The Abandoned Luna's Journey to Power (by Emily Reed) novel Chapter 39

Chapter 39 Red Hunt

Chapter 39 Red Hunt

Cindy’s POV:

Nights in Northmere always come early, and they always feel heavy.

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It has been about two weeks since I returned to the old Silverpeak Pack grounds. I came back with the few survivors we had left and the supplies Prince Adam left behind. Since then, time has felt frozen by the endless snow and wind.

By day, we worked like builders fighting the frozen ground. We hauled stone, raised log cabins, and patched the broken defenses that years of war and neglect had torn apart.

At night, when everyone finally fell asleep from exhaustion, I climbed alone to the hill behind the camp- the place we called Moonhowl Platform.

This had been my father’s favorite spot. From here, you could see the entire Silverpeak territory. It was the land he had guarded his whole life.

Now, a few scattered lights flickered in the storm below. But most of the land was still swallowed by darkness. It lay there like a silent beast, resting on ground that was once alive.

“Ms. Cindy, it’s late. The wind is strong.”

Snow crunched softly behind me.

Jewel stepped closer, holding a thick white fur cloak. Prince Adam had left it for me before he went south.

She carefully draped it over my shoulders, then handed me a steaming glass of milk. “Drink something warm,” she said. “It’ll help.”

The hot deer milk warmed my fingers right away. I looked down at the pale liquid as steam rose into the air. My thoughts drifted far from the hill.

“Jewel,” I asked quietly, “don’t you feel like there’s something hidden in the wind tonight?”

She tilted her head and listened. There was only the sharp howl of the storm. She shook her head. “Just the wind,” she said. “Maybe some hungry snow wolves are calling out.”

“No,” I said softly. “Not just wolves.” My silver eyes narrowed in the dark.

Inside my mind, Diana paced back and forth. Her senses were sharper than mine. “Cindy,” she said, tense, “there’s a scent of blood in the wind. Very faint. It’s coming from the west. It smells like rot. Like death.”

My fingers brushed the black wolf fang hanging at my chest. My senior, Fern Silva, had pressed it into my hand when I left Blackmoon Academy. She told me that as long as I was in Northmere, this fang would be my eyes and ears.

“They’re here,” I whispered.

The words had barely left my mouth when a black shape tore through the sky. It moved like lightning. A

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Chapter 39 Red Hunt

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massive falcon dropped from the clouds. Its feathers shone like metal under the moonlight. When it spread its wings, they stretched nearly seven feet wide. It landed silently on the rock in front of me, its talons shattering the thin ice on the surface.

“Ah!” Jewel gasped, nearly dropping the tray in her hands.

The falcon ignored Jewel’s cry of surprise. It rolled its golden eyes and stared at me. Then, with clear pride, it stretched out its right leg.

A small metal tube was tied there, sealed with yellow beeswax.

“This is Duskwind that was kept by Fern,” I said at once. I recognized the bird. It was Fern’s favorite messenger, said to carry a trace of ancient dreadbeast blood. It could fly hundreds of miles in a single day without tiring.

Fern had also studied under my professor. She was one year ahead of me and gifted with druid magic.

We were close and stayed in touch after graduation.

I untied the tube and pressed my fingers together, cracking the wax seal.

A thin strip of special silk slipped into my palm, light as a feather.

By moonlight, I unfolded it.

The handwriting was familiar-sharp and bold, just like Fern herself, always carrying a wild edge.

“Little Cindy, I heard you finally escaped your misery, kicked the trash put of your life, and reclaimed Silverpeak Pack. I should be there with a bottle to celebrate.

“But things in Northmere are changing, so I’m sending you a “big gift” first.”

The relaxed tone stopped there; she started to grumble.

“Those bloodsucker clans, who never agree on anything, have done the impossible. They actually united for once. Worse, they’ve formed a secret pact with the hyena packs from the desert. They’re gathering forces in secret. The scale is like nothing we’ve seen before.”

My fingers tightened. The silk wrinkled in my grip.

Vampires and hyenas are working together?

That was as strange as sheep and wolves deciding to graze side by side.

Unless there was a reward big enough or hatred deep enough to force them to set aside old grudges.

“What else did Ms. Fern say?” Jewel asked when she saw me fall silent. Her voice was tight with worry.

I took a slow breath and forced myself to stay calm. I pointed to the last line, written in red ink. “Look here,” I said, my voice shaking. “Fern intercepted one of their internal orders. This operation has a

codename. Red Hunt.”

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18:03 Sat, Jan 10 GR

Chapter 39 Red Hunt

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