My father had gone pale with shock, his voice barely a whisper.
"We must... we must get her to the healer-den..."
I fumbled desperately for my communication crystal, ready to summon the healers.
But Morwenna snatched it from my grasp.
"No summoning! First, hand over the Moonblessing token!"
I screamed at her through my tears.
"My mother is dying, and you still think only of the blessing!"
Kael's face twisted with something that might have been reluctance. He opened his mouth to speak, but one look from his mother silenced him.
Morwenna planted her hands on her hips, unmoved.
"If you care so much about your mother, then give us the token! If she dies because of the delay, that blood is on your hands!"
Desperation broke me. Tears streamed down my face.
"Kael, I am begging you. Please, let me take my mother to the healers first. The Moonblessing... I will agree to split it with you."
I had to keep some portion. Without it, I would have no means to pay for my mother's healing.
Morwenna still refused to yield.
"Words mean nothing. Bring out the token first!"
My heart turned to ice within my chest.
I looked at Kael with the last shreds of hope draining away.
"Kael, are you truly going to be this cruel?"
Kael's face twisted with reluctance, but he turned away, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Just hand the token over to Mother first."
I laughed bitterly.
It tasted like ash in my mouth.
What kind of wolf had I chosen to bind myself to?
My hand trembled as I raised it, pointing toward my satchel.
"Behind our bonding portrait..."
Morwenna snatched my satchel with greedy claws. Inside lay the portrait of our small family—me, Kael, and our pup together.
She ripped the image out without hesitation and let it fall to the floor.
Just as I'd hidden it, the Moonblessing token gleamed behind the portrait.
"Finally found it!"
Vesper rushed forward immediately.
"Wait—verify the rune-marks first. Make sure she hasn't tricked us."
They examined it over and over, checking the sacred inscriptions multiple times before breaking into triumphant laughter.
"It's the real one."
I stared at them with hollow eyes.
"Can we take my mother to the healer-den now?"
Kael moved quickly to help my mother stand.
"Come, I'll drive the carriage."
Throughout the journey to the healer-den, Morwenna clutched the Moonblessing token as though it were her very lifeblood.