The mountain fog broke apart as Cyrus and Kina started down the narrow switchback trail, the early light turning the rocks gold. Neither of them was talking much — the morning was too still, too calm, too full of the things they needed to handle.
Cyrus exhaled softly. "My parents are going to freak when they see the state I'm in."
Kina shot him a side-look. "They'll be relieved you're alive. And then they'll freak."
"Comforting," he muttered.
She grinned, and for a moment everything felt normal again.
But the air behind them wasn't normal.
There was that… pressure. Not sound, not movement — just the faintest distortion, like a patch of atmosphere that didn't know how to behave. Kina had already checked twice by pretending to tie her boot, and Cyrus had stopped "to adjust his pack" even though it was fine.
Both times: nothing to see.
But the presence stayed.
Hoopa.
Thinking it was invisible.Thinking they couldn't sense the way space bent a fraction whenever it drifted too close.
Cyrus kept walking, jaw tight. "It's still there."
"I know," Kina said under her breath. "Let it pretend it's sneaky. We've got bigger things to deal with."
"Yeah. Bloodmoon first."
Just saying the name eased some tightness in his chest. Bloodmoon Ursaluna wasn't just powerful — it was… connected. Like the mountain itself had shaped that creature with intent.
"I hope it's doing okay," Cyrus murmured.
"It'll be fine." Kina nudged him. "It likes you. That's the weird part."
They reached the lower ridge, where the air warmed and the scent of wet earth replaced the mountain wind. The hollow where Bloodmoon rested wasn't far from here — a shadowed grove tucked under leaning pines.
As they stepped into it, the light dimmed… and the red gleam appeared.
Bloodmoon Ursaluna lifted its massive head from its resting place, eyes like burning embers focusing on Cyrus. The creature rumbled — not a warning. Something more like recognition.
Cyrus approached slowly, respectful. "Hey big guy. Didn't mean to leave you waiting."
Bloodmoon snorted, the air stirring his hair.
Kina watched the exchange with a soft, amused snort. "Yeah, he missed you."
Cyrus hesitated, then spoke. "Listen… I'm heading out again. Farther this time. And… I want you with me. But only if you want it."
Bloodmoon Ursaluna rose — towering, moonlit fur rippling like a storm building beneath it — and stepped forward until its massive head was nearly touching Cyrus's forehead.
Then it lowered that head in a slow, deliberate nod.
Cyrus couldn't help the breath that escaped him. Relief. Gratitude. A bit of awe.
"Okay," he whispered. "Okay. Then let's go together."
Behind them, a ripple of warped air flickered at the treeline — the faintest shimmer before correcting itself.
Cyrus didn't turn.Neither did Kina.
But both of them felt the presence tighten, like Hoopa had just gotten nervous at the sight of Bloodmoon's raw power.
Kina leaned closer to Cyrus and murmured, "It's still following."
Cyrus sighed. "I know. We'll deal with it after we talk to my parents."
"Yeah," she said. "And then we're calling it out. I'm not letting some cosmic brat stalk us all the way across a continent."
Cyrus smirked. "Later."
Above them, branches rustled — not from wind.
The presence lingered, silent and watching, convinced they had no idea.
But Cyrus felt the tug in the air again.So subtle.So determined.
Hoopa.
Following them down the mountain.
And whatever it wanted… it wasn't ready to admit it yet.