Kapitel 3: The Howling Shadows

Never had the forest felt so alive, or so menacing. With each step Elara took from the clearing, the silence felt deeper, as if the trees were holding their breaths. The air buzzed with an undercurrent of energy, the oath's mark on her hands faintly glowing in the dim light.

The howl came again, closer this time. It was a sound that resonated deep in her chest, sending a chill up her spine. Elara's instincts screamed for her to run, but something about the sound held her still. Is it hunting me-or warning me?

The shadows around her began to shift, outstretching unnaturally. Elara tightened her grip on the small dagger she'd tucked into her belt-the only weapon she'd brought. A dagger won't stop what's out there, but it's better than nothing.

A rustle in the underbrush snapped her attention left, and her breath caught in her throat as shining amber eyes materialized out of the darkness, latching onto hers. He stepped forward—a wolf, but unlike any she'd seen before. His fur was an ethereal shimmer like moonlight, and his shape almost flickered between substance and shadow.

Elara's heart raced, but she forced herself to stand her ground. The wolf tilted its head almost curiously. "What do you want from me?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

The wolf didn't answer, of course. Instead, it took another step closer, eerily fluid in its movements. Then, to her utter shock, it spoke-not with words, but with a voice that resonated in her mind.

"You are bound by the oath. You cannot run from what lies ahead."

Elara's grip on the dagger tightened. "What are you?"

The wolf's gaze bore into her, and for a moment she felt like it could see every corner of her soul. "A guide. A test. Perhaps both. The path you walk is treacherous, Elara. The forest watches, and it does not forgive weakness."

Before she could say anything, the wolf lunged. Elara had barely enough time to react, diving to the side as its claws slashed through the air where she'd stood a moment before. Her heart pounding, she scrambled to her feet, her dagger clutched tightly in her shaking hands.

The wolf circled her with grace and a predator's movements. "Fight, or fall. Prove you are worthy of the power you seek."

Elara swallowed hard, her veins coursing with adrenaline. This is a test, I have to survive this. She steadied her breathing while her gaze locked on the wolf. When it lunged again, she was ready.

She sidestepped its attack, slashing at its side with the dagger. The blade met resistance but didn't cut as deeply as she'd hoped. The wolf snarled, its form flickering as if made of smoke. It's not just flesh and blood. What am I fighting?

The mark on her hands pulsed, sending a jolt of warmth up her arms. Instinctively, Elara raised her free hand, and to her astonishment, the shadows around her seemed to respond. They coiled and twisted, forming a barrier between her and the wolf's next attack.

The wolf hesitated, its amber eyes narrowing. "The magic awakens. But can you control it?"

Elara didn't have time to think. She focused on the shadows, willing them to move. They lashed out like tendrils, striking the wolf and driving it back. For a moment, she felt a surge of triumph—until the wolf's form dissolved entirely, melting into the darkness.

The forest was silent once more, but the feeling of peril had not passed. Elara spun in place, her dagger raised, her magic coiled and ready. The wolf's voice echoed in her mind once more.

"Your power is not enough. You must learn to wield it-or it will consume you.

The ground below her began to writhe, roots springing up and snaking around her, trapping her. Panic flared in her chest as she struggled to break free, the shadows flickering weakly around her. I can't do this. I don't even know how this magic works!

A memory leapt into her mind-mother's voice, cold and distant. "You must learn to control yourself, Elara. Power without discipline is a curse.

Elara clenched her fists. I won't let this power control me-I am stronger than this. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the warmth of the mark on her hands. Slowly, the shadows began to respond themselves, wrapping around the roots and pulling them away.

When she opened her eyes, the forest was quiet once more. The wolf had reappeared, at the edge of the clearing. Its form was solid now, its amber eyes regarding her with what almost seemed approval.

"You could have killed me," Elara said, her voice hoarse.

"I could have," the wolf agreed. "But the forest chose you for a reason. Survive, and you may yet prove it was right."

Before she could utter a word, the wolf had turned and melted into the night, leaving her to her lonesome.

Elara dropped to her knees, her body shaking wildly. The weight of what had just transpired fell over her like a mantle. She looked down at her hands, the mark glowing softly there.

What have I gotten myself into?

The howl came again, this time with others. Elara forced herself to rise, her chest flaring with determination. Whatever the forest throws at me, I'll face it. I have to.

With a firm grip on her dagger, she began a steady walk into the darkness that lay ahead, knowing full well that yet another challenge awaited her-she was ready for it head-on.