(POV) Amethyst
We were running on fumes, yet every desperate, tearing stride felt like a necessary violation of my physical limits. The adrenaline spike from witnessing Alaric’s sudden, humiliating defeat had faded, replaced by a hollow, bone-deep exhaustion. Sable was no longer the magnificent, blinding white force of nature; she was a collapsing structure of pain and raw willpower.
The Obsidian Wolves followed. Their presence was a paradox: a terrifying guard, yet a necessary shield. Their cold, earthy scent, mingled with the faint, metallic tang of their specialized wolf musk, was the only thing keeping the nightmares of Alaric at bay. I knew if they stopped following, Alaric would be upon us within the hour, regardless of his temporarily paralyzed leg. Rage would drive him.
Who are
