The curse of Silverwood

ng thickened. She was no longer just a woman seeking answers-she was a predator, a creature caught between two worlds, and the wilderness seemed to know it. Animals avoided her, the wind

ra felt a mixture of emotions-fear, anger, curiosity. "I didn't ask for this," she said, her voice shaking. "I was attacked. I was bitten. And now... now I'm losing myself." Kellan's expression softened. "Many of us were bitten, like you. It is how the gift spreads. But your bloodline is different. You were always meant to carry the wolf within you, Elara. You come from the line of the Moores, ancient guardians of the balance between humans and wolves. The silver locket you wear-do you know its significance?" Elara instinctively touched the locket, its warmth comforting against her skin. "It's a family heirloom. That's all I know." Kellan nodded. "It is much more than that. The locket contains the essence of your ancestors, the ones who first struck a pact with the wolves. It holds the power to control the transformation, to balance the human and the wolf. That is why you've been able to resist the full descent into madness. But there's more to it. The locket is also the key to an ancient secret buried within Black Hollow." Elara's eyes widened. "What secret?" Kellan motioned for her to follow him. "Come with me, and I will show you." They walked through the hollow, the wolves following at a distance. As they moved deeper into the valley, the ground seemed to pulse with energy, and the trees grew even larger, their branches twisting into intricate shapes. The air grew colder, and Elara could feel the magic here, an ancient power that made her skin prickle. At the center of the hollow stood an enormous stone structure, a monolith covered in strange runes that glowed faintly in the moonlight. Kellan stopped in front of it and placed his hand on the stone. The runes pulsed, and the ground beneath them trembled. "This," Kellan said, "is the heart of Black Hollow. It is where the first pact between humans and wolves was made. Your ancestors, the Moores, were the guardians of this place, tasked with protecting the balance between our two worlds. The locket you carry is the key to unlocking the power of the pact, but it also holds the potential to destroy it." Elara stepped closer, staring at the monolith