Chapitre 1

MONDAY , 9TH MOON COUNT:

"Come on, Lizzy, faster!" Tommy shouted, tugging at my arm. He was far too strong for his age. I cursed myself. If I hadn't let him climb that tree yesterday, I would have had a quiet night. But Fridos Disappearing had robbed Tommy of all peace.

I enjoyed the morning calm that lay over the whole city. We were alone in the streets except for the golden brown autumn leaves parting our way. I glanced around furtively, but the Iceclaw warriors were training with Alpha Eros in the great plaza.

A bad feeling spread in my stomach. Hope Lia was okay. She had been working on the new houses all day and all night. Then she brought food to Alpha Eros and Gamma Johnson and at the same time promised to look for Frido in the forest.

I prayed inwardly for her as the house came into view.

“Lizzy, you know me. I don't do anything frivolous, but frivolity comes to me. I can't fight back.”

I shook my red strands as her words from last night echoed in my head. The carelessness did not come to her, it followed her every step and she let him in like a invited guest. Fear hid beneath all the outrage every time I looked for it. As if one day she would no longer...

Not a sound stirred in the house when we stopped in front of the door. I tapped on the wood with all my might.

"Is she not here?" Tommy asked, looking up at me. My hands got sweaty and I slammed my fist against the door a second time.

“Please Lia, open up...”

"I'm coming," it boomed from upstairs and I tilted my head back in relief. The heart in my chest could beat more easily again. There was a rumble and finally the door opened.

My eyebrows shot up.

"You look even worse than yesterday," I said before I could stop myself. Her blond hair was tousled on all sides while the emerald green robe was tied askew. She could hardly open her eyes from tiredness.

How she was still standing on her feet was a mystery to me.

"Thanks, I'm trying my best," Lia replied. Suddenly Tommy let go of my hand.

"Phiphi!"

In a flash he darted towards her and hugged her.

"Can we go look for Frido?" he asked.

"Tommy, we've had this discussion before. That will not do."

Lia put a hand on his shoulder.

"I don't think that's necessary," she said, smiling. "Frido found the way back himself."

She went to her red coat and rummaged in her pockets until she pulled out the slowly decomposing rag. Tommy's eyes began to shine brighter than the sun.

"Frido!"

He gripped the rabbit tightly as if he would never let go. So Lia had been in the forest after all, although it was forbidden. She had risked her life for it. I narrowed my eyes and her smile faded a bit from my face. I crossed my arms.

"Where did you find him?"

"I didn't find him," Lia replied, grinning. "He found me."

"I'll spare myself the sermon," I said acidly.

“Okay, then I can use the time productively. Come in. I'll go get ready quickly."

She pounded up the stairs and left us in silence.

How so?

Why was she risking her life for something like this... I looked at Tommy. He pressed Frido tightly into his chest and talked to the piece of cloth as if it could answer. I frowned. Why was she the heroine and I the spoilsport worrying about everything?

I stroked Tommy's hair.

At least he could sleep well now. He badly needed it. An autumn breeze blew through the streets and I felt Tommy tremble.

"Let's go in," I said, taking his hand. The wood under our feet creaked on the way to the living room and for the second time that day I had a heart attack. As if a storm had raged here during the night...

The furniture was gone, leaving Theo's sketches scattered everywhere.

"Whoa!" Tommy shouted and ran across the room. I started leafing through the scrolls with drawings of different houses. Then muffled footsteps sounded from above.

Lia looked a lot better. Her blonde hair fell in waves from her shoulders and she wore a pink bow around her wrist. I looked back at the sketches and the room.

"What happened here?" I asked. "Oh, okay. Nothing surprises me anymore."

"The wolves train in front of the pack house! Shall we go see?" Tommy asked excitedly.

"Sounds like a good plan," Lia replied. Part of me wanted to agree, but I shook my head.

"The attack could happen at any moment and you want to go into town?"

"Isn't that the safest place?" Lia asked. "After all, the werewolves are there too. And watching is not forbidden."

I groaned, but the corners of my mouth were turned up slightly. Even though I couldn't admit it in front of Tommy, I was curious.

"I guess a look can't hurt. But after that we should go home. Mom and Dad are expecting us," I said, trying to keep my voice stern.

"Woo-hoo!"

Tommy jumped up and down like an excited puppy and bolted out the door.

"Wait for us!" I called and followed him. I sprinted after him through the empty streets. Behind me, Lia's footsteps pounded, getting closer and closer.

A howl echoed in the distance, silencing the whole city.

silverblood.

The war had begun.

"Go!" Alpha Eros thundered across the square and the wolves beneath him transformed and ran into the forest to meet the danger. But the leader from the north still had his burning gaze on us. My heart clenched as he jumped off the stage and came towards us with long strides.

"We have to get out of here," I said, my voice shaking. But Lia didn't move an inch. Her eyes were on Alpha Eros as if his gaze were holding her captive. "Ephilia!"

She slowly turned to me at my screeching, but she didn't seem to understand my words. Tommy took a step back and hit my legs. Without hesitation, I picked him up and hugged him to me. He tugged on Lia's sleeve.

Alpha Ero's shadow grew, blocking the sun from us. I stared at him in sheer fear and backed away.

_No._

Ephilia turned back to him while Tommy clutched my neck tightly. I had to get him to safety. Why wasn't she afraid of Alpha Eros? His eyes were fixed solely on her and she was wearing something soft.

Something soft?

His hands rested on her cheeks as he spoke to her. What the hell was going on here? Suddenly Gamma Johnson thundered toward us, his expression bitter as acid. The fear flooded my brain and did not allow any further thoughts. Tommy whimpered in my arms and I hugged him tighter. The adrenaline gave my legs the strength to shoot around and sprint through the rows of houses.

"No, Phiphi!"

We had to go home.

My gasping breath was all I could hear.

Everywhere the last people went into their houses and slammed the doors. But slowly they thinned out more and more. I stopped in shock. Am I lost? I looked around hastily. A single door stood near the edge of the forest. It had to be a basement. I sprinted towards it and slammed my fist against the metal door.

"Hi? Help!"

I sat Tommy on the floor next to me to make noise with both hands. Suddenly something rustled in the forest. I iced It rushed towards us like a wave.

wolves.

"Tommy, run," I said, taking a few steps back. And I had lured them right here. I couldn't see anything yet, but they were getting closer. "Run!"

I heard his hasty footsteps behind me, but stayed rooted. I could at least give him a head start. His footsteps faded into the distance while my heart beat harder with every passing second.

Then it happened.

A dark wolf shot through the trees like lightning. His bloodthirsty eyes were fixed on me. But he wasn't alone. A second wolf sprinted behind and prepared to pounce.

The dust billowed while all I could hear was growls and snaps. More paws pounded the ground, and the shadows grew through the dust. I backed away.

"Hey, over here!"

A man was standing in the metal door I'd been banging on, frantically waving me over.

"Come on girl, quick!"

I sprinted toward him, the thunder of paws pursuing me. The man made room for me and I stumbled through the metal door, which he closed behind us with a thump.

Darkness surrounded me along with my panting breath.

There were yelps and crackles from outside, all muffled by the door. The paws seemed far away. There was a hiss, followed by the warm flicker of a torch. She cast golden light on the man's face.

A werewolf.

The fire wrinkled his brown eyes, which studied me sharply. I bowed.

"T-thank you."

"Let's hope they don't get too far into town. Do you know where you are?" he asked and I shook my head. "Then come with me. Be careful with the stairs. I heard people can't see very well in the dark..."

"My brother is still out there," I replied and the wolf watched me intently.

"Then you should pray to the moon goddess that he finds a good hiding place."

I couldn't read his tone.

"But I have to find him-"

"I will not open this door again until the danger is past. Alpha Eros will take care of that. And if you don't want me to lock you up for disobeying orders, you come with me, alright?"

A sinking feeling ran through my stomach. I tried to shake the shock from my body as I followed the wolf and the light down. With every step the cold grew around me.

"Please, my brother is out there," I said, feeling tears pooling at the rims of my eyes. A musty smell forced the air into my lungs. Our footsteps echoed on the stones arrived below.

I swallowed.

Silver bars lined both sides of the aisle. It was silent save for the dripping of water. A puny figure slept in one of the cells, but otherwise it was empty.

Nearly.

A huge prison of pure silver enthroned at the end of the corridor. It reached to the ceiling. An uneasy feeling crept over me as the flickering light fell on the deep dents in the door.

What the hell was trapped there?

Or better who...

"Welcome to the dungeon of Mountain Shadow," said the wolf, turning to face me.