Rhaegar

Deep in the mountains, far north from Doon Valley, an ancient forest whispered with an unnatural silence. Moonlight filtered through the towering branches, painting the mist-laden ground in silver hues. A pack of Arcane Fenrirs was moving cautiously through a clearing. They were massive, silver-furred wolves marked with shifting runes, their eyes scanning the darkness for unseen threats.

The Pack Alpha lifted his head, sniffing the air. His luminous violet eyes narrowed. A silent growl rumbled in his throat. His pack… ten in total… halted in unison, their rune-inscribed pelts pulsating in response to the shifting energies around them. The forest was too still. No wind or any movement. Even the ever-present hum of magic that resonated in these lands had faded into nothingness.

Then, the first scream shattered the night… a deep, guttural howl, distorted and corrupted beyond recognition.

The pack whirled around, ears pricked, muscles tensed. Shadows twisted at the edge of the clearing. From the darkness, five figures emerged.

Revenant Stalkers… nightmarish mockeries of Arcane Fenrirs. Their blackened fur was interwoven with cracks of eerie blue fire, their eyes pulsing with a sickly white glow. Gaping maws stretched unnaturally wide, revealing rows of serrated, spectral fangs. Their elongated claws shimmered with cursed energy, corroding the very air around them.

They did not prowl. They did not growl. They simply advanced… silent as death itself.

The Alpha let loose a Lunar Howl, a pulse of pure arcane energy meant to disrupt any magical entity. The air vibrated with power as the howl resonated through the trees.

But nothing changed this time. Instead, the lead Revenant Stalker opened its maw, and from within came a soundless howl… an unnatural counterforce that shattered the Arcane Fenrirs' magical bonds.

Pain struck like lightning. Alpha staggered, his packmates whimpering as their connection to one another frayed, severed like delicate threads. Their runes flickered, dimming. They were being unmade.

A second later, the first Stalker lunged towards them. Its spectral claws aimed straight for Rhaegar, the youngest of the pack and the son of the Alpha. But his eldest brother reacted faster, shoving Rhaegar aside.

The young wolf tumbled, stunned, watching helplessly as the Revenant's claws raked through his brother's side… not slicing flesh, but ripping his essence apart. His silver-furred body spasmed, his runes turning black. He tried to yelp… only to vanish into nothingness.

His sister retaliated, her speed unmatched. She blinked out of sight, reappearing behind one of the Stalkers, sinking her glowing fangs into its shoulder.

Rhaegar stood rooted on the spot and watched helplessly the horrifying scene in front of him. That creature did not bleed. It did not even react. Instead, its form melted around his sister, engulfing her body in a suffocating grasp. Her runes flickered wildly, struggling… before vanishing. Her body crumpled, empty eyes staring at nothing as the Stalker devoured her soul.

The Alpha fought like a beast possessed. He tore into one Revenant Stalker, his rune-covered claws crackling with power, dispersing its form momentarily. But it was futile. The wraithlike beast reformed instantly, whispering a soundless, mocking growl. One by one, the pack fell.

His second brother, corrupted by the Revenant's cursed claws, turned against them… his mind twisted by the Soulhowl. His once-loyal fangs sank into their youngest sister's throat, tearing her apart before his own form disintegrated into shadow.

He saw his father, the Alpha, was bleeding, his breath ragged, stood alone. His runes flickered weakly. The Revenant Stalkers started to circle him now… five against one. He could feel his essence unraveling, his strength fading under their cursed presence. Still, his father refused to submit.

Then, Rhaegar felt warmth at his side. His mother! Her gaze was fierce, filled with sorrow and urgency.

"Run, Rhaegar." Her voice was a whisper and a command. "Don't look back. You have to keep our bloodline alive. Run as fast as you can." She nudged him… one final act of protection.

He ran. He didn't know where he was going. He just ran. Behind him, his father howled… one last, desperate Lunar Howl.

He turned, just for a moment. He saw his mother had joined his father. For an instant, the moon burned brighter. The earth trembled. The arcane air fought back against the corruption.

But it wasn't enough. The Revenant Stalkers surged forward as one, their spectral forms collapsing onto his parents, swallowing them in a tide of death. His father's runes flickered. His mother's glow dimmed.

And then… nothing remained.

Rhaegar ran. He didn't know where he was going. He only knew one thing… his mother's last words repeated over and over in his mind. "You have to keep our bloodline alive. Run as fast as you can".

He ran until his body failed him. Until darkness swallowed him whole.

Ranav stood at the boundary of his new home, staring at the unconscious young Arcane Fenrir lying just beyond the unfinished stone wall.

The wolf was large, at least six feet long, though still young by Fenrir standards. Its once-radiant silver fur was dulled and matted with blood. A deep gash marred its side, the wound's edges blackened with some type of corruption. One of its forelegs twisted unnaturally, possibly broken. Its breathing was ragged, each exhale forming mist in the frigid morning air.

Its ears twitched at uneven intervals, as though sensing something, even in its unconscious state.

The workers who came to build the wall had been the first to spot it. Frightened by the sight of the massive wolf, they had rushed inside, calling for help. When Ranav arrived, he recognized immediately that the creature had fled from a battle.

Jessica, who was very curious about the creature, studied the wolf carefully before confirming its identity.

"This isn't just any wolf. It's an Arcane Fenrir. It should be deep in the mountains. This type of wolves never come near human habitats," she said.

Ranav frowned. "And what does that mean for us?"

Jessica explained, "Arcane Fenrirs are creatures of both flesh and magic. Their runes pulse with arcane energy, allowing them to phase-step through realms, unleash a Lunar Howl to shatter magic spells, and summon runic shields for protection. They can unravel enchantments with their strikes and detect even the faintest magical disturbances. They're not just beasts… they're guardians of the unseen forest."

Ranav considered her words, staring at the injured wolf.

Jessica continued, "Arcane Fenrirs never leave their packs unless something unexpected happens. They would never leave their ancient forest. It's very likely that this one either fled or lost its pack entirely."

She hesitated, then added, "We should take it in and treat it. If we show goodwill, it might choose to stay. This one is still young, given time, it could be one hell of a fighter against mages. If you are lucky enough to tame it, you could have a very powerful companion."

Ranav narrowed his eyes. "And if it turns hostile?"

Jessica shrugged. "It only has an orange mana core and value-wise, that's barely anything. It's not even an adult, so its flesh isn't valuable either. But as a magical beast, if we could tame it, its worth increases a hundredfold. What I want to say is that there is a chance of it will become hostile, but calculating the future possible gain we can take a gamble. With proper security arrangements, we can minimize the risks."

Ranav exhaled slowly. After a moment, he nodded. "Fine. We'll take it in. But it stays in the stable. I don't want it loose around my family."

Jessica smirked. "Agreed. I'll devise a treatment plan later. For now, let's get it inside. It's at least 150 kilograms… you'll need help. Call Midnight. He can drag it in like a sledge."