Moonbound Hearts – Episode 2: Shadows of Truth
Amara stared at Kael, heart thundering in her chest. His presence was like something pulled out of a dream or a nightmare. And yet, despite the overwhelming strangeness, she didn't feel afraid of him. Curious. Uneasy. But not afraid.
He stood calmly, the moonlight catching the edges of his dark hair, and those eyes silver like the reflection of the moon on water never left her. The quiet between them was thick, stretching like fog.
"How do you know my name?" Amara asked again, her voice quieter this time, though firm.
"I've known about you since the day you were born," he said softly.
Amara blinked. "That's not possible."
"I was there," Kael said. "Or close, at least. Your parents were... special."
Her breath caught at the mention of them. Her hands instinctively clenched into fists. "You knew my parents?"
"I did. Not as closely as I wanted to, but enough to know they weren't who the world thought they were."
Amara stepped back, her boots crunching softly over leaves. "You expect me to believe that my parents—ordinary people, who disappeared in a storm—were... what? Magical warriors?"
"They weren't ordinary," Kael said. "And neither are you."
"I'm just a girl who works at a bookstore and has weird dreams. That's all."
He tilted his head, studying her. "Dreams are often more than they seem. Especially for someone like you."
Amara frowned. "Someone like me?"
"A soul touched by the Moonbound."
That word again. "You keep saying that. Moonbound. What does it even mean?"
Kael hesitated, as if weighing how much to tell her. "It's an ancient link between wolves and humansa spiritual bond forged by blood and destiny. It gives strength, vision… and connection. You carry that bond, Amara. It lives in your bloodline."
She opened her mouth to protest, but paused. Memories flashed behind her eyes dreams that had haunted her since childhood: running through the woods on four legs, howling at the moon, the sound of drums, fire, and chanting. Every therapist had called it stress. Grief. But what if… it wasn't?
"I don't believe you," she muttered, but even as she said it, doubt crept into her tone.
Kael didn't push. "You don't have to believe me yet. You will, in time."
Suddenly, a loud howl echoed through the forest long, low, and mournful. Amara froze, glancing over her shoulder. "Was that?"
Kael's jaw tightened. "We're not alone."
He moved in a flash, stepping in front of her. "We need to go."
"Go where?"
"A place where the veil between worlds is thin. You'll be safe there."
Amara hesitated. Everything in her screamed not to trust him. But something else, something deeper, said otherwise. Her gut pulled her toward him—and she'd learned to listen to her instincts.
She nodded once.
Kael turned and began walking, silent as a shadow. Amara followed, stumbling slightly as the forest grew darker around them. The air felt heavier, as though they were walking into a different world.
"How did my parents disappear?" she asked after several minutes of walking. "You said they were taken."
Kael didn't look back. "They crossed into the Hidden Realm. A place that exists alongside this one, unseen by most. They were hunting something—a darkness that had slipped through. But they never returned."
"Why?"
"Because the realm keeps what it likes. And they were powerful."
Amara swallowed hard. "You think I can find them?"
"I think," Kael said, finally glancing back at her, "they left you a path to follow. If you're brave enough to take it."
They stopped at a clearing. The moon broke through the clouds overhead, casting pale light across the forest floor. In the center of the clearing was a large stone smooth, circular, and etched with ancient symbols.
"What is this place?" Amara asked in awe.
"A gateway," Kael said. "One of the last still active."
He approached the stone and placed a hand against it. The markings shimmered faintly.
Amara felt a tingle run up her spine.
"I can't go further with you," Kael said, turning to face her. "Not yet. The path ahead is yours alone."
"Wait what?" Panic flared in her chest. "You're sending me through this thing by myself?"
"You need to see for yourself. Feel it. The truth is waiting on the other side."
She looked at the stone, then back at him. "What if I'm not ready?"
Kael stepped closer. "You are. The bond is already awakening. That's why the forest called you."
Amara looked up at the moon. It felt impossibly close.
She took a deep breath.
And then she stepped forward, placing her hand against the stone.
The world around her shifted.
The air became thicker, warmer. The light dimmed, but not from clouds—everything looked… older. Wilder. The trees here were taller, denser. A low humming sound filled the air, like distant singing.
She turned around.
Kael was gone.