Valley of Bones

The rain stopped and the sun began to rise in the dark marsh. Sunlight peeked through the trees giving the land an unearthly glow.

Standing before Nancy, Luna hugged her grandmother.

"Be safe on your way back home ok?" Luna says as Nancy smiled.

"I'll be fine, now go finish your journey. I wish you all luck and blessings" Giving a kiss on Luna's head, she gave a small nod and began to walk back through the marsh.

Thankfully they were very close to the valley.

The land became a barren place once more. scattered with skinny dried plants. The path narrowed. Walking in the tight line the trail led them to bone-covered grounds. The dirt was so dark it looked black, the ivory bones stuck out in various places in the ground. Andorra kneeled down to take a handful of the soil.

"This is highly unusual" She muttered packing it into a small sack in her bag.

Looking around huge dragon-like skeletons were frozen in the sides of the valley. The figures looked frozen in battle as the jaws opened and looked as if they could breathe fire.

Crows could be heard as a murder of them flew over their heads.

"Luna, do you feel or see anything?" Violet asked seeing her friend looking off further in the distance. She could see the heart but it looked like she went into another trance.

"Luna?" Imani asked seeing her blank expression. Without words, she began riding faster ahead of them. Imani looked at violet confused.

"Follow her, this happened when we found you. It's a sign" Violet explains urging her steed to follow Luna.

Luna led the group to a huge area covered in huge skulls and bones. Trotting under a huge ribcage you could see a figure in the distance.

The girl stopped.

Squinting at the figure as it slowly began to approach the group. Shaking her head, Luna looked up in time to see a large figure running towards them jumping on the bones with a staff.

It looked inhuman. Its face was a canine skull with dark red fur covering the top half of its body. Stopping in front of the group. the rattle of bones and wooden pieces were heard as it tilted its head.

They stood a few heads taller than the rest of them. The dark red furs split to reveal tattered clothes and armor covering his shins and chest. It was made out of bones and dark leather.

Suddenly the light from their chests reappeared.

It shone brightest from the masked individual. The light weaved between each other before dimming down again. Once it was completely disappeared the figure began to take its mask off.

A handsome scarred face appeared. His dirty blonde hair was long and in a braid. He had a long scar running from his forehead down across his eye. a few smaller ones littered his chin and cheek. Black face paint covered his eyes giving him a rough look.

"What was that?" His voice was deep and rough. Stabbing his staff into the ground he placed his headdress on the other end. Stunned Luna shook her head and cleared her throat.

"That was a sign. We have been looking for the fourth pure heart and that light show that you witnessed is proof you're the next one" Luna explained

Narrowing his eyes he looked at each of them. He saw one trying to hide behind a hippogriff. He scoffed

" Pure heart? What's that even mean? Why do you need me?" He questioned getting in Luna's face. Violet stepped in front of her.

"It means you'll help us fight a great evil. An evil that plagued this land once and we need to defeat him before he can do it again" She told him glaring into his eyes as he took a step back.

"If we are to fight together, then why does that one cower behind that proud beast?" He smirked making eye contact with Wagner. Bowing, he watched the creature hesitantly come up to him, allowing him to pet his head.

Andorra looked at Wagner in betrayal.

"You must be fighting something dangerous if you have a witch in your company," He said petting Wagners head. Andorra crossed her arms.

"I prefer the term healer if you will, Savage." She spat.

"Savage, I prefer the name Fenrir, if you will," He mimicked. But before Andorra could respond. A deep carnivorous cry was heard echoing in the distance.

Fenrir whipped his head around. His eyes searched the various crevices in the valley. Frowning, he grabbed his Mask and staff.

"Quickly, we have no choice, the beast is near and we cannot avoid it" He spoke. Taking their positions everyone armed themselves. The rattle of bones and scraping of claws approached.

Due to the echo of the walls around them, they couldn't tell where it would come from....