Chapter 6 The Escape

The dim light that flickered from the torches cast dancing shadows on the stone walls of Naku's cell. He had been in this prison long enough to know that time worked differently here. Days bled into nights without notice, and the guards who passed by his door seemed to exist only to remind him of his captivity.

But something was different today. Naku could feel it in his bones, the same sensation he used to get before a hunt. There was a tension in the air, thick and palpable. His instincts told him something was coming, something important.

A noise stirred outside his cell door-a soft shuffling of feet. At first, Naku thought it was just another guard, but this sound was lighter, more deliberate. He strained his ears, listening carefully.

Then, a soft whisper came through the crack under the door. "Are you ready to leave this place, my prince?"

Naku sat up, his heart racing. He recognized the voice immediately. It was Tabitha, the assistant to the witch leader, the one who had helped him survive so far. But why was she here now, risking her life to free him?

The door creaked open just wide enough for Tabitha to slip through. Her eyes glinted in the low light, and she pulled back her hood, revealing her face. "We don't have much time. The guards will return for the night shift soon."

Naku stood, towering over her, his muscles stiff from weeks of imprisonment. "Why are you doing this?" he asked, his voice a low growl. "Why help me now?"

Tabitha glanced over her shoulder, as if expecting someone to overhear. "There's more going on than you realize. Lord Meldus has plans far worse than you can imagine. If he succeeds, it won't just be the werewolves who suffer. The witches, the mages... even the humans. He plans to rule them all, and I can't let that happen."

Naku frowned, his mind racing. He had always known Meldus was ruthless, but Tabitha's words suggested something much darker. He needed to get out. He needed to stop Meldus before it was too late.

"How do we escape?" Naku asked, already moving towards the door.

Tabitha handed him a small amulet, glowing faintly in her palm. "This will shield you from detection for a short time, but it won't last long. We need to move quickly, and you need to trust me. The path ahead is dangerous, but it's the only way."

Naku nodded, taking the amulet and slipping it around his neck. The moment the cool stone touched his skin, he felt an odd sensation, like a veil being pulled over him. The heavy scent of magic filled the air, but it was subtle enough to go unnoticed by the guards outside.

Together, they slipped into the hallway, the stone floors cold beneath their feet. Naku's heightened senses picked up the faintest sounds-the footsteps of guards far down the corridor, the clinking of armor as they patrolled the prison. But with Tabitha leading the way, they managed to evade detection, moving through the winding halls like shadows.

At last, they reached the outer courtyard, where the moonlight spilled over the high walls. The cool night air filled Naku's lungs, and for the first time in what felt like years, he could taste freedom.

But it wasn't over yet.

"We have to get past the perimeter," Tabitha whispered, pointing to the far side of the courtyard where several guards stood watch. "There's a secret passage just beyond the wall. It'll lead us out of here, but we have to get there unnoticed."

Naku flexed his muscles, ready to strike if necessary. But Tabitha held up a hand, signaling for patience. "Wait," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I have another way."

She muttered a few words under her breath, her hands weaving intricate patterns in the air. Naku watched as the guards' eyes glazed over, their bodies swaying slightly as if caught in a trance. Whatever spell Tabitha had cast, it was working.

"Now," she urged, grabbing Naku's arm and pulling him toward the passage.

They moved swiftly, darting across the courtyard and slipping through the small hidden gate. Beyond the walls, a dense forest awaited them, its dark canopy casting long shadows over the ground. Naku could hear the distant howl of wolves, his kin, but they were far off, unaware of his escape.

As they entered the forest, Naku turned to Tabitha. "Where do we go from here? Meldus won't stop hunting me."

Tabitha met his gaze, her eyes filled with both determination and fear. "We find allies, those who are still loyal to you. There are others who oppose Meldus-mages, witches, even werewolves who haven't fallen under his spell. But you need to be ready, Naku. This fight will be like nothing you've ever faced before."

Naku nodded, feeling the weight of his destiny pressing down on him. He had escaped the prison, but the real battle was just beginning. And now, with Tabitha at his side and the amulet of protection around his neck, he knew he couldn't turn back.

The moonlight glinted through the trees, casting eerie patterns on the forest floor. Naku took a deep breath, the wild scent of the earth filling his lungs. He was free, but his path was far from clear.

And as they ventured deeper into the night, Naku couldn't shake the feeling that something-or someone-was still watching them.