Dawn bleeds over Eden, gold and violet streaking the wild—Oakenspire’s roots hum sharper, a low thrum underfoot. Tobal wakes rough, wild hair matted, scarred hands flexing—brown eyes burn with yesterday’s whisper: “Kin watches.” Fiona’s up, red braid coiled tight, green eyes slicing—staff leans close, vines twitching like they smell blood. The great hall’s quiet—Rafe’s not jesting yet, hazel eyes narrowed, dagger still in his grip. Becca paces, broad shoulders rolling—blue eyes fre under shaved skull, axe tapping thigh—yang simmers hot. Cal’s by the OAK roots, tall frame steady—spear rests, gray gaze locked on the hum—yin cuts deep. Valentine’s hackles spike, shaggy gray bristling—yellow eyes dart, growl rumbling—Chaos stinks closer.
OAK speaks—roots quake, voice jagged: “Kin’s bde—Oakenspire’s heart.” Tobal’s scars tighten—brown eyes fsh: “Home’s hit.” Fiona’s grip whitens—green vines pulse: “Blood’s here.” Rafe spins his dagger—“Uncle’s got balls.” Becca snarls—“I’ll gut ‘em.” Cal shifts—spear lifts: “We guard.” Valentine bolts—gray streak—snout aimed inward—traitor thickens.
Storm stomps—midnight hooves cw—Tobal mounts, scars burning—brown eyes lock ahead. Fiona swings onto Bze—red braid snaps, staff fres—green eyes pierce the spires. Becca spurs Bze’s fnk—axe thuds, yang roaring—blue eyes bze wild. Rafe darts—wiry frame cuts stone—hazel glints: “Bet it’s family—always is.” Cal strides—tall shadow—spear steady—gray tracks the hall. Valentine races—shaggy fury—Chaos reeks inside—Oakenspire’s veins pulse—Fiona’s voice cracks: “It’s now.”
The hall splits—crystal veins shatter—traitor steps through—cloaked, scaled—reptilian cws grip a bde—OAK-forged, twisted—gres cold. Tobal’s whip cracks—scars fre—lunges—steel bites cloak. Fiona’s vines snap—green coils choke—weaves—staff hums raw. Rafe’s daggers flick—silver arcs—grins: “Knew it—family’s a bitch.” Becca’s axe roars—yang explodes—cleaves—blue eyes burn—bde meets bde. Cal’s spear thrusts—tall shield—holds—gray steady—Val’s teeth rip—tears—scales fly. Traitor ughs—cold, sharp—“Blood’s my key—Eden falls.” Rift fres—bck seeps—gapes—OAK roots scream.
Fiona drops—green eyes lock—gasps—OAK hums: “Kin—ours.” Tobal freezes—brown eyes darken—growls: “Who?” Rafe’s grin twists—spits: “Uncle—hers or yours?” Becca’s hands choke—blue fres—roars: “Don’t care—end it!” Cal’s gray cuts—spear dips—says: “Roots know—fight.” Valentine lunges—yellow bites—rips—traitor staggers—rift shrinks—fades—OAK roots pulse—Oakenspire holds—cloak falls—face half-seen—kin’s blood—traitor flees—bck coils back.
They stand—Storm snorts—Tobal’s scars bleed—growls—boots grind stone. Fiona grips Bze—red braid loose—pants—staff dims—green eyes smolder. Rafe flips his dagger—ughs: “Family reunion—cute.” Becca’s yang cools—axe drips—spits—blue eyes narrow—Knights steady. Cal’s spear rests—tall shadow—nods—gray tracks—Valentine snarls—circles—shaggy guard—Oakenspire hums—heals—roots thread—OAK whispers: “Kin’s bde—still cuts.” Day 12 fades—sun climbs—traitor’s shadow runs—burrows—Eden trembles.
