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Chapter Text

The sound of footsteps rapidly thudding against the glistening marble floors of the castle echoed through the corridors like the beating of war drums. 

The faint, cheerful jingle of the bells on her costume followed every desperate stride, mocking her attempts at stealth.

Pomni's lungs burned as she tore down another hallway, her hand clutching the bow and quiver of arrows she'd stolen from the armory. The polished floors reflected her wild eyes and painted face as she ran-her expression twisted not in laughter, but in terror.

The sling bag strapped across her shoulder thudded against her hip with every motion, its strap cutting into her skin as she clung to it tightly to keep it from slipping off. Inside were scraps of bread, a few coins, and a single keepsake-her juggling ball, chipped and faded, from the days before the cruelty began.

I need to get out of this castle. Now!

Her pulse pounded in her ears. The walls seemed to close in with every corner she turned, lined with portraits of smiling kings that suddenly felt as though they were watching her, judging her.

This was her chance. Her only chance.

To escape from her master - her king.

From Abel.

The thought of his name made her stumble for a moment, and behind her, she could already hear the shouting.

"Find her!" Abel's voice thundered through the stone halls, deep and cold, like the roar of a storm. "Find Pomni, and bring her back to me, alive!"

Her blood ran cold.

The guards' armor clanked behind her, heavy footsteps closing in, growing louder.

Pomni's eyes darted wildly across the corridor. Her gaze landed on a wide, arched window at the far end of the hall.

No time to think. No other choice.

She bolted for it.

The cold wind blasted her face as she leapt.

For one split second, she was suspended in the air; free, weightless, the bells on her costume ringing faintly like silver laughter. Then the world slammed back into her.

Pomni hit the muddy ground three stories below with a jarring thud, rolling hard through wet grass and leaves. Pain tore through her body, her breath catching in a strangled gasp. 

But the sharp ache in her ribs was nothing compared to the fear that drove her forward.

She staggered up, clutching her side, and ran into the black maw of the forest.

The Mystical Forest.

The moment she crossed the treeline, the sounds of the castle faded behind her, swallowed by the thick, unnatural fog that hung low to the ground. 

The trees loomed high above, their twisted branches locking together like a cage. A chill wind whistled through them, carrying whispers that might have been her imagination-or not.

Pomni slowed to a stop, her chest heaving. The forest floor was damp and uneven, strewn with moss and glowing fungi that pulsed faintly in the dark, lighting her path with eerie light.

She glanced around, the weight of the place settling on her shoulders. "Of all the places to run to..." she muttered under her breath, biting her lip. "Why here?"

Everyone knew the legends. People who entered this forest never came back. 

Strange lights. Vanishing travelers. Unnatural sounds at night.

She pressed her back against the rough bark of a tree and slid down, drawing her knees to her chest. Her arms ached from the run, her legs trembled with exhaustion, and her chest felt hollow. 

She needed a moment. Just one - to breathe.

But the forest wouldn't let her rest for long.

A faint clink broke the silence. Metal against stone. Then another.

Her breath hitched.

Lantern light flickered faintly between the trees. Patrol guards, their armor glinting dully through the mist.

"Oh no..." Pomni whispered.

She scrambled into a thick bush, pushing herself down as low as she could go. She held her breath, heart pounding so hard it almost hurt. The light grew closer, voices low and sharp.

"She couldn't have gone far."

"Tracks here; fresh. Spread out."

Boots shuffled. Swords were drawn. The faint scent of oil and metal filled the air.

Pomni's fingers clenched around her bow. She pressed a trembling hand over her mouth, every nerve screaming for her to stay still. She didn't dare move.

Then-

The air shifted. It was subtle; like the forest itself was holding its breath. The wind stopped moving, the insects went silent, and even the guards hesitated, sensing the sudden stillness that wrapped around them like a warning.

"...Did you hear that?" one whispered.

Pomni froze.

No one answered.

A heartbeat passed. Then another.

And then, something moved.

It was fast. So fast in fact, that Pomni almost didn't see it. A blur cutting through the fog, low and predatory. The first guard barely had time to react before a sharp, wet sound split the air. 

He crumpled with a strangled cry, lantern crashing to the ground and rolling in a circle of flickering light.

"Ambush!" someone shouted, raising a blade; but a heavy thud silenced him mid-word.

Pomni's eyes widened, every muscle locking in place. She could see glimpses between the branches: a shadow darting among the trees, too quick to follow. Another guard went down, dragged screaming into the mist. The third turned to run-only to be yanked backward by something unseen, his cry gurgling as it was cut short.

One by one, the lanterns went out, snuffed like candles in a storm. So were the lives of these guards. 

The air grew colder, thicker-

-And the forest fell silent once more.

She waited, every second stretching endlessly. Her body trembled uncontrollably now, the damp air seeping into her bones. When she finally dared to move, she peeked through the leaves.

Her breath caught in her throat.

The guards; every single one, lay scattered across the ground. Their bodies twisted, eyes wide open in terror, armor dented and slick with dark blood. The metallic scent hit her nose, making her stomach churn.

Something, or someone, had torn through them in moments.

The forest filled with chaos for mere seconds-metal clanging, leaves scattering, the sharp rip of flesh-and then it all ended.

Just like that.

Silence.

The fog rolled back in, swallowing the last echoes of movement.

Pomni stayed frozen, heart hammering against her ribs so violently it hurt. Slowly; ever so slowly, she lifted her gaze toward the clearing.

That's when she saw it.

A silhouette.

Tall, broad-shouldered, and faintly glinting in the lightning's flash. The four legged creature was at least twice her size. For a brief moment, she thought she saw the outline of claws - glistening, slick with something dark. Its eyes glowed a bright yellow as its long ears twitched once. Pomni thought she saw purple fur. It seemed to glance briefly at her, then sweep its gaze over the guards emotionlessly. 

The shape stood over the fallen guards, motionless, head tilted and ears perked forward as if listening for more prey.

Then, another terrifying flash of lightning - and the creature vanished. 

There was nothing now. Only the wind sighing through the trees and the faint rumble of distant thunder.

Pomni pressed a hand to her mouth, shaking. She didn't wait to understand. She just crawled back into the bush, curling up tightly, her bells barely making a sound now. 

She stayed crouched in the bush, unable to move. The smell of iron filled her nose. Her vision blurred, and only when she realized she was crying did she finally exhale, shuddering.

“What... what was that?" she whispered.

No answer came.

Then, the rain began to fall.

It started as a drizzle, soaking through her clothes and matting her hair to her face. The downpour grew heavier, cold drops sliding down her pale skin and hair. The forest shimmered faintly under each flash of light, revealing the mangled remains of the patrol, then hiding them again in darkness. 

Pomni hugged her knees tighter, exhaustion finally overpowering fear.

And as the rain fell harder, she drifted into an uneasy sleep. 

And from deep in the fog, unseen, two faint yellow eyes lingered on her until the rain washed everything clean.

Chapter Text

She dreamt of the castle.

But it wasn't as it should've been. The corridors stretched and pulsed like veins, the golden walls melting into dripping crimson. The chandeliers swayed overhead, their light flickering weakly - each crystal reflecting a distorted image of her own painted face.

Her footsteps echoed through the hall, the jingle of her bells unnaturally loud, metallic, warped. Every sound seemed to bounce back at her, growing sharper, mocking.

Then came the voice.

"Pomni… Oh, my sweet jester~"

Soft, deep, and slow-like silk dragging across a blade.

Her heart froze. She knew that voice.

She turned, and from the shadows at the far end of the hall, Abel emerged. His red robe shimmered faintly in the dying light, the suit beneath it immaculate as always, untouched by the dripping decay around him. His hands, gloved and elegant, clasped behind his back as he walked closer.

But where his head should've been floated were three playing cards; a red ace of spades gleaming at the center, flanked by two king cards; red and black hovering just behind it. When he spoke, the king cards would move its mouth too. They revolved slowly in the air, the painted faces shifting subtly as they turned, smiling one second, frowning the next, eyes that followed her with lifeless precision.  A crown floated above his head. 

The sight made her stumble backward, but Abel's calm, steady voice filled the corridor.

"Why are you running, my dear jester?" he asked softly. "You know I'd never truly hurt you..."

The king on the cards faced her, and a slow, deliberate and faint, distorted laugh echoed from them. He walked up confidently towards Pomni. 

“You know that I love you!” He whispered into her ear. 

Pomni shook her head, backing away. "S-stay away from me-"

The floor rippled beneath her like liquid. Blood seeped between the tiles, crawling up her shoes, staining the bells on her shoes. The sound of his laughter; multiplied, overlapping until it became a chorus that filled her skull.

The walls began to bend inward. Portraits of Abel lined both sides now, all with those same floating cards for faces, the eyes of each king on the card glinting with that same cold, empty gleam.

"Pomni..." Abel's voice deepened, now echoing from everywhere and nowhere at once. "You were made to make me smile. Why do you look so frightened?"

His hand reached toward her, but as it touched her cheek, it turned to smoke and coiled around her throat.

"Dance," he whispered, his head tilting downward as a king card smiled. "Dance for your king."

Pomni tried to scream, but no sound came. The cards around him spun faster, the two kings on each card beginning to laugh-high, shrill, overlapping in an inhuman chorus. The walls melted into a sea of mirrors, all reflecting her face, her painted grin twisting wider and wider until her own reflection began laughing too, uncontrollably, horribly.

"Dance for me, Pomni."

"Dance."

"Dance."

"Dance."

The cards spun so fast they blurred into streaks of red and black. The laughter became unbearable, until it cut off in an instant.

Pomni screeched-

-and woke up, gasping, cold rain dripping down her face, her heart still hammering like it was trying to escape her chest

The world was gray. The storm had passed, but the sky still hung heavy with dark clouds. 

Her clothes clung to her skin, soaked through and freezing cold. Her hair was plastered to her cheeks, and mud streaked her legs and arms. Every muscle in her body ached.

She sat up slowly, blinking through the morning mist. The forest around her was quiet again, save for the faint dripping of rain from the leaves.

Pomni wrapped her arms around herself, shivering. Hunger gnawed at her stomach, and her lips were pale. She glanced around, trying to remember where she'd collapsed - and then her eyes widened.

The bush she'd slept under wasn't just any bush - it was heavy with small, dark purple berries.

"Oh thank goodness..." she breathed, reaching out and plucking a few. She sniffed them first-sweet, earthy, not poisonous - and popped one into her mouth. The burst of tart juice was like heaven. 

She devoured a handful more before remembering herself, then carefully gathered several into a small cloth pouch from her sling bag.

"Better save some for later," she murmured.

After a moment's rest, she checked her bag again. The bandages inside were a little damp, but still usable. Her side throbbed where she'd landed the night before, and when she lifted her sleeve, she saw a long gash along her arm, dark and crusted with dried blood. She grimaced.

"Guess that's what I get for jumping out a window..." she muttered, gently scolding herself.

Using what little clean water she had left in her canteen, Pomni cleaned the wounds and wrapped them carefully with the bandages, tightening the knots with trembling fingers. 

When she was done, she slung the bag back over her shoulder and looked north, into the distance beyond the forest.

The North Kingdom.

That was her goal now. Word had spread even in Abel's court - King Caine was fair, strange, eccentric maybe, but not cruel. 

If she could reach his land, maybe she could start over. Maybe she could finally be free.

Pomni took one deep breath, then started walking, wincing at the pain that rushed up her body.

But she wasn't alone.

From the shadows of the forest, a figure moved. Silent. Watching.

Yellow eyes glimmered faintly between the trees. The creature's breathing was slow and labored, each inhale rough, as if pain burned through every muscle. A faint trail of blood followed his path-dark stains on the moss.

He had followed her scent since the storm.

A wererabbit-a beast twice the size of a man, his body covered in matted fur streaked with mud and blood. Patches of his purple coat were torn open where arrows had pierced through, and one of his long ears hung low, nicked by a blade. His chest rose and fell unevenly, and deep sword marks scored his left arm-wounds from a recent battle.

But his eyes... those glowing yellow eyes burned with something that was not hunger.

It was recognition.

His eyes widened at the sight of Pomni. 

Pomni didn't notice him until she stepped into a small clearing, sunlight barely piercing through the clouds above. She exhaled softly, lowering her bow to rest for a moment-

-and then a heavy thump shook the ground in front of her.

She froze.

The creature landed just a few feet away, crouched low, mud splattering from the impact. For a moment, all she could do was stare-wide-eyed, heart pounding-as she took in the sight before her.

He was enormous. Twice her height, broad as two men across. His fur was soaked, clinging to his lean, lengthy and powerful frame. His claws dug into the dirt as he steadied himself, one hand pressed to his side where a sword cut still bled sluggishly. His breath came in visible puffs in the cold air, each exhale a low, guttural growl that rumbled from his chest.

Pomni stumbled backward, bow snapping up on instinct.

The wererabbit opened his mouth as if to speak-his voice rough, half-human, half-beast. "Wai-"

But Pomni's panic overrode everything.

She swung first, slamming her fist straight into his right eye. The impact made a sharp crack, and the creature roared in pain, staggering back.

Before he could recover, she snatched an arrow from her quiver, drew the bowstring, and fired.

The arrow struck deep into his left shoulder.

He reeled, a broken howl escaping his throat. His knees hit the ground, claws digging deep into the earth as he trembled, breath ragged and weak. The shine in his eyes flickered, and dimmed down.

Pomni froze, still holding the bow, trembling. The creature didn't attack again. He just... knelt there, shaking, his chest heaving.

Blood dripped onto the moss. His ears twitched weakly.

Something inside her twisted.

"...You're hurt," she whispered before she could stop herself.

The wererabbit lifted his head slightly, his expression pained, but strangely human beneath all that fur.

His voice came out in a rasp. "I- wasn't... going to hurt you."

Pomni's breath caught. The arrow in his shoulder caused fresh blood to ooze out of his skin.

She swallowed hard, lowering her bow slowly. Against every instinct screaming at her to run, she stepped closer. 

The creature flinched but didn't move.

With a shaky sigh, she reached for her sling bag again. "Hold still," she muttered, pulling out her last roll of bandages.

The wererabbit gave a low, uncertain growl. Pomni hesitated; then met his eyes. "If you wanted me dead, you'd have done it already. So just... shut up and let me help."

The growl faded into silence.

She worked quickly, pressing cloth against his wounds, ignoring the heat radiating from his body and the faint tremors in his limbs. The smell of blood and rain filled the air. Her fingers brushed against rough fur, then slick skin beneath it.

He had so many infected wounds and arrows lodged into him that Pomni wondered how he was still alive. 

“This is going to hurt a little.” Pomni warned before she dislodged the arrows all around him. He let out a howl of pain, his shoulders tensing up. For a moment, Pomni thought he might flash a claw at her and snuff out her life like a candle. 

But he didn’t, watching silently as she worked on his wounds. She was quick, gentle and firm as she cleaned out each wound. 

When she finally tied the last knot, she leaned back, exhausted. The wererabbit's breathing had slowed.

He blinked once, then said hoarsely, "You're... different from the others."

Pomni met his gaze. "So are you."

They sat there in silence as the last drops of rain fell between them; two broken souls caught between fear and mercy, neither sure which one they should listen to.

Chapter Text

"Come on, don't fall asleep on me now." Pomni whispered, her voice trembling as she guided the injured wererabbit forward. His heavy weight leaned against her shoulder, nearly knocking her off balance with every shaky step. 

She prayed he wouldn't suddenly collapse again - because she wasn't strong enough to carry him alone.

They finally reached a fallen log, and Pomni helped him sit. The creature breathed heavily, his chest rising and falling with sharp, painful rasps.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then a rough voice broke the silence.

"What's... a human like you... doing here?" he managed, amber eyes narrowed in confusion. “Your species never usually come this deep into the forest.”

Pomni looked down at her muddy hands. "I... ran away."

"From who?"

She hesitated, fiddling with the pom poms on her outfit - but something about his tired gaze felt safe enough.

"My king. Abel." She swallowed. "He isn't kind. He owns everything I do. What I say. When I sleep. What I wear. And if I make even the smallest mistake, he..." Her voice cracked, the memory slamming into her like a fist. "...punishes me."

The wererabbit's ear flicked, his expression darkening.

"If your king is Abel... then you've come from the South Kingdom."

Pomni nodded.

He thrust his muzzle toward her chest. 

"That explains the city stench," he muttered under his breath, his muzzle wrinkling. 

Pomni blinked, pushing his muzzle away, slightly offended. "Hey-!"

He sighed and glanced toward the forest. The sunlight only hit a few trees, but the undergrowth was significantly darker, like a void swallowing up the forest. "You picked the most dangerous place to escape into."

Pomni pulled her knees up onto the log. "I didn't exactly have time to choose a better route… I just ran to wherever was convenient."

He huffed - halfway between a scoff and a pained laugh. “You’re probably the longest human to survive this forest.” He noted. 

Then he lifted a clawed hand to his chest.

"My name... is Jax." He breathed like each word cost effort. "I’m a Moon-Borne.”

“I’m Pomni.” Pomni responded but then tilted her head in confusion. "Wait, what? What do you mean? What’s a Moon-Borne?"

“A Moon-Borne is a term used to describe the protectors of the forest.” Jax's voice grew low, heavy. “This forest? We protect it. It used to be alive. Free. Beautiful. Until your cursed king ruined it.” 

"Abel sends his patrols here. He injects a black substance into the trees. The ground. Even some of the creatures."

Black goo. 

Pomni's stomach twisted. She had seen it before. The factory that produces it, the many syringes filled with the black substance delivered to Abel. 

She trembled at the thought. 

"It spreads like a disease," Jax continued, his eyes narrowing in disgust. "Objects lose shape and become all spikey, like fur. You can hear the plants scream silently. And anything living that touches it..." His fur bristled. "They go... abstract."

Pomni shivered. He wasn't talking in metaphors.

"It's like glowing neon eyes," Jax said quietly, staring at the ground. "All colours. Swarming over the victim, twisting them... until nothing human - or beast - is left. Their minds break. They go crazy and disintegrate."

Pomni felt sick. 

"That's why I'm the last," Jax said. "My family... my pack mates... all took the wrong step." His claws shook slightly as he spoke. "I've been alone a long time."

“The Moon-Borne had therefore sworn to kill every human that enters this forest. We hate the idea - the creatures of this forest are not violent. But… it’s for the best.”

Silence settled between them, heavy and cold.

Pomni swallowed. "Why didn't you kill me?" she asked softly. "When you first saw me... you could've done so. Easily, in fact."

Jax lifted his gaze. The yellow in his eyes wasn't wild now - just tired.

"I didn't kill you," he said, "because the forest has a prophecy. I thought that you might be the one."

Pomni blinked. "...A prophecy?"

He nodded once.

Jax's voice dropped to a hoarse whisper, as though speaking the words too loudly would awaken something lurking in the night.

"Long before the kingdoms were divided… Before I was even born, the forest had a prophecy. It was given to the wisest being in this forest; Kinger.”

He took a breath.

“When the Moon-child descends from the world of men, 

crownless yet destined to challenge, 

She will bear the echo of forgotten magic.

A jester's bells guiding her,

A fractured fate trailing behind."

His claws curled weakly into the wood of the tree. 

"She will walk with those cursed by moon and steel, 

their hearts bound to the old wilds of the earth.

Through ruin she will march…

and where abstraction devours, she will restore or destroy.

The King of Cards shall fear her,

for the fate she carries is the only hand that outranks him."

A cold breeze slithered through the branches above them, and Pomni felt as if the trees themselves leaned closer to listen.

Jax swallowed, ears flattening with bitter grief at painful memories.

"The Moon-child's arrival will decide whether the last of the Moon-Borne survives... Or whether we vanish forever. It’s what my momma told me."

He looked down at himself, emotion glistening in his gaze. “I’m not at my strongest, and my body is weak. Without you helping me, I would have died long ago. You’ve just saved an entire species from extinction.”

Pomni hugged herself, breath caught in her throat.

"..And you think that's me? The one in the prophecy?"

Jax's yellow eyes flicked up to her - exhausted yet hopeful, desperate yet afraid.

"You fell from the sky with bells at your heels... wearing the colours of fate. The second I saw you, I knew."

“You are definitely the Moon-Child.”

Pomni stared in disbelief. 

Her? Heal a kingdom? Fix the forest?

She shook her head. "That can't be me. I fell from the sky because I threw myself off a building. I'm just-"

"Pomni." He cut her off gently, reminding her. "You saved me. You helped me."

Pomni stared at Jax, her breath caught halfway between disbelief and terror.

The forest around them felt suddenly too loud-wind rattling leaves, distant insects chirping like chimes mocking her silence.

Moon-Child.

A fate that outranks a king.

It sounded like a fictional story told to children for bedtime stories. A myth.

Not something that belonged to her.

Her fingers twitched toward the bells on her shoes, as if confirming they were still real. The tiny chime they made felt like a verdict.

"I'm just..." she stammered, voice cracking. "I'm just a jester. Abel's jester. I can't..."

Her throat clenched shut before she could finish.

Jax's golden eyes softened, but Pomni couldn't look at him.

Her gaze dropped to her scraped knees, the mud-caked bandages, the tremble in her hands.

A chosen hero wouldn't look like this.

A chosen hero wouldn't be running for her life.

The wind whispered through the branches, brushing her hair like a cold hand guiding her attention upward. The moonlight broke through the leaves, silver and watchful.

As if staring right at her.

"No," she whispered under her breath, heart racing.

"No. I'm not... I'm not meant for anything like this."

Images flooded her mind:

Abel's looming figure, the two king cards’ booming laughing with violent intent.

The chains, the painful bruises, the so many cuts.

Her forced laughter.

Every "performance" was a punishment.

She swallowed hard, her throat tight.

"What if the prophecy is wrong?" She asked quietly. "What if I'm not the one they were talking about?"

Jax hesitated; the pain from his wounds reflecting in his eyes for a moment, but his answer was firm.

“I was led to you. The wind spoke that night.” His tail flicked once. His ear twitched. “I know it did.”

"Prophecies aren't wrong," he murmured. "The simpler prophecies were never wrong. Living creatures are just... afraid of them."

Pomni wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly feeling so small.

The world felt like it had doubled in size and turned its full attention on her.

The bells on her shoes chimed again as she shifted, and she winced; as though even the sound itself accused her:

Chosen. Chosen. Chosen.

She inhaled shakily.

"...I don't want to decide the fate of anyone," she confessed, wearily.

"I just want to be free."

A pause.

Then Jax whispered. "That's exactly why the forest chose you."

Pomni closed her eyes, trying not to crumble under the weight of a destiny she never asked for.

But deep in the earth beneath them - the forest listened.

And approved.

Pomni looked up at the sky, it had dimmed, and the sun had been replaced by the moon. It shone an unnaturally bright light upon her, as if reminding her that she is the chosen one. 

The Moon-Child.

Pomni let out a soft huff. She looked down at her bandaged hands, suddenly aware of how close she was sitting to the wererabbit. She also hadn't realized their shoulders touched. 

She had yet to trust him, but his fur was warm beneath the drying blood, encouraging her to lean her cold body on his. 

The two beings sat quietly under the stars, enjoying each other's company…

Chapter Text

Pomni dreamed.

She floated, weightless, suspended in a vast indigo void. Stars drifted around her like fireflies trapped in water, pulsing softly as though they breathed. When she turned, they seemed to follow—swirling into slow, dizzying spirals that drew her toward their center.

“…Where am I?” she whispered, her voice small in the infinite dark.

No echo answered. Only silence, until the stars began to gather - forming lines of silver light that curved and twisted before her eyes. A pattern emerged, a constellation... then another. And another.

Pomni gasped. Each one shimmered, and within the light, faint shapes appeared - faces, hundreds of them, flickering in and out like reflections on rippling water.

“Who are you?” she breathed.

A single star flared brighter than the rest. From it, a figure stepped forward; tall, radiant, and cloaked in soft silver. Its presence was warm, familiar, though she had never seen it before.

“We are the ones who came before,” the figure’s voice murmured, gentle but echoing through her bones. “The blood of the moon runs through you, as it runs through us.”

Pomni’s heart pounded. “The moon… runs through me?”

The figure’s glow flickered like a heartbeat. “Long ago, our kind listened to the song of the sky. We spoke with the earth and its creatures. We kept the balance between worlds. That bond has slept for many lifetimes…”

The stars above them pulsed brighter, each one forming the faint outline of a person - men, women, children - all gazing down at her with quiet, patient eyes. 

One of them seemed to catch her eye. The person looked down, unable to meet her eyes. 

“…until you.”

Pomni’s eyes widened, looking from the person to the star. “Me? But I’m no one. I don’t even know how-”

“You do not need to know. You only need to remember.”

The figure lifted its hand, and a thread of moonlight stretched toward her, curling around her fingers. It was warm. Alive.

“When the world forgets its voice, you must listen. When the silence grows heavy, you must speak. Through you, we will rise again.”

The light surged. The stars burst into brilliance—and Pomni gasped as the world dissolved around her.

.

.

.

Pomni gasped awake. Her hands still tingled with warmth, and next to her, Jax stirred.

For a moment, she swore she could still hear that voice - soft as a sigh - whispering through the trees.

“Remember…”

Birds chirped overhead, signalling the rise of the sun. A new day. 

What… Did I just experience? She questioned her sanity, raising up her hands and staring at them. The dream was fresh in her mind.

It felt real. 

She sat where she was, not moving a muscle. 

She then realized that Jax had not eaten since… Pomni doesn't know. Maybe she should offer some of her berries to him. Maybe he could eat them. 

“Jax?” Pomni murmured, prodding his shoulder. 

He stirred again, muffling a soft complaint. He opened his eyes slowly. 

The sight that greeted him was Pomni, holding up a few berries and showing it to him. 

“Do you eat berries?” Pomni questioned. “Or are you carnivorous?”

“Oh yeah, I'm omnivorous. I eat both meat and plants.” Jax nodded. He didn’t need to be told twice as he took the berries from her and shoved them into his mouth. 

“...Thanks.” He muttered through a mouthful of berries. “I might have died out here without you.”

“No problem.” Pomni acknowledged him halfheartedly, the whisper of the dream still echoing faintly in her ears. 

The morning light spilled through the canopy, painting the world in gold and green. Jax watched her quietly, tail flicking lazily as he nibbled on a blade of grass.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” he finally said.

Pomni turned to him, her expression distant. “It wasn’t a ghost. It was… them. My ancestors. They said the moon’s blood runs through me.”

At that, Jax’s ears twitched.

“That's normal.” He blinked at her.  

He didn’t laugh, didn’t tease, just nodded slowly. "It's starting.”

Pomni blinked. “Starting?”

“The dreams,” He said simply. “You’ll get more of them. That’s how it works for humans like you.”

“Humans like me?” She echoed.

“Those who carry old power,” Jax replied, his tone softer now. “The moon doesn’t just give - she remembers. She is your kin. She speaks in pieces, through visions and dreams. Once she finds a voice to listen to, she doesn’t stop talking.”

Pomni swallowed, glancing at her hands again. “So every night, I’ll… see them?”

“Not every night,” Jax said, leaning back on his hands. “But when the moon needs to show you something, she will. You’ll know it’s real when you wake and still feel it.”

Pomni shivered slightly. “It felt too real already.”

“That’s how it starts,” Jax murmured. “The line between dreams and memory starts to blur. Eventually, you’ll realize the two aren’t so different.”

Pomni studied him carefully. “You say that like you’ve seen it before.”

Jax’s gaze drifted toward the trees, the light in his eyes dimming. “Because I have.”

Pomni tilted her head. “You’ve met someone like me?”

He nodded once, slow and heavy. “There used to be another Moon-Child. Long ago. They were… extraordinary.”

Her breath caught. “What happened to them?”

For a moment, Jax didn’t answer. His hands stilled, and his ears folded back. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter, rougher.

“They died.”

Pomni’s stomach sank. “How?”

“They failed,” Jax said simply. “The moon gave them power to protect this world, to keep the balance between light and dark. But they preferred to work alone. They tried to complete a prophecy by themselves… and killed themselves in the process.”

Pomni stared, her throat tightening. “You were there?”

“I was,” Jax admitted. “I watched it happen. I watched someone I believed could change everything burn out like a falling star.” He looked away, jaw tightening. “I was younger then; and they pushed me away, treating me like a liability.”

He shook his head, ears drooping slightly. “I listened. I stayed out of their way. I failed them.”

The weight of his words hung heavy in the air. The forest seemed to hush around them, even the birds going still.

Pomni’s voice was soft when she finally spoke. “Is that why you’re helping me?”

Jax glanced at her, eyes gleaming faintly in the morning light. “Maybe,” he said after a moment. “Or maybe I just don’t want to watch another Moon-Child die trying to do it alone.”

Pomni looked down at her hands; the same hands that had glowed silver in her dream. “Then I’ll make sure I don’t.”

Jax gave a small, tired smile. “You’d better,” he murmured. “The moon’s already lost one of you. She won’t forgive herself if she loses another.”

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The wind stirred through the leaves, carrying with it the faint scent of earth and morning dew.

Above them, the pale shape of the moon still lingered in the daylight sky; watching, waiting.

Pomni looked down at her clothes and skin. They were muddy and torn. 

“I… really should head to the North Kingdom first,” Pomni said suddenly, breaking the quiet. “I need to get patched up - and find somewhere to stay. I’m sure Caine’s kind enough to let me stay for a while.”

Jax’s ears twitched at the name. “The North Kingdom?” he murmured. “The humans there don’t come into the forest much. At least they don’t smell as bad as the ones from the south—thank the moon for that.”

He hesitated, then his ears slowly folded back as he met her gaze. “Can’t you stay here instead? I’ve got a den. It’s safe… warm.”

Pomni smiled sadly and shook her head. “I’m sorry, Jax. But someone like me wouldn’t last long here. The forest might be home to you, but to me it’s… dangerous. A city would be better.”

Jax’s shoulders slumped. “I… understand,” he murmured, though the words carried more weight than he meant them to.

Pomni hesitated, watching him. “What if you came with me?” she offered gently. “I’m sure Caine and the others wouldn’t mind. You’d like them.”

Jax shivered, his nose twitching. “I can’t,” he said softly. “There’s no grass beneath my paws there. The ground’s too hard… the air’s too strange. It’s not a place for me.”

Silence fell between them, filled only by the distant call of a bird. Pomni fidgeted with her hands, glancing at him. “Then… will you at least come with me part of the way? I’ll probably get lost out here without you - and knowing me, I’d trip over a root and break something.” She tried to laugh, but it came out nervous. 

“I could use a friend.”

For a heartbeat, Jax didn’t move. Then his pupils widened, the yellow of his eyes swallowed by his black pupils. A wide grin broke across his face.

“You mean it?”

Pomni blinked, startled, but then she couldn’t help smiling back. “Of course.”

Jax’s ears perked up, and he nodded eagerly, excitement lighting up his features. “Then I’ll take you there myself!” he said. “No forest’s going to eat my friend."

Chapter Text

Jax walked beside Pomni as they made their way through the forest, his long strides steady and unhurried. Sunlight streamed through the treetops in fractured patterns, dappling the mossy ground beneath their feet.

Along the way, Jax seemed eager to talk. The forest was his world, and now he was its storyteller.

“That tree over there,” he said, pointing toward a massive trunk that shimmered faintly in the light, “that’s a Moonbark. Its sap glows at night. Fairies drink it when the moon’s full - it helps them stay invisible.”

Pomni’s eyes widened as she stepped closer, running her fingers along the bark. “It’s beautiful…”

“Yeah, but don’t taste it,” Jax warned. “It’s poison to humans. Makes your tongue swell and your head spin. The fairies used to love tricking travelers into trying it.”

Pomni snickered softly. “Good to know.”

They continued walking, weaving through narrow paths lined with ferns and luminescent flowers that shimmered faintly with color. Above them, bright-winged birds darted from branch to branch, their songs echoing like laughter.

“Those are Starfinches,” Jax explained. “They migrate when the moon changes phase. Always know where to go. Smarter than most creatures I’ve met.”

“And those?” Pomni asked, pointing toward a group of small, round creatures peeking from behind a bush.

“Pixies,” Jax said with a grin. “They steal shiny things, so keep an eye on your bells. And if you hear giggling, don’t follow it; it’s never a good sign.”

Pomni couldn’t help smiling as she took in every detail; the strange shapes, the colors, the sounds. 

Everything seemed alive, breathing with quiet magic.

Further along, they passed a stream that sparkled silver in the light. Tiny fish darted beneath the surface, and somewhere deep in the water, something larger stirred.

“Don’t stare too long,” Jax muttered. “River dragons don’t like being watched.”

She blinked. “River dragons?”

“Harmless most days,” he murmured. “But if you offend them, they’ll flood half the forest out of spite.”

Pomni’s mouth fell open slightly, and Jax smirked at her expression. “You really have no idea how wild this place gets, huh?”

“Not at all,” she admitted, still marveling. “Everything’s… incredible.”

They walked in comfortable silence for a while after that. Jax pointed out weather patterns, explaining how the forest’s moods changed with the moon. The air would grow colder when the moon waned, restless when it waxed full. The rain, he said, carried whispers of the spirits who once lived in the trees.

By the time the sky began to darken, Pomni’s mind was spinning with wonder. 

“It’s like the whole forest is alive,” she said softly.

Jax gave a short laugh. “It is alive. You just finally noticed.”

Pomni smiled faintly, glancing his way. “I think I’m starting to understand why you never wanted to leave.”

Jax looked ahead, his expression unreadable. “Yeah,” he murmured. “It’s hard to walk away from something that’s part of you.”

The two continued on, the forest humming quietly around them; alive with color, light, and hidden creatures that watched from the shadows.

They walked side by side, weaving through tall grass and glowing flowers. Jax was explaining how the weather shifted with the moon when he suddenly glanced at her with a curious tilt of his head.

“Hey, Pomni,” He blinked. “Why do humans wear so many layers of… soft cloth all the time?”

Pomni blinked, caught off guard. “Clothes?”

“Yeah,” Jax said, gesturing vaguely at her. “You’ve got fabric on your arms, legs, even your feet. Seems like a lot of trouble just to move around.”

Pomni chuckled. “It’s not just for trouble. Clothes keep us warm, protect our skin, and well, we can’t exactly go around naked. It’s considered… improper.”

“Improper?” Jax repeated, ears flicking. “What, the world’ll judge you?”

“No!” Pomni laughed. “Other humans would. Humans don’t really like seeing, uh, too much of each other.”

Jax gave her a skeptical look. “You’re telling me humans are ashamed of fur they don’t even have?”

“It’s not shameful,” she said, still giggling. “It’s just… culture, I guess. Modesty.”

Jax snorted. “Sounds inconvenient. My fur keeps me warm, my skin breathes, and no one minds if I take a nap in the grass.”

Pomni smiled. “Well, you’ve got the advantage there. We’d freeze if we tried that.”

“Maybe humans should grow fur,” Jax said with a smirk. “Would save a lot of fabric.”

Pomni shook her head, laughing. “If that ever happens, you’ll be the first to know.”

“Good,” Jax said, grinning. “I’d like to see that. A whole city of half-fluffy humans trying to figure out what to do with their tails.”

“This is coming from someone who has a round lump for a tail,” Pomni teased, giving him a playful shove. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And yet,” he said proudly, “I’m right.”

As they walked, Jax’s nose twitched, his ears flicking toward every sound. But his attention always came back to Pomni.

“Humans are strange,” he said suddenly.

Pomni arched an eyebrow. “Strange how?”

“Well…” Jax rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “You build houses out of stone instead of using trees. You wear …clothes..? When you’ve got perfectly good skin. And you make fire inside your homes on purpose.”

Pomni laughed. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“It is!” Jax exclaimed, ears perking. “Fire’s dangerous. It eats forests. Why keep it so close to where you live?”

“Because it’s warm,” she replied. “And safe. We control it - use it to cook, to see in the dark.”

Jax frowned slightly, unconvinced. “You sound awfully confident for a creature that burns easy.”

Pomni giggled. “We’re careful! Most of the time.”

He tilted his head, studying her for a long moment. “So humans can’t see in the dark, can’t hear far, can’t smell scents, don’t have fur, and still think they’re the clever ones?”

“Hey!” Pomni said, feigning offense. “We make up for it with our brains. And tools. And creativity.”

Jax’s tail flicked behind him. “Hmm. Brains, huh? Maybe that’s why you keep thinking about things that don’t matter - like whether or not a flower has meaning or if a rabbit can talk.”

Pomni smirked. “You’re one to talk, Mr. Philosophical Rabbit.”

He grinned. “Touché.”

They walked a little farther before Jax spoke again. “What’s it like, living with other humans? All in one place?”

Pomni thought for a moment. “Noisy. Busy. But… comforting, sometimes. You’re surrounded by people who look like you, who understand the same things.”

Jax hummed thoughtfully. “Must be nice. Out here, everyone’s different. You never really know who’s a friend until it’s too late.”

Pomni looked over at him. “Is that why you live alone?”

He shrugged, eyes on the forest path. “I guess. Easier that way, since I lost all my kin.” Then, after a pause, he glanced at her and smiled faintly. “Though lately… not as quiet.”

Pomni smiled back. “You mean that in a good way?”

Jax’s grin widened. “Haven’t decided yet.”

The path narrowed, roots twisting beneath their feet as sunlight flickered through the leaves. Jax hopped over a fallen log with ease, glancing back at Pomni struggling to climb over it.

“You humans really aren’t built for the wild,” he said, grinning.

“Not all of us climb trees for fun,” Pomni huffed, brushing dirt off her knees.

He chuckled. “So what do you humans do for fun? Sit around in those rock houses you build?”

“Sometimes,” Pomni said. “We have games, music, stories. Some people paint, others dance, or cook.”

Jax blinked, the word feeling strange on his tongue. “Cook?”

“Yeah,” she said. “We use fire to make food taste better. To make it safe to eat.”

He wrinkled his nose. “You burn your food on purpose?”

Pomni giggled. “Not burn, cook. It’s different.”

Jax shook his head, ears twitching. “You really are a strange species.”

She smiled. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

He smirked. “I’m still deciding.”

They continued walking until they reached a small clearing where the wind whispered through the trees. Pomni sat down on a smooth rock while Jax plucked a few wild berries from a nearby bush.

“So,” he began, tossing one into his mouth, “You said humans all live in one place, right? Cities?”

“Mostly, yeah.”

“And you choose that?”

Pomni nodded. “It’s safer. We build walls and houses close together, so if something goes wrong, we can help each other.”

Jax tilted his head. “Huh. In the forest, that would just make you easier to find. Most creatures prefer space. Even we werefolk keep our distance unless it's a full moon, where the creatures of this forest gather.”

Pomni smiled faintly. “Humans aren’t good at being alone. We like to talk, share things… it makes us feel alive.”

Jax thought about that for a moment. “Here, talking usually gets you eaten,” he said simply. “You make noise, you attract attention. And not the good kind.”

Pomni laughed softly. “Maybe humans are just too noisy for the forest.”

“Definitely,” Jax agreed. Then he leaned forward slightly, eyes gleaming with curiosity. “So tell me, do humans really sleep in square boxes every night?”

Pomni blinked. “You mean… beds?”

He shrugged. “You all look so stiff when you sleep. Like you’re afraid to move.”

“They’re comfortable!” Pomni protested. “You should try one sometime.”

“I’d rather curl up in the grass or my moss bed,” he said with a grin. “No walls, no roofs. Just air and stars.”

Pomni looked up at the canopy above them, the sunlight filtering through like liquid gold. “I think I’d like that,” she said quietly.

Jax’s expression softened. “Maybe you would,” he murmured. “Maybe the forest likes you more than you think.”

.

.

.

It took them nearly a full day to reach the borders of the North Kingdom.

The forest thinned gradually, the trees growing sparser and the air colder. The soft green of moss gave way to hard stone paths, and in the distance, the towering walls of the kingdom gleamed pale under the afternoon sun.

The North Kingdom sat cradled between misty mountains and the twin lakes, its high towers carved from white marble and silverstone. Banners of deep red and gold fluttered from the walls, each embroidered with a bee - the sigil of Caine’s rule. The air smelled faintly of pine and smoke, and a soft hum of activity drifted from beyond the gates: the clatter of hooves on cobblestone, merchants calling out wares, the laughter of children echoing through the streets.

Unlike the warmth of the forest, the kingdom felt sharp and orderly - beautiful, but distant.

Pomni stopped to take it all in, her eyes wide. “It’s… so different from what I remember,” she breathed. “When Abel brought me to this place to make a deal with Caine.”

Jax stood a few paces behind her, ears low as he looked up at the walls. “Too quiet,” he muttered. “And too clean. The kind of place where everything smells like metal and not enough like… life.”

Pomni chuckled faintly. “That’s what safety smells like, Jax.”

“Safety?” he repeated, his brows furrowing. “You call this safe? You’ll be trapped in stone cages with no trees, no air, no stars. The forest breathes with you. This place…” He gestured toward the city, shivering slightly. “It’ll swallow you.”

She turned to him gently. “You know I can’t stay in the forest. I wouldn’t survive there.”

Jax’s jaw tightened. “You did survive. You’re still breathing, aren’t you? You learned fast. You could’ve stayed.”

Pomni hesitated, looking at him with a small, sad smile. “Maybe. But this is where I belong, Jax. I need to find answers about myself. I need a home to stay.”

He was quiet for a long moment, ears drooping. “You already had one,” he said softly. “Even if it wasn’t the kind you expected.”

Pomni stepped closer, resting a hand on his arm. “You gave me a place to start over. And I’ll never forget that.”

Jax’s eyes flicked to her hand, then to her face. “You humans are strange,” he said, voice low and hurt. “You walk away from the things that care about you.”

Pomni smiled sadly. “Maybe. But we will definitely meet someday.”

They stood at the edge of the forest where the trees gave way to open fields of frost-tipped grass. Beyond that, the stone walls of the North Kingdom loomed high and pale under the afternoon light. The sound of distant bells drifted on the wind.

Pomni turned to Jax, who stood half in shadow beneath the last arching branch. His ears were low, his usual grin nowhere to be found.

“I guess this is it,” she said softly.

Jax didn’t answer right away. His gaze lingered on the kingdom, then on her. “You sure about this?” he finally asked. “Once you go in there, it’ll be hard for us to ever meet again. The forest is a big place.”

Pomni smiled faintly. “I won’t forget you.”

He huffed, a paw reaching up to ruffle the fur on his chest. “You better not. I don’t spare a human’s life just to be forgotten later.”

Pomni laughed a little, then stepped closer. “You really think I could forget the rabbit who growled at me for giving him berries?”

Jax looked away, but his mouth twitched in the faintest smile. “I was half-dead. I had an excuse.”

“I know.” She hesitated. “And… Thank you. For walking with me. For showing me the forest.”

He looked at her again, ears flicking. “Don’t thank me. You made it more interesting. Besides,” he added with a smirk, “Someone had to keep you from tripping over every log or root.”

“True,” Pomni said, rolling her eyes.

They stood there for a long moment, the wind whispering between them. Finally, Jax’s expression softened. “If you ever get tired of all that stone and noise,” he said quietly, “just look for the moonlight at the edge of the forest. I’ll find you.”

For a moment, neither spoke. 

Then, Pomni acknowledged softly with a silent nod.

Jax nodded once, then stepped back into the shade. The forest seemed to swallow him, branches bending slightly as if to welcome him home.

Pomni stood watching until his silhouette vanished between the trees. Then she turned toward the kingdom’s gates, the weight of stone and sky ahead of her, and began to walk.

For the first time since she’d escaped the South Kingdom, she felt entirely alone.