Slung by Fate

"Zaia, battle it!"

Dax's words cut through the whirl of silvery light almost engulfing me. My imprint matched the deep, resonant hum filling the valley and burnt like molten fire. Closing in from all directions, shadows twisted and rebuilt in the mist.

My knees collapsed and I gasped as force raced through me, too strong and uncontrolled. The voice answered once more—soft, familiar, and unrelenting.

"Zaia.... come home."

Struggling to ground myself, I dug at the earth, but the magic pulled at my own essence and dragged me into the black core of the forest.

Strong arms suddenly surrounded me, gently and powerfully anchoring me. "I have you," Dax said, his voice sharp yet consistent. "You are not walking away from me."

As Dax's hands locked my arms, the turbulent magic inside me stilled, as if under his control. The deep hum stumbled for the shortest of seconds.

I gasped and grabbed at him. "I am unable of controlling it... It's dragging me: "

Dax said, "You're stronger than this," with burning amber eyes. "I have seen it.".

His comments broke through the dread veil. He saw me not only in terms of the mark or prophecy.

The magic within me steadied slowly and answered my will for the first time. I gritted my teeth, willing myself to concentrate in spite of the repeating call still chewing at my head.

"Stay with me, Zaia," Dax exhorted. We combat this together.

From the mist came a savage snarl as several corrupted rogues emerged, their brilliant green eyes fixed on us. The scout yelled a warning, drawing the closest creature with his blade.

I turned away from Dax; my strength was returning with great force. "We end this—now!"

Dax changed quickly, his big wolf form running against the closest renegade. With savage accuracy, his claws tore across its twisted body, scattering ash in the cold breeze.

Using the fierce energy coursed inside me, I shot forward. This time I commanded the power, not opposed it. From my hands, silver flames burst outward and drove the Rogues back.

The corrupted wolves stopped first, a natural response to the strange magic flickering through the air.

The scout fought at my side, his blade flashing in precise arcs. "Whatever you're doing, don't stop!" he barked, taking down another rogue. 

"I wasn't planning to," I muttered, flames surging in response to my rising confidence. 

Dax charged through the fray, his wolf form a whirlwind of deadly precision. He worked in perfect sync with me, every movement calculated and fierce. 

But the rogues kept coming, relentless and single-minded. We couldn't fight forever. 

Suddenly, a chilling realization hit me. "They're stalling us," I whispered. 

Dax shifted back, panting heavily. "What?" 

"They're herding us," I insisted, my voice sharp. "Toward whatever's calling me." 

The earth trembled again, and the humming intensified, vibrating through my bones. I staggered, clutching my burning mark as a searing pain shot through my chest. 

Dax caught me, his face twisted with worry. "What's happening?" 

"I—I don't know," I gasped. "It's like… something's binding me." 

Before he could respond, dark tendrils of shadow erupted from the ground, wrapping around my wrists and ankles like living chains. They pulsed with the same eerie green light as the corrupted rogues' eyes. 

Dax snarled, slashing at the tendrils, but they reformed instantly, tightening their grip. I cried out as the mark on my arm flared, reacting to the magic imprisoning me. 

The voice returned, colder this time. "You cannot escape destiny, child." 

Dax's attention swung toward the source of the voice, but the forest remained vacant, filled only with changing shadows. 

"You're not taking her!" he yelled, his claws shining as he struck again and again at the black ties. 

I clinched my hands, concentrating every ounce of my force on the tendrils. Flames burst from my hands, burning through the dark links, yet they fought fiercely, powered by something old and ruthless. 

"I won't let them take you!" Dax growled, desperation breaking through his hardened exterior. 

A terrible shock rushed through me, and my knees collapsed. For a horrifying instant, I felt the call drawing me deeper, disconnecting my connection to the world around me—until Dax seized my face, forcing me to confront his focused stare. 

"Stay. With. Me." His voice broke, raw with passion. 

The power within me swelled in response—not from fear, but from resolve. I yelled, putting everything into one last burst of force. 

Silver flames burst forth, devouring the black tendrils in an intense, blinding brightness. The corrupted rogues cried as the fire spread, burning them to ash within minutes. 

The link shattered with a powerful pulse, leaving behind an odd quiet. My chest heaved, and tiredly I collapsed into Dax's arms.

Though the pain in my mark told me otherwise, I said, "It's over... for now."

Dax tightened me; his breathing was erratic. "I already have you."

I listened to him first time.

A faraway howl sounded over the forest—deep, resonant, and clearly Alpha before we could gather our breath.

The face of the scout became white. Sebastian, "That's...."

Dax's jaw locked and his eyes hardened. "He's coming."

And I would not be sprinting this time.