Night-runners Prologue Novels & Stories

another adds. “Then we test inward.” Staff rises again. But before it falls, a scream rips across the clearing. A runner bursts through terraces, collapsing at the boundary. Voice breaking. “Elders—northern watch has fallen!” Shock spreads. Panic coils. “Hunters?” one snaps. “No… worse. Rogue faction. No banner. Killing anything in their path. Two days from sacred land.” Two days. Too close. Too fast. The Elders’ calm cracks. First time.

“Someone stop her!” “Not on my watch,” Rune said, surging forward towards the crowd. But the crowd came at us. We knew what they were—a distraction so she could escape. If she fled, there wouldn't be another chance to catch her.” The rogues rose like a wave, the pack of them snarling—fully twenty deep and not one with anything but feral complicity in Tamara’s perfidy behind their gleaming eyes. Rune didn’t hesitate, his silver hair flashing as he charged ahead, ice already crackling across his fingertips.

Their eyes met a silent understanding passing between them. The sirens grew louder, and Lyra's hand dropped, withdrawing from Oscar's reach. "We need to leave, Lyra. The cops mustn't see us." The nurse warned. Lyra rattled off the location into the phone, her voice shaking. She dropped the phone, abandoning it beside Oscar's trembling form. Lyra and The Nurse sprinted across the deserted landscape. The city's skyline materialized, a haven from the isolation. As they reached the bustling streets, The Nurse grasped Lyra's shoulders. "Stay safe," she whispered.

It’s his first night, nothing ever happens on the first night. And then as fast as it went, faster did it come back– that looming, menacing presence. For just ten metres away stood a hooded figure. And it was looking right at him. Dark as the night itself, silent as the wind. He can see nothing of it, other than how its eyes glowed. And then it ran. Not towards him. But somewhere else. Somewhere– the Dragon Gate. The young wolf sprinted, his body already knowing what that thing was before his mind could process what was happening. How could he not when they’ve been fighting its kind for centuries. It is embedded in their blood. Part of their very being.

Rune shrugged her shoulders. Realisation hit me then. If this prophecy was real and the rogues had been spurred on to wander in the mountains, then I gave the order to kill off seven rogues. Werewolves who had been through hell and back and wanted to find peace. That was the odd sensation that I got when the supposed attacks occurred, they were just wandering, searching for their salvation.

My stuff is in the trunk, and my familiars are in the backseat of Lucas’s car, waiting to come to Chicago with us. “I’ll go out first,” I tell Lucas, though he knows the plan. I’ve only gone over it a million times. Quickly slipping out the door, I run out to the car and get into the driver’s side. Double-checking that the doors are unlocked, I look through the tinted glass and suck in my breath, holding it until Lucas zooms out of the house and into the car. His skin is smoldering from that short time in the sun, but once the door closes, he starts to heal.

I had already submitted evidence and only needed to wait for legal sanctions. When I heard about Darcy Lemche’s car accident, my wolf nearly fainted. Without the Moon Godness’s help, my wolf would have collapsed. I hated the rogues—why did they keep attacking my close wolves? On the way to the infirmary, I heard gossip but didn’t care, telling myself it was okay as long as he was safe. It didn’t matter how many she-wolves he had.

Node protested as he was dragged along, while Sniffia followed without questioning any of them. He recognized not what the two runners in front were thinking however they had experienced something similar, whether been chased down by beings who would kill without a second thought, Ice bears or Torzillas, it all comes down to this, is to survive this night no matter what. “Could any of you just tell me what is the plan?” Node turned to Sniffia. “Sniffia say something! Stop this madness!” “Quiet, Nune! It seems Peirce here knows what to do,” he looked at Peirce. “Will you have the honor to show these greenhorns how it is done in the desert.”

I nodded. By dawn, we were at the river’s edge. Mist clung low, the air damp and cold. Blood Nest wolves spread out in lines. I stood behind Logan, my hands clenched tight, Aella close at my side. Then we saw them. Rogues in the trees, their eyes glowing in the half-light. Dozens of them, shifting, waiting. And in the middle, Rune. He stepped forward slowly, his eyes locked on me. Even across the distance, I felt his gaze like fire.