Chapter 6 FALL OF THE ALPHARIANS

Luminar, Alexander and the pack exchanged a glance, their hearts swelling with relief and joy. Their decision to protect their pack's secret had been validated in that moment, as Jackson showed his understanding and respect for their way of life.

The following morning , Jackson bid farewell to the pack, his heart heavy with newfound appreciation and admiration for the world he had glimpsed. Luminar and Alexander promised to keep the lines of communication open, to foster their familial connection while maintaining the secrecy that was crucial to their pack's survival.

Later that night, it had rained heavily. The pack was surprised because it wasn't yet the rainy season. Everyone heard a scream come from one of the rooms and rushed to see who it was and what was the reason. They found grandma Luna screaming while holding her head, her eyes white and illuminated as though she was being possessed by a demon."Mama what's happening?" Amethyst asked Luminar "Go to your room!"

"But..."

"I said go to your room!"

Amethyst went out, but didn't go to her room , she stayed outside the room peeking through the door.

Grandma Luna dropped down to the ground and fell unconscious. When she woke up she opened her eyes but her vision was blurry, the pack gathered around her "What happened, Wh... What happened Ma " Uncle Victor asked with his voice trembling.

"Terror....destruction....terror..... ,the ancestors were talking to me. Danger.... havoc ....danger ....is all I could hear ," she said in a faded voice then followed coughing. And she fell unconscious again, the pack looked at each other wondering what she was talking about but none of them had a clue. Grandma Luna sat up and held her head again and screamed out loud, her voice pierced the room then followed a lighting bolt.She opened her eyes and said " Doomed ...... we are doomed. I don't know..... what exactly this means .... but we are doomed " Immediately after she said that they heard a loud howl coming from outside the den. It wasn't any of the pack members. It sounded as the the source of the howl was being tortured and then gave up , it sent chills down their spines. "I suggest we all go to rest and we will figure this out in the morning,"

The sun rose and it was no longer raining. Everyone got up from bed and met in the living room in order to discuss what had happened at night. Then suddenly they heard Amethyst screaming out side the den " mama , papa , mamaaaaa!" They got up and ran outside and they couldn't believe what they saw. The rain water that was following was red,red with blood. Luminar suggested they slit up and see where this was coming from, they continued to look around, they found body pieces .Some had fur and some where just normal, Luminar took steps deeper and picked up a piece of cloth. It had the symbol of the Alpharian kingdom " guyssssss!" she exclaimed with a trembling voice,she held up the cloth and everyone was shocked "could it be that ,....no no it can't," she reassured herself. " We must leave,now and go to the kingdom of the Alpharians and see what's happening," Luminar said with a stammering voice.

They all nodded in agreement, "mama I m coming with you,"

"No Amethyst, you will stay here , with your father."

"What? No I m coming with you,"

" Alex it might be dangerous, we don't know what to expect and..."

"And no matter what I m going with you."

"Fine, but Amethyst you are staying here, I mean it ,"

"But ma.."

"But nothing, no more buts , go inside the den and do not leave until we come back."

Luminar and her family had finally arrived at their homeland, the Alpharian Kingdom, filled with anticipation and curiosity. However, as they approached the gates of the kingdom,the had blood smeared on them, an eerie silence engulfed them, and a sense of foreboding hung heavy in the air , and all that could be smelt was blood.

Luminar and her family were in shock and couldn't believe what they saw . Dead bloody bodies lying everywhere,not a single soul could be seen breathing, everyone big, small, tall, short , including the elders were found dead. The lively marketplace, once vibrant with merchants and customers, was now devoid of life. The scene was haunting, broken only by the sound of the wind whispering through the abandoned buildings.

Fear gripped Luminar's heart as she looked around, her eyes scanning the scene. She held her younger sister's hand tightly, seeking solace in the presence of her family. Questions swirled in her mind. What had happened here? Who is responsible?

"The ancestors warned us," Grandma Luna said "they war...warned us"

With a determined but shaken look on her face, Sed turned to her family and said, "We need to split up and search for any signs of life. We must find out what happened." Her voice trembled slightly, betraying her own unease, but she knew they couldn't afford to stand still in the face of this mystery.

They agreed upon a meeting spot and split into smaller groups, fanning out through the kingdom. She ventured deeper into the heart of the capital, her footsteps echoing through the empty streets. She entered the grand palace, once a symbol of power and prosperity, now a shadow of its former glory.

As she walked through the opulent corridors, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease, as everywhere she looked they were corpses lying down. The silence was oppressive, and the absence of life weighed heavily on her. Her heart raced as she opened the doors to the den of stones.

But when Luminar entered, her breath caught in her throat. The room was in disarray, as if a storm had torn through it. . And most alarmingly, the stones-precious stones that had been carefully preserved for centuries-were missing.

Luminar's mind raced with possibilities. Could the theft of the stones be connected to the murder of the kingdom's inhabitants? It seemed like more than a mere coincidence,devastation had befallen her homeland.

The stones held great significance to the Alpharian people, believed to possess mystical powers and serve as protectors of the kingdom.

Determined to find answers, She hurriedly left the den of stones and continued her search. She hoped that her family would uncover something, anything, to shed light on the mysterious events that had befallen their home. With each step, the weight of the unknown pressed upon her, but she refused to let fear consume her.

Luminar decided to look no further, she returned to where they had agreed to meet. Just as everyone was getting together to discuss what they found, a gun shot was heard, followed by another and another. Luminar screamed on top of her lungs when she saw the person who was shot was Grandma Luna, Grandma Luna fell to the ground.Luminar knelt down beside her , with her last breathe she pointed at Luminar's necklace and said "Amethyst," right after uttering her last words she died . Luminar cried uncontrollably as she was crying another gun shot was heard

"Luminar we need to go now, Luminar!"

Uncle Victor grabbed her and they begun to run. No sooner had they reached the gates that men dressed in black appeared with their faces fully covered and holding different weapons " Run I will take care of them," uncle Victor said

"What,n..no...no you are coming with us we can't leave you,"

"I said go!"

He transformed into a majestic brown wolf and howled really loud. Luminar and the rest begun to run as uncle Victor starting fighting the men in black, unfortunately they were to many and out numbered. The rest of the family ran as fast as possible, Luminar's sister ran into the men , before they could have a chance to transform they were stabbed several times with swords, there spouses attempted to save them but also ended being killed and shot in the face that they couldn't even be recognized.Luminar , Iris and Alexander were together and found an exit. They were headed for the exit but the men where on there tails. Iris stopped running "Iris what are you doing let's go, Iris!"

"You were the only person who stood up for me and accepted me just the way I m, you were a true friend indeed ,"

Instead of running ahead she started running backwards towards the men , Luminar wanted to follow her but Alexander stopped her and pulled her towards the exit.

The exit felt to easy to find, something wasn't right. Alexander stepped out and he was pierced by spears from head to toe. Luminar was about to scream but she couldn't risk getting caught. She moved around swiftly, suddenly someone pulled her and hushed her.It was Amethyst, Amethyst knew a secret entrance to the Alpharian kingdom she took her mum to it and they made it out. "What are you doing here, I told you not to live the den,"

"I know but.... ,"

Luminar asked her to keep quiet, she sensed the men looking at them

"Run , run , run let's go!" she grabbed Amethyst ,Luminar, driven by a mother's instinct to protect her daughter,clutched her child's hand tightly as they raced deeper into the shadows of the ancient woods. The deafening sound of gunshots reverberated through the forest, echoing the impending doom that loomed over them.

Their desperate flight seemed endless, but Luminar's determination pushed her onwards. With each passing moment, the hunters closed in, their menacing footsteps growing louder, a chilling reminder of the imminent danger that pursued them.

Finally, Luminar made a split-second decision, veering off the main path and plunging into the thickest part of the forest. The trees whispered ancient secrets as the mother and daughter sought refuge in its depths. Yet, even as they pressed forward, the haunting echo of footsteps persisted, a haunting reminder that their pursuers were unrelenting.

Breathing heavily, Luminar slowed her pace, her senses attuned to any signs of danger. She knew they had reached a crucial turning point. Carefully choosing a secluded spot, they came to a halt, her ears straining to listen for any signs of their hunters. Silence enveloped them like a suffocating shroud.

Just as Amethyst began to hope for a brief respite from their nightmare, a gunshot shattered the stillness. Time seemed to stretch as Amethyst's heart froze, tears pouring down her face. Her eyes widened in horror as crimson droplets splattered across her face, her mother, Luminar had been shot.

With a strength borne of desperation, Luminar motioned for Amethyst to come closer, her voice strained but filled with love and urgency. She took off her necklace and placed it into Amethyst's trembling hands. The weight of responsibility settled upon her young shoulders, mingling with the tears that streamed down her face."mama get up , get up mama !"

"Amethyst, my precious child," Luminar whispered, her voice filled with a mixture of pain and determination. "I have loved you since the very day you were born,take this necklace. It holds the power and legacy of our pack. I will always be there for you. Run Amethyst ,run far far away from here and don't look back for anything."

Amethyst's heart shattered as she gazed into her mother's fading eyes, a fierce determination taking hold within her. With one last, painful push, Luminar propelled Amethyst into a nearby ditch, concealing her from view. In the depths of that darkened refuge, she watched, her tears blurring her vision, as her mother faced her captors head-on.

The sounds of struggle and gunfire pierced the air, each echo searing into her soul. She clutched the necklace, her fingers trembling, feeling the weight of her mother's sacrifice. Luminar's cries and the barrage of bullets mingled in a tragic symphony, etching a harrowing memory that would forever haunt Amethyst's nightmares.

As silence settled over the forest once more, the footsteps of their pursuers gradually faded into the distance. Amethyst emerged from her hiding place, her heart heavy with grief and vengeance. She did as her mother instructed, clutching the necklace tightly, its power pulsating beneath her touch. Tears streamed down her face, mingling with the dirt and blood, as she began to run, her mother's voice echoing in her mind.

Through the dense foliage and over treacherous terrain, she raced, her determination fueling her every step. The tears blurred her vision, but she refused to yield. She would honor her mother's sacrifice by surviving and seeking justice for their pack.