The Blood Moon Rising

The night sky of Lycandor was an inky black canvas, dotted with stars that shimmered faintly against the overwhelming presence of the looming full moon. But this moon wasn't ordinary. It glowed a deep crimson, bathing the ancient kingdom in a sinister light. Every inhabitant of Lycandor knew what the Blood Moon signified—a night when fate, treachery, and blood intertwined. For the Draven family, it would be a night that would shake the foundations of the realm.

Aurora had always felt the strange pull of the moon, its phases mirroring the turmoil in her own life. As a child, she had dreams of a world drenched in silver light, a kingdom where wolves ruled and power was inherited not through bloodlines but through the ancient Eclipse Stones—mysterious relics that could control life and death. She never understood the significance of those dreams, nor the strange powers she felt bubbling within her, suppressed but never gone.

Tonight, however, as she stared out of the window of her small cottage on the outskirts of the village, the pull was unbearable. Her heart raced, her palms sweaty as the familiar scent of rain filled the air. The crimson hue of the moon reflected in her stormy eyes. She knew something terrible was coming.

"Aurora," came a soft voice from behind her.

She turned to see her sister, Thalia, standing by the door. Thalia was always the calm one, her presence a steadying force. But tonight, even her composure was rattled.

"The moon… it's different," Thalia whispered, her voice barely audible over the howling wind outside.

"I know," Aurora said, her voice tight.

"I can feel it."

"Do you think it's happening tonight?"

Thalia asked, stepping closer to her sister, her hand reaching out to grasp Aurora's.

"I don't know," Aurora admitted.

"But whatever it is, we're not ready."

Suddenly, a loud knock echoed through their small home, jolting them both from their thoughts. The sisters exchanged a glance before Aurora, ever the protector, moved cautiously toward the door. The moment she cracked it open, a rush of cold air and the scent of wet earth filled the room.

Standing on the threshold was a man cloaked in a hooded robe. His face was obscured by shadows, but Aurora recognized the voice as soon as he spoke.

"Lyra," he rasped, his tone filled with urgency,

"the time has come."

Aurora's heart dropped. Lyra had been the woman who raised them, the one who had sacrificed everything to keep them hidden, but the man before them wasn't Lyra.

"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice sharp, filled with the authority she didn't realize she possessed.

The man pushed back his hood, revealing an older, weathered face etched with deep lines of worry and fear. His eyes were dark, filled with the weight of knowledge he could no longer carry alone.

"There is no time for explanations," he said, stepping inside quickly.

"You must leave now, before Lucian finds you."

At the mention of Lucian's name, Aurora stiffened. She had heard of him—of the ruthless ruler who had seized the throne of Lycandor through betrayal and murder. The Draven name was whispered with fear, but Aurora had never known the true depth of the treachery.

"What does Lucian want with us?"

Thalia asked, stepping forward. Her tone was soft, but the edge of fear was unmistakable.

The man looked between the two sisters, his expression grim.

"You are the last heirs of the true bloodline of Lycandor. Your father, Magus Draven, was the rightful king, but Lucian took everything from him. The Blood Moon marks the beginning of Lucian's ultimate plan—to harness the power of the Eclipse Stones and rule not just Lycandor but all of the realms. And for that, he needs you."

Aurora felt a rush of memories flood her mind—flashes of a past she couldn't quite recall, of her father's face, stern yet kind, of a kingdom that felt like a distant dream.

"Why now?"

she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"Why after all these years?"

"The Eclipse Stones," the man explained.

"They're awakening. And when they do, they will either be your salvation or your destruction. Lucian knows this. He has been searching for them, and you, for years. But he grows desperate. The Blood Moon is his last chance."

Aurora's hands balled into fists.

"I won't let him take anything from us," she vowed. "Not our lives, not our kingdom."

The man nodded gravely. "Then you must prepare yourselves. You are more powerful than you know, but you have been kept from the truth. You must learn, and quickly, for war is coming. Lycandor will burn if Lucian succeeds."

Thalia, ever the rational one, asked, "How do we stop him?"

The man hesitated, his gaze darkening.

"The Eclipse Stones are the key. If you can find them before Lucian does, you might stand a chance. But the path is dangerous. The stones are guarded by ancient forces, and not all who seek them return."

Aurora's mind raced. The weight of the world seemed to press down on her shoulders, but she couldn't afford to crumble. Not now.

"Where do we start?"

The man pulled a small, silver pendant from his cloak and handed it to Aurora. It was shaped like a crescent moon, and at its center was a tiny fragment of a glowing stone.

"This will guide you," he said. "But be careful. It will also attract those who seek to do you harm."

Aurora took the pendant, feeling its strange warmth in her palm. She looked at Thalia, who gave her a small, resolute nod. They had survived this long together, and they would face whatever came next side by side.

The man turned to leave, but before he stepped out into the storm, he looked back at them, his expression softening.

"Your father believed in you," he said quietly.

"You carry his legacy, but you also carry the fate of Lycandor. Don't let the Blood Moon be the end."

And with that, he disappeared into the night, leaving Aurora and Thalia standing in the small cottage, the weight of his words settling over them like a heavy cloak.

Aurora clutched the pendant tightly, her heart pounding. The war had begun, and there was no turning back. As the storm raged outside, she knew that the next dawn would bring blood, betrayal, and the battle for the soul of Lycandor.