Phoenix Reborn

an/A

wer to accept your path, to change the

here truth in them? Could I truly have a path, a purpose beyond the blood-soaked legacy of

and yet, it felt as though the road had only begun to unfold. There were still two more days to go before I reached Shadowfang, but something tugged at my mind-an unfinishe

the hunt. Turning sharply to the right, I veered off the main path. The forest thickened, the underbrush whispering se

it. Above me, on a hilltop, stood a cluster of trees, their branches painted gold by the morning light. It seemed incre

were said to have dangerous powers that could bring nightmares into the conscious world, despite their seeming beauty.

incline, the sound of gushing water luring me farther into the forest. Something cold a

hed it all over my face. I sipped first, then anoth

were kindling a long-dormant flame. The smell of earth and pine blended with a deeper, more primordia

es. Then the creature emerged-a black shadow, larger than any beast I had ever known

ouble-edged spear in its grasp. My eyes, which were hazel with hints of gold, were ferocious and un

gh fur and flesh as I severed a paw from its body. The beast roared in agony, blood spraying the earth like rain. It stagge

ing me back and sending me crashing into a tree trunk. I struck my head against another object, and the blow echo

hand clenched, but there was no spear. No blood on my sk

ow

face the intruder. It was Mira, her presence g

estion simultaneously, voices overlapping

owledge. "I could ask you the same, but I already know." Her gaze ling

ll dazed from the vi

it." Her words were simple, b

my throat. "Me? Kill a

"I watched you fight it. You don't believe me, but it happened. I knew you woul

my chest. "You must be m

And that's why my father helped you. He saw something in you-somethi

re, the sky grew darker and the chill of night started to seep into the air. As soon as Mira gathered some dry wood, a fire flared be

in my dreams, the one with the calm eyes and kind smile. He had always been

eemingly strong, yet with his han

rmured in a consoling tone. "You have been chosen

to his statements t

lly see him. Even though he was older, his features looked a lot like

anger in my dream

and the surrounding darkness persisted. The dream weighed heav

s certain. I did not know what was ahead. It was a device,