Chapter Eleven – Emberlight Feast

Thalia’s POV

“Ready for your big day?” Azure’s voice floated into my dreams like the flicker of a soft flame. Her hand was warm on my shoulder as she nudged me awake.

I blinked, stretching with a yawn. “What’s happening today?”

Azure grinned, her eyes glowing with excitement. “It’s a feast. One to welcome you into the Direlands properly.” She placed something at the foot of my bed. “You are a Direwolf now, Thalia.”

A feast in my honor?

I didn’t care much for celebration. All I’d ever wanted was to survive… then to belong… and now, to master the fire inside me. But as I sat up and looked at the cloak she had dropped on the bed, my breath caught.

It was a robe of deepest crimson, threaded with gold embers. The firemark of our kind. A symbol not only of power but of identity.

My fingers ran over the material, warm and soft like woven flames.

“It’s for you,” Azure said, her voice gentle. Then she left.

I sat there for a long moment, holding the cloak like it might vanish. Just months ago, I’d been a caged omega with ashes in my hair and bruises on my skin. Now… I was Fiamma. Fire-born. One of the Direwolves.

Tonight was the Emberlight Feast—a tradition older than any living elder. Held in honor of those who had passed the Elemental Trials and been reborn.

The gathering just at the entrance of the camp was packed with people. It was just as colourful as the first time I saw it. The sacred grounds pulsed with ancient energy, as if the land itself was alive and vibrant. The clearing was surrounded by towering trees, their branches adorned with lanterns that shimmered like stars. Four towering pedestals stood like ancient guardians in the center, each representing an element: Earth, Air, Water, and Fire.

The earth pedestal was overgrown with lush greenery, vines, and moss, emitting a primal scent that resonated with the heartbeat of the land. The air pedestal was adorned with feathers, ribbons, and silken threads that danced in the breeze, whispering secrets to those who listened closely. The water pedestal was a majestic fountain, its waters shimmering like liquid silver, reflecting the light of the full moon. The fire pedestal blazed with a fierce, golden flame, its warmth and light drawing all who gathered to its radiance.

The ground was filled with joy, laughter, feasting and the promise of a new beginning. As the elemental wolves manifested and danced beautifully, the grounds transformed. The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers, the earthy smell of damp soil, the freshness of water, and the smoky aroma of fire. The atmosphere vibrated with magic, as if the very essence of the elements had been distilled into this moment.

The gathering was a kaleidoscope of colors, sounds, and textures, a sensory feast that celebrated the harmony and balance of the elements. The wolves, each embodying one of the four elements, moved with grace and power, their presence both fierce and beautiful.

I slipped into the red gown. It fit like it had been made from my own fire, sleek, royal, defiant. Flame patterns danced around the edges as if alive, and my reflection in the polished stone made my breath hitch. I looked… like a queen. The girl who wore rags and carried bruises was gone. A beautiful queen stood in its place

I stood at the threshold of the clearing, with my chest tight. So many eyes. So many smiles.

The drumming paused, conversations stopped. And then, a slow, rising applause began.

I stepped forward.

Every footsteps echoed with a story, My past, my pain, and the promise of who I had become.

Agalaya, High Flamekeeper and leader of the Fire Wolves, met me at the center. She was cloaked in flame-threaded robes, her hair braided with glowing embers.

“Thalia of Greenwood,” she said, her voice like warm thunder, “tonight, you are no longer just a daughter of the past. You are reborn as Fiamma. One of us. Bearer of flame. Child of the Phoenix Heart.”

A hush fell. Then, a cheer broke like wildfire.

Agalaya placed her palm on my chest, above my heart, and I felt a warmth pulse through me.

“Welcome, daughter of fire,” she whispered. “Tonight Fiamma, we dine. We feast, we honor your presence.”

I smiled and bowed slightly before taking my seat at an empty spot reserved for me. A beautiful fire wolf sat beside me. She offered a broad grin and a mug of flame-spiced cider, embers curling off its surface. “Look at you,” she said warmly, eyes bright. “The fire-born made it. Sit. Eat.” She squeezed my arm.

A stoic Earth Wolf, stepped next. He handed me a bowl of herb-melted stew that steamed in the chest firelight. “Your flame is steady,” he said, passing the bowl off without a grin but his eyes softened. “That’s rare.”

The music and dancing resumed while Agalaya took a seat beside me. “Thalia,” she said in a warm and formal voice, the firelight dancing in her amber eyes. “It's been a long time since my heartsong shared such a flame.”

“My lady,” I said, bowing slightly.

She placed a hand on my shoulder. The press of her palm sent a gentle heat through me.

“You carry your mother's flame,” she said to me looking lost in thought. “Evelyn, daughter of Emberwing, your spirit lives on in your daughter.”

"You knew my mother?" I asked simply.

"Yes I did. She gave up her seat at the council of elders to help the werewolves. She helped your father build a kingdom from an ordinary pack, and he betrayed her for turning her back on you."

"what do you mean?" I asked

"we've been in hiding for over five hundred years since our kind were hunted and killed for our gifts. "Your mother risked her identity to help your father and fell in love with him. She had to keep her powers as a secret because if it was discovered she would be killed"

I didn't know what to say. My hand went to my necklace she left for me and I began to study the markings on the pendant. Agalaya eyed me and continued

"Your mother has always been a kind woman. She was revolutionary and because of her many direwolves have gone out of the camp to help werewolves. She was the first direwolf to leave the hidden tribe"

"So I was born with this powers? why didn't she tell me?" I asked

Aglaya nodded. “It was your mother’s wish we keep her secrets safe until now.” Her gaze softened. “Evelyn believed in you, Thalia. Every scorched trail, every burned doubt. And now…we do.”

I swallowed as tears pricked my eyes. Agalaya went away and ordered more food to be brought. They brought bowls of flame-roasted root vegetables, meat glazed in honey–lava sauce, crackling firebread fresh from embers, puddings of blackberry ash and molten caramel.

Azure sat in her mother's place, She wore a dress of fire-threads laced with air-runic silver. She laughed brightly at the fire wolf jokes who I learnt her name was Pyra, slurped stew from her bowl, and encouraged me: “Eat! We spent three days fasting before your Trial! You’re here!”

For the first time in my life, felt like I belonged. I had a family who actually cared about me.

By the big fire, the elders shared tales of Flame-Lore.

Raea, the Fire Seer, spoke softly: “Long ago, a kingdom of ice-weavers rose in the north. Their walls grew higher, their hearts turned cold. We came and burned the walls, and provided warmth, heat. The fire we sparked cleansed, not consumed.”

Naia, seated near the waterfall mosaic, tapped her chalice and added, “And water soothed their wounds.”

Aglaya leaned in.

“Thalia: Fire is not anger. It is light. Let it reveal what hides in shadows.”

I nodded.

Later, smaller circles formed. I was pulled here, nudged there.

A red-banded wolf named Caius taught me to mold flame into patterns in the air, wirling sigils that hung like incandescent runes before evaporating.

A quiet, earth-toned Fire Wolf named Seren brought me fire-dulled charcoal ink and a brush. “Paint your pain tonight. Don’t burn it.” she gave me the ink and the brush “They say only those who burn the deepest scars can shape them without pain.”

She stepped aside and I painted. A pup in a cage, a mother’s cry, the blazing pyre that remade me.

Under the rising moon, Agalaya found me again and guided me away from the crowd. The music faded behind us. she led me to an ancient tree with bright red flowers.

“Your mother carved this rune, in her final dream just before she left. It is the mark of passing,” Aglaya said. She reached up to a glowing sigil carved into the bark, and touched it. The rune pulsed. “Thalia, do you know what this means?”

I shook my head.

“It is the mark of the Phoenix Heart. It says: Rise from ash. Let your fire light the world.”

And then she pressed my fingers to the glowing rune. The warmth seeped into my hand.

“You are Phoenix Heart.” Aglaya’s voice cracked with pride and sorrow. “For good or ill, they will follow your flame.”

"I’ll lead them well." I said to myself.

As I went back to the feast, pyra nudged me again.

“Come see this,” she said, leading me to the entrance of a large wall. Written on the wall was the words

Hope. Trust. Renewal. Unity.

I touched the word Trust and remembered the trembling woman I was a year ago.

Pyra’s grin gleamed. “Burn bright, Thalia.”

At the feast, Aglaya rose again, quiet and regal to close the feast

“Let us bind our strengths,” she said. “Tonight we anchor fire to flame. Tomorrow…you will learn how fire stands with earth, water, air.”

At her signal, every Fire Wolf stepped forward and stretched forth their hands.

One by one, I touched kissed each and everyone hands. My lips burning as I kissed them, not with pain but with passion.

When I touched Aglaya’s ember glove, she looked me in the eye.

“This is more than a celebration. It's our legacy, our oath. From this night on, the element of fire in you will not be just power. It will be a reminder of your family.”

I bowed in tears.

“Thank you.”

Later, under the dying embers of the feast, I stood outside, staring at the night sky. The moon cloaked in ashen haze, brilliant but gentle.

Azure joined me, handing me a cup of ember-tea.

“You earned this,” she said softly.

I sipped. The warmth spread up my throat, across my chest, settling in my heart.

“Will they follow me?” I asked her, voice small.

Azure placed a hand on my arm. “They already do, Fiamma,” she said. Her use of my elemental name did not feel odd. It reminded me of my rebirth. “We are your people.” she added

I held my pendant and it's warmth thrilled my fingers, as if it carried my mother’s heartbeat.

“I’ll be worthy. I will not burn their trust. I will make my people proud.” This was not just words. It was a promise to myself.