Mark stood paralyzed as he locked eyes with the black wolf, its golden-yellow gaze piercing through the darkness. He had been scanning the area but hadn't noticed the wolf until now. It seemed to blend seamlessly with the shadows cast by the dense trees surrounding them. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, the wolf's confusion palpable as it tried to comprehend the sudden intrusion of light.
The wind stirred gently, pushing towards the heart of the forest. The leaves fluttered and rustled, their soft sounds breaking the silence and jolting Mark from his stunned state. As he regained his composure, he noticed a peculiar phenomenon. A white mist was gathering around the wolf, swirling in an ethereal dance. But as the mist drew nearer to the wolf, it darkened, transforming into a deeper, more ominous shade.
In this darkening mist, shadows began to form. The images within were blurred and indistinct, but some shapes were discernible. Mark saw the twisted outlines of trees and grotesque figures—some were small animals, others humanoid but distorted with animalistic features. Their forms were dismembered, limbs scattered across a field of spectral grass, and what he could only assume was blood seemed to flow freely, staining the grass a spectral red. Yet everything remained shrouded in shadow, rendering the scene a grim tableau of darkness.
'What the hell is that?' Mark asked himself.
He couldn't comprehend what it that he saw, he knew the white was the SOURCE ENERGY, but he didn't understand how it was gathering, transforming into a darker shade or how the images were produced. And he needed to understand it if he wants to protect himself and grow powerful enough to go home. He knew that was how he could get stronger, by using the SOURCE ENERGY.
The wolf stepped closer, its eyes never leaving Mark's. The flames around him flickered as if telling the wolf to stay away. The closer the wolf got the more detailed the image become, the more the flames flickered.
'Please don't come closer, please don't come closer,' Mark repeated it like a broken music record, praying to whatever god he can think of. Mark had no idea what is being was or if his flames were an effective against it. The wolf came closer still and Mark begun to panic again which stirred his flames more. That grabbed more of the attention of the wolf, it stopped for a second and stared at the flames. That give Mark a time to cool a little bit down. But the wolf started to move closer. The more the wolf got closer the more something in Mark tried to get out, but he didn't know out it was, and he didn't have time to worry about it now. The wolf was now standing in front of Mark with his neck cast down and his golden-yellow eyes staring at him. It sniffed at Mark to see if whatever Mark was something different than anything it had seen. But all it could get was the smell of burning grass. So, with the fire being nothing different the wolf turned and lifted his hind leg to pee on the flame was bring light and disturbing his place and end its life.
Mark was stupefied by what's happened. At first when the wolf sniffed him, he thought it would discover it specialness and devour him and then it turned, and mark thought it was leaving and he was relieved, but the damned thing just wanted to pee on him.
'What have I done to you, you bastard,' mark was anger more than he was terrified of the beast and with that anger the control he had on the flame loosened and the instinct that was trying to get out was let loose and his flame got bigger.
At first the wolf was startled by the sudden surge of the flame but the bigger the flame got the more scared it was. It didn't know why he was scared; it just was that its instinct was telling him to run but before it could the flame surged and covered its entire body and started to burn it. The wolf howled in pain and anguish as-though a baby calling its parents, disturbing the quietness of the place.
As mark lost control and was driven by his instinct, more of the white mist which was the SOURCE ENERGY was drawn to him and covering his body like it did the wolf. And the closer the white mist got to Mark, the more it changed to a fiery red that inside of it was formed the image of a blazing forest.
Mark's and the wolf's mist clashed when he was burning the wolf. Mark's mist invaded the wolf's mist and started to burn the shadowy trees, the scattered bodies and the dismembered part.
The wolf driven by the instinct to extinguishing the flame and pain that clouded his intelligence. So, it started to run to the center of the forest leaving behind pieces of its body that fall out and which spread the flames further in the outer region.
The wolf run almost as fast as a 275 kph at first, but its body parts were melting and his speed decreased over time and by the time it reached the heart of the forest, its mist was almost gone, devoured.
By the time the wolf died two and a half hours had passed and all that was left of the wolf was small pieces of burned meat but all the rest of its body had turned to ash and was scattered by the wind all over the forest.
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Mark still hadn't calmed down and he started to burn the closest tree in this misty place that was the heart of the forest. And he continued to spread in all direction carried by the wind. And the heart of the forest and the outer region were set ablaze, burning the small and big creatures and trees, turning the serene night into a symphony of screams and a music of pain that made the ground shook to its core.
***
The male fox raced through the dense forest, his lithe form weaving between trees with the grace of a seasoned hunter. His fur, a rich auburn, glistened with sweat, and his breath came in sharp, controlled bursts. In his right hand, he clutched a well-worn axe, its blade dulled from cutting too many trees to build their settlement. The handle was smooth from use, the once sharp edge now chipped and nicked, a testament to the recent hardships his tribe had endured since their banishment from their original clan.
As he approached the outskirts of the forest, the foliage began to thin, revealing a sprawling settlement nestled in a valley. This was his home, a village of over 200 foxlike creatures who lived in harmony with the land. The settlement was a bustling hub of activity, with thatched-roof huts and communal fire pits scattered throughout. The air was filled with the sounds of daily life – the chatter of children playing, the rhythmic pounding of tools on wood, and the soothing hum of elders chanting ancient songs.
The fox's heart pounded with urgency, knowing he bore critical news for the tribe's chief. His paws barely touched the ground as he sprinted through the village gates, the familiar scents of home filling his nostrils. Villagers paused in their tasks to watch him pass, their eyes widening in concern at the sight of the Axe in his hand and the determined look on his face.
He made his way swiftly to the center of the settlement, where the chief's hall stood – a grand structure made of timber and stone, adorned with carvings that depicted the tribe's storied history. Two imposing guards stood at the entrance; their spears crossed in front of the doorway. They stopped him and stared at his hand that was gripping the Axe and they tightened their own grip on their spears.
"You can't enter, Rurik. The council is in discussion," said the one on the right.
"I need to deliver this message immediately to the chief, or else the council will not have much to discuss in the near future," answered Rurik.
An older but deeper voice sounded from the inside, "let him in," hearing the permission from their chief they stepped aside, allowing him to pass. But not before asking him for his Axe.
Giving them his Axe Rurik went in. Inside, the hall was dimly lit by torches mounted on the walls, casting flickering shadows that danced across the floor. The air was thick with the scent of burning sage and the faint, smoky aroma of the hearth fire. At the far end of the hall sat the chief, a venerable fox with fur that had turned silver with age. His eyes, sharp and wise, locked onto the runner as he approached, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern.
"Chief Talon," Rutik panted, bowing deeply before the elder. "I bring grave news from the forest."
Chief Talon nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Speak, Rurik. What has happened?"
Rurik straightened, his grip tightening on the Axe. "The fire that started in the east of the Misty Forest a few days ago and then vanished has reappeared. It's spreading near our settlement and is pushing towards the heart of the forest, moving towards the Misty Mountains that separate us from the humans."
A murmur of alarm rippled through the hall as the gathered council members exchanged worried glances. Chief Talon raised a hand, silencing them. "This fire... do we know its source?"
Rurik shook his head, his eyes darkening with the memory. "No, Chief. The source is unknown. All I heard was the cry of pain from a wolf cub that stirred the shadows nearby. It couldn't have been that far from me."
"That is one of the abilities of the Nightshroud pack," said the one of the council men.
"Nightshroud pack?" asked Rurik. The name "Nightshroud Pack" evoked a collective shiver among the council members.
Chief Talon's face grew grave. "The Nightshroud Pack is feared for their power and their vengefulness. A pack we could not afford to antagonize in our current state, and if the cub is dead then the mother will most likely attack our tribe."
Chief Talon's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Aileen!" he called, his voice echoing through the hall.
From a side chamber, a young female fox emerged. Her fur was a striking shade of silver, and her eyes, the same sharp gold as her father's, shone with a mix of intelligence and strength. She was a member of the Luminaries, the only group among their kind who could harness the power of the Astral Essence.
"Yes, Father?" Aileen responded, bowing respectfully.
Chief Talon looked at her with a mixture of pride and concern. "Aileen, gather a few warriors. You must investigate this fire and the disturbance in the forest. We need to know if the cub is dead and if it is how many will come with the mother. Only you can wield the Astral Essence in our people. So, you have a higher chance of success."
Aileen nodded, her expression resolute. "I will leave at once."
Chief Talon turned back to Rurik. "You have done well to bring this news swiftly. Rest now and prepare. We may need every able body in the coming days."
Rurik bowed once more, relief and determination mingling in his chest. As he turned to leave, he heard the voice of the chief that felt heavy and was filled with concern, drowning the whispers of the council.
"Niallghas, Cathal get in here."
Both the guard that were outside came in. As Rurik and Aileen left the hall.
"Yes, Chief," said both at the same time.
"Gather every able body and all the available weapons and prepare the defenses."
"Yes, chief," and they left in hurry to execute their tasks.