Chapter Four
Payton shot him a grin, her amber eyes glinting in the moonlight. “Well, that’s the point, isn’t it? Can’t awaken if you’re hiding in the shadows.”
Willa took a deep breath, stepping toward the center of the clearing. Her antlers tingled with the surge of energy building around them, the pull of the moons stronger than ever before. She closed her eyes, letting the sensation wash over her. This wasn’t just about her—this was about all of them. Together, they would face whatever this awakening brought.
“Ready?” Aldric’s voice cut through the stillness, his gaze sweeping over the group.
Willa nodded, her resolve firm. “We’re ready.”
As the moons reached their peak, the clearing shimmered with magic, a soft hum filling the air. Willa’s breath quickened as she felt the energy around them intensify, pulling her deeper into the connection she shared with the moons. The transformations came slowly at first, then all at once, each of them remaining in human-like forms, but with unmistakable traces of their true natures.
Mango gasped as her russet fox ears unfurled atop her head, twitching in response to every sound. Behind her, two elegant, bushy tails swayed gently, glowing faintly under the moonlight. Her sapphire-blue eyes sparkled with a mischievous, otherworldly light, hinting at the playful fox spirit within.
Beside her, Beans mirrored the transformation, her silver-tinged fox ears and single tail moving with cautious curiosity. Her emerald-green eyes, deep and piercing, reflected her thoughtful and grounded nature.
Payton let out a low whistle, a grin spreading across her face. “Well, that was something else,” she said, rolling her shoulders. Her movements were fluid, almost wolf-like, as though the transformation had awakened instincts she hadn’t fully known were there.
“It feels... strange,” Tiffani admitted, her golden eyes scanning the clearing. “Like I’ve been holding my breath for years and only now let it out.”
Liam crossed his arms, his stormy gray eyes flickering toward the horizon. “This is more than just power—it’s a connection. To each other. To the land. To... something bigger.”
“Bigger doesn’t mean less creepy,” Beans muttered, her emerald eyes darting nervously between the trees. “I keep expecting something to jump out at us.”
“Relax, Beans,” Mango said with a grin, her foxtails swaying behind her. “Nothing’s going to get the drop on us now. Not with these.” She flicked her russet ears playfully, the soft motion drawing a chuckle from Ethan.
“Still, we shouldn’t linger,” Aldric said, his tone sharp but measured. “The awakening has drawn attention—whether we’re ready for it or not.”
Karen stepped forward, her emerald gaze locking onto Aldric with a mix of challenge and curiosity. “And what kind of attention are we talking about, exactly? You’ve been vague long enough.”
Before Aldric could respond, Willa felt it again—a pulse of magic, faint but insistent, tugging at the edge of her awareness. She froze, her glowing purple eyes narrowing as she scanned the forest. The air around them felt alive, charged with an energy that hadn’t been there moments ago.
“Do you feel that?” Willa asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The others stilled, their newfound senses heightening in unison. The forest seemed to hold its breath, the silence stretching taut.
“I don’t like this,” Tiffani murmured, her golden eyes narrowing as she stepped closer to Willa. “It’s like... we’re being watched.”
A low growl rumbled from Liam’s throat, his protective instincts kicking in. “Stay together. No one strays from the group.”
The clearing seemed to darken as the group tightened their circle, their hybrid forms glowing faintly under the twin moons’ watchful gaze. Whatever was out there, it had noticed them. And it was waiting.
The forest crackled with energy, the hum of magic growing sharper, louder, as if the clearing itself were coming alive. Willa tightened her cloak around her shoulders, her glowing purple eyes darting through the shadows. Her antlers tingled with anticipation, amplifying her senses.
Karen gripped her wand in one hand, while reaching for her dagger with the other, “Something’s out there. I can feel it.”
“More than one something,” Ethan murmured, his crimson eyes narrowing. His fingers twitched, the faint outline of claws visible in the moonlight.
The others closed ranks, their hybrid forms glowing faintly under the watchful gaze of the twin moons. Mango and Beans stood shoulder-to-shoulder, their fox ears twitching in unison, tails flicking in sharp bursts. Tiffani growled low, her golden eyes glinting like liquid fire, while Liam crouched slightly, his stormy gray gaze scanning the trees for movement.
From somewhere deep within the forest came a sound—a low, guttural growl that vibrated through the ground. Willa froze, her pulse pounding in her ears. The air felt heavier now, thick with tension.
Payton bared her teeth, her golden werewolf eyes narrowing as she scanned the darkness. “We’ve been noticed,” she said, her voice steady but taut. “And I don’t think they’re friendly.”
Aldric stepped forward, his sharp gaze cutting through the group. “Stay together. Whatever this is, it’s testing you—and it won’t stop until you show it who you are.”
Before anyone could respond, the shadows shifted. From the edge of the clearing emerged several figures, their forms vaguely human but wrong in every way. Their movements were jerky, their limbs elongated, their faces covered in shimmering, reflective masks that seemed to warp the moonlight.
“They’re constructs,” Karen whispered, her voice trembling. “Magic-made.”
Willa’s antlers sparked faintly, her power stirring at the recognition. She stepped forward, her friends falling into formation around her. “We’ll face them together,” she said firmly, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands.
The constructs moved as one, their warped forms converging on the group with unnatural speed. Willa raised her hand instinctively, her purple eyes glowing brighter as a burst of lunar energy surged forth, creating a barrier of light. The constructs faltered, their movements halting for a split second.
“That won’t hold for long!” Aldric shouted, drawing his blade. “Focus on what you’ve awakened—your power!”
The group sprang into action, their hybrid forms lending them agility and strength. Mango and Beans moved like shadows, their fox-like instincts allowing them to strike quickly and retreat before the constructs could react. Ethan and Liam fought side-by-side, their strength and precision cutting through the enemy with ease. Tiffani and Peyton worked in tandem, their wolf instincts perfectly synchronized.