Page 4 of Favored By the Stars

"There are too many," she breathed, her voice laced with worry. Her point was clear: a simultaneous attack would overwhelm us. Despite the gnawing fear, I knew retreat was not an option.

Steeling myself, I insisted, "We have no choice but to press on, but we must be cautious. Avoid engaging unless absolutely necessary."

No sooner had the words left my lips than a low, guttural growl echoed from the undergrowth. It sent a chill racing down my spine. I whipped around, my blade already unsheathed, yet the source remained hidden, teasing us from the shadows.

"Steady," Thorn advised, his calm tone a lifeline in the eerie stillness. I drew a shaky breath, forcing myself to focus amidst the forest's insidious influence. I could not let fear cloud my judgment when so much rested on our success.

"We keep moving," I declared with quiet determination, resolute against the fear that threatened to engulf us. Following Kaelyn's lead, our group advanced with measured, cautious steps. The eyes in the darkness continued their silent vigil, hungering for the moment we might falter.

I could barely process the sudden eruption of shrieks that shattered the tense silence. Nothing had triggered it that I could tell, but out of the darkness vaulted a horde of grotesque, blighted creatures, twisted, malformed abominations that embodied corruption and malice. I saw Thorn's sword catch the light as he rallied us with urgent commands.

"Senara, cover our flank! Kaelyn, stay close and watch for any stragglers!" he bellowed over the chaos.

No sooner had his words reached me than I sprang into action. My blade spun in a dazzling silver whirlwind as I charged headlong into the fray. The creatures closed in, their movements wild and unpredictable, their eyes lit with an almost unnatural hunger. I barely parried a savage swipe from a clawed limb; the shockwave of impact raced up my arm like fire.

I'd fought in plenty of battles before, but nothing like this. My previous battles, before Thorn had pushed me into the Veil, had all been against humans, and had only rarely used ambush tactics. I wasn't completely out of my comfort zone, but I had one foot over the figurative line, which made a sense of unease take root inside me that I hated.

Beside me, Thorn fought with the precision and grace of a veteran warrior, his sword dancing to a deadly beat that only he could hear. The drums of battle sounded different for everyone in my experience, but I could almost feel the rhythm of his battle echoing through our bond as I fought against my own opponents.

"Thorn, behind you!" I cried, throwing myself forward to block a creature that had wormed its way past Thorn's defenses. I struck the creature, silencing its savage shriek as it collapsed. But in that moment of diversion, I lost precious ground and soon found myself encircled; creatures pressed in from every direction. Their goal was obvious: separate the three of us so they could overwhelm us individually.

Desperation coursed through me. I couldn't let them overwhelm us. My heart began pounding maddeningly in my ears as one thought repeated over and over in my mind. I must protect Thorn, I must keep Kaelyn safe.

With a surge of defiance, I redoubled every ounce of strength, my blade now a tempest of retribution slicing through the relentless foes. I could feel Thorn's steadfast presence somewhere behind me, his sword a gleaming shield protecting Kaelyn as best it could. She wasn't a fighter; she was more of a scout, and as such, this kind of fight would not go in her favor unless one of us looked out for her.

Yet, for every creature I felled, another seemed to rise from the shadows, a never-ending tide of brutality. Pain radiated through my arms and every breath came in ragged gasps as I deflected blow after crushing blow. "Thorn, we can't keep this up much longer," I panted between strikes, my voice raw with exertion. "We need a plan!"

Though the clamor of battle swallowed his reply, I glimpsed unwavering determination in his eyes. I saw how he positioned himself between me and Kaelyn and the onslaught, his sword an unyielding barrier forged of steel and resolve. He was the tip of an arrow, trying to force the attackers to break before they got to me or Kaelyn.

In that chaotic moment, I saw something I never thought I would. His sword missed its mark. Another glance at the man I shared a soul bond with told me that his strength was clearly dwindling. I knew he would risk everything to keep me safe, and it was that thought which ignited in me a renewed fire, a fierce promise to stand by his side, to fight until my last breath, if needed. Together, Thorn and I would brave this storm, and together, we would emerge triumphant.

A sudden cry of pain cut through the chaos, and my heart seized as I watched Thorn stumble, his sword arm faltering under the weight of a vicious blow. The blighted creature seized the opportunity, its claws tearing across Thorn's chest, leaving bloody furrows in its wake.

In that moment, something inside me snapped, a dam of fear and self-doubt collapsing beneath the force of my resolve. Something surged within me, a wild, untamed force that threatened to consume me entirely.

I can't let this happen, I thought, my mind crystal clear despite the tumult of battle. I won't let them hurt him, not while I still draw breath.

A scream of defiance erupted out of me as I let loose this wild energy that was within me. It burst forth from me in a dazzling display of light and fury. It poured from my skin like liquid moonlight, engulfing the blighted creatures in a searing wave of destruction.

The creatures shrieked and writhed as the magic tore through them, their twisted forms dissolving into ash and shadow. The air crackled with the force of my power, the very fabric of reality seeming to warp and bend around me.

And then, as suddenly as it had begun, it was over. The forest fell silent once more, the only sound the ragged breathing of my companions as we stood amidst the carnage.

I swayed on my feet, the aftershocks of my magic still coursing through my veins. As I turned to Thorn, my eyes wide with concern, I found him staring at me with a mixture of awe and apprehension. Whether he was scared of me or not didn't matter. All I could see were the bloody gashes on his chest and arms. Before I could question whether or not he was okay, he spoke.

"Senara..." he breathed, his voice barely above a whisper. "What was that?"

Kaelyn stepped forward, her own face a mask of worry as she surveyed the destruction wrought by my power. "We need to keep moving," she said, her tone urgent. "There may be more of them out there."

But even as we gathered our weapons and set off once more, I could feel the weight of Thorn and Kaelyn's unspoken questions hanging in the air, their concern for my uncontrolled power palpable in the tense silence that stretched between us.

My heart pounded in my chest at the thought of the raw, tumultuous power that had surged through me, leaving me trembling with both exhilaration and dread. I stared at my hands as the last shimmering strands of ethereal energy dissolved into the air, and a sinking realization took hold. I could have hurt Thorn or Kaelyn.

The possibility that I could have let loose enough power to endanger those I care about made me shudder with regret. The very idea sent a fresh wave of terror through my body, and I wrapped my arms tightly around myself, trying in vain to contain the turmoil within.

The Moon Mark had always set me apart, but when I could never use magic, it had been a relief. At least I knew I wouldn't accidentally out myself. Now though? After having witnessed what the magic that had been lying dormant inside me could do? I wondered if I was truly destined to wield such power.

I wasn't a heroine in any sense of the word. All my life I'd fought, killed, stolen, lied, and done whatever it took to survive. Having this power at my fingertips, provided I could figure out how to use it on command, was a dangerous thing. Would I be tempted to use it selfishly?

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