The forest clearing shifted from tension
to preparation.
Dragons muttered in low, crackling tones.
Elves began inscribing sigils in the soil.
Leopards prowled the perimeter, restless and curious.
Werewolves paced like coiled storms.
Kanah sat on a fallen log, Owain standing directly behind her, arms folded across his broad chest, radiating territorial heat.
Helion crouched beside her, tail flicking.
"You might want to breathe," he whispered.
"I am," Kanah insisted.
"Not enough. You're doing that tiny-human tremble thing."
Gerrin bent down beside them, gentle and warm.
"You're trembling because your resonance is adapting. It's normal."
Owain growled low.
"It's not normal to make her a test subject."
The Leopard Eldress dropped from a tree branch with a soft thud.
"Relax, little wolf. No one is hurting her."
Owain's eyes flashed.
"You breathe too close to her and I'll—"
"Owain," Kanah whispered, touching his hand.
"It's okay."
"It is NOT," he muttered darkly.
Behind them, Yllas approached— composed, calm, but smoldering with protective instinct.
"She must learn her strength," Yllas said.
"Before her brother strikes again."
Owain stiffened.
"He won't reach her."
Yllas's eyes softened.
"No. Because she will reach herself first."
Kanah swallowed.
"What do I have to do?"
The High Mage Lythar stepped into the center of the clearing.
"You must learn to control what you did earlier.
Resonance output.
Instinct projection.
Stabilization pulse."
Kanah blinked.
"English, please."
Gerrin smiled.
"Simple. You need to learn how to soothe, stop, or repel beasts using your voice and presence—like you did with the elites."
Kanah's stomach dropped.
"That wasn't on purpose…"
"Precisely," Lythar said.
"You must learn intentional control."
Vaeryn stepped forward next, dragon aura burning around him.
"And we begin with something small."
Owain snarled.
"She is NOT starting with dragons."
Vaeryn smirked.
"We are not using dragons. Calm your fur."
Kanah raised her hand timidly.
"What are we using?"
Everyone turned.
And Kanah froze.
Because the tribe leaders parted—
revealing a small creature stepped into the center of the clearing.
A beastling
with too-big eyes
and trembling ears.
A wolf pup.
Owain's body jolted.
"WHAT?! NO."
He moved so fast he teleported.
"You're not testing her on a pup—are you INSANE—"
Rhaegor, the wolf alpha, raised a hand.
"He is mine."
Owain's snarl deepened.
"I don't care if he's yours—he's a baby!"
"He is twelve seasons."
"That's a BABY!"
The pup yipped nervously.
Kanah hesitated, kneeling gently.
"Hey… little one…"
The pup squeaked and hid behind Rhaegor's leg.
Owain pointed furiously.
"SEE?! He's terrified!"
Rhaegor glared.
"He is terrified of everything. That is why we test him. He has unstable instincts. If the girl truly stabilizes resonance, he will calm. If not—"
Owain cut him off.
"If not, I calm him, and this ends here."
Kanah touched Owain's arm.
"Owain… I can try.
Only if the pup is safe."
Owain's jaw locked.
"You promise me no pain touches him."
Kanah nodded.
"No pain."
Owain stared at the wolf pup with deep, protective intensity.
"I swear if anyone scares that child—"
"Owain," Gerrin whispered, "let her try."
Owain growled.
But he stepped back.
Barely.
Helion whispered to Kanah, "You're basically trying to soothe a terrified toddler."
"Thank you," she whispered back, "that's so comforting."
"Anytime, honey."
Yllas approached Kanah and rested a warm hand on her shoulder.
"Remember. Do not mimic Devourer hunger. Use your voice."
Kanah nodded nervously.
"Okay. My… voice."
Lythar stood back.
"We want you to do what you did when Owain was pinned.
Not fear.
Not rage.
Only intention."
Kanah inhaled.
Then exhaled slowly.
She lowered herself to the pup's level, hands open, palms forward.
Her human voice came out soft, trembling but sincere.
"It's okay.
You're safe."
The wolf pup whined, trembling.
Rhaegor murmured, "Focus your intent."
Kanah closed her eyes.
She felt the bond mark warm on her neck.
Owain's warmth behind her.
Yllas's flame.
Gerrin's calm mana.
Helion's heartbeat.
The guardian's silent, massive presence.
Warmth flooded her chest.
She whispered:
"You're safe.
I'm here.
You don't have to be afraid."
Her Devourer eye glowed faintly—
but not sharp.
Not hungry.
Gentle.
A warm gold, not black.
The air shimmered.
A pulse rippled outward—small, soft, warm.
The wolf pup blinked—
ears perking—
tail twitching—
Then he walked straight to Kanah
and sat in her lap.
Owain choked.
Everyone froze.
Rhaegor muttered, stunned:
"…He has never approached ANYONE before."
The Leopard Eldress grinned sharply.
"Well. She's perfect."
Lythar whispered:
"She stabilized a traumatized pup without command.
Unprecedented."
Vaeryn stepped forward.
"Again."
Owain snarled instantly.
"She is resting."
Kanah giggled softly as the pup climbed onto her shoulder.
"Owain… I think he likes me."
Owain softened so quickly it was embarrassing.
"I mean—yes—of course he does—look at you—"
He cleared his throat.
"I mean. Obviously."
Lythar raised a brow.
"Her resonance soothed him."
Rhaegor nodded.
"She can calm unstable beasts."
Gerrin smiled warmly.
"See? Your humanity is your anchor."
Yllas' eyes softened.
"And your strength."
Helion tapped her shoulder.
"And your cuteness."
Owain kicked him.
"OW—rude!"
Kanah stroked the pup's fur.
"I can stabilize beasts…?"
Gerrin nodded with quiet pride.
"Kanah… you stabilized Owain during the Pit.
You stabilized yourself during the brother's pulse.
And now you stabilized a frightened cub."
Vaeryn spoke with unusual sincerity:
"You are not a Devourer.
You are not beast.
You are not weapon.
You are the resonance that holds us together."
Kanah felt her chest constrict with something warm and frightening.
Purpose.
Owain wrapped his arms around her from behind, chin resting on her shoulder.
"You did it," he murmured.
Kanah leaned into him.
"I was scared."
"I know."
He kissed her hair.
"And you did it anyway."
The pup yipped happily.
Kanah smiled.
But in the corner of her vision—
something moved.
A flicker of black-gold in the trees.
Her brother.
Watching.
But when Kanah met his gaze—
for the first time—
he didn't look confident.
He looked…
Concerned.
And maybe—
just maybe—
Afraid.