Chapter 20 The Unseen Enemy

• Days following the prophecy's reveal blurred into a tension- and determination-filled haze. Wildwood and Redclaw packs reinforced their defences, going without rest as they laboured over uncovering some truth behind ancient symbols and dark rituals. The weight of prophecy lay heavy over them, dimming the brightness in their lives.
• Iris had been getting increasingly preoccupied with the mystery of the cave and the ritual. At night, she lay awake; troubled dreams, which drew her deeper into the mystery they faced, seemed to trawl her down. She woke up before dawn each day, driven by the unwavering resolution that bound her to the protection of her pack and in search of answers.
• One fresh morning, Iris stood at the very verge of the forest, gazing out into the expanse of their territory. A nascent sun barely lifted the horizon, just tipping the land with gold. The serenity of the view was in harsh contrast to the turmoil inside her mind; she felt the weight of the prophecy pressing down on her even more ominously with each passing day.