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Chapter 11 - The outerwards

MOONBOUND HEARTS

Chapter Eleven — The Outer Wards 

Dawn had barely touched the horizon when Mara and Luca emerged from the cavern. The forest was thick with mist, silver light spilling from the rising Moon. Every leaf, every branch seemed alive, quivering as if sensing the power that now coursed through Mara.

The Moon Hunters led them along a narrow ridge. Below, the forest stretched endlessly, dense and dark. Somewhere deep within, the exile waited, and Mara could feel it in the air—a subtle tremor of malice.

"The outer wards are defensive lines," the white-haired leader explained. "They were placed by Hunters long before your time. Each one is a trap, a test, and a shield. Your task is to navigate them while maintaining control of your power."

Mara's wrist burned faintly, the mark glowing silver as she followed the path. "And if I fail?"

The leader's gaze was steady. "You do not fail. The Moon chooses only those strong enough to survive. But hesitation will cost you. The wards are not gentle."

Luca walked beside her, scanning the treeline. "We need to stay focused. Anything could be a trap—illusion, shadow, even the forest itself."

The first ward appeared as a thin mist that rolled across the path, its surface rippling like water. Mara stepped forward, feeling the mark flare. The silver veins on her wrist spread outward, connecting with the mist. It parted, forming a path through the swirling fog.

The second ward was sharper—a ring of spectral figures, wolves that shimmered like moonlight, their eyes empty voids. They circled her as she moved, nipping at her heels with teeth that were not solid but cold as shadow.

Mara gritted her teeth, lifting the dagger. Silver energy surged from her mark, forcing the apparitions back. "Keep moving!" Luca shouted, drawing his blade. He deflected an attack, the shadow snapping inches from his face.

The third ward was the most dangerous. A river of black water blocked the path, bubbling as if boiling. The surface reflected not the sky above but Mara's deepest fears—her failures, Luca being torn from her side, the exile standing victorious.

She hesitated. The mark burned hotter than ever, the energy nearly overwhelming her senses. "I… I can't…" she whispered.

Luca grabbed her shoulders. "Yes, you can! Trust it. Trust yourself!"

She clenched the dagger, letting the silver light flow through her. The mark expanded, illuminating the river and forcing the illusions to retreat. One step, then another, she crossed the river, the spectral images dissolving with every pulse.

At the other side, the forest opened onto a plateau. Tall stone monoliths marked the perimeter of the outer wards, each etched with the runes of ancient Hunters. Mara's chest heaved as the adrenaline drained, but the mark continued to glow faintly.

The white-haired leader approached. "You have passed the outer wards. But know this—the exile is learning. Each step you take reveals your strength and your weaknesses. He will not wait for you to be ready."

A howl carried across the plateau, louder than any before, and the forest shivered in response. Mara turned to Luca.

"He's coming," she said.

"And we'll be ready," he replied, drawing her close for a brief moment. "Together."

The wind whispered through the monoliths, carrying a promise of battle, and somewhere in the shadows, the exile's eyes burned brighter than the Moon.

The plateau stretched before them, silent but tense, the monoliths casting long shadows in the silver light of the Moon. Mara's pulse still thundered in her ears, the afterglow of the wards lingering in the air like smoke.

"This is only the beginning," the white-haired leader said, her voice low but commanding. "The wards test more than skill. They test patience, perception, and spirit. One misstep, and the exile will strike before you realize it."

Luca stepped closer to Mara. "We need to stay alert. He knows exactly where we are now."

Mara clenched her jaw. "Then let him come. We won't be caught off guard again."

The forest beyond the plateau seemed to hold its breath. Then a howl shattered the stillness—a deep, resonant sound that echoed across the trees. The exile was near, and Mara could feel the forest shiver with his presence.

The white-haired leader gestured to one of the monoliths. "This one holds an observation ward. It allows you to see through the forest's eyes, but it will also reveal your fears. Are you ready?"

Mara nodded, gripping the dagger. A silver light surged from her mark, flowing into the monolith. The world changed. The plateau melted away, replaced by a vast expanse of trees, mist, and shadows. She could see every movement—the branches swaying, the pack moving in the distance, and something darker, almost imperceptible, watching from the shadows.

"There," Luca whispered beside her. "The exile. He waits at the heart of the forest, testing the limits of your mark."

Mara focused, letting the Moon's energy flow through her. The dagger pulsed in her hand, connecting her to the forest, the wards, and the path she had to take. With each step she imagined taking, the visions of the exile shifted, his eyes piercing the shadows like coals.

"Keep your mind steady," the leader's voice echoed in her head. "Fear is a weapon he will use against you."

Mara's reflection in the ward shimmered—her own doubts mirrored back at her. Images of failure, of Luca being torn away, of the exile overwhelming them both, rose before her. Her mark burned hotter, the silver veins spreading across her arm like lightning.

"I'm not afraid," she whispered, summoning every ounce of control. The illusions shattered, evaporating into silver sparks.

The vision faded, leaving her back on the plateau. Luca exhaled beside her. "You did it," he said. "You passed the observation ward."

The white-haired leader nodded solemnly. "Good. But the exile will test you in reality soon. He grows impatient. Your next challenge is imminent."

The wind carried a distant howl again, sharper, more commanding. Mara's mark flared once more. She turned to Luca.

"He's learning our strength," she said.

"And we'll be ready when he strikes," he replied, eyes scanning the shadows beyond the monoliths.

The forest remained silent, holding its breath, as if the world itself anticipated the coming clash. The Hunt had only deepened, and Mara knew the trials were far from over.

To be continued....

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