Chapter 4 The Ominous Warning

I took a seat at the edge of the porch, my eyes glued to the trees in the forest. The trees, which normally comforted me, seemed to encroach on me today. It was all so overwhelming-Roman's rejection, the whispers behind my back, and now the mysterious letter.

Running away from the pack, from everything was probably the best bet. I could start afresh somewhere else, where no one knew me. But deep inside, I knew it wasn't that easy. This pack was my home, even if it didn't feel like it right now.

As I sat lost in my thoughts, Eliza appeared beside me. She seemed to keep me connected, like an injection of fresh oxygen into my soul. She didn't say anything at first, she just sat down and followed my gaze into the trees. She spoke after some time, so softly, as if she knew precisely what my thoughts were.

"Don't tell me you're thinking of running away?" she asked softly, yet the way she asked it indicated that there was no way around answering.

I could not bring myself to answer immediately. "I don't know, Ely," I confessed. "Everything's changed so much. I seem to have no place here now."

Eliza's eyes were worried as she turned toward me. "Kayla, you're part of this pack, just like every one else. Things have been really hard lately-I know-but running away is not the answer."

I sighed and rubbed my temples. "It's just that... it feels like I am losing myself here. Every day, it gets harder to remember who I am. Maybe if I left and found a place that would let me start over, things would be easier."

Eliza shook her head and then placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "You're stronger than you think, Kayla. You've gone through so much already, and here you are-still standing. Leaving would solve nothing, rather than make it worse. One would just have to stay-and face what lies ahead."

"Whatever's coming..." I parroted, her words dangling in the air like a shadow. "That's the problem Ely. I don't know what's coming. Everything feels off, - I don't know what would happen next"

With this, Eliza's eyes softened, and she gave me a reassuring smile. "Then let's find out together. Elder Magnus might have some answers. He is wise and he might be able to help us."

I hesitated, though Eliza's words gave me relief at the thought of finally having a direction in which to move. Elder Magnus had always been a very mysterious figure who spoke in riddles and half-truths, but if someone could shed some light on the strange feelings that gnawed within me, it was him.

"Alright," I said, nodding. "Let's go see him."

Eliza and I wandered along the paths, snaking through the brush. The scent of pine and earth filled the air, and, the farther into the forest we walked, the more the world was silent, as if leaving the present world behind and stepping into a place where time moved differently.

Elder Magnus lived on the outskirts of the pack's territory, in a small, weathered cabin that looked as old as the trees surrounding it. The place had an air of secrecy like it held ancient knowledge and forgotten stories within its walls.

The cabin loomed over us as we approached. I was shivering-a sensation not of fear but of something impending, like the premonition that things are going to change. I glanced at Eliza, who gave me a reassuring nod before knocking on the door.

"Come in," a deep, gravelly voice called from within.

Eliza pushed open the door and we stepped inside. Candles flickered on surfaces inside the cabin. The air hung heavy with herbs and smoke. Shelves lined the walls, stacking tomes from ages long past.

Elder Magnus sat down in a worn armchair by the hearth, his green eyes still very bright for one his age. His silver locks cascaded down his back; his face was wrinkled, and every line seemed to tell a different story of its own. He was a classical figure both of respect and mystery and his presence filled the room with an aura of wisdom.

"Kayla, Eliza" he greeted us with a nod. "What brings you to my humble abode today?"

I stepped forward, trying to keep my voice steady. "Elder Magnus, I... I've been feeling like something isn't right, like something dark is coming. I mean with everything that has happened lately, Eliza thought you might be able to help."

He studied me for a moment, his eyes piercing, as though he could see right through my soul. Then, slowly, he nodded, gesturing for us to take a seat.

"You are not wrong to feel this way," he said, his voice low and thoughtful. "There is indeed something on the horizon, something that has been foretold in the old prophecies. But what you are sensing is not just some simple threat. This is a culmination of events that have been set in motion long before your time."

A chill settled over me. "How do you mean, what events?"

Elder Magnus leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled as he considered his next words with care. "The world is always in flux, Kayla. Forces of light and darkness are always at play, seeking a balance. But sometimes when that balance is disrupted, great darkness can threaten to consume everything in its path. Prophecies were spoken of times like this-and I'm beginning to think we may be heading into one now."

"So what are we to do?" Eliza demanded, her voice tight with worry. "What if something terrible is coming-what are we supposed to do to prepare for it?"

Elder Magnus sighed, his shoulders sagging under the weight of knowledge he had carried for so long. "The future is not predetermined, though there are occurrences that are more probable than others. What I can tell you, Kayla, is that you are part of what's to come. The darkness is drawn to you-not by chance-but by destiny."

"Drawn to me?" I asked. My heart was racing. "Why?"

He shook his head, his eyes clouding with sadness. "That's not for me to say. The road ahead of you is yours to walk, and the choices you make will mold your future-for yourself, for the pack, and for all that you hold dear."

I swallowed hard, the gravity of his words sinking in. "So you're telling me I have to face this... this darkness?"

"Yes," he answered simply. "But you will not be alone in this struggle. Those who care for you will stand by your side. But you must be prepared, Kayla. The choices you make in these next few days are going to be more vital than any you have ever made."

His words both filled me with dread and gave me resolve. I didn't like the thought of handling whatever was going to come our way, but at the same time, I didn't have a choice. My pack depended on me, the people I love depended on me, and if I left now, I'd abandon them in the face of this threat, leaving them all alone.

"Is there anything more you can tell us?" Eliza asked, her voice tinged by desperation. "Anything that can help us prepare?"

Elder Magnus faltered, his eyes going to the dancing flames in the fireplace. "It is an ancient prophecy-one that foretells the time when darkness shall rise-and only the light of the chosen one can hold it at bay. The prophecy is shrouded in mystery, and its meaning has been lost to time."

I glowered, frustrated within. "Then what, exactly, is the point of a prophecy that means nothing to no one?"

"The point," Magnus said in the most patient tone, "is that the prophecy is not supposed to order your actions but to guide them. Be forewarned, it is to remind you that the choices you make are important. You can shape the future, Kayla, indeed. But you must be cautious. The darkness will come and try to make you turn around, to mislead you. You must trust in yourself and in those who care for you."

I nodded, heavy words settling onto my shoulders. This wasn't about me anymore; it was about everyone who depended on me, everyone who believed in me. I couldn't afford to fail them.

"Thank you, Elder Magnus," I said quietly. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect the pack."

He nodded, "Of course you will. But remember, Kayla, the path lying ahead is dangerous. Be on watch, for darkness is always lurking, waiting for the right moment to strike."

His words sent a chill down my spine, and I felt them reverberating in my mind. Darkness was on its way, and I had to be ready to meet it.

Eliza and I rose to leave the building, and as soon as we neared the door, Elder Magnus called from behind for one final advice.

"Kayla," he said, his voice carrying a sense of urgency. "Remember this: the light within you is your greatest weapon. No matter how dark it gets, don't let it be extinguished."

I turned back to him, meeting his gaze. "I won't," I promised, my voice firm with resolve.

We stepped into the biting, chilling cold air. It was as if the forest had progressively grown even darker than before, throwing longer shadows into the landscape. Eliza walked in silence beside me with an expression of being lost in deep thought.

As we walked back, a sense of foreboding settled into the pit of my stomach. The future lay before us, open but vague, and the darkness seemed to loom just a bit closer, step by step. But I couldn't let fear control me. I had to be strong-for myself, for Eliza, for Danny and for the entire pack.