High above the mountain, the full moon casted a pale silver glow onto the restless fog. Heavy drums reverberated in the distance. No vocals. No other instruments.

  The clearing rested on the mountain’s shoulder, carved by time and moonlight. Pale stones circled the space, each etched with runes that glimmered beneath the watchful gaze of the full moon and the onlookers; the Skifulv, Syelira, his mother, and the others.

  Alongside the teenage Skifulv, InuShin stood at the entrance. The cold air biting his skin as a puff of smoke emerged with every exhale. His heart pounded as they waited for the signal.

  One of them muttered, his eyes filled with malice. “Fylkn?r. You shouldn’t be a part of this.” He stood slightly taller than InuShin, body toned from years of preparation. White hair trimmed short on the sides with a tight braid down the middle to the nape of his neck.

  “Leif, leave him be. The mountain will swallow him,” Sigrid snickered, her frame even more toned than his, yet shorter.

  The others barked with laughter.

  Chest tightening, InuShin shifted his attention away. Ignore the insults. This is how I’ll prove my worth.

  The drums paused.

  Perched high on the arean edge, Chieftain Soravell raised her staff, its crystal core illuminating under the moon. “The Hollow watches and the moon listens. Let the Hunt begin.”

  The scratch of metal scrapping echoed around them as the drums returned. Heavier. Louder.

  InuShin and the five Skifulv chosen this cycle stepped into clearing. None of them were armed with weapons. Only their instinct and spirit.

  The heavy scent of pine, frosty air, and metal surrounded them.

  As soon as her wooden staff hit the mountain, the runes on the surrounding stones flared an icy blue and mist poured from their narrow openings.

  As the mist pooled into the magical area, six shapes emerged. Large wolves of smoke and silver light, eyes burning with icy blue hollow runes. Each one circled around them with their head lowered, snarling.

  As the first wolf lunged forward, the Hunt broke into chaos.

  Blades of wind, bursts of fire, sparks of lightning, streams of water, and shards of ground whipped around him as the Skifulv and ghostly wolves moved at incredible speed.

  InuShin attempted to follow their rhythm, but their movements were too quick, almost like a rehearsed dance he failed to learn.

  He leaped to the side as one of the wolves lunged towards him. Raising a hand, he pulled moisture from the frigid air and coiled a whip around his right arm. Now to show what I’m capable of. Even if it’s something I don’t know yet.

  “You can do this, Shin!” Syelira’s voice echoed from the edge.

  Clutched to his tantō, Syelira stood with his mother and the other S?lvcù, protected by the magical barrier.

  Edrimar, arms folded, stared sternly.

  As the spectral wolf approached, InuShin extended his arm forward and snapped the liquid whip at his target.

  The beast dodged, leapt to the side and then forward, its claws extended.

  Eyes widening, InuShin crouched and then rolled to his right as the bone-chilling mist blew over him.

  Back to his feet, he kept an eye on his opponent, palms claiming as he wiped them against his pants. How am I supposed to defeat it?

  The Skifulv worked together, each one dodging, blocking, and countering the wolves seamlessly.

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  Teamwork? He clenched his jaw. That’s not going to happen.

  Attention on his opponent, he steeled his nerves and raised his hand once more, forming a spiral of water around his arm again.

  I’ll survive this without any help.

  A glint twinkled in the wolf’s eye as it lowered its head, snarling deeper.

  Their staredown lingered for a moment longer before the beast pushed forward, its ghostly claws scrapping against the hard mountain rock.

  Bracing himself, InuShin repositioned his feet, puffs of hot air escaping with each breath. No backing down. No more cowering from danger.

  Baring its fangs, the wolf leaped forward.

  As InuShin shifted his arm to attack, a sharp fire bursted through his back as he arched forward and then doubled over.

  A heavy groan escaped him as his muscles tensed.

  Glancing back, he spotted Leif smirking, sparks of lightning dancing between his fingers.

  “He shouldn’t be attacking my son!” His mother yelled. Her stern voice layered with concern. “It’s a survival against the mountain’s test, not from the others.”

  The Chieftain remained silent, her gaze fixated on InuShin.

  Was this her plan? Put me in here so I have to fight the wolves and the Skifulv? His heart raced.

  “Shin! Look out!” Syelira shouted. “The wolf!”

  Looking ahead, his opponent was mere centimeters away from him. InuShin stepped to his right but wasn’t quick enough. The beast’s claw tore through his left shoulder as a searing heat exploded.

  He screamed as the water crashed around him and he clenched his shoulders, the warm liquid quickly coating his hand and staining his tunic.

  “Shin!” His mother cried out.

  “Let him learn,” Edrimar commented flatly.

  Am I going to die here? His heart pounded as he shuffled away.

  The wolf stalked towards him, growling menacingly as its glowing rune eyes watched his every movement.

  Swallowing, InuShin held onto his shoulder as he carefully watched his opponent. Water is fueled by my emotions, I need to remain calm. Inhaling sharpling, he relaxed his bloody arm and held his arm up once more, palm open facing the wolf.

  The creature leaped forward again, claws extended.

  Exhaling slowly, InuShin spread his fingers open and formed a wall of water between him and the beast.

  Just as the smoky wolf connected with the wall, a burst of electricity bounced between the water and the creature. The wolf howled in agony.

  What was that?

  InuShin glanced out the corner of his eye and saw Leif grinning widely, laughing.

  Is he with me or against me?

  “That’s one for me.” Leif laughed harder.

  Before the boy could lower his staticky hand, another wolf closed the gap. Its jaw and fangs wrapped around the boy’s arm and dragged him to the ground as he shrieked.

  The wolf’s vicious bark ripped through the air as the scent of iron quickly surrounded them. Streaks of bright red splattered across the ground as the wolf tore through his arm, its paw pressed into the boy’s chest.

  “Leif!” One of the teen Skifulv hollered. His eyes wide as he froze in place.

  Are we all going to die? Peering up onto the edges, the Skifulv all stood still. Stoic. Unreadable. Is this a sick joke to them?

  The other teenage Skifulv positioned themselves back to back as the other wolves surrounded them, slowly closing the distance.

  “Chieftain Soravell!” Syelira’s voice broke through the carnage, her voice cracking. “End this! They don’t need to suffer. They don’t need to die.”

  The Chieftain remained silent.

  “I’m going down there,” she continued, stepping forward.

  “You will not move from your place,” Edrimar ordered. “This is the Skifulv way and you will not interfere. You attempt to do so and they will end you where you stand. At least one or two fall every cycle. It is to be expected.”

  Biting her lip, she clutched the tantō tighter, worry spread across her face.

  One or two fall? Panic settled in as he shifted his gaze back to the wolves and Skifulv teens. Sure, he’s a jerk. But does he deserve to die? Echoes of Leif’s screaming filled his ears, reverberating off the rocks around him. Do I want to die here?

  Balling his fist, his chest heaved with each deep breath. The puff of warm air disappeared quickly.

  “I refuse.”

  Pushing off the ground, he charged towards the attacking wolf. Raising his good arm, he pulled moisture from the air once more and morphed it into a spear.

  Once within range, he weakly grabbed with his second arm and thrusted it forward, piercing the beast’s side.

  A sharp howl shot through his sensitive ears.

  The beast released the boy’s arm, blood dripping from its mouth, as it raised its clawed paw, swiping it towards InuShin and slashing his side.

  Wincing as the fire exploded through his side, InuShin stood his ground and twisted his water spear, shoving it further in and splitting the rune mark on its body. The creature froze and then dissolved into a white mist.

  Through jagged breaths, InuShin dissipated the spear as he dropped to his knees, clutching his left side, coughing.

  “Fylkn?r.” Leif stared up at him, eyes wide, as he shook. “Why… why did you save me? You could’ve let me die. It would’ve proved your strength.”

  “Whether you’re a jerk or not,” InuShin breathed heavily. “You’re not my enemy. I came here looking for help, not to start a fight. You don’t have to like me, but I’m not a fylkn?r. My name is InuShin and I’m going to do everything I can to maintain peace. I will use my strength to protect. That’s what’s important to me.”

  Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself off the ground and shifted his attention to the other wolves, who each fixated their rune eyes on him.

  “You don’t scare me.” He hardened his gaze. “I’m going to survive, so give me your best.” Raising his right arm once more, he formed another ribbon of water around his arm.

  Each wolf slowly approached, circling around him. Their intense stare lingered, sharp fangs exposed.

  “Come on, attack,” InuShin barked.

  One by one, they lowered their heads towards the earth, fading into a mist and brisking away in a faint breeze.

  “The Hollow has seen your spirit,” the Chieftain announced. “It has seen your willingness to sacrifice yourself for others. Even if they do not like you. Your blood matters less than your heart. And tonight, the mountain agrees. The first test is complete.”

  Standing still, InuShin lowered his arm as the ribbon of water fell to the ground, mixing with his blood. I’m already exhausted and bloody. If this is only the first test, what other nightmares await me?