Chapter 2: Chapter 2

“Kronos!” 

A young man paused as he heard his name. He stood on an emerald green hill dressed in a black flowing cloak that buffeted in the wind. He stood slightly above six feet and had a lean and lithe build. His facial structure looked like a wolf’s and human’s had merged. 

“Kronos!”

The young man anxiously examined the countryside. He had called the area home his whole life and felt empty. Where several family members would be milling around doing various tasks . Not a single soul stirred. It felt….wrong.

“Kronos!”

He frowned hearing his name a third time. The voice was heavy with urgency. The wind carried a sense of foreboding and a sharp metallic scent. The young man wrinkled his nose as he recognized the unmistakable smell of blood. An angry howl split the air, making the hair on his neck stand up.

sharp stinging sensation on his cheek caused the young man’s eyes to open to the light of a lantern. With a grunt, he shielded his eyes with the back of his right hand. 

“ What in the infinite realms are you doing?!” He snarled. As his blurry vision clearedhe was greeted by a strikingly beautiful blonde woman.She has copper-colored skin with dark emerald eyes which had a red mask that resembled a raccoon. Her wolf-like features are very similar to his own. She wore a tanned dress that reached her ankles and an assortment of golden jewelry. Her blonde hair hung loosely over her left shoulder.

Etlera!” Kronos growled an animalistic growl accompanied by a glare at his aunt. “ The sun hasn’t even risen! What-”

“ The Ash-Scale Kindred has been wiped out.” The words caused Kronos to stop mid-sentence, his eyes wide open. That’s impossible! Aside from us, they have the most formidable Light and Shadow Bearers of the Mykir! 

“ The Devourer destroyed them. Nysla’s raven sentries saw the massacre and relayed it to her.” Etlera’s disgust was evident in every word she spoke.

“ So that means we are the last Kindred. The last of the Mykir,” Kronos said softly. 

“ Your parents have called a meeting. They expect you to arrive in the main chamber shortly. Here eat this,” she said, handing a honeycomb cake wrapped in a napkin before whisking away. Kronos bit into the pastry, the sweet flavor enveloping his tongue. He felt his drowsiness evaporate like morning dew as he glanced around his small cave chamber.

He had a small cot he slept on and a small wooden wardrobe by his bedside. On it was a golden medallion of a wolf howling towards the sun. A pile of scrolls was neatly stacked in the right corner of the cramped limestone chamber. Depictions of hunting fearsome beasts and fierce battles were etched into the walls. Kronos scrambled off his cot and threw open the wardrobe after stuffing the rest of the cake in his mouth. 

After stripping off his brown tunic he threw on a pair of white pants, ablack undershirt, and a long white trench coat. The coat had brilliant golden trim along the cuffs and sides as well as a large golden sun on the back. It had been made by the rest of his Kindred once he went through his ceremony to become a full member upon reaching adulthood. After sliding his feet into a pair of wooden he hurried out of his chamber. His golden eyes made the darkened narrow twists and turns in the rugged paths clear as day. He had been living in these limestone caves for six months with his nomadic kindred and knew the labyrinth layout. 

he navigated his way to the mouth of the cave to see two people. The sound of a nervous conversation filled his ears as he approached the gathering. The talk ceased before he could make out any of the words.

Kronos,” said a mountain of a man. He shared the complexion of Etlera as did everyone in the group. Various faded scars decorated his skin. A mane of thick white hair fell past his shoulders. He toohad the same features as Kronos although his were more rugged. His green eyes bore into Kronos’s as he crossed his muscular arms.

“ I heard the news. It’s true then?” Kronos asked though he already knew. His aunt Nysla’s ravens were accurate in their reports. Vain hope had made him ask the question. He looked over the clothing of the two in front of him.

Dragonleather armor with Archdust silver breastplates. They’re expecting trouble on the move. Which means the Devourer’s forces already know where we are, Kronos thought as a bead of nervous sweat trickled down the back of his neck. 

“ It’s true. We have to flee. The Devourer has already ordered a contingent of soldiers to mobilize to our location. We have to move fast to evacuate.” A slight tremor betrayed the fear of the stern man. 

“ Must we?” Kronos asked, unwilling to flee once again. He had spent the entirety of his twenty-four Epochs on the run. He had no home to call his own. All he knew was fleeing once this entity called The Devourer. He had come to love the vast plains that surrounded his latest temporary home.

“ You know we must,” the answer came from the fierce-looking woman. She was small in stature, dwarfed by both the man and Kronoshad similar scars decorating her skin. Her white hair reached the small of her back. Her wolf-like features were more pronounced than Kronos’s. 

“ To fight The Devourer would only result in our deaths. We are the last of our people. If we die the Sacred Light and Eternal Night die with us.” Kronos heaved a sigh of resignation. As usual, his mother was right. That still didn’t quell the fantasy he had of encountering the Devourer and defeating him in battle. He could envision it now…

“ Kronos!” Came the sharp reply of the woman. With a start, Kronoz blinked and refocused on her.

“ Now is not the time to daydream!” She hissed, her darkening gaze aimed at the mouth of the cave. “ Day will be breaking soon. We don't have much time.” She bit her lower lip nervously as she turned her gaze back to her son.

“ You must leave.”

“ What about you and father?” Kronos protested. “ I can’t leave the Kindred.”

“ We are all feeling individually on different routes sowe cannot be tracked. Each of us will have hired guards from The Flock of War. They will escort us to Virtue Peak where we will all meet up for the night.”

furrowing his brow. “ That land is in eternal turmoil and war. How can that be our salvation?”

“ Ocrad is the one place we have never tried to settle. It’s our last hope of a stable home,” the man answered . “ Besides, their monarch, Xelara, is an old friend of our Kindred. She has granted us sanctuary.”

“ Quickly! You must leave Kronos!” His mother interrupted. “ We are falling behind our schedule. The Devourer’s forces could be darkening our doorway at any moment.”

“ But we don’t have a doorway,” Kronos said with a small smile. His mother sighed but had to return his grin.

“ You are a cheeky cub,” she said with a tug on his cheek. After a second she pulled him into a tight embrace. “ But you need to go. Your escorts have a horse full of supplies. Now hurry!” She roughly shoved her son away. 

“ You’ll be fine. Just remember, those escorts are there to deliver you safely to the meetup point or to lay down their lives for yours," his father told him gripping his left shoulder. “ Now off with you.” 

Kronos hurried from the cave and soon met his silent escorts. They wore dark red robes and masks. Kronos offered them a nod as he mounted a white mare full of supplies. The sound of thunder cracked the air as it began to rain. It was a drizzle at first but soon became a downpour. The mute party of four snapped the reins and charged into a heavy forest.

They rode all day, taking as few breaks as possible. Kronos knew better than to attempt idle conversation with his guards. The Flock of War took an oath of complete silence. They were so committed that sneezing or coughing was punishable by death. 

It wasn’t until evening that Kronos realized something was wrong. They were in a clearing surrounded by thick and lush forest. They should have arrived at Virtue's Peak by now. Instead, they seemed to have been wandering in circles all day. Kronos opened his canteen to take a drink only to realize it was empty.

He got off his tired horse and walked to a nearby raging river, plunging it into the ice-cold water. As he did he could feel the eyes of his escort burning into his back. His nerves began to prickle. Something’s not right…

Kronos took a breath and stood, marching towards one of his guards who had his back turned. Without hesitating he emptied his canteen his head.

mother wretch!” The masculine voice was clear and refined, clearly accustomed to speaking. Kronos felt the world grow still, warily eyeing the guards who began to remove their garb.

“ Guess there’s no reason to continue the facade,” commented one of them as it removed its mask. Kronos took a step back as a blank face stared back at him. It had no eyes, nose, mouth, or eyes. The being’s companions removed their masks to reveal the same appearance.

“ Husks. Slaves of The Devourer” Kronos said hoarsely. “ That means-”

“ Lord Anoric has been aware of your location for some time. He planned this entire thing. The one who fed you the cake was one of us.”

“ No….” Kronos whispered, the terrible truth dawning on him. “ You… you bastards killed her .... and absorbed her life essence to take on her appearance.”

The reply sounded as if three men at the same time. Though they had no mouths Kronos heard the voice in his mind clearly. 

“ It is after we assumed her likeness we learned of the plan to hire The Flock of War as escorts. So we killed them and stole their garb. By all members of your Kindred will all be dead. Leaving just you. The weak little pup.” 

“ Weak am I?” Kronos muttered, fury beginning to replace his dread. He began trembling due to anger. A dull golden light began to emit from his body. There’icicley these freaks were able to kill Mother, Father, and the others. 

“ Don’t entertain delusions if fighting us whelp. Your abilities were made known to us. You are no threat. Not even worth the Devourer’s time. We were going to take you to an acquaintance of ours who is a slaver. Though your light is pathetic you should still fetch us a nice price.”

“ That won’t be happening,” Kronos said through gritted teeth. The light grew brighter and exploded with a surge when Kronos roared and sprang toward one of the Husks. He punched one of the Husks in the haw, sending it flying back. Before the other two could react Kronos opened his mouth, firing a large blast of light. The horse neighed as it and its rider were turned to ash once engulfed.

“ What the? Impossible! Your combat levels were said to be that of a child’s!” The last remaining Husk said. 

“ The one you slew has only seen me fight as a child. She had no idea of my progress,” Kronos told the being coldly. Before it could Kronos rushed the creature, grabbing it by the neck and tossing it against a tree. It let out a pained groan, sounding like the hoarse wheezes of the dying elderly. Before Kronos could follow up, he felt something penetrate his back. 

He snarled and looked over his shoulder to see a bony outstretched arm fashioned into a blade. By following its he saw it was the first Husk he punched. Kronos smirked as he looked at the blood dripping from his wound.

“ Don’t tell me this is all the Husks of song and legend can muster.” He began to mentally communicate with his light, urging it to glow brighter and hotter. After a few moments, the Husk began to wail in agony as it began to melt in a puddle. It hurriedly tried to withdraw it but Ktonos grabbed on, ignoring the pain when the blade sliced his palm open. He just watched as his opponent melted into a puddle.

“ I’ve had harder training sessions!” Kronos announced. The warmth of light-filled him andmade him feel invincible. I could wipe out all the Husks in one fell swoop. We don’t even need to flee! Anoric can’t be that strong if his minions are this weak!

A sudden feeling of arctic cold pierced his heart. He felt as if he had been stabbed by sheer cold and bloodlust. What the… I can hear the voice of Istris but it isn't my light!

“Run Young Cub….”

Kronos turned his attention to the last Husk to see it was gone. In its place was a tall, slender figure dressed in a puffy fur cloak. On its head, it wore an elk skull with antlers. Kronos took a step back, fear filling his body.

“ Who are you?” He asked, trying to prevent his voice from shaking. The voice that answered sounded like cold static.

“ Anoric.” Before Kronos could react The Devourer flew at him, striking Kronos on the ribs. Agony races through his body, making him feel numb as if he had been submerged in ice. He landed hard on his side, blood filling his mouth. He couldn’t move. It felt as if every bone in his body had been shattered.

being lifted in the air. He wanted to fight back, to resist but couldn’t.  He then felt himself falling and heard the splash of water. He could only look at the surface of the water as he sank to the bottom of the river, his life ebbing away.