The storm had passed, but its aftermath lingered in the air like a warning.
Ares sat alone on a rocky ledge overlooking the volcanic plains, the red horizon stretching endlessly before him. The sky was clear now—too clear. It felt wrong after the chaos, as if Mars itself were holding its breath.
Behind him, the den buzzed with tension. Word of his rescue of the human child had spread quickly. Some saw it as an act of courage. Others, betrayal.
He could feel the shift in the pack's energy. Doubt. Fear. Suspicion.
And Renn—always watching.
A low growl rumbled in Ares's chest. He clenched his fists, trying to steady his breathing. He wasn't afraid of Renn. Not yet. But he knew what was coming. The rogue wolves wouldn't let this go unnoticed.
His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden jolt in his mind—a sharp pulse behind his eyes, like static crackling through his skull.
Then came the vision.
It hit him without warning.
The world around him blurred into darkness, and suddenly, he was somewhere else entirely.
A city of towering spires rose before him, carved from obsidian and glowing with veins of crimson light. Structures that defied gravity stretched across vast canyons, connected by bridges of shimmering energy. The sky above was filled with twin moons—one bright, one hollow, like a shattered eye staring down at the ruins below.
Voices whispered in his ears, speaking in a language he didn't understand but somehow knew.
"You are the Echo. You must awaken."
Ares gasped as the vision shattered, and he found himself back on the ledge, panting, hands gripping the stone beneath him.
Kael appeared beside him instantly. "What happened?"
Ares swallowed hard. "I saw something. A city. Below Valles Marineris."
Kael's expression darkened. "That canyon system is ancient. Nothing lives there but ghosts."
"It's not empty," Ares said. "There's something buried beneath it. Something that wants me to find it."
Kael studied him carefully. "If you're right… then we need to move fast. Before others do."
---
Elsewhere – Rogue Wolf Territory
Renn stood in the center of a makeshift war camp nestled within the shadow of a collapsed lava tube. Around him, a dozen rogue werewolves gathered, their eyes gleaming with restless energy.
"They've gone soft," Renn sneered. "Kael lets humans walk among us. Lets them speak freely. And Ares?" He spat. "He saves them. Carries them like pups."
One of the wolves stepped forward. "You think he's lost his way?"
"I think he's been compromised," Renn replied. "By the humans. By their science. By whatever she's feeding him."
He turned to the group. "We should be preparing for war—not making peace with our enemies."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd.
"Then we take what's ours," Renn continued. "We strike first. We show Kael where true strength lies."
He looked toward the distant peaks of Olympus Mons.
"And we make sure Ares never reaches Valles Marineris."
---
Back at the Den – Council of Wolves
Inside the central chamber, Kael addressed the gathered elders and leaders of the surrounding packs.
"We cannot ignore what Ares has seen," Kael declared. "If there's truth in his vision, then we must act before the Federation does."
An elder named Vora spoke up. "And what do you propose? March into the depths of the planet chasing ghosts?"
"I propose we send scouts," Kael countered. "Small teams. Fast. Discreet."
Renn stepped forward from the shadows. "Or we expose Ares for what he truly is."
Gasps filled the room.
Kael narrowed his eyes. "Explain."
Renn crossed his arms. "He hasn't transformed in weeks. He speaks of alien voices. Of visions. And now he claims to have seen a dead city that doesn't exist."
He turned to the others. "How do we know he's still one of us?"
Ares stepped forward, jaw tight. "Because I haven't abandoned my kind."
"You haven't proven that," Renn shot back. "Not to me."
Kael raised a hand. "Enough. We will not turn on each other."
Renn smiled coldly. "Then maybe it's time for a new leader."
Silence fell like a blade.
Ares met his gaze. "Try it."
Renn bared his teeth. "I will."
Then he turned and left the chamber, followed by several others who clearly sided with him.
Kael exhaled sharply. "This is going to come to a head soon."
Ares nodded grimly. "Then we'd better be ready."
---
Later That Night – Dreams of the Past
Ares lay awake beneath the stars, staring at the hollow moon hanging overhead. His body was exhausted, but his mind raced.
Then the dream began again.
This time, it was clearer.
He walked through the ancient city, guided by a presence he couldn't see but always felt. Towering statues lined the streets—figures with elongated limbs, luminous eyes, and expressions both serene and sorrowful.
At the heart of the city stood a great hall, its doors sealed with symbols that pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat.
As he reached out to touch them, a voice echoed through his mind.
"The Hollow Moon watches. The Key awakens. The cycle begins anew."
Ares woke with a start, drenched in sweat.
Beside him, Kael sat watching.
"You saw it again, didn't you?" Kael asked quietly.
Ares nodded. "It's real. All of it."
Kael stood slowly. "Then we leave tomorrow. For Valles Marineris."
Ares met his gaze. "Even if it means war?"
Kael's expression hardened. "Especially if it means war."