Minutes- no, maybe only seconds had passed, though for Naira, it felt like an eternity.
In that short time, she learned that the outsiders were nothing like the stories her people whispered by firelight. Reckless, greedy, and cruel… The Pale Ones who stole the world's blessings for themselves. But these ones fought like heroes straight out of the old songs.
Every clash of steel and roar of magic left her trembling, but not from fear anymore… She was awed.
The cat-eared woman hurled blazing suns from her palms. The others fought with equal fury: one girl unleashed projectiles glowing with blue light, another's stormy blade and spells wreaked havoc, and yet another conjured radiant barriers to block attacks that should've crushed bones.
And still, despite all of it, the skin-walkers pressed harder.
