"The truth!!!"
The morning air wasn't smelling differently from the usual. The wind was blowing in an awkward manner-others didn't notice it. But Isolde definitely knew something was wrong.
The birds weren't chirping as they would every morning.
The breeze that usually whispered good tidings throughout the park was not even whispering at all. It was as if the forest was holding its breath-the silence was frightening.
"Isolde stood at the edge of the sacred ring, folding her arms and lost un deep thoughts. The barrier stones—massive, moss-covered monoliths that stood in the heart of the pack's territory—stood quiet, half-sunk into the earth like ancient guardians. No one had seen them burn with intensity over a century.
Isolde later came back to herself and looked hard at the barrier stones however as she looked at it, she felt something strange happening to her-under her skin.
There was a pressure!
There was a pulse!!
There was a sudden vibration!!!
It was as if the barrier stones recognized her, it was as if they were waiting for her arrival all this while.
She stood awestrucken."
Back to the present, it had started that morning. Karl asked Isolde to accompany him on a short walk on the bridge to check what was happening in the borders. There was a sudden air that touched them as they passed through one of the standing stones. It was quick and powerful! A calm flow of energy within the air.
Suddenly, the ground was stirred.
Kael looked at Isolde gave a a facial outlook signalling if she understood what just happened? As Isolde was about giving him a response,
"The stone out of nowhere burned with intensity" causing both of them to shiver a little.
A sudden burst of silver-blue light shot out instantly bringing light to the face of the stone, the nearby bushes were not left out as they were also lighted.
Birds scattered into the air. Deer bolted from their hiding places. Creeping animals adjusted their positions.
Then, silence fell.
The light gradually disappeared but it still remained in her bones serving as a reminder.
Kael took some steps back in perplexity and said "This hasn't happened in over a century."
"What does it mean?" Isolde asked, as fright filled her voice.
He turned to her slowly with shock and told Isolde
"It simply means that it has been awaiting your arrival."
(At the pack)
The whole pack was already in chaos by midday.
Alpha Theron—broad-shouldered, gray-bearded, and quick to anger(Alpha of the Silverclaw Park)—was giving orders specifically to the warriors to go and survey the standing stones od any signs of energy burning intensely.
The Alpha recalled and told the wolves that "The last time the stones reacted, was the night of the night of the Uprising. As a result of that, this recent occurrence definitely wasn't a coincidence."
Isolde stood silently behind the crowd trying to find coverings Brinna's extra cloak, avoiding others from seeing her. It didn't work.
"You can't hide from their blames, you know?" Brinna whispered to Isolde reading the tension written all over her.
"I know," she replied. "But, honestly speaking I didn't do anything-I am innocent of this allegations levied on me. I was just walking." Isolde spoke with tears filling her eyes.
"I don't think the stones understood that." Brinna said, cleaning Isolde eyes with her hands.
Out of nowhere, Elder Varian approached them, her eyes shinning like with blazing fire. "Isolde, You must come with me now, alone!!!."
Signalling to Brinna to excuse them.
(Road to the Hall of Guardias)
They walked in silence until they reached the Hall of Guardians—a high stone structure behind the Luna Temple. Very few omegas were ever allowed inside. Although now, she was no longer in a sense an omega.
Isolde's heartbeat raced heavily when Elder Varian pushed the heavy wooden door open as bats flew out.
Inside, the walls were lined with ancient relics—speaking of historic acts of legends. At the center stood a map carved into the floor, detailing every nook and cranny of the pack's boundaries.
And the barrier stones!
All twelve in number!
Each one of them glowing faintly.
Elder Varian stepped into the map and pointed with her supporting stick "This one—Stone Nine to be precise—burned with intensity when you approached the barrier stones."
"I didn't touch it," Isolde voiced out.
"You didn't need to," Elder Varian replied. "These stones are tied to the land's oldest magic, the best ever seen! They are sensitive to threats, signs and to power."
She looked at Isolde meaningfully.
"But I'm just—" you know? Isolde scratching her head pitifully.
"Don't finish that sentence," Elder Varian cut her shot. "You are no longer just an omega."
Isolde looked down at the map. "What does the burning intensity mean?"
Elder Varian sighed and said. "That something within you has risen. And it's on a mission to change whatsoever that steps into it's path."
Isolde ran a hand over her face cleaning a sudden appearance of sweats on her face. "I didn't ask for any of this, why is this happening to me??"
"You weren't also in a position to determine your existence too!" Elder Varian said. "But now you exist. The stones respond to forgotten bloodlines. To a purpose. To a prophecy."
The words hit her with force. What came out of her mouth next was "Prophecy?"
Elder Varian payed no attention to what Isolde said.
Instead, she pointed towards the oldest stone which was a very ancient one carved on the wall—a symbol similar to the one appearing on Isolde's shoulder.
"Do you think it's a coincidence that your mark and this symbol look alike?" Elder Varian asked.
"I don't know what to think anymore," Isolde whispered.
Elder Varian sat close to the middle stone in the map carved on the floor.
"Then listen carefully. Open your ears! The intense burning is a sign. The old world is awakening, and it's keeping tabs on you. The past never died. It only toke a break. And something within you has ignited it."
Isolde stared at the signs, located in the map, at the glowing stones.
"What do I do now?" Isolde asked Elder Varian
"Return to the stones tonight, Alone." Elder Varian said.
"Alone!!! Isolde spoke with a trembling voice.
Yes, Alone. If they burn intensely again, it confirms the truth." Elder Varian replied her
Isolde shivered and said "what if they don't?"
"Then we wait," Elder Varian replied, "for the truth to be revealed."
(Isolde returns to the stones alone)
That night; the stars were sharp and clear providing bright light so that she could see well. Isolde walked towards the outer side of the park's boundaries alone with her heart in her mouth. Her boots stomping the grasses softly as she walked.
The barrier stones stood like bodyguards, twelve in total, each standing as the cardinal directions of the pack's land.
On her arrival to Stone Nine just before midnight.
The moment Isolde stepped within three feet of the Stone Nine, the mark on her shoulder burned with intensity.
She gave a deep breath out, stumbling forward, the wind blew heavily on her face.
And then the stone burned with intensity.
Bright as the moon, the light powered heavily, sending powerful surge of energy into the sky. The trees trembled. The air blew violently.
And immediately, the other eleven stones answered in unison.
One by one, around the entire territory, they lit up brightly.
A full-circle burning intensity.
Complete activation.
She dropped to her knees, sad and her heart beating rapidly.
Something had shifted and the world didn't see it coming!!!
(At the Hall of Guardians)
Back at the Hall of Guardians, the burning intensity was recorded by the Elders.
Alpha Theron was furious.
"It's dangerous," he groaned. "We don't know what this girl is carrying because she can cause calamity for us with this head of her's"
Elder Varian shook her head. "Or she will be our saviour and keep the park alive from the pending evil"
"The Veil Mark brings death," Alpha Theron sparked. "There is no denial about that."
"And here we have her in our midst" Elder Varian replied angrily to him. "Alive,Whole and Destined."
(Back to the Forest)
Isolde decided that she won't return to her house that night to spare herself of much explanation.
She stayed with the stones until the breaking of the next day, heart still pounding.
Kael couldn't wait until he found her because he went to her house and waited for her all night abandoning his night patrol of the park.
"I felt them," he said quietly, crouching beside her when he saw her. "All of them. They were so glaring."
"I didn't mean to," she spoke with her face down.
"I know, holding her hands" Kael said.
She looked at him, eyes brewing with tears. "They think I'm dangerous."
"That's true however it's only a few that do."
"Are you part of those few?" Isolde asked Kael.
Kael turned his back and replied her.
"I am sure the world didn't believe that someone with Hidden powers like yours still existed -a girl with a presence that awakens old gods."
Isolde chuckled saying. "I wish I could explain all of this happenings you know, I'm still in shock with myself."
Kael touched her compassionately and suggested "Then, let's undertake this journey together."
(The Council Meeting)
Few days later, the pack held a council meeting.
The topic was Isolde.
Most of the warriors were divided because of the new development.
"She's a threat," one sparked. "The stones only duty is to protect us—if they react in that manner like that, what will happen if she is pushed to the wall and she reacts?"
"She's completely not in charge of what is happening," Brinna came to her defense, speaking with audacity. "You all behave as if she's a grenade waiting to be unleashed. Don't forget that she's still the calm, reserved Isolde"
"Is she?" Alpha Theron grunted. "Her mark, her dreams, the encounter with the stones and all; That's definitely no Isolde."
Elder Varian voice made the heated arguement to come to an end with what she said "Enough."
The hall immediately became calm.
"This girl has activated the earth with her presence. Whether we like it or not, she is a part of that aged prophecy."
"Which of the aged prophecy?" someone called out.
"The oldest one that you all forgot," Elder Varian said. "That aged one that speaks of a distant wolf with no bloodline, no claim, and yet the power and presence to awaken the forgotten and aged."
Isolde stepped out of the crowd then with boldness and alacrity.
No longer hiding!
No longer afraid!!
No longer apologizing!!!
"If I'm a part of something huge," she said with a voice gradually coming up, "therefore, I have the right to know what it's all about. I want to grasp the entirety of this. I definitely want to assist in any way I can."
Alpha Theron mocked. "Or destroy."
"I've tried my best trying to stay out of trouble my whole life" she said. "But not anymore. So the main deal here teach me, or forever remain silent."
The Hall went into coldness with Isolde response.
Then Elder Varian smiled.
"Then get yourself ready, the training will begin soonest."