Since the kings' visit, rest has refused to come to me. I feel unsettled, restless, as if something is constantly clawing at the back of my mind. Reports of attacks have been pouring in—every clan, every territory, all at once. I may not have formal military knowledge, but I am not ignorant. This is not random. Simultaneous assaults like these are deliberate.
The question is—where do I go first?
Before I could decide, a loud commotion erupted outside my refuge. Shouts. Screams. The pounding of frantic footsteps. All of us rushed out, only to be met with chaos. Beastfolk and animals scattered in every direction, eyes wide with terror, bodies colliding as they fled.
I grabbed a raccoon by the arm.
"Why is everyone running?"
"Hyenas!" he cried breathlessly. "They're tearing through the woodlands!"
My chest tightened. Hyenas… in Velaris?
Before I could process it, a familiar figure stumbled toward me. Varkas—bloodied, barely upright—with Aspen slung over his back, unconscious. I ran to them.
"Varkas—you're injured!" I glanced at Aspen, limp and pale. "Is he alive?"
"Barely," Varkas said through clenched teeth.
I ushered them into my refuge at once.
"Zulu, guard the entrance. Watch for hyenas. Nori, Theo—prepare."
Varkas's wounds were deep and severe. I summoned my blue flame, pressing it gently against torn flesh as it hummed with healing energy. He groaned, muscles tensing, but the bleeding slowed. When I turned to Aspen, his breathing was steady, though he hadn't regained consciousness.
"What happened?" I asked.
"We were outnumbered," Varkas said, voice strained. "There were too many of them. Our defenses collapsed. Kovu, some bears, and a few elk are still holding the line, but it's bad—really bad. I took Aspen and ran. We were chased, but we lost them."
Do you hear their pleas…
The voice echoed inside me, unmistakable.
That was the moment I knew.
"Nori, stay here with Varkas and Aspen," I ordered. "Theo, Zulu—we split up. Stop any hyenas threatening other beasts. Then we regroup at Velaris."
As we turned to leave, Aspen jolted awake. He pushed himself upright the moment he saw me.
"Sienna—the hyenas invaded Velaris. I need to go back. Where's Varkas?"
I pointed to him. "Aspen, you're staying. Rest and recover. I'll help Velaris and call for aid."
He hesitated, then nodded.
I took off, Theo and Zulu close behind. Creatures continued to flee in droves, and I redirected as many as I could toward my refuge for safety. As I ran, I pulled out the tiny conch and blew into it, sending the signal far and wide.
Not far ahead, hyenas had cornered several beastfolk. I summoned my dagger and stepped in.
There was no reasoning with them.
They lunged.
I killed them.
It was brutal—blood and screams. I stabbed, slashed, and burned through them without hesitation. I was done being gentle. Peace sometimes demands violence.
By the time I reached Pele, the devastation was undeniable. Even Barok's resting place had been desecrated. I found Huntz and Hanna alive, thankfully unharmed. I sent them to my refuge with a manifestation spell and kept moving.
Velaris greeted me with death.
Bodies littered the plains. Elk. Bears. Blood soaked into the earth. Kovu was still fighting, refusing to fall. I drew my bow and fired arrows into the hyenas, dropping several before they closed the distance.
When they did, I switched to my dagger.
Fear gripped me—but anger was stronger. Rage fueled my movements as I fought, defending and attacking all at once. And then I felt it—my body moving with precision beyond my own training.
Eriu.
She fought with me.
My footwork sharpened. My strikes landed true. Every slash, every stab was flawless. I trusted her, leaned into her presence, and let her guide me.
Still, they kept coming.
Theo and Zulu arrived as reinforcements, but even together, it wasn't enough. My energy waned. My legs trembled. My breath came in ragged gasps.
I clenched my jaw.
I will not fall.
Light flared in my hands—words glowing against my skin.
Patience.
Diligence.
Perseverance.
Power surged back into me.
I fought harder. Blood sprayed across my face and body. Hyenas fell in pieces, shrieks echoing across the plains. When the immediate wave broke, a hyena shifted into human form atop a mound of corpses.
Silver-grey hair. Catlike eyes. A grin too sharp to be sane.
"I am Paisa," he cackled. "Ruler of the most dangerous beasts in this world. Your suffering feeds me—with Vera's blessing."
Vera.
Rage boiled in my veins.
I raised my hands.
"Burn."
Fire erupted. Spires of flame raced across the battlefield, leaping from body to body. Theo and Zulu froze, stunned.
"Get out of the way!" I shouted. "This fire won't stop!"
They ran.
Hyenas turned to ash in seconds. Others screamed as they burned slowly. Fire rained from above as I obliterated everything in my path.
I didn't see Paisa coming.
He tackled me hard, claws digging in—but before he could strike, he was hurled across the plains. When I looked up, Vesper stood there, flanked by his clan.
"Vesper!" Paisa roared. "Why would you attack me?!"
"We were never on the same side," Vesper said coldly. "Touch her again and you die."
Paisa charged.
"Stop," Vesper said.
Paisa froze mid-step.
"Kneel."
His body contorted as he dropped to his knees. Vesper approached slowly, crushed Paisa's head with ease. Blood sprayed. Bone shattered. He bit into his hand once—and Paisa's body turned bluish-purple instantly.
"That ensures death," Vesper said calmly.
Then he turned to me.
"Sienna…"
Pleasure surged through me at the sound of my name. Exhaustion vanished, energy returns. My body responded instantly—
Before he could touch me, Gideon was there. He grabbed me and covered my ears.
"Sienna—don't fall for it."
I steadied myself.
Peace finally settled as Rocco doused the flames and Talon swept the ash away. Light flickered again on my skin.
Fertility.
I knelt and touched the ground.
Velaris healed.
The land restored itself, as if the battle had never happened.
As the portal shrank, I hurled fire into it.
She won't stop.
Neither will I.
I will protect what I built—and I will come for her.