Bound To Be Luna

Chapter Five

The tunnel’s darkness pressed in around us, the faint echo of distant battle fading behind us. Every step felt heavy, but I forced myself to keep moving, Gina’s steady presence grounding me amid the chaos. Rachel’s instructions replayed in my mind—there’s a tunnel leading outside, a way out.

Gina’s grip on my arm tightened as she paused briefly, listening. Her eyes flicked to the faint glow of a distant light ahead—an opening that led outside.

“We’re almost there,”she whispered urgently. “Stay close.”

Suddenly, a muffled crash reverberated through the tunnel, causing dust to fall from the damp walls. I flinched, my heart pounding harder. Whatever was happening outside was closer than I thought. I clutched my chest, feeling the weight of fear and adrenaline collide.

Ahead, Rachel’s voice echoed softly, “We can’t stay long. The exit’s just beyond that bend.”

As we rounded the corner, a sudden gust of cold air seeped through the opening, carrying the scent of rain and earth—an escape, but also a reminder of how close we were to the unknown outside.

Gina pushed the door open, and we spilled into the night. The rain was heavy, pounding on the forest canopy above. Lightning flashed intermittently, illuminating the chaos of the packhouse burning in the distance. The fire cast an ominous glow, shadows dancing across the trees.

“Quick,”Rachel urged, grabbing my hand again. “We need to find cover—there’s a thicket nearby.”

We darted into the underbrush, the wet leaves scraping our skin. The sounds of the battle still echoed faintly, but the open sky offered a brief moment of respite. I gasped, trying to catch my breath, my body trembling from exhaustion and adrenaline.

Gina looked back toward the burning packhouse, her jaw clenched. “They’re fighting hard. If we don’t regroup soon, we’ll be lost.”Rachel’s eyes searched the dark forest. “We have to head to the old sanctuary—there’s a hidden cave system used long ago. It’s our best shot.”

I hesitated, my mind swirling with questions. “Who are they? Why attack us now? What do they want?”

Before anyone could answer, a distant howl pierced the night—a sound that sent a shiver down my spine. It was the howl of a wolf, but layered with something else—something darker, more primal.

Gina stepped closer, her voice low but fierce. “They’re tracking us. We need to move faster.”

“How do you know all this?” I managed to ask, trembling.

“I overheard the guards,”she said sharply. “They’re saying the intruders are after something specific. Something in the pack—something only we have.”

Rachel nodded, eyes narrowing. “That’s why they attacked now. They want to take what’s ours—our territory, our strength.”

The storm raged overhead as we pushed through the tangled woods, each c***k of lightning revealing fleeting glimpses of the path ahead. My muscles ached, but I kept going, propelled by a mixture of fear and hope.

Finally, we reached a hollow in the rocks—a narrow entrance concealed by thick vines. Rachel pushed them aside, revealing a dark tunnel leading underground.

“This is it,”she whispered. “We go now. Stay close.”

We descended into the cool, damp darkness, the sounds of the storm and distant fight fading behind us. As we moved deeper, I felt a strange sense of both dread and safety—like the darkness was hiding us from everything outside, but also threatening to swallow us whole.

Gina looked back at me, her eyes fierce. “Elora, you’re stronger than you think. This is just the beginning. We have to stay united if we’re going to survive.”

“But what if they find us down here?” I asked, voice trembling.

“Then we fight,”Rachel said firmly. “Or we run. But we don’t give up—not now.”

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of their words. “I… I don’t want to be a burden.”

Gina reached out, touching my shoulder gently. “You’re not. You’re one of us now. And you’re stronger than you believe.”

The tunnel twisted and descended further into the earth. I looked ahead into the darkness and whispered, “Don’t leave me. Not now. Not ever.”

Gina’s voice was soft but resolute. “We won’t. We’re in this together. We’ll find a way out—alive.”