The Curse Of The Midnight Rose

Ravenna awoke to the soft chirping of birds and the faint crackle of the dying embers from last night's fire. For a moment, she lay still, her eyes fixed on the canvas of treetops above her, the memories of the night before flooding back.

She remembered the dire wolf, its glowing eyes, and the pendant she now clutched tightly in her hand. Sitting up slowly, she realized Damien wasn't beside her. Panic bubbled in her chest, but it quickly subsided when she spotted him a short distance away, crouched by the fire.

He was roasting something new this time—a wild pheasant he must have hunted at dawn. Its aroma wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of freshly brewed herbal tea. Her stomach rumbled audibly, betraying her hunger.

Damien turned at the sound, a knowing smirk spreading across his face. "Good morning, Ravenna," he said, his voice smooth as ever. "You're awake just in time."

She stretched, feeling a little embarrassed at how much her stomach had betrayed her. "I didn't realize how hungry I was," she admitted sheepishly.

"After everything that happened last night, I'm not surprised," he said, tearing a piece of the roasted pheasant and handing it to her. "Eat up. You'll need your strength."

Ravenna took the food gratefully, savoring the tender meat seasoned with wild herbs. "You always seem to know how to make the best out of nothing," she remarked.

He shrugged, pouring her a small cup of tea from the pot near the fire. "Survival isn't just about fighting. It's about knowing how to live with what you have."

As they ate, her fingers brushed the pendant around her neck, and her thoughts wandered back to the wolf.

"Damien," she began hesitantly, "about last night… the wolf, the pendant—it felt… like more than coincidence."

Damien's gaze darkened, and he leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "It wasn't a coincidence, Ravenna. That wolf wasn't just any creature—it was sent for you."

Her heart skipped a beat. "Sent for me? By who?"

"I don't know yet," he admitted, "but whoever sent it wanted you to find that pendant. It's part of your story, your past. That much is clear."

Ravenna held the pendant tightly, her thumb tracing the moon-shaped design. "My… mother—" she stopped herself, realizing her mistake. "The woman who raised me told me this pendant was cursed. She hid it from me my entire life."

Damien's gaze softened. "Then it's time to find out the truth. That pendant might hold answers to who you really are."

Ravenna looked at him, her chest tightening. "But what if I don't want to know?"

He reached out, his hand covering hers. "Ravenna, whatever truth you uncover, you won't face it alone. I promise."

Her eyes met his, and for a moment, she felt a sense of safety she hadn't known in years.

The moment was interrupted by a distant howl, sending a chill down her spine. Damien's expression hardened as he stood, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his blade.

"We need to move," he said, his voice low and urgent.

Ravenna quickly gathered her belongings, the pendant still clutched tightly in her hand. As they packed up the camp, the reality of their journey pressed down on her. Whatever secrets lay ahead, she knew one thing for certain—her life would never be the same.