A Witch's Howl

Im not even going to try

Sybil's expression shifts from one of mockery to one of genuine shock as she takes in the sight of Matilda's hand turning black before her eyes. She rushes over to Matilda's side, her hands trembling as she gently examines the afflicted limb.

"What... what's happening to her?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper, a hint of fear creeping into her tone.

I watch her with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity, unable to shake the feeling that there's more to this situation than meets the eye. But as Sybil turns to me, her eyes pleading for answers, I realize that she's genuinely concerned for Matilda's well-being.

"Look at your hands, Lilian," she urges, her voice urgent as she reaches out to me.

Reluctantly, I hold out my hands, my heart pounding in my chest as I await her inspection. To my relief, they appear normal, devoid of any signs of the dark corruption that has overtaken Matilda.

Sybil lets out a shaky breath, her shoulders sagging with relief as she meets my gaze. "Whatever's happening here, it's not affecting you," she says, her voice filled with a mixture of disbelief and awe.

As Matilda's gaze meets mine, I see fear and accusation reflected in her eyes, and my heart sinks at her words.

"Lilian, what did you do?" she demands, her voice trembling with a mixture of anger and fear. "Did you use dark magic on me?"

I recoil at the accusation, feeling a pang of guilt and sorrow wash over me. "No, Matilda, I swear," I protest, my voice wavering with emotion. "Sure I dispose you, I would never do anything to harm you."

But as I meet her gaze, I see doubt and suspicion clouding her features, and I realize that my words alone may not be enough to convince her of my innocence.

As we reach the center of the pack, a sense of desolation washes over us. The once bustling hub of activity now lies eerily quiet and abandoned, the only sound the distant rustle of leaves in the wind.

"We need to set up camp," I suggest, my voice breaking the silence as I glance around at our surroundings. "Matilda needs to rest, and then we can start investigating."

Sybil nods in agreement, her expression grim as she helps Matilda settle down in a secluded spot away from prying eyes. As Matilda drifts off into an uneasy sleep, Sybil pulls me aside, her eyes glinting with determination.

"Lilian, we need to find out what's going on here," she says, her voice low and urgent. "And I think your book might have some answers."

I hesitate, my mind racing with conflicting emotions. The spell book is a powerful tool, but it's also a dangerous one, capable of unleashing forces beyond our control.

"But what if it makes things worse?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper as I wrestle with my doubts.

Sybil meets my gaze, her expression unreadable. "We don't have a choice," she replies, her tone resolute. "What about the MoonWitch?"

Sybil's question about the MoonWitch raises my suspicions, and I can't help but roll my eyes at the mention of such a childish tale.

"The MoonWitch?" I scoff, unable to hide the skepticism in my voice. "That's just a children's story. There's no way it could be real."

Sybil watches me with a knowing glint in her eye, her expression unreadable as she considers my words.

"Perhaps," she muses, her tone contemplative. "But what if it's not just a story? What if there's more to it than meets the eye?"

I shake my head, dismissing her suggestion. "There's no mention of the MoonWitch in the Diablerie," I point out, my voice tinged with frustration. "If she was real, wouldn't she be mentioned in the book?"

Sybil raises an eyebrow, her lips quirking into a sly smile. "Not necessarily," she counters, her tone cryptic. "The Diablerie is spells from the Nocturnal,"

Her see words send a chill down my spine, and I can't shake the feeling that there's more to this story than I thought. But as I meet Sybil's gaze, I know that if we're going to uncover the truth, we'll need to set aside our doubts and work together to unravel the mysteries that lie ahead.

Sybil's words echo in my mind, a haunting reminder of the cryptic message she shared with me in the woods that night. The mention of the MoonWitch sends a shiver down my spine, and I can't help but feel a sense of unease creeping over me.

"You said the MoonWitch was in this pack territory," I recall, my voice barely above a whisper as I turn to face Sybil. "Do you think she could be behind all of this?"

Sybil nods solemnly, her gaze steady as she meets my eyes. "It's possible," she replies, her voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty. "But if she's here, we need to find her before it's too late."

I nod in agreement, my mind racing with possibilities. If the MoonWitch truly is in Dark Shadow territory, then there's a chance that the answers we seek are closer than we think.

"The book has to be in the territory somewhere," I say, my voice firm with determination. "We just need to find it."

Sybil's expression hardens with resolve, and I know that together, we'll stop at nothing to uncover the truth and put an end to whatever dark forces are at work in this place.

We approach Matilda, who is leaning against a lamppost, her expression weary and strained. As we outline our plan to search for the MoonWitch, her reaction is less than enthusiastic.

"I'm sorry, but this all seems so... childish," she protests, her voice tinged with frustration. "Going after a tale, it's ridiculous."

Sybil's patience wears thin at Matilda's resistance, and her temper flares in response. "I'm not taking shit from a witch who's rotting from the inside," she snaps, her voice sharp with irritation.

I step forward, attempting to diffuse the tension. "Matilda, we're not asking for your approval," I say firmly, my tone leaving no room for argument. "We're telling you our plan, and you can either come with us or stay behind. The choice is yours."

Matilda's expression darkens at my words, but she ultimately nods in reluctant agreement. "Fine."