Chapter 14: Luna's First Strike
The early morning mist clung to the trees as Luna crouched on a high ridge overlooking the path that Mia and the Farmer Warriors would take that day. Her brown eyes, sharp and calculating, followed every movement: Mia adjusting her cloak, Mike carrying a basket of supplies, Jaro joking with Lina. Each step, each laugh, each gesture ignited the fire inside Luna.
They think they're safe, she whispered under her breath. They think the world belongs to them… but I will remind them of the shadows.
For years, Luna had observed Mia from a distance. She knew the girl's strength, her compassion, and her kindness. And for years, Luna had felt powerless, abandoned, and left behind. Now, the chance had come to tip the balance, to test the Farmer Warriors in ways that would challenge them physically, mentally, and emotionally.
The Plan....
Unlike her earlier minor sabotages—spilled water, misleading footprints Luna's plan today was direct and dangerous. A small bridge over a swollen stream lay ahead, its planks old and weak. She spent the previous night quietly weakening the wood, ensuring that when Mia and her friends crossed, they would face an unexpected test of balance, strength, and trust.
"This will show them…" Luna murmured, biting her lip. "Even heroes must be careful. Even heroes are vulnerable."
She did not consider herself cruel only clever. She told herself that this was justice for years of being ignored, for watching Mia grow without her. And she did it quietly, leaving no trace of her presence for now.
The Ambush....
Hours later, the Farmer Warriors approached the stream, laughing and chatting, unaware of the danger ahead.
"Almost there," Mia said, scanning the path. "Just a few more steps, and we can rest by the village beyond this stream."
Mike, always alert, narrowed his eyes. "Something feels off," he murmured, instinctively scanning the surrounding trees.
Jaro, trying to lighten the mood, leaned on the staff he carried. "You worry too much. The world isn't that cruel."
But as Mia stepped onto the first plank of the bridge, it groaned ominously. She froze, balancing herself carefully.
"Careful," she warned the others, steadying herself with the railing.
And then, with a loud crack, the wood beneath Jaro's feet splintered. He stumbled, nearly falling into the cold, rushing water below. Mike lunged, grabbing him just in time, but the near accident sent a jolt of fear through all of them.
Mia's heart pounded. "What… what just happened?" she asked, looking around.
Luna, hidden behind the trees, pressed her hands to her mouth to stifle a laugh. Perfect. The cracks in their perfect journey are starting to show.
The Seed of Doubt....
The bridge was repaired quickly with teamwork, but the incident left a lingering unease. The Farmer Warriors had never failed in such a visible, dangerous way.
Mia's mind wandered. "It was… too easy to almost fall. Something felt… unnatural."
Mike's gaze darkened. "We'll need to be more careful from now on. The road isn't as safe as we thought."
And Luna listened, hidden in the shadows. She felt a twisted satisfaction—her first direct interference had shaken their confidence, even if only slightly.
The Witch's Whisper....
That night, Luna sat alone near the edge of the forest, staring at the glowing embers of her own small fire. Her hands shook, not from fear, but from the exhilaration of power.
And then she heard it a voice, soft, melodic, and commanding, almost carried on the wind.
"You feel it, don't you?" it whispered. "The fire within you. The anger. The desire to be recognized. I can help you."
Luna froze, eyes wide. She had never heard the voice before, yet it stirred something deep inside her.
"Who's there?" she whispered.
"You know me soon enough," the voice said, fading like a shadow. "Patience, my little one. The world will bend to those who take it. And you… will be more than Mia ever imagines."
A shiver ran down Luna's spine not from fear, but from excitement. The Witch had noticed her. And for the first time, Luna felt the possibility of true power, the promise that she could no longer be ignored.
A Growing Darkness.....
As she lay under the stars, Luna stared into the night sky, her resentment burning brighter than ever. She imagined Mia and her friends, struggling on the path, and she smiled quietly to herself.
They think they can move through the world unchallenged… but I will make it harder. I will make them doubt. I will show them that even heroes have shadows to face.
The Witch's words lingered in her mind, a seed planted in fertile soil. Luna's journey of hatred, cunning, and eventual betrayal had officially begun.
And far away, Mia and the Farmer Warriors slept unaware of the shadow that had begun to trail them, shaping their journey, testing their courage, and preparing them for the greater challenges to come.