the open and were quickly torn apart by the Lycans.
At last, silence fell.
Thornak shifted back into his human form, his chest rising and falling with the weight of battle. He turned to Kael.
"It's good to see you, brother. You saved us."
Kael wiped soot from his cheek and smirked, though his eyes still burned with the fight.
"Don't I always?"
A few Lycans collapsed against the rocks, Their fur and claws red with blood. They had been fighting since the night began, and it's near noon.
Kael stood starring at the mountains behind them wondering if more rogues will appear, then he remembered Lara.
"There is a problem Thorn."