Luna raised a hand.
“Hold.” Her ten guards halted at once, spears raised and ready.
From the thicket, shadows emerged, four figures, bows drawn and aimed.
“Who goes there?” one of them called.
“Envoys of Blackmoon,” Luna answered firmly.
“Lower your weapons.” The four hesitated, then slowly lowered their bows.
Their leader stepped forward, a middle-aged man with a scar running along his cheek.
“Lady Luna?” “You know me?” “I am Brann of the River Clan.
Word of your plight reached us.” Luna let out a breath of relief.
“The River Clan still speaks with us?” “We remain neutral,” Brann said.
“But we are not blind to what happens around us.” Luna met his gaze.
“May we pass?
We seek audience with your Elders.” “Follow me,” Brann said.
“But bind your weapons.
It is our custom.” Luna nodded.
“Bind them.” IN THE RIVER CLAN VILLAGE Three a.m.
A quiet village nestled along the riverbank, wooden homes ringed by bamboo fences.
Word had spread, and folk had gathered.
Luna and her escort were led to the village meeting hall.
Inside, five Elders sat in a circle around a small hearth fire.
The eldest rose, his hair pure white.
“I am Elder Maren.
Be seated.” Luna sat, her guards standing close behind her.
“We have heard the Whitefang marches against you,” Maren said.
“Is it true?” “It is true,” Luna replied.
“Our fields burn.
Our gates are broken.
And their Alpha demands that I be handed over to him.” She laid her letter upon the table.
“This is our plea.
We ask for aid.” Maren read it, his face unreadable.
“And what shall we gain, should we help you?” “Food,” Luna said at once.
“Land.
And an alliance.
Darek will not stop at Blackmoon.
Once we fall, you are next.” A younger Elder struck the table.
“Is this a threat?” “It is the truth,” Luna said steadily.
“Darek means to claim every span of land in this valley.” Silence fell over the room.
Maren studied Luna for a long moment.
“You have your mother’s way, steady and unyielding.” Luna looked up, surprised.
“You knew my mother?” “I did,” Maren said.
“She stood with this village when the floods came, long ago.” He turned to the others.
“What say you all?” “It is dangerous,” the younger Elder said.
“If we help, Whitefang will turn their wrath upon us.” “And if we do not,” another Elder said, “we starve come next harvest.
Blackmoon supplies our grain.” Maren nodded slowly.
“We shall give our answer at dawn.
You and yours may rest in the granary tonight.” IN THE GRANARY Four a.m.
Luna sat awake by the door, watching the dark.
Joren crept closer.
“My Lady…
do you think they will help?” “I do not know,” Luna said honestly.
“But we must try with every clan we can.” BACK AT BLACKMOON CASTLE Four-thirty a.m.
Kael walked the line of new trenches dug before the walls, deep enough to reach a man’s chest.
“Good work,” he said.
“Line the bottoms with sharpened bamboo stakes.” Soldiers moved quickly to carry out his orders.
Mira approached with a heavy cloak.
“Alpha.
Put this on.
The air turns bitter cold.” “Thank you,” Kael said, wrapping it around his shoulders.
“Any word from the Lady yet?” Mira asked quietly.
“None,” Kael said.
“But she is strong.
She will return.” DAWN AT THE RIVER CLAN Six a.m.
Mist hung over the river.
Luna was summoned once more to the hall.
Maren stood before her.
“We have reached our decision.” Every soul held their breath.
“We send fifty men at dawn tomorrow,” Maren said.
“With food, and spears.” Luna stood, her shoulders sagging with relief.
“Thank you.” “Do not thank me yet,” Maren warned.
“This is a debt.
When the fighting ends, you shall repay us in grain.” “It is agreed,” Luna said.
The younger Elder grumbled under his breath, but the pact was sealed.
EN ROUTE TO THE STONE CLAN Eight a.m.
Luna and her escort set out once more, riding toward the mountains.
The road was stony and slick from the previous night’s rain.
Ten a.m.
They were halted.
Twenty figures stepped from the trees, clad in furs, their faces half-hidden behind cloth.
“Lay down your arms,” their leader commanded.
“We come in peace,” Luna called out.
“That matters little to us,” the man replied.
“You stand upon Stone Clan lands.” Suddenly, a whistle rang out from the ridge above.
The leader looked up, cursed under his breath, and signaled his men to fall back into the trees.
Luna turned.
Upon the ridge stood five Stone Clan archers, watching them pass.
AT THE STONE CLAN FORTRESS Noon.
A fortress of cold grey stone rose high upon the slope.
Luna was brought before the Stone Clan’s ruler, Karga, a broad, powerful woman who looked every bit as hard as the stone her people worked.
“You have the audacity to come here,” Karga said.
“After your mother seized lands that were ours, years ago.” “That was twenty years past,” Luna said.
“And I am not my mother.” Karga laughed, a low, rough sound.
“Straight to the point.
I like that.” She settled into her stone chair.
“Very well.
What do you want?” “Aid,” Luna said.
“Or by this time tomorrow, Darek stands at your gates.” Karga narrowed her eyes.
“How many does he bring?” “A thousand.
Perhaps more.” Karga fell silent, thinking.
“I have never held any love for Blackmoon.” She leaned forward.
“But I hate Darek Whitefang far more.” She turned to her guards.
“Send thirty men.
And ten carts loaded with stone to shore up your walls.” Luna bowed low.
“You have my deepest thanks, Elder.” “Save your gratitude,” Karga said.
“Consider it payment.
When this war ends, the western valley passes into Stone Clan hands.” Luna paused only a moment, then nodded.
“It is done.” Four p.m.
Luna rode back toward the woods at the head of eighty men, fifty from River, thirty from Stone, and ten carts heavy with stone, grain, and medicine.
Joren smiled beside her.
“You have done it, My Lady.” “It is not yet done,” Luna said quietly.
“The war is far from over.” THAT EVENING AT BLACKMOON Seven p.m.
Kael stood upon the wall, watching the road.
He saw torches winding through the dark, drawing nearer fast.
“OPEN THE GATE!” he shouted.
The great gates swung wide.
Luna rode through first, her cloak stained, her face lined with exhaustion, yet sitting tall in her saddle.
Kael rushed down the steps and caught her in his arms before she could even dismount.
“You have returned,” he breathed, holding her tight.
“I bring help,” Luna whispered against his ear.
“Eighty men.
Food.
And stone to reinforce the walls.” Kael pulled back just enough to look into her eyes.
“You are extraordinary.” IN THE GREAT HALL Eight p.m.
All were gathered, new allies, Blackmoon Elders, townsfolk and soldiers alike.
Luna stood before them all.
“These are our allies from the River and Stone Clans.” A low cheer rose up.
“We are no longer alone,” Luna said.
“But Darek comes with greater force at dawn.
So we work through the night.” Every head nodded in resolve.
IN THE CHAMBER Ten p.m.
Luna sat upon a stool while Kael tended to her wounds.
“Does it pain you?” Kael asked softly, dabbing at her cuts.
“Not the wounds,” Luna said.
“Only the weariness.” Kael bound the bandages tight and gentle.
“You stood before two clans who have long called Blackmoon enemy, and you won them over.” “I had no choice,” Luna said simply.
Kael kissed her forehead.
“Nevertheless…
I am proud of you.” IN THE WHITEFANG CAMP Eleven p.m.
Darek received word from his scouts.
“They have secured aid, Alpha.
From River and from Stone.” Darek hurled his drinking cup into the fire.
“Curse them!” He stood, rage burning in his eyes.
“Call every man to arms.
Our force swells to fifteen hundred.
We strike at noon tomorrow!” Midnight.
Luna stood upon the wall.
Beside her stood eighty faces she had not known hours before.
Below, the trenches were dug deep.
Stone was stacked high along the ramparts.
Far off in the dark woods, countless torches burned, drawing nearer, and far more numerous than the night before.
An alliance had been forged.
But time ran short.
At dawn, fifteen hundred men would march upon them.
And Luna must lead the defense of walls now guarded by those who had once been strangers, and enemies.
Twelve-ten a.m.
Night wind made the wall torches flicker and dance.
Luna walked the length of the ramparts, counting her people as she went.
River clansmen held the eastern wall, faces hard and unfamiliar, but standing firm.
Stone clansmen held the west, silent, grim, their eyes fixed steadily upon the dark treeline.
Joren came to her side.
“My Lady.
Rations have been distributed.” “Good,” Luna said.
“See that every soul gets a bowl of hot porridge.” Below the walls, women ladled steaming food into wooden bowls.
Steam rose upward into the cool air.
Minho helped carry spoons, moving carefully through the lines.
“My Lady…
this one is for the old man over there.” “Thank you, little one,” Luna said, brushing his hair gently.
THE STOREHOUSE Twelve-forty a.m.
Kael spread out updated maps upon the table, marking the new positions of the Stone Clan reinforcements.
“Use the stone from the carts to reinforce the southeast corner,” Kael instructed Elder Alden.
Alden jotted notes.
“It shall be done, Alpha.
Two hours’ work at most.” Elder Karga stood nearby, arms folded.
“If that wall falls…
do not look to us to bear the blame.” “It will not fall,” Kael said evenly.
“Hold your position, and all shall stand.” Karga gave a sharp, brief nod, and stepped out into the night.
THE MEDICINE TENT One a.m.
Mira tore clean linen into strips for bandages.
Beside her, a healer from the River Clan stirred herbs into steaming pots.
“Here,” Mira said to a soldier with a gash along his arm.
“Drink this.
It will bring down the fever.” The man swallowed and grimaced.
“Bitter stuff.” “It works fast,” the healer said.
Luna stepped in to inspect supplies.
“We have enough?” “For three days,” Mira said.
“If fighting lasts longer…
we shall run dry.” Luna nodded.
“Use every measure sparingly.” BEYOND THE WALLS One-thirty a.m.
A scout came sprinting back, breathless and gasping.
“My Lady!
They have halted along the river and are pitching camp.” Luna stared out into the darkness.
“How far away?” “Half an hour’s march.” Kael stepped to her side.
“So they will not strike tonight.” “They mean to wear us down,” Luna said.
“Break us before they even draw their swords.” Kael nodded in agreement.
“Rotate the watch every hour.
All others sleep while they may.” IN DAREK’S CAMP Two a.m.
Darek sat upon a camp chair.
Before him stood a bound prisoner.
“Where are you from?” Darek asked, his voice low and dangerous.
“A village…
a humble village,” the man stammered, trembling.
“Liar,” Darek said.
He gave a sharp signal.
His lieutenant seized the man and dragged him away into the dark.
Darek stared into the fire, his eyes hard.
“Tomorrow…
we shall tear them apart from within.” AT THE CASTLE Two-forty-five a.m.
Luna gathered all the captains, of Blackmoon, River, and Stone.
“Let us make our stand clear,” she said.
“River Clan holds the eastern wall.
Stone Clan holds the west.
Blackmoon holds the center and the main gate.” “Agreed,” said the River captain.
“We shall not run,” said the Stone captain.
“But do not give us orders that make no sense.” Luna met his gaze.
“You shall have none.” Three a.m.
A fine, cold rain began to fall.
Luna sat upon the steps of the great hall, writing quietly in her book.
She wrote down the names of those who had fallen the day before.
Kael sat beside her, draping a warm cloak over her shoulders.
“You must rest.” “Soon,” Luna said softly.
“I would remember their names first.” Kael said nothing, but laced his fingers through hers and held her hand tight.
Far off in the dark, a single Whitefang torch moved…
then vanished.
A signal had been given.
NEARING DAWN Four-fifty a.m.
The sky began to pale.
No bell was rung, every soul stood ready already.
Luna stood in the courtyard, her voice carrying clear and strong to every corner.
“We fight today not for glory, nor for vengeance.
We fight so that our children may eat tomorrow.” Eighty pairs of eyes looked to her, including those who had once been enemies.
“To your posts.” A thousand footsteps moved in unison.
From the edge of the forest, war drums began to beat,slow at first, then faster, louder, drawing nearer.
Fifteen hundred souls marched to war.
And upon the walls, Luna drew her sword, and held it high.