Year 15,000 BCE – Cycle 6
The storm had not cleared when dawn bled pale light into Westfield. The streets were still buried in snow, and the frozen banners along the battlements cracked in the wind. But the horns had already sounded twice that morning, and to the seasoned soldiers of Westery, that meant only one thing—war was no longer a threat. It was here.
Aleric West stood in the war chamber, the great map table lit by hovering foxfire orbs. Wooden markers shaped like wolves, ravens, and bears were being moved by his officers as messengers relayed reports.
"Bloodfang warbands from the north," Lord Ceryn West said, tapping a claw against the map. "And… smaller forces from the southern plains. Mixed banners. Wolves, a few ravens, and even tiger mercenaries."
"They move faster than I expected," Aleric murmured. "Which means they've been planning this."
Across the room, Captain Elenya Veyra of the Moon Guard unrolled a scroll sealed in wax. "Interception reports. A rider from the east carried this to the Bloodfangs before turning north." She glanced at Aleric. "It contained sketches of the twins."
Selene entered quietly, her white cloak heavy with snowflakes, the two newborns hidden in her arms. "They will not stop," she said. "Even if we win this first battle, more will come."
"They will," Aleric agreed, his voice low. "But this city will stand until it can no longer draw breath."
Orders went out swiftly. The Moon Guard would hold the northern gates. Westfield's civilian militia would man the walls. Supply lines would be sealed, the granaries locked. No one left the city without Aleric's seal.
Far from Westfield, in a frostbound hall deep in Bloodfang territory, Tharos raised his war-axe over his head as warriors howled in unison. "We march at nightfall! And we do not stop until the abominations are ash beneath our claws!"
Back in Westfield, Selene laid the twins in a warded cradle etched with lunar runes. As the runes flared faintly, she looked out the window toward the mountains, her breath fogging the glass. "They will come for you," she whispered. "But they will not have you. Not while I still live."