The forest smelled of smoke and blood.
The last traces of Devourer resonance faded into the pine-heavy air as Kanah and her mates moved deeper into the wilderness. Yllas led the way through dense brush, Owain pressed tightly at Kanah's side in human form, Helion scouting ahead in silence, Gerrin steady but exhausted, Ilai holding onto the guardian's arm for balance.
Every one of them was bruised.
Every one of them was breathing hard.
But every one of them was alive.
Owain lifted Kanah onto a fallen log so he could check the marks along her arm.
"You're shaking."
"So are you."
He flinched.
"…Don't tell anyone."
Kanah leaned her forehead against his.
"I won't."
Helion, perched on a boulder above them, groaned loudly.
"Spirits, you two are nauseating. Can we get moving before the elites return?"
Yllas frowned at him.
"We move when Kanah stabilizes."
Kanah shook her head quickly.
"I'm okay. Really. I can stand."
Owain tightened his grip around her waist.
"Let me decide that."
She gave him a flat look.
"I literally stabilized myself a minute ago."
Owain hesitated… then let out a reluctant growl.
"…Fine. But walk near me."
"Where else would I go?"
Helion muttered, "Into the arms of one of us, hopefully."
"HELION," three voices snapped at once—Owain, Gerrin, and Ilai.
He grinned, unrepentant.
Kanah sighed and stood.
"We need to send word. My brother won't wait. Veylor won't wait."
Yllas nodded gravely.
"The tribes must be warned. If Devourers are awakening again… every species will be threatened."
Gerrin added softly:
"And if they learn Kanah is at the center of this—some will come to protect, others to claim."
Owain's eyes darkened.
"Anyone who tries to claim her dies."
Kanah squeezed his hand gently.
"We need allies, Owain. Not corpses."
"We can have both."
"Owain—"
Gerrin cleared his throat gently.
"There is one way to call the tribes quickly."
He lifted a crystal.
Small.
Unassuming.
Faintly glowing.
"The Resonant Beacon."
Yllas straightened.
"You still have one?"
Gerrin nodded.
"Emergency use only. It summons the leaders of the Beast Tribes—dragons, elves, werewolves, leopards. All of them."
Helion blinked.
"All at once? Oh that'll be fun."
Owain frowned.
"Why haven't we used it before?"
Gerrin hesitated.
"Because the Beacon doesn't choose timing. It chooses importance. If I activate it, the tribes will know the threat is catastrophic."
Kanah exhaled.
"It already is."
Owain clenched his jaw.
"Do it."
Gerrin nodded once and stepped forward into a patch of moonlight.
The Beacon pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
Then shattered—
in a burst of silver light that shot into the sky like a flare that pierced the clouds.
The forest went dead silent.
Even the wind paused.
Then—
Far in the distance—
A howl.
Low.
Echoing.
Alpha-commanding.
Owain froze.
"…That's my pack."
Helion's ears perked.
"Dragons approaching from the north."
Yllas nodded.
"They fly fast. They felt it instantly."
Gerrin tilted his head slightly.
"Elf-song… from the west."
Ilai tugged Kanah's sleeve.
"And something from the south. Light footsteps. Very fast. That's leopards, right? That has to be leopards—"
Helion smirked.
"My people don't stroll. We pounce."
Kanah's heart beat faster—not in fear, but in astonishment.
"They're… coming. All of them."
Owain stepped behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, steadying her against his chest.
"They'll come because you're the Wolf King's mate."
Gerrin added gently:
"And because you are the first human in Beastworld history to anchor Devourer resonance without falling to it."
Yllas finished:
"They will want to see you.
Judge you.
Support you… or fear you."
Kanah swallowed.
"I don't want them to fear me."
Owain kissed the side of her head.
"They won't. Not with us beside you."
The guardian beast rumbled in agreement and lowered itself beside her—massive, unmovable, unmistakably hers.
Helion hopped down from the boulder.
"Alright. We should get ready. Tribes don't arrive quietly."
"Or peacefully," Yllas added.
"And they definitely don't meet together without trying to kill each other," Gerrin murmured.
Kanah blinked.
"…Should I be worried?"
All four mates answered at the same time:
"Yes."
Ilai patted her shoulder.
"But you'll be great!"
Owain's arms tightened.
"We protect you. Always."
Kanah drew a slow breath.
Her father moved from the shadows of Veylor.
Her brother was hunting her.
Devourers were awakening.
The tribes were gathering.
War was already here.
She lifted her chin.
"Then let them come."
As if answering her words—
The forest lit up with dragonfire, wolf howls, elf-light, and leopard growls.
The leaders had arrived.