Anne and the Hidden World

The moment I saw the three familiar figures descending like apparitions from the sky, I froze. It felt like the world around me came to a standstill. The blood-soaked battlefield, the chaos of the burning village—all of it blurred as I focused on them. My siblings. 

"Where did you come from?" I asked, my voice shaking with a mixture of disbelief and relief. 

Allyson, her snow-white hair glinting faintly in the moonlight, surveyed the carnage. Her sharp, calculating gaze missed nothing. "Well..." she began, clearly unsettled by the destruction. "We'll talk about that later." 

"We were just training when—bam!—a blinding light, and here we are," Helix chimed in, his eyes darting between our parents, the wolves, and me. His tone was casual, but his body was tense, ready for action. "So, what's this?" 

Henry stepped forward, his movements precise and deliberate, as always. "We've been tracking you ever since you disappeared almost two months ago," he explained. His piercing gaze shifted to our parents, who stood among the carnage like the embodiment of destruction. "Looks like we weren't the only ones who found you." 

I swallowed hard, trying to focus on the task at hand. "Well," I said, drawing closer to them, "care to give me a hand? We need to stop this madness and protect the red foxes." 

"Got it," Helix said, cracking his knuckles. "Big brother Henry and I will clear out the wolves." 

"Let's get to work," Allyson said with quiet determination, the fire in her eyes unmistakable. 

The moment I gave the signal, we split up seamlessly, moving like pieces on a chessboard. Helix and Henry darted into the fray, their forms blurring as they tore through the wolves attacking the red foxes. Allyson and I turned to our parents. Their eyes gleamed with a malevolence that sent a chill down my spine, the light of the flames dancing in their cruel expressions. 

The village became a battlefield, the symphony of combat merging with the sounds of nature—the crackling of fire, the rush of a nearby stream, the rustling of leaves disturbed by the chaos. Allyson met our mother head-on, every movement of hers sharp and purposeful, a reflection of her disciplined training. Her blades flashed like silver streaks, parrying and striking with relentless precision. 

Meanwhile, I faced my father. He lunged at me, his claws glinting in the faint moonlight. I dashed toward him, sliding under his swipe at the last second, and delivered a sharp kick to his abdomen. His snarl turned into a pained yelp as he shifted back to his human form, gasping. I stood over him, breathing heavily. 

"You can't win this fight, Dad," I said through clenched teeth. 

But there was no reasoning with him. He leaped to his feet, a feral look in his eyes, and attacked again. Nearby, Allyson battled fiercely against Mom. Sparks flew with each clash of their weapons, illuminating their grim faces. 

Amidst the chaos, I saw Red struggling against Dale. My heart clenched as I realized he wouldn't last much longer. "Henry!" I yelled, hoping my brother would hear me over the cacophony. "Help the man fighting the wolves!" 

Henry appeared in a blur, twisting Dale away from Red and delivering a swift kick to his ribs. Helix followed, a whirlwind of strikes and feints, his movements so fluid they seemed effortless. Together, they turned the tide of that particular fight. 

Then, a scream cut through the air. My blood ran cold as I turned to see Leo kneeling over Seth's lifeless body, tears streaming down his face. Standing before them was the massive wolf who had saved me months ago—his menacing form a stark reminder of the thin line between ally and enemy. 

"Leo!" I cried, panic surging through me. 

Before I could reach him, a sharp pain exploded in my shoulder. My father had sunk his teeth into me and flung me against a tree. The impact left me dazed, blood trickling from my wound as I struggled to stand. 

"You've got time to worry about others?" Dad sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. 

Ignoring the searing pain, I tore a strip from my shirt and tied it around my shoulder to slow the bleeding. "Master!" I called out, desperation seeping into my voice. 

My master appeared, her blade gleaming as she intercepted my father's next strike. Seizing the opportunity, I rushed to Leo's side, positioning myself between him and the giant wolf. 

"Why are you working so hard to protect those who tortured you?" the wolf growled, his deep voice resonating in my chest. 

I met his gaze, unflinching. "If we kill them, will it end the cycle of hatred? They didn't all hurt me—Seth did." I gestured to Seth's lifeless form. "And even he chose to protect Leo in the end." 

The wolf hesitated, his claws lowering slightly. "And who are we to bring justice?" I continued, my voice rising with conviction. "I've lived here long enough to understand their struggles. Hatred won't fix this." 

His hesitation vanished as he raised his claws again. But before he could strike, I grabbed Leo and sprinted toward the path leading to our hidden classroom. Fire licked at my back as the wolf's claws grazed me, leaving deep gashes. Gritting my teeth against the pain, I grabbed a burning stick from a pyre. 

"Helix! Henry!" I screamed, and they came to my aid, clearing the path for me. 

"Red!" I shoved Leo toward him. "Take the others and run! Now!" 

Red didn't argue, gathering the surviving red foxes and retreating down the path. Allyson and my master fell back, helping those who could still walk. 

The village was a fiery ruin by the time I set the last barricade aflame, praying the survivors had escaped. The big wolf let out a thunderous roar, slamming his claws into the ground. The earth trembled beneath us. 

"ENOUGH!" he bellowed. He shifted, his massive form melting into that of a tall, muscular man with white hair and piercing red eyes. 

The other wolves followed suit, including my parents. Mom ran to us, pulling us into a tight embrace. 

Relief coursed through me, but it was short-lived. My strength gave out, and I collapsed, the world around me blurring. Allyson's frantic voice was the last thing I heard before everything faded into darkness. 

"Did we save them?" I whispered, my words barely audible. 

"You did," she said, her voice cracking. "Now rest." 

As I slipped into unconsciousness, I held onto that glimmer of hope. The battle was over, but the journey to peace had just begun.