Meadow Of Ash Trees Novels & Stories

she mutters. Mom pulls her coat tighter around her shoulders, staring into the shuddering trees like the Winter King might reform from smoke. “We need to go. If he marked us…” “He didn’t,” I say too quickly, then regret it. Because the truth is… I don’t know what he did. I only know the air around me still feels wrong, like frost clings to my bones in ways it shouldn’t. We limp back toward town, half-dragging Aunt Ruby. Every tree looks like a witness. Every gust of wind sounds like my name pronounced with too many syllables.

Ashen looked up at the arch with wide eyes. “Is it safe?” he whispered. “No,” I said honestly. “But I’m here. That makes it tolerable.” Ashen let out a shaky breath, but nodded. We stepped through. The grove beyond was a vast circle of towering trees with silver leaves. Wisps of light drifted through the air like spirits, illuminating the clearing in an eerie glow. At the center of the grove stood a small hut made of carved stone and twisted branches. Smoke rose from a narrow chimney at the top.

Alicia's POV His voice was low, almost reverent. “Mixed with a few other things—rare things o my I could get you. It’s not easy to come by, but it’ll do what you ask. Takes a hybrid’s power clean away, then eats at their life ‘til there’s nothing left.” Rowan tree ash. The name was unfamiliar, a mystery that prickled at the edges of my mind. I’d never heard of such a tree, not in all the tales whispered around the pack’s fires. But the way Marek said it, the certainty in his tone, sent a thrill through me.

The three of them, Mae, Ashar, and Riven, walked deeper into the hills beyond the restored castle grounds, where shimmering grass grew thick between cracks of obsidian-like stone, and the air shimmered faintly with the last remnants of what used to be a broken world. Ashar was ahead, moving silently through the trees, checking terrain, scanning for anything alive, or dangerous. Riven hung back beside Mae, more alert than he let on, his usual humor muted under a quiet tension.

“Nothing serious, just an energy drain.” “Did you at least see something familiar or striking in the forest?” “Yes my Lord. Due to the abundant growth of one of the herbs I usually use, I am sure that it's Ash wood forest.” “Ash wood forest? Where is it on the map?” “It's the far east part of the forest around Black Pool pack.” “Do you know the exact place Amelia was?” “No, that herb is very abundant in almost all part of the forest.” “Alright, gather the men. We'll head there this night.”

“Not one I’ve seen. But I felt it last night. It was... familiar in a strange way. Like a memory that doesn’t belong to me.” Healer Nyra exchanged a glance with Marrok. “We’ve found symbols,” she said softly. “In the burned parts of the forest. Markings on the trees. Glyphs that predate even the Moon Goddess.” A chill ran down Iris’s spine. “Where?” “In the Ashen Grove.” Aiden stiffened. “That place is cursed.” Nyra nodded. “And now it breathes again.” Scene 3: The Ashen Grove Iris, Aiden, Elian, and a small group of scouts ventured into the grove that afternoon. The air grew colder as they passed beyond the safe perimeter, and birdsong faded into silence.

Miranda was lucky enough to have locked her ankles, for Jamie wasted no time jumping to the next tree, then the next, and the next. Ash released an angry and fearsome growl, as he kept focus on the vampire which flew through the trees, with his mate locked on her back like a defenseless koala cub. He couldn't allow them to get away from him, and being so focused on the chase, Ash didn't realize in which direction he was being led.

My hands met the rough, uneven ground as I dropped to all fours, my bones shifting and cracking as my transformation into Ash began. “Ash!” Tarr’s voice rang out, a warning in his tone, but Ash growled menacingly in response, daring him to intervene. With a swift turn, Ash bolted into the dense forest. The frosty night air rushed over his fur as he ran, his paws churning up mud with each powerful stride. How could Amber have concealed such a significant truth from me? Beneath the moonlight, Ash continued to growl his frustration, his instincts urging him to vent his anger. In his path stood a towering tree, and with a furious charge, he rammed into it, snapping its branches with his head.

It’s height is taler than many other trees in the woods, yet oddly enough, I never be able to spot it during my walk here. I inched closer in wonder. As I neared, I noticed a movement at it’s roots—which consisted the same type of moving vines slithering about. To my horror, I saw Asher’s body being restrained by white vines as it covered his whole body except his head and some small margin of his arms and legs; it’s size is much smaller than the vines inside the woods yet the color is white like the tree. “Asher!” I panicked. Following my feet, I dashed to his side and knelt down to grab the thorny vines.

Asher asked jokingly. Callie laughed and said, “of course.” They reached the tree where the shadow blob had appeared before and Asher looked around trying to see if it was closeby, “I saw a creature stuck to this tree, it was kinda like a slime monster but black and not slippery.” Asher told her whilst still examining the tree. Callie stepped closer and looked at the tree, it looked old. “How long has this tree been here? It doesn’t exist in my world.”