silence of the night was interrupted only by the rustling of leaves stirred by an icy breeze. Lyra clu

es were watching her, lurking in the shadows. His instincts screamed at him to turn back,

e at this time? » Lyra asked, her voice ba

lighting up his face. "A

ashing. "It's not a question of f

r, placing a reassuring hand on her arm. "You're too tense. Take

oing in the depths of the forest. Lyra flinched, her ey

he whispered, her b

y turning towards th

et closer. Lyra instinctively stepped back, her heart pounding. A pungent smell fille

what i

e was nothing natural about the creature: a grotesque mix of wolf and be

placing himself in front o

attacked, her claws falling on Elias who narrowly dod

him over with a swipe of her paw, throwing him against a tree with terrifying f

s dripping with saliva. Lyra backed away, h

ispered, her b

and authoritative, shaking the air around them. A figure emer

a

his eyes shone with a golden glow. He didn't hesitate for a second

th disconcerting agility, his own movements deadly precise. Each blow

e ground while Kael stood up, panting. He turned

asked, his voice deep

still shaking. Kael approached her, pl

re," he said, his tone hardeni

as, visibly groggy, stood up,

l of reproaches. "You're the one puttin

eyes flashing. " What

s. "It's all because of you. This creature, these atta

owing even darker. "You have no idea

them argue, their palpable ang

suddenly, her voice

rned towards h

r stupid arguments. Explain

ut neither of them spoke. Lyra fel

ling but determined. "If you won't tel

briskly toward the house, her mind

up with her, grabbin

a, w

ger and unshed tears. "No, Kael. I've had enou

a long moment, as i

he said finally, his

eing herself from his g

clenched, while Elias, with a bitter smile on

his mind, and the answers always seemed out of reach. But one thing was clear: som