After cleansing the City of Whispers, Lyra, Kaelan, and Elara spent several days regenerating and organizing the newly found inhabitants. The werewolves, whose memories were slowly returning, were initially lost and disoriented, but the sight of Lyra and the presence of Elara, who was a familiar figure to them, helped them find their footing in the new reality. Lyra continued to gently heal their minds, helping them process the trauma and understand what had happened.
Elara became an invaluable ally. Her knowledge of the history of the City of Whispers and its connections to Primeval Magic was vast. Thanks to her recovered memories, she recalled ancient paths and hidden places that could be crucial to their mission. Her presence was also comforting to Lyra – Elara understood the pain of loss and the joy of recovery, which forged a unique bond.
"The Map of the Primordials indicates another bastion to the south," Lyra said as they studied the glowing points. "But it's… strange. The aura there is faint, almost imperceptible. But I feel this place is important."
Kaelan looked at the map, his brows furrowed. "The south. That's the territory of the Desert Pack. They are known for their isolation. And… for having their own ancient practices."
"What do you mean?" Lyra asked.
"The Desert Pack didn't believe in covenants," Kaelan explained. "They preferred to rely only on themselves. It is said they guard a place that was considered… the heart of their own magic. But they never allowed anyone to approach it."
Lyra felt this might be a difficult encounter. It wasn't just about fighting the Shadow of Oblivion, but also about convincing distrustful werewolves to unite.
"We must try," Lyra stated. "Every bastion and every wielder of Primeval Magic is crucial for the Song of Life."
Elara, who had been listening to their conversation, spoke up: "My ancestor, once… had contact with them. Before the fall. He said the Desert Pack guarded an ancient crystal. A crystal of dreams. It was said to store the memories of their ancestors and serve as the source of their power."
A crystal of dreams. That must be the next bastion. Lyra, Kaelan, and Elara, accompanied by a few werewolves from the City of Whispers, which was slowly returning to life, set off south. The journey through the sun-scorched wasteland was exhausting. Days were hot, and nights cold. They had to be vigilant at every step, as the Shadow of Oblivion had also reached these distant lands, though it was diluted and weaker.
Finally, they reached the borders of the Desert Pack's territory. The landscape changed drastically. The desert gave way to rocky canyons and hidden caves. The air was filled with the scent of dry herbs and something else… a strong, alien magic.
They were stopped by a group of Desert Pack werewolves. Their fur was sand-brown, and their eyes sharp and suspicious. Their Alpha, a powerful, old wolf with scars on his muzzle, stood before them.
"Who are you, intruders?" the Alpha growled, his voice rough like sand. "We do not tolerate strangers on our land."
"I am Lyra, Blood Moon Luna," Lyra said, standing confidently. "And these are Kaelan of the Silver Claw Pack and Elara of the City of Whispers. We come in peace, to warn you about the Shadow of Oblivion and to ask for your help."
The Alpha looked at her in disbelief, then at Kaelan and Elara. "Blood Moon Luna? Those are just legends. Shadow of Oblivion? We don't need help. We manage."
"The Shadow of Oblivion is a global threat," Kaelan replied. "It has already destroyed many bastions. And we have seen how it works. You are not just fighting wolves, but the essence of emptiness."
The Alpha laughed bitterly. "Emptiness is part of the desert. We are used to it. Leave. We have nothing for you."
Lyra felt frustrated, but she knew she had to be patient. These werewolves were proud and distrustful. "I know you have Primeval Magic within you," Lyra said, her voice confident. "I know about the Crystals of Dreams. And I know that your bastion is also threatened, even if you don't see it."
The Alpha froze. His eyes narrowed. "How dare you speak of our sacred things?"
Then, to their surprise, the ground began to tremble. A wave of Shadows of Oblivion emerged from the canyon, larger and more organized than anything they had seen in the desert before. These were not just small shadows – colossal, sandy creatures, formed from the desert itself and darkness, with tentacles that tore through rocks, appeared.
The Desert Pack, though experienced in fighting local threats, was shocked. They had never seen anything like this. Their defense began to crumble.
"Fight them!" the Alpha growled, but there was a hint of panic in his voice.
Lyra and Kaelan immediately sprang into action. Lyra summoned vines that wrapped around the sandy giants, slowing them down, while Kaelan hurled powerful blasts of green energy, dispersing smaller shadows. Elara fought beside them, her recovered memories fueling her strength.
The Desert Pack werewolves watched in disbelief. They had never seen such magic. The Alpha, seeing the effectiveness of Lyra and Kaelan, hesitated.
One of the sandy giants lunged directly at the Alpha. Lyra reacted instinctively. She unleashed a stream of the Song of Life, which struck the giant, causing it to hiss and crumble into sand. In the place where it stood, delicate, glowing crystals appeared, which immediately vanished.
This was the proof the Alpha needed. Lyra had not only defeated the threat but had shown him the nature of his true enemy.
The battle continued, but thanks to the support of Lyra, Kaelan, and Elara, the Desert Pack began to regain the initiative. The Shadows were finally repelled, retreating deeper into the desert.
After the battle, the Alpha of the Desert Pack, whom Lyra learned was named Karkan, approached her. His face was serious, but this time there was no suspicion in his eyes, but admiration.
"I have never seen such power," Karkan said, his voice low. "You spoke the truth. The Shadow is different. You are… you are the promise spoken of in ancient songs."
"We must unite, Karkan," Lyra said. "We must cleanse the Crystal of Dreams and learn the Song of Life. Only then can we defeat the Shadow of Oblivion at its source."
Karkan nodded. "We will show you the way to our sacred places. But our traditions… they are strong. They will not be easy to change."
Lyra knew it would be a long road, full of challenges. But now they had another ally, though a distrustful one. Cleansing the Crystal of Dreams would require understanding their culture and a delicate approach. Lyra felt that the echo of the past, which Elara spoke of, was stronger here than anywhere else. The Desert Pack held many secrets that could be crucial to their fight.