𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐎𝐟 𝐃𝐚𝐰𝐧

١٩

As the first rays of dawn stretched across the horizon, Hanadi and Zarek stood poised for their imminent departure. The air was crisp, carrying with it a sense of urgency and determination. The Forbidden Forest seemed to hold its breath in anticipation of their journey.

Amidst the quiet rustling of leaves, a somber undercurrent of dissent emerged. Azim, his eyes laden with concern and determination, voiced his plea to join the expedition. However, Hanadi's resolve remained unwavering, her determination to venture into the heart of the Howlers' domain alone etched upon her expression.

Reluctantly, Azim acquiesced, his gaze holding a mixture of worry and understanding. A shadow lingered beneath the surface of her determination, however. Dark veins, like insidious tendrils, crept across Hanadi's skin, a stark reminder of the stakes at play.

Dressed in a flowing abaya, a garment that gracefully draped around her figure, its deep ebony hue contrasting with the vibrant surroundings of the Forbidden Forest. Beneath the abaya, a loose-fitting tunic graced her form, its fabric breathable and comfortable against her skin.

Hanadi's steps alongside Zarek were filled with uncertainty, and a glance backward revealed Azim's retreating figure, his path leading him towards Al Qureya, away from their shared destiny.

As the weight of their quest pressed upon her, she turned to Zarek, a trusted confidant in this enigmatic journey.

"Are you worried that we won't make it?" he asked, his voice tinged with trepidation.

Hanadi's gaze held a knowing sadness, and she replied, "I am worried that I have so many decisions to make, and I have no answers to what's happening to me. I think you know something."

A veil of mystery enveloped Zarek's words, and he offered little more than a cryptic assurance. "I do know, Hanadi, but I can't tell you. All must be revealed in its time. All I can say is that you really need to find the real Hanadi inside you."

They continued their journey, hours passing as they traversed the unfamiliar terrain. Suddenly, their footsteps came to a halt, and their gazes fixed upon the moon. It hung in the night sky, a peculiar, otherworldly red orb, casting an eerie glow that sent shivers down Hanadi's spine. It was a sign, an unspoken recognition that they stood on the precipice of the Howler's kingdom.

In the ensuing moments, Hanadi's resolve crystallized, and she knew that her path was one she must tread alone. She turned to Zarek, her palms moist with nervous anticipation, and with an almost imperceptible nod, he granted her request.

Hanadi approached the colossal iron doors, weathered by time and teetering on the precipice of collapse, an imposing entryway to a world unknown. Her heart raced as she beheld two sentinel creatures, lupine in form but possessed of feral, predatory grace. Their teeth gleamed wickedly, and their claws were like obsidian daggers, ready to defend the kingdom.

Yet, as Hanadi drew near, those razor-sharp claws remained still. The creatures, their amber eyes fixed upon her, held a stoic vigil, guardians of an ancient realm. Hanadi knew the peril that lay within those jaws, a peril that could rend her to pieces in mere seconds.

Summoning her courage, she spoke, her voice carrying a hint of trepidation.

"Hello dear friends, I am here to see Aragorn. I am coming from Al Qureya, and I need the assistance of your king."

In response, the wolf-like sentinels exchanged a glance, communicating in a cryptic, ancient tongue that was beyond Hanadi's comprehension. In an instant, their silent agreement was reached, and they ushered her through the massive doors and into the heart of the Howler's kingdom.

Inside, a surreal tableau unfolded. The manor was a sprawling edifice teeming with wolves, some more fearsome than the rest, each prowling or bounding with an air of enigmatic purpose. Branches adorned the walls like creeping tendrils of nature reclaiming the structure, and ancient relics whispered tales of forgotten history from every corner of the room.

Finally, the wolves led her to a door adorned with emerald stones, a portal to the presence of Aragorn. One of the wolf sentinels, his voice resonating with a deep, almost howling timbre, granted her passage. "Aragorn will see you. Go."

Upon pushing the towering doors and crossing the threshold into Aragorn's domain, Hanadi's eyes met the sight of a regal presence seated upon a throne fashioned from rough-hewn stones and gnarled branches. Aragorn, wore attire that was a striking homage to ancient Irish traditions but tailored to the wolfish nobility he exuded.

His garment was a tapestry of earthy hues, woven with an intricate pattern reminiscent of Celtic motifs. A deep forest green, the color of mossy glens, comprised the base of his attire, while accents of rich amber and deep, earthy browns adorned the borders and hem, echoing the shades of autumn leaves under a dappled forest canopy.

Aragorn's cloak, crafted from thick, coarse wool, cascaded from his broad shoulders, its edges decorated with embroidered Celtic knots. Each knotwork design told a story, intricate and age-old, reflecting the wisdom and lineage of this wolfish king. Around his neck, a torque of silver and gold gleamed, a symbol of authority and a connection to ancient Celtic heritage.

His boots, fashioned from supple leather and stitched with threads of an earthly ochre, melded seamlessly with the terrain they trod. Beneath the cloak, his chest bore a tunic adorned with patterns resembling the interlocking spirals of ancient Irish art, an ode to the interconnectedness of life and nature.

"Hanadi, I never expected to see you again, yet here you stand, seeking my aid," Aragorn greeted, his words a low, rumbling growl as he reclined upon the stone throne. His claws, honed to razor-sharp perfection, made a subtle, menacing sound as they tapped lightly on the unyielding stone beneath.

The memories of their past encounters hung heavily in the air, and he addressed the elephant in the room with a profound question.

"If I recall correctly, to you, I was a monster. Am I not anymore?"

Hanadi, overcome with a mixture of emotions, remained momentarily silent. Yet, she understood the gravity of her past judgment. In response, she slowly unfurled her cloak, revealing her trembling hands, stricken with inky black veins that pulsed ominously. Her gaze locked with his piercing emerald eyes, a silent plea for understanding.

Aragorn's reaction was visceral, his emerald eyes widening with a mixture of alarm and recognition as he approached Hanadi with surprising speed. His presence, once threatening and regal, now radiated warmth and concern, like a long-lost friend reunited. In an instant, he shifted from his wolf-like countenance to reveal his human form, a figure of extraordinary beauty.

His long, obsidian hair cascaded like a waterfall down his back, and his face bore a well-maintained beard and mustache, framing features that were both alluring and intense. Those emerald eyes, which had always held a hint of mystery, now locked onto Hanadi with a gaze of both curiosity and compassion.

Hanadi's voice wavered as she implored him to leave the past behind, to forgive the dreadful actions that had once tainted their relationship. Tears welled in her eyes.

But Aragorn's focus shifted to the mark on her hands, the dark veins that pulsed ominously. His voice trembled as he disclosed the truth. "Hanadi, this is the mark, the mark of darkness. You're a hybrid now, caught in a struggle between the light and the darkness. Changes will come; your very essence will transform. Your eyes will shift in color, your hair will metamorphose, and new powers will awaken within you."

The gravity of the situation deepened as Hanadi revealed the looming threat, a malevolent force taking lives in the kingdoms, manifesting as an ominous black smoke from deep within the earth.

Aragorn's reaction was swift and frantic. "Under the earth?" He gasped in disbelief. "You're their vessel, giving them access. But to whom?" He paced anxiously, grappling with the unfolding mystery.

He turned back to Hanadi, his gaze filled with uncertainty and hope.

"I will join you in Al Qureya. I'll fight by your side. I only pray that we face this crisis together, not as adversaries, Hanadi."

With that, he transformed into his wolf form, his commitment evident in every sinew of his powerful body, his loyalty reborn.