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In a distant cell, Juro lay clinging to Gorthok's body with his tiny arms wrapped around him.
His eyes blazed with a fierce determination, his tiny body shaking with sobs. Hours had
passed since Gorthok's death, but Juro refused to let go.
The guards, trying to maintain order, approached Juro cautiously. "My Prince, please, we
need to get him ready for funeral rituals" one of them cooed, trying to gently pry Juro away
from Gorthok's body.
But Juro refused to let go. He growled, baring his tiny teeth, and held Gorthok's body even
closer. His tiny arms trembled with exhaustion, but his grip remained unyielding.
Just then, the Wolf King arrived, his thunderous roar echoing through the halls. "Who dared
to do this?" he bellowed, his eyes blazing with fury.
The guards cowered, fearful of their king's wrath. "We don't know, Your Majesty," one of
them stammered. "The guards on duty were… uh… different. We didn't see anything."
The Wolf King's gaze fell upon Juro, still clinging to Gorthok's body. He approached his son
slowly, trying to gently pry him away.
"Juro, my little pup," he whispered. "Let go, son. We need to take care of Gorthok's body."
But Juro refused to let go. The Wolf King's face twisted in anguish, and he sniffed the air.
"I can smell silver," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "Who gave the orders to
torture Gorthok with silver?"
The guards exchanged nervous glances, fearful of their king's wrath. "We don't know, Your
Majesty," one of them repeated.
The Wolf King's gaze narrowed. "I will investigate this myself," he growled. "I want to know
who was on duty, who gave the orders, and who carried out this heinous act."
As the Wolf King continued to demand answers, Juro's tiny body began to tremble violently.
His eyes rolled back, and he let out a faint whimper before collapsing onto Gorthok's body.
The Wolf King rushed forward, gently lifting Juro into his arms. "Juro, my brave little pup," he
whispered, cradling him close.
As the Wolf King held Juro, the guards carefully retrieved Gorthok's body, preparing it for the
funeral rituals. The Wolf King's eyes never left his son's face, his heart heavy with grief and
his mind burning with a desire for justice.
After a while….,
The Wolf King sat in his chambers, his eyes fixed on the flames dancing in the fireplace. He
couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in his stomach since Gorthok's
death.
Just then, a soft knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. "Enter," he growled.
One of his guards, a burly wolf named Grim, stepped inside. "Your Majesty, I've come to
report that the guards who were on duty when Gorthok was imprisoned… they're all dead."
The Wolf King's ears perked up, and he sat up straight. "What do you mean?"
Grim hesitated. "They died under mysterious circumstances, Your Majesty. Some were
found with poison in their systems, while others… just seemed to have stopped breathing."
The Wolf King's eyes narrowed. This was no coincidence. Someone was trying to cover their
tracks.
He growled softly, his mind racing with possibilities. "Investigate further," he ordered Grim.
"I want to know what happened."
Grim nodded and backed out of the room, leaving the Wolf King to his thoughts.
Meanwhile, in Juro's bedchambers, the young prince lay unconscious, surrounded by royal
physicians and his mother, the Wolf Queen Elara. She stroked his head, her eyes filled with
worry and sadness. Her own heart was heavy with grief, for Gorthok had been like a brother
to her, a loyal companion and friend.
"Oh, my poor little pup," she whispered, her voice trembling. "You're so strong, but this is
too much for anyone to bear."
Zephyr, the royal physician, nodded in agreement. "He's just exhausted, Your Majesty. He'll
be fine once he rests."
The Wolf Queen nodded, her eyes never leaving Juro's face. She would stay by his side until
he woke up, and then… then they would face whatever came next, together. She knew that
the road ahead would be difficult, but she was determined to support her son, and to help
him find a way to heal and move forward.
Later that evening….
Zuki lay on his bed, sobbing uncontrollably. The storm raging outside seemed to match the
turmoil within him. He couldn't shake off the feeling of emptiness and loss that had settled
in his heart since Lila's passing.
As he cried, his fingers brushed against the hairpin Lila had given him. He remembered the
night she died, her frail hands placing the hairpin in his palm, her eyes filled with a deep
sadness.
"Put it under the Moonriver Bridge," she had whispered, her voice barely audible. "Where
the moonlight touches the water."
Zuki's sobs intensified as he remembered Lila's words. He knew he had to fulfill her last
wish, no matter how scared he was.
Meanwhile, in the Wolf Clan's stronghold, Juro stirred in his bed, his fever finally beginning
to subside. He sat up, rubbing his eyes, but the moment he remembered Gorthok, he burst
into tears.
He remembered the amulet Gorthok had given him, the one with the small, shimmering
moonstone amulet. Gorthok's words echoed in his mind:
"Under the Moonriver Bridge, where the moonlight touches the water…"
Juro's sobs intensified as he clutched the amulet, determination rising within him. He would
fulfill Gorthok's last wish, no matter what.
As the storm raged on outside, both Zuki and Juro made their way out of their respective
homes, driven by a shared promise and a desire to honor their loved ones.
They set out into the darkness, the Moonriver Bridge their destination…
As Zuki and Juro approached the Moonriver Bridge, the storm intensified, casting eerie
shadows on the water. The wind howled, and the rain pounded against their skin, making it
hard to see or hear anything.
Despite their supernatural abilities, the darkness and storm made everything seem
ominous. Zuki's crimson eyes gleamed in the dark, and his fangs seemed sharper than
usual. He wore a long, black raincoat that billowed behind him like a dark cloud.
Juro, on the other hand, looked like a wild creature, his fur standing on end as he shook the
rainwater off his coat. His glowing wolf eyes seemed to pierce through the darkness, and
his tiny fangs were bared in a snarl.
As they reached the bridge, they stood on opposite sides, their eyes locked in a fearful
stare.
Zuki's eyes widened as he stared at the… thing… standing on the other side of the bridge. It
was a monster, with glowing eyes and razor-sharp fangs. Its fur was matted and wild, and it
seemed to be shaking itself like a wet dog.
Juro's eyes were fixed on the… creature… standing on the other side of the bridge. It was a
dark, shadowy figure with glowing red eyes and sharp fangs. Its coat billowed behind it like
a dark cloud, and it seemed to be looming over the bridge like a specter.
Both Zuki and Juro froze, their tiny hearts pounding in their chests. They stood there, locked in a
terrified stare, as the wind howled and the rain pounded against them.
Then, just as it seemed like they couldn't take it anymore, the thunder boomed and the
lightning flashed, illuminating the dark sky.
That's when they both lost it.
Zuki let out a terrified shriek, his eyes fixed on Juro's "monster" form. Juro, equally
frightened, yelped and turned tail, running as fast as his little legs could carry him.
Both of them sprinted away from the bridge, screaming at the top of their lungs, as the
thunder boomed and the lightning flashed around them.
As the two young souls disappeared into the stormy night, the Moonriver Bridge stood
silent, its secrets and promises whispered away by the wind.
Is this the beginning of a new story, one born from the ashes of tragedy and heartbreak? Or
is it merely a fleeting moment, a brief convergence of two lives destined to collide again?
Only time will tell…..