The Forgotten Prophecy

The rain poured down in relentless sheets, Lightning ripped jagged cracks across the sky, illuminating the forest in brief, ghostly flashes. Thunder followed, rolling like the roar of a furious beast, shaking the earth to its core. Fires, bright and unnatural, sprang up where lightning had struck, their flames devouring the forest with alarming speed.

A woman sprinted through the chaos, her breath ragged and labored. Her silver-blue gown, torn and soaked, clung to her battered body. Blood trickled from deep gashes on her arms and legs, where sharp branches had lashed against her as she ran. Her glowing, bare feet barely touched the ground, propelled by a spell that enhanced her speed.

In one hand, she clutched her swollen belly, her other arm flailing to balance herself as she stumbled through the infernal storm. Pain rippled through her with every step-sharp, unbearable pain that warned her the child within her was coming far too soon.

"Not now," she gasped, her voice trembling with desperation. "Please... just hold on a little longer."

Her glowing hair, nearly white in color, whipped around her face, plastered to her skin by the rain. Fear filled her bright blue eyes as she glanced over her shoulder, scanning the shadows of the burning forest. She could hear them now-the low, guttural howls of wolves.

They were close.

Her heart pounded, each beat a hammer against her ribs. The howls grew louder, echoing around her like a death knell. Panic clawed at her chest. The wolves weren't ordinary beasts-they were faster, smarter, and far deadlier. Their glowing red eyes would be the last thing most ever saw.

The woman stumbled, nearly falling, but caught herself. A fresh wave of pain shot through her belly, and she let out a strangled cry. She gritted her teeth, forcing herself forward. The forest seemed endless, an ever-shifting maze of shadows and fire, but then-through the haze of smoke and rain-she saw it.

A cave.

It was carved into the side of a rocky hill, its dark entrance offering a sliver of hope. But doubt clawed at her mind. Would it truly be a haven-or a trap? The thought pierced through the storm in her mind. If the wolves found her inside, there would be no escape. She would be cornered, But there was no time to decide. The pain in her belly surged violently, stealing the air from her lungs. She cried out, clutching her stomach as her knees nearly buckled beneath her. The child was coming, and there was no stopping it.

She clenched her teeth, forcing her body to move. Raising a trembling hand, she traced a glowing sigil into the air before her. The light pulsed and spread, surrounding her legs like a shimmering aura.

"Accelero Tempus!" she whispered hoarsely, and the spell took hold.

The world around her blurred as the magic propelled her forward. The rocky, firelit ground became a streak of color beneath her glowing feet. The long distance to the cave disappeared in three powerful leaps.

Her body skidded to a halt at the cave's mouth, nearly collapsing under the force of her landing. The glow of her speed spell faded, leaving her trembling and breathless.

The storm raged on, relentless. Wind howled through the forest like a living thing, tearing at the trees and fanning the flames. Rain pounded against the rocky hill, water cascading into the cave's entrance.

She hesitated, standing just inside the dark opening. Her chest heaved as she caught her breath, glancing behind her into the inferno of the forest. The storm was unyielding, the howls of the wolves louder than ever. The thought of being cornered chilled her blood, but the relentless pain in her body gave her no choice.

Another contraction rippled through her, sharper and more agonizing than the last. She gripped the cave wall for support, her vision blurring as the world spun around her.

I don't have time to think, she realized, stumbling deeper into the cave.

Her glowing feet splashed through shallow puddles as she collapsed onto the cold, hard ground. The jagged rocks bit into her knees, but the pain in her belly drowned out all else. Her breaths came in short, shallow gasps as her body surrendered to the inevitable.

The child was coming

his birth hastened by the raw magic that coursed through her blood and his.

Time blurred. Pain consumed her. She barely noticed when the cries of her newborn echoed through the cave, piercing and strong despite the storm outside. Trembling, she reached out and cradled the child, her voice barely more than a whisper.

"Please... stop crying," she begged. "They'll hear us..."

To her astonishment, the baby obeyed, his wails fading into silence as if he understood her words. Then, to her utter disbelief, he giggled-a light, melodic sound that cut through the tension like sunlight breaking through a storm.

The sound reverberated through the cave, carrying an unnatural power. Outside, the storm faltered. The howling wind slowed to a whisper, and the rain began to taper off, each drop seeming to freeze midair before vanishing. The roaring flames that had consumed the forest flickered and dimmed, their brightness snuffed out as if commanded to retreat.

The forest itself seemed to hold its breath.

The woman stared at her child in awe. How could a sound so innocent, so pure, wield such power? The baby giggled again, louder this time, and she felt the earth beneath her shift in response. The ground stopped trembling, the chaos subsiding into an eerie stillness.

But the reprieve was brief.

A shadow darkened the cave's entrance, and her heart sank. A massive wolf stood there, its silver fur gleaming wet in the fading rain. Its red eyes burned like embers as it stared at her and the child.

The wolf let out a long, chilling howl, its voice resonating through the cave and out into the quieted forest. The echoes were answered by others.

They were coming.