The land trembled under Nolan’s feet as the shadow rose from the horizon like a wave about to break over the plains. Kaelun’s body stood firm between Nolan and the approaching darkness its scales glowing faintly from the echoes they had gathered.
Nolan gripped Kaelun’s mane trying to steady his breath. The air felt colder than before almost sharp and dry like winter frost creeping into his lungs.
Kaelun lowered its stance
The shadow has taken form
Nolan squinted as the darkness condensed into a shape tall massive towering above the cliffs they had crossed earlier. At first it looked like a giant with no features but as it stepped closer its form twisted shifting every few seconds like it struggled to decide what shape to be.
Nolan whispered
It is changing
It is trying to stabilize using the echoes it consumed
The shadow took another step leaving a trail of black dust that evaporated as soon as it touched the ground. Its presence bent the air around it making the world ripple in waves
Kaelun spoke into Nolan’s mind
You must stay behind me
I am not hiding
You carry the echoes now The creature hungers for them You cannot face it alone
Nolan swallowed but said nothing more
The shadow raised a limb shaped like a distorted arm and swung downward
Kaelun leaped aside grabbing Nolan with its tail and pulling him clear as the ground exploded into a crater
The shock threw Nolan onto his side scraping his palms
Kaelun roared and charged striking the shadow with full force
The impact echoed across the valley but the shadow barely staggered Instead it twisted its shape absorbing Kaelun’s blow
Nolan scrambled to his feet
It is too strong
Not too strong Only fed too much
Kaelun’s eyes locked with Nolan
You carry the last echo Its memory is key
Nolan felt the silver glow under his skin pulse again
He stepped forward
Kaelun tried to block him
No
Nolan placed his hand on Kaelun’s foreleg
Trust me
Kaelun hesitated then stepped aside
Nolan walked toward the shadow
Each step shook his legs but he kept going The ground pulsed under him as if warning him to turn back
The shadow stopped moving
It stared at him even though it had no eyes
He felt pressure on his chest like invisible hands pushing inward trying to crush him
Nolan gasped but held his stance
He lifted his hands
The silver glow in his arms flared
The shadow shrieked not with sound but with force a pressure wave smashing into him
Nolan fell to his knees
Kaelun roared leaping between them and blocking the next wave
The impact nearly toppled the beast
Nolan forced himself up
He remembered the echoes The forest The canyon The wind The storm And the nightfall
All of them carried emotion
Fear
Strength
Memory
Compassion
He pressed his palms together
The silver glow brightened turning white
Kaelun sensed it
Nolan what are you doing
I am showing it who I am
The shadow stepped forward its form flickering
Nolan thrust his hands toward it
Light burst out of him A wave of memory and emotion mixed into one force
The shadow staggered
Light tore through its form exposing hollow gaps like windows into empty space
Kaelun charged striking its core
The creature cracked
Darkness bled from the cracks like smoke
Nolan pushed more light forward his entire body trembling
The shadow let out a silent cry
Its form crumbled
Broke
Shattered
Pieces of darkness scattered across the air dissolving into nothing
Kaelun collapsed onto one knee exhausted
Nolan fell forward catching himself with shaking hands
The plains fell silent
No wind
No tremor
Only the quiet breath of a world finally relieved
Kaelun turned slowly toward Nolan
You did it
Nolan shook his head
We did it
Kaelun pressed its forehead lightly to his
The shadow is gone The rift closes The echoes settle
Nolan sat back breathing hard
Is it over
For now yes Kaelun said But your journey has not finished The world has chosen you and it will continue to shape your path
Nolan let out a long slow breath
I guess I am not going home any time soon
Kaelun curled its tail around him gently
Home is where your heart stands firm And today it stands here
Nolan leaned back against Kaelun’s side exhausted but alive
The border of nightfall slowly brightened
The world breathed easy again

And Nolan realized
His story was only beginning