Chapter 4
The moment I left the hall, a sharp pain shot through me from my Earth Empathy gift.
The sacred altar!
I ran like a madwoman to the hidden cave on the mountainside.
The spring at the entrance now flowed with water as black as ink. The surrounding plants were all dead, and the air reeked of thick decay.
The Blight had completely corrupted the altar!
"Sienna!"
Horton burst into the cave, his face just as pale. He had clearly felt the disturbance in the energy too.
"I told you, the Blight is spreading!" I yelled in despair.
"Sienna! Horton!"
Chloe ran in, clutching her dress, the 'Heart of the Land' necklace glowing with an eerie light against her chest.
"I... I came to pray, but the altar started shaking, I was so scared—"
Before she could finish, the entire cave began to tremble violently. Rocks rained down from the ceiling.
"The cave is collapsing!" Horton roared. "Get out!"
But I saw something worse. The energy core deep inside the cave was imploding, forming a massive black vortex. If it erupted, the entire pack's territory would be poisoned beyond recovery.
"No, I have to stop it!" I ran deeper inside.
"Are you insane?!" Horton grabbed my arm. "Come back!"
"Let go! If I don't, the entire pack will die!"
As we argued, a terrifying cracking sound came from above. A massive stalactite cracked loose from the ceiling—hanging like a dagger directly over us !
"Chloe!" Horton cried out in terror, instinctively moving to rush toward her.
His first instinct was always to save her.
But I was faster.
I used every ounce of my strength to shove both Horton and Chloe toward the entrance.
"Go!"
BOOM—!!!
In a deafening roar, the world went dark.
A searing pain erupted from my back. I felt my bones shatter as my consciousness rapidly faded.
I did... everything I could.
Horton, you have to live... with Chloe...
I'm fulfilling all three of your wishes.
But it hurts... so much...
Just before I blacked out completely, Horton's gut-wrenching cry echoed in my ears.
"No! Sienna!"
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