an eerie, unnatural silence. Kaira felt a shiver run down her spine, her senses on high al

followed closely behind, his hand on the hilt of his sword. Kaira brought up the

of the clearing stood a massive tree, its trunk twisted and gnarled with age. And on the trunk of the tr

breathed, her eyes

the mark of the Shadow," he said. "

owed. "A warning

ure," he said. "But I think it's a warning of an attack.

ever been one for violence, and the thought of facing

omething in their eyes that gave her pause. Som

s voice firm. "We'll defend our

t of his sword. "We'll fight to t

e brave, and they were determined. And as she looked at th

de her heart skip a beat. A figure, lurking just beyond the edge of

, her eyes fixed on th

her gaze. And as they saw the figu

ane said, his voice low.

ilt of his sword. "We need to g

nge sensation. A sensation that seemed to be c

ely above a whisper. "I think..

dulous. "Kaira, are you crazy?" Thane asked. "That thi

strange connection to the figure, a

said, her voice firm. "I n

ane nodded. "Okay," he said. "But we'll be right behind yo

se of trepidation, but she knew that she had to do

The figure's eyes seemed to bore into her soul, and she

pounding in her chest. "What do yo

glinting with malevolence. And then, in a voice

ng for you, for a

ened to the Shadowborn's words. What did

e?" Kaira asked, trying

. "Oh, Kaira," it said. "You have no idea what you a

nfusion. What was the Sh

talking about," Kaira said

course you don't," it said. "You've been kept in t

n took a step closer to her. She could feel its da

aira asked, trying to

e a key part of an ancient prophecy," it said. "A prophecy that for

the Shadowborn's words. A prophecy? A

," Kaira said, tryin

d. "You're so much more than that. You're a witch wuth the blood of a werewolf and y

ned to the Shadowborn's words.An anc

iumph. "You'll come to understand, Kaira," it said. "You'll come to und

ughter echoing through the forest. She didn't know what was going o

saw Thane and Asher waiting for he

ed?" Thane asked, r

ad just happened. "I...I don't know," she said. "The Shadowbo

ion intense. "We need to get you b

mpse of the Shadowborn watching her from th

ew that she had to uncover the truth about her pa