After leaving the Chamber of Knowledge, the cave, though still ancient, seemed brighter. Lyra and Kaelan carried within them the weight of newly acquired knowledge, but also a freshly discovered hope. They knew what they had to do, and that gave meaning to their struggle.
They returned to the Silver Claw Pack, where they gave Kaelan a full report of their discoveries. The werewolves, though initially shocked by the scale of the threat and the nature of the Shadow of Oblivion, were also moved by the vision of the Song of Life and the prospect of a true solution to the problem.
"So we must find those who possess Primeval Magic," said one of the elder warriors, his voice full of resignation. "But how? The Shadow of Oblivion has destroyed so much. We thought there was no one left."
Lyra approached the Map of the Primordials, which had been moved and spread out in the pack's central grotto. "The map will show us the way," she said, touching the pulsating points. "Each of these points marks a focal point of Primeval Magic, be it a bastion or a living being who has not yet mastered it."
Kaelan added: "Not all bastions are Hearts of the Forest. There are other forms too, guardians who may have survived. And some of us, the Primeval Alphas, also possess this magic, though dormant."
Over the next few days, the Gray Moon and Silver Claw packs began to integrate. Kaleb, who had arrived with some of his warriors to see Lyra and check on developments, was impressed by the changes. He saw the Silver Claw valley healed and noticed how Lyra and Kaelan worked together in perfect harmony. He felt a pang of jealousy seeing their understanding, but at the same time, he felt relieved that Lyra was not alone.
Lyra led Kaleb to the Map of the Primordials. When Kaleb saw the pulsating points and the dark vortex at the center, his face paled. Lyra explained the nature of the Shadow of Oblivion and the need to unite all wielders of Primeval Magic.
Kaleb, though still battling his internal demons and feelings for Lyra, was primarily a pragmatic and devoted Alpha. "I understand. We must act," he said, his voice firm. "My pack is ready to fight. But how do we do this? The map is vast."
"We will start with the nearest focal point to the west," Lyra declared, pointing to a point that pulsed faintly but distinctly. "I sense a powerful, but dormant, Primeval Magic there. There's also a bastion that needs cleansing. We must investigate each of them. And we must do it with as much visibility as possible. Others need to know that hope lives."
Kaleb nodded. "We will split our forces. I will return to the Gray Moon Pack and prepare them for a long journey. You and Kaelan will lead the first expedition. We must be agile and unseen until we are ready to strike."
Lyra agreed. Even though Kaleb still made her feel uneasy, his strategic abilities were invaluable. Their cooperation, though rough, was effective.
Seraphina, who observed these events from the shadows, with increasing fury. She saw Lyra gaining power, Kaelan trusting her, and even Kaleb accepting her leadership. Her jealousy grew, transforming into a dark obsession. She began secretly seeking information, eavesdropping on conversations, searching for weaknesses in Lyra's plans. Her mind, already scarred by the plague, now leaned towards betrayal.
Lyra, despite everything, sensed her darkness. She knew Seraphina was a threat, but at the moment, she focused on the global danger. She would have to deal with her later.
Lyra and Kaelan, along with a chosen group of werewolves, set out to the west. The journey was fraught with peril. They had to avoid infected territories, fight small groups of Shadows and mutated animals, and navigate difficult terrain. Their mutual trust grew with each passing day. Lyra taught Kaelan how to sense the subtle signals of Primeval Magic, how to communicate with the forest on a deeper level.
As they approached the western bastion, the aura of Primeval Magic grew stronger. However, it was accompanied by a strange feeling of melancholy and sorrow. This was not the suffering of the Shadow of Oblivion, but rather an echo of some ancient tragedy.
They arrived at a place that was once a beautiful, ancient city, built within a giant tree. However, the city was now deserted, covered in a layer of the black substance of the Shadow of Oblivion. The air was heavy, and the wind carried whispers of forgotten voices.
"This is the City of Whispers," Kaelan said, his voice low. "Legend says it was a place where Lunas and Alphas united in ancient times. But it was destroyed. It is said that its fall was one of the first signs of the coming plague."
Lyra felt her heart ache with pain. This was a place of immense significance that had been defiled. She sensed that beneath the layer of Shadow, a delicate pulse of life still beat.
"The bastion is here," Lyra declared, pointing to a gigantic, black mass that looked like a mutated root, grown into the center of the city. "But it's dormant. And contaminated."
Suddenly, from the shadows, a figure emerged. It was a she-wolf, her fur dark, and her eyes gleaming with a strange, dead light. She was not mutated by the Shadow of Oblivion, but she was somehow… empty. She had no aura of life, but she was not controlled by darkness either.
"You are intruders," the she-wolf snarled, her voice cold and colorless. "There is nothing left to save here. Only oblivion."
Lyra sensed that this she-wolf was not an enemy in the traditional sense, but a guardian of a place overwhelmed by despair. Her emptiness was the result of some deep trauma, not the plague.
"We are here to restore life," Lyra said. "To awaken the City of Whispers. To cleanse this bastion."
The she-wolf laughed, a bitter, emotionless laugh. "Life? Oblivion is all that remains here. Embrace it. It's the only way to peace."
Kaelan stood by Lyra's side, his face serious. "We must be careful, Luna. She is somehow resistant to the Shadow. But her mind… is broken."
Lyra felt she had to reach this being. This was not another battle of strength. This was a battle for a soul. She understood that this she-wolf was the key to cleansing this bastion, perhaps by healing her own emptiness.