Petal's Pov

The forest outside Silvercrest was restless. Shadows moved with unnatural precision among the trees, stirred by something older and darker than the wind. I could feel it, a vibration underfoot that made my fur prickle, my wolf rising in awareness. Something was coming, and it wasn’t just the whispers of Nera’s name.

As soon as I stepped outside the healer’s ward, Garcia was there, leaning against a tree, eyes sharp and alert. “Petal,” he said quietly, “we have reports. ...