Eclipsed heart

Chapter 6: Whispers in the Mountain Pass

The path to the northern mountains grew steeper, the air colder with each step. Jagged peaks loomed in the distance, their icy crowns glinting like daggers in the pale sunlight. Lira pulled her cloak tighter around herself, her breath fogging in the chill.

Kael led the way, his posture rigid and alert. Despite the stillness of their surroundings, the tension in the air was palpable. The shadows' recent attack weighed heavily on them both.

"Are we close to the temple?" Lira asked, her voice muffled by the wind.

"Not yet," Kael replied without looking back. "We need to pass through the Frostbane Gorge first. It's a dangerous stretch of land, even without the shadows."

Lira quickened her pace to walk beside him. "What makes it dangerous?"

"Predators," Kael said grimly. "Creatures that don't care whether you're mortal or celestial. They'll hunt anything that moves."

Lira swallowed hard, glancing at the cliffs that framed their path. The jagged rocks cast eerie shadows that seemed to move in the corner of her vision.

"How do we get through it safely?"

Kael's crimson eyes flicked to her. "By staying quiet, keeping alert, and trusting me."

Lira nodded, though her unease didn't fade.

---

As they entered the gorge, the temperature plummeted further. The walls of the pass were narrow and steep, their surfaces slick with frost. The only sound was the crunch of their boots on the icy ground and the occasional gust of wind that howled through the canyon like a mournful wail.

Lira's eyes darted to the shadows that pooled between the rocks. The memory of the wraiths' attack was still fresh, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching them.

"Kael," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"I know," he said quietly, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

"What do you—"

Before she could finish, Kael's arm shot out, pulling her behind a boulder. He pressed a finger to his lips, motioning for silence.

Lira crouched beside him, her heart pounding as she followed his gaze. Ahead of them, a hulking figure prowled through the gorge. It was a massive, wolf-like beast, its fur as white as the snow that dusted the ground. Its eyes glowed an unnatural blue, and its breath billowed in frosty clouds.

"What is that?" Lira mouthed.

"A frost warg," Kael murmured. "They hunt in packs. If you see one, there are more nearby."

Lira's stomach churned. "What do we do?"

"Stay still and let it pass," Kael said. "If we don't provoke it, it might not notice us."

The warg sniffed the air, its ears twitching. It let out a low growl, its icy gaze scanning the gorge. Kael's grip on his sword tightened, but he didn't draw it.

Lira held her breath, her heart hammering in her chest. The warg's growl grew louder as it took a step toward their hiding place.

Then, from the shadows, a second warg emerged, followed by a third.

Kael muttered a curse under his breath. "They've picked up our scent."

"What do we do now?" Lira whispered, her voice shaking.

Kael's crimson eyes met hers, calm despite the danger. "We fight."

---

The first warg lunged, its jaws snapping at Kael. He sidestepped the attack with practiced ease, drawing his sword in a single fluid motion. The blade glowed with golden fire as he struck, the warg yelping as the magic seared its flesh.

"Stay behind me!" Kael shouted, parrying another warg's claws.

Lira scrambled to her feet, her instincts screaming at her to run. But as she watched Kael fend off the beasts, something inside her shifted. She couldn't leave him to face them alone.

Summoning her courage, Lira raised her hands. The warmth of her power flickered to life, hesitant at first but growing stronger with each passing moment.

"Kael, move!" she called out.

He obeyed without question, stepping aside just as Lira unleashed a wave of golden light. The energy struck the wargs, forcing them back with pained howls.

Kael gave her a quick nod of approval before engaging the nearest beast. He moved like a force of nature, his blade cutting through the frost wargs with deadly precision.

Lira focused on keeping the other wargs at bay, her power surging in bursts that illuminated the gorge. But the creatures were relentless, and the cold was sapping her strength.

"We need to end this quickly," Kael said, his voice strained as he blocked a powerful swipe from a warg's claws.

Lira nodded, her hands trembling as she prepared another attack. She closed her eyes, reaching deep within herself for the strength she needed.

A memory surfaced—a vision of Althea standing in a similar battle, her power radiant and unyielding. Lira clung to the image, letting it guide her.

When she opened her eyes, her entire body was glowing. The wargs hesitated, their growls faltering as they sensed the shift in her energy.

With a cry, Lira released a burst of light that flooded the gorge. The wargs howled in agony as the magic consumed them, their forms dissolving into wisps of frost and shadow.

When the light faded, the gorge was silent once more.

---

Kael lowered his sword, his breathing heavy. He turned to Lira, a rare smile softening his features. "Impressive."

Lira sank to her knees, exhausted but relieved. "I… I didn't know I could do that."

"You're starting to remember who you are," Kael said, his voice gentle. He offered her a hand, pulling her to her feet.

"Thank you," Lira said, her golden eyes meeting his.

Kael nodded, his expression serious once more. "We need to keep moving. The wargs were likely drawn here by the shadows. They'll know where we are now."

Lira's heart sank, but she pushed the fear aside. She couldn't afford to be weak—not now.

"Let's go," she said, her voice steady.

Kael gave her a small nod of approval before leading her further into the gorge. The northern mountains loomed closer, their peaks sharp and foreboding.

As they walked, Lira couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching them. But she also felt stronger than before, the flicker of Althea's power a comforting presence within her.

Whatever lay ahead, she was determined to face it.

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