In the Shadow of the Scroll

The Shadows Awaken

Annie sat cross-legged by the flames, whittling a piece of wood with a small, well-worn knife. Emmalyn leaned against her pack, her sword resting beside her as she poked halfheartedly at the fire with a stick. Kyran stood at the edge of the plateau, watching the distant mountains, his silhouette sharp against the twilight sky.

Annabeth held the scroll fragment in her hands, its runes faintly glowing in the dim light. She ran her fingers over the ancient symbols, their intricate patterns hypnotic. “This piece… it feels like it’s waiting for something,” she murmured, half to herself.

Annie glanced up, her knife stilling in her hands. “Waiting for the rest of itself, maybe. Things like that don’t work alone. They’re part of something bigger—something dangerous.”

“That’s comforting,” Emmalyn muttered, tossing her stick into the fire. “Just what we need. More danger.”

Annabeth looked at Annie. “You seem to know a lot about things like this. Why?”

Annie’s smile was faint but enigmatic. “I’ve spent my life chasing the unusual. Sometimes, it's a treasure. Sometimes it’s trouble. And sometimes...” She gestured at the scroll fragment. “Sometimes it’s both.”

Kyran turned from his vigil, his expression unreadable. “Whatever it’s waiting for, we don’t have time to ponder it here. The mountain won’t stay quiet for long.”

Before anyone could respond, the faint sound of movement reached Annabeth’s ears—a soft rustling, barely audible over the crackling fire. She froze, her heart quickening as she strained to listen.

“Did you hear that?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Emmalyn sat up, her hand instinctively moving to her sword. “Hear what?”

The rustling grew louder, more distinct, and it was no longer distant. It was coming from the darkness beyond the plateau’s edge.

Kyran drew his dagger, his eyes narrowing as he stepped toward the fire. “We’re not alone.”

Annie stood slowly, slipping her knife into her belt. “That didn’t take long.”

The shadows beyond the firelight began to move, shifting unnaturally. The sound of claws scraping against stone echoed through the plateau, and a low, guttural growl rumbled from the darkness.

Annabeth felt the stone in her pocket vibrate violently, its light flaring to life. She pulled it out, its glow cutting through the shadows. “It’s coming,” she said, her voice trembling.

“What’s coming?” Emmalyn demanded, her sword now firmly in her grip.

Before anyone could answer, the darkness seemed to coalesce into a shape—a massive, hulking creature with glowing red eyes. It stepped into the firelight, its black, sinewy form towering over them. Its claws were long and razor-sharp, and its jagged teeth glinted as it snarled.

“Not this again,” Emmalyn groaned, though her voice wavered.

The creature lunged.

The camp erupted into chaos. Kyran darted forward, his dagger slicing through the air as he aimed for the beast’s throat. The blade connected, but the creature barely flinched, swiping at him with a clawed hand. Kyran dodged, rolling to the side as the claw raked through the ground where he’d been standing.

“Move!” Annie shouted, pulling a small pouch from her satchel. She hurled it at the creature, and it exploded in a burst of blinding light. The beast howled, stumbling back, but its fury only seemed to grow.

Annabeth scrambled to her feet, her armor glowing brightly as the stone in her hand pulsed. She raised it high, and a beam of light shot out, striking the creature in the chest. It roared, its movements momentarily sluggish as the light burned into its flesh.

“Keep it distracted!” Annabeth shouted. “I’ll—”

Her words were cut off as the creature turned its glowing eyes on her, its lips curling into a snarl. It charged, its massive body barreling toward her like a freight train.

Annabeth braced herself, the stone flaring as a barrier of light erupted around her. The creature slammed into it with a deafening crash, the force nearly knocking her off her feet.

“Annabeth!” Emmalyn yelled, rushing forward. She swung her sword in a wide arc, the blade’s runes igniting as it struck the creature’s side. This time, the impact made it stumble, black ichor seeping from the wound.

The beast roared, its claws lashing out at Emmalyn. She ducked, narrowly avoiding the strike, and countered with another swing of her sword.

“Annie!” Kyran called, his voice sharp. “More of them!”

Annabeth’s stomach dropped as she turned to see multiple pairs of glowing eyes emerging from the darkness. Smaller creatures, but no less menacing, crept toward the plateau, their movements swift and predatory.

“Fantastic,” Emmalyn muttered, gripping her sword tighter.

“We can’t fight them all,” Kyran said, his dagger flashing as he dispatched one of the smaller creatures. “We need to retreat!”

Annabeth’s mind raced as she looked at the stone, its light flickering erratically. The scroll fragment in her pocket burned hot, as if responding to the stone’s energy.

“Annabeth!” Emmalyn shouted, her voice snapping her out of her thoughts.

“I have an idea!” Annabeth yelled back, her voice shaky but determined. She closed her eyes, focusing on the stone’s pulsing energy.

The light surged, and the air around her grew thick with power. She could feel it building, raw and volatile, as if the stone was channeling something far beyond her understanding.

“Whatever you’re doing,” Annie called, “do it fast!”

The creatures closed in, their growls filling the air. Annabeth raised the stone high, its light blinding as it reached its peak. A shockwave erupted from her, the force knocking the creatures back and sending a burst of light cascading across the plateau.

When the light faded, the creatures were gone, their forms dissolving into wisps of shadow that drifted away on the wind.

Annabeth collapsed to her knees, her breath ragged, the stone’s glow dim once more. The scroll fragment in her pocket was cool again, its runes faint and dormant.

“Annabeth!” Emmalyn was at her side in an instant, her face pale. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Annabeth said weakly, though her entire body felt drained.

Kyran and Annie approached, their expressions grim.

“That wasn’t just a random attack,” Kyran said, his voice low. “They were sent.”

“Sent?” Emmalyn demanded. “By who?”

Annie’s gaze flicked to the glowing horizon. “By whoever doesn’t want you getting any further. And judging by that little show, they’re only getting started.”

Annabeth looked down at the stone in her hand, her exhaustion mingling with dread. The power she’d unleashed had saved them—for now. But it was clear the mountain’s shadows were far from done with them.