The Other Side of the Moon (Part One)

Rain had mostly stopped — just a light drizzle fell as the trio stood over the remains of the final demon.

Kyros and Ashley were still laughing, tossing jokes about how the demon dared call them "kids."

"Did you hear that idiot speaking?" Ashley chuckled. "Thought it could take us out — what a joke."

Kyros smirked, flipping his twin blades. "He called us kids. I'd like to see that 'kid' again now."

But Alaric, ever the quiet observer, didn't join in. He stepped away, scanning the alley, his gaze sharp. He walked toward a pile of garbage bags near the curb and began shifting them carefully aside.

Kyros noticed and frowned. "What's up, Alaric?"

Alaric didn't answer immediately. He looked up, brows furrowed. "I'm sensing a new scent. Someone else was here. Recently."

Kyros and Ashley exchanged glances, their amusement fading. They both took a moment to sniff the air.

"Yeah… you're right," Ashley said.

Then Kyros stiffened slightly. "Wait. While I was fighting earlier… I think I saw a girl. She ran before I could—"

Before he could finish, Alaric's eyes caught on something. He knelt and pulled a small object from beneath a broken crate — a green tote bag with the stitched initials: AKIRA.

His grip tightened.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the far end of the alley.

All three turned instantly, falling into defensive positions — Kyros with his twin swords, Ashley drawing an arrow, and Alaric raising his longsword.

A figure stepped out of the darkness.

Drenched from head to toe, chest rising and falling fast, stood Austin.

His soaked clothes clung to his body, his dark hair plastered to his forehead.

His pale skin seemed even paler in the rainlight, but his deep hazel eyes burned — wild with fear.

He didn't see their weapons. Didn't care.

He only saw the tote bag in Alaric's hand.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?!" Austin's voice cracked, raw with panic and fury.

He stumbled forward, breathless. "Where is she?"

His voice broke. "Where is Akira?"

"I knew I smelled something disgusting," Kyros said, gripping his twin shadows tighter.

His eyes narrowed. "Of course. A damn wolf."

"I don't want to be involved with the Fox Clan," Austin snapped, his hazel eyes locked on the tote bag. "I just want to know where Akira is."

"We don't want to be involved with wild animals either," Kyros shot back.

He sneered. "Besides, we just killed a bunch of your kind. Why don't you ask them where your little girlfriend is?"

Alaric remained silent, studying the drenched boy — no longer just angry, but unraveling with panic.

After a moment, Alaric sheathed his blade, stepping forward with a calm, deep voice.

"Tell me," he said quietly, "what are you doing with someone from our kind?"

The question struck like lightning. Everyone froze — even Austin.

"What?" he stammered. "Are you kidding me? I'm asking about my friend, Akira."

He hesitated, then added, "I don't know anyone from your kind."

Kyros lost it. "You lying animal!" he yelled, charging forward —

But Alaric blocked him, one arm stopping Kyros cleanly.

Kyros and Ashley both stared. Alaric never did this — not even with Kyros.

"Alaric, step aside," Kyros growled. "I'll drag the truth out of this mutt myself."

Austin snarled. "Then bring it on, fox boy. I'll show you what a real animal does."

"Enough," Alaric interrupted, stepping between them.

He looked at Austin and held out the tote bag.

"We don't know where the girl is. We haven't seen her. Just… this bag."

"LIAR!" Austin yelled, his voice cracking. He was seconds away from breaking down.

He had promised to keep Akira safe — and now she was gone. Taken by someone, somewhere. And he had no idea who.

"Do we look like liars to you?" Kyros snapped. "Wasn't it always your kind who lied first?"

Austin growled, stepping closer, fury burning in his eyes. "You're bugging me. I don't like to brag, but if my father knew you were in his territory, he'd rip that arrogant mouth right off your face."

"Ohh, now we're doing this? Okay, go call daddy on me," Kyros teased.

Alaric read the room silently. "Enough." His eyes shifted between them, then he stepped forward.

"We don't want to be involved with your kind," he said calmly. "And I assume you don't want to be involved with us."

He paused, now inches from Austin.

"We're telling the truth. If you want the bag… take it."

Kyros and Ashley exchanged a surprised glance. Even Austin looked taken aback.

He reached out — but Alaric pulled the tote bag just out of reach.

Now standing close, the height difference was clear. Alaric towered slightly over Austin.

Austin gritted his teeth. "You've got to be kidding me."

Alaric's voice was steady. "If you want this bag… tell me what your little girlfriend really is."

Kyros and Ashley both chuckled and clapped Alaric on the shoulder.

Austin's expression twisted. "I knew it. Your kind can never be trusted. You're all the same."

"Whatever," Alaric replied coolly. "Just answer, and the bag is yours."

Austin gritted his teeth. "Fine. She's one of your kind. A fox spirit. But she doesn't even know it — her powers have been blocked since childhood."

He hesitated.

"She's just… Akira. That's all she's ever known."

He yanked the tote from Alaric's hand and stepped back.

"I hope I never see any of you again," he spat, pointing at Alaric — and then turned, vanishing into the shadows.

Kyros watched him go, then turned bitterly toward Alaric.

"Why did you let him go so easily? Their kind can't be trusted."

Alaric didn't answer immediately. His gaze lingered to a torn piece of tote bag to the place where Austin disappeared.

"He's the Alpha's son," he finally said. "Until we understand what's going on, we don't want to get caught in the Wolf Clan's eyes."

Kyros didn't look fully convinced but chose not to press the matter. He huffed and turned away — for now.

The bracelet on Alaric's wrist pulsed — once, twice.

Made of obsidian-forged silver, the band hugged his skin like second nature. At its center, a thumbprint-sized purplish crystal glowed softly, faint veins inside swirling like smoke.

The glow wasn't just light — it was language. It beat in patterns only the Fox Warriors could read.

"Rohana wants you all to report back. Immediately."

Alisha's sweet voice came, heard only by Alaric.

Though Alaric and Alisha had been engaged for six months, they hardly spoke like a normal couple. They never sat together, never shared casual conversation. Alaric kept his distance — always.

Still, he knew his duty. He wore a silver engagement ring every day. He had refused at first, insisting it meant nothing — until it turned into a bitter argument. Since then, he hadn't taken it off once.

The pulse from the stone lingered longer than it should in Alaric's mind.

His other hand hovered over the stone… but instead, his mind drifted — back to the last time they spoke without weapons, titles, or missions between them.

"Al, you break my heart over and over," Alisha had said softly, "but it doesn't stop me from coming back to you."

"It doesn't stop me from searching for you in a crowd… or worrying about you. I'm wrapped around you, and God, you don't even notice."

Tears welled in her eyes. Her heart raced — this was the first time since their engagement she'd dared speak her truth.

Alaric's eyes didn't waver.

"I noticed everything," he said. "And you wonder why I never responded?"

He hesitated.

"Because… because you're the only one who actually understands me. My reality. My feelings. Ashley and Kyros are still in the dark — hell, so are my parents. But you... you went ahead and did what you thought was right without even asking me. You got us engaged."

His words stung more than he realized.

"What were you expecting me to do?"

Alisha's lips trembled. "Nothing. I just wanted you to love me as much as I love you."

For a long moment, Alaric said nothing. He don't know what to say, he just can't do that, he just can't love someone just because they are asking. Then, without a word, he reached into his coat, pulled out a handkerchief, and offered it to her. As she wiped her tears, he wrapped her gently in his arms.

The memory faded, swallowed by the cold wind rushing through the alley.

Alaric was drawn from his thoughts, expression unreadable.

He still wore the silver ring — cold, tight, and unrelenting — like the bond he hadn't asked for, yet couldn't let go of.

"We should move. Rohana wants a report," he said quietly, avoiding Kyros and Ashley's eyes.

Neither of them commented, though Kyros gave him a long look, suspicion still simmering.

Without another word, the trio turned toward the Fox Realm to report back to Rohana.

They reached the Fox temple, where the stone walls flickered with the glow of ceremonial foxfire. Rohana stood before them — calm, but razor-sharp — like a storm beneath still waters.

Ashley bowed. "The demons are gone, High Priestess. We've eliminated them all."

Kyros added, "One of them was stronger than we expected. Almost… sentient. It spoke to us. Mocked us." He scowled. "Called us children."

Rohana arched a brow. "Did it say anything else?"

Alaric stepped forward. "Nothing coherent. But it fought hard to protect something — or someone. When we finally took it down, we found this."

He held out a torn tote bag piece, with only initials visible.

Rohana took it, turning it over slowly. "Whose is this?"

"Some girl with fox—" Kyros began, but Alaric cut in quickly, voice steady.

"A human girl was in the area. She may have been caught in the crossfire."

Kyros shot him a glance but said nothing.

Rohana's gaze lifted — sharp and still. "You encountered someone else?"

Alaric met her eyes. "A wolf spirit showed up after the fight. We didn't engage. He was looking for the girl. Said her name was Akira."

"Did he harm you?"

"No."

"Did he say why he was after her?"

"Only that she was his friend."

Rohana turned the bag over again. "And you let him go."

There was no accusation in her tone, but the silence afterward weighed heavy.

Kyros muttered, "Should've ended him."

Ashley elbowed him lightly.

Alaric remained calm. "He was the son of the Alpha."

Rohana's eyes stayed fixed on him. "You did what you thought was right. But I wonder… Why does a wolf care about a human girl?"

She stepped forward. "Or is she human at all?"

Alaric didn't flinch. "We don't know."

"No," she agreed. "But I intend to find out."

She turned toward the center of the room. The temple lights flared as her voice rang with quiet command:

"I want a formal audience with the Alpha of the Wolf Clan. Leo."

Then, she turned back to Alaric and Kyros.

"And I want you both to accompany me. You've seen the boy. You'll know what to look for."

She paused.

"Unless there's something else I should know…?"

Alaric bowed slightly. "No, High Priestess."

Rohana studied him a moment longer, then gave a slight nod.

"Prepare to leave at dawn."

The soft flicker of foxfire dimmed behind them as the trio dispersed, Rohana's final words hanging heavy in the air like an unspoken omen.