Nobela ni Buttercup

AARON SHROVAThe road stretched ahead, damp with the mist that had clung to us since morning. My men rode in quiet formation behind me, their shoulders slumped, their armor dulled with dried blood and dirt. The battle at Black Hollow had taken its toll. We had stood against the rogues until their leader fell, but the fight had not been without cost. Some of our own would never return. I carried their names in my mind like haunting spirits.The air grew heavier as we neared the royal home. The clouds above thickened, low and dark, promising what the earth had been begging for. My horse’s hooves struck the wet earth with a steady beat, and each breath I took tasted of coming rain.When the towers rose in the distance, a pull settled in my chest. Home was close. I slowed my horse and turned to the men."Go to your homes," I said. "Rest and see your families. You have fought well, and you have earned your peace for now. Look at the sky. Our prayers have been answered."They saluted and be

DEVA LOREN/ LANA ALVAREZThe sun bore down heavily, its heat pressing against my skin until my clothes clung to me. It had been sixty days since the last rain, and the earth groaned beneath the drought. The air was thick with the smell of dust and sweat, and the murmur of the waiting crowd seemed to stretch on without end.Aaron and I worked side by side beneath the harsh light, our hands moving steadily as we filled small sacks of grain for the families lined before us. Their faces were hollow, eyes sunken yet still searching for hope. I feared that without the wild marrow, we would be devouring each other by now, like some packs had already begun to. Most packs already sensed the famine, hence, a few were only willing to sell us some grains before it became full-on. I offered what little I could in my voice, telling mothers the grain would last, telling children to be strong.Aaron lifted a sack with one arm and set it into the arms of an old man who thanked him with a trembling bow

DEVA LOREN/ LANA ALVAREZ."Here!" I immediately informed Aaron, and he rushed to where I was. "The wild marrow," I breathed."All this fertility around it," Aaron's lips hung agape. "This is it," he smiled. "Thanks to you." He stared at me with an emotion I could not exactly wrap my head around. Would I say he was pleased with me?That it was a good sign. That I was getting to him. Useful."We did it together," I replied."Yes," he looked around the royal home. "Who knew something this powerful was in Gold Moon all along?" He mumbled, but I caught his words.Who knew.I swallowed."We should get going. The sun shall set soon," I informed Aaron. "But where shall we keep it?""Let me handle it," he offered.Aaron took on the challenge of keeping it safe. He took to his knees, digging the earth soft about the roots, his hands careful as though he cradled life itself. The soil clung dark and damp, and he bade one of the men fetch cloth from the carriage.We wrapped it close, stem and root

DEVA LOREN/ LANA ALVAREZAaron had not said much since we left Ember's cabin. It was not hard to tell that a lot weighed on his mind.The journey to Gold Moon took us three days."We have arrived, Alpha Aaron," one of the men said, making my heart skip a beat.I could barely face what this place was in my dreams. I was scared."Shall we?" Aaron plainly asked.I nodded gently, trying to keep my real feelings at bay. He got out of the carriage, stretching out his hand for me to take, for him to guide.We arrived at the lands of the Gold Moon Pack, and my heart sank deeper than an abandoned land under the sea. All lay quiet, save for the wind that moved through the broken walls. Once-strong gates leaned like old men, their wood grey and splintered. The houses stood hollow, their roofs fallen in, their doors hanging loose as though pushed by unseen hands.Dust lay thick on every stone, and weeds had claimed the paths where the people once walked. It was truly nothing but bare earth, with

DEVA LOREN/ LANA ALVAREZ"I have been wanting to talk to you, Lana." My heart skipped a beat the moment she said my name."W-what?""It is alright. Aaron is frozen in time. Nothing a little spell cannot fix. I learned a thing or two from the witches," she told me.My eyes slowly turned to the side to find Aaron frozen, holding the cup close to his mouth. "Let him go now.""I will," she added. "If you are not interested in keeping this body. I will tell you now, child, the real owner of this body is trying to connect with it. The moment she does, you will have to leave." She sighed. "I wanted to save or buy you more time, but...""What can I do?" I glanced at Aaron. "He will be okay, would he not? You do know how to undo the spell, do you not, Ember?""I have not exactly perfected a reverse for the spell. It might take days, weeks, or months...""Quit with the joke," I snarled. "You are a powerful sage; it would be disappointing if you cannot fix this."She chuckled. "How easy it is to

DEVA LOREN/ LANA ALVAREZThe air between Landon and me changed; he was back to being expressionless and silently following me like before.I was the one who wanted to make a friend out of him...now."Near the oak tree, where the sun first rises shining upon the lone stream from the lane of cabins. I am waiting for you, Deva," Aaron read the note out again.We were out on the road to find her as soon as we read the note."There are quite a good number of cabins here," I sighed."What I find amusing is how she knows your name," Aaron failed to hide his amusement."She just might be the greatest sage of all time. No one knows how she got her powers. We just know that she exists and she uses them for the greater good. Like a hero of some sort," I added to avoid more suspicion. "Anna told me that. And I believe her, given the current circumstances. It only makes sense, does it not?""I hope her powers are strong enough to figure out a solution to the famine before word spreads out too far