Soren felt a shiver run down his spine as he sensed the creature drawing closer. It was ancient and powerful beyond measure, and it did not seem to care that they were shifters. It felt as if it had been waiting for this moment for centuries, and now that they had found it, it was eager to claim what it believed was rightfully its place.

"Our elders never told us about this creature." Caspian murmured, his voice tense with fear and determination. "It must be ancient indeed." His hazel eyes scanned the darkness around them, searching for any sign of movement. "Are you sure we should confront it?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Soren puffs his chest out, trying to appear more confident than he feels. "I am sure," he says firmly, his voice steady despite the thunderous heartbeat in his ears. "We must face it, and we will face it together. We are shifters, and we have the power of Artemis by our side. Whatever it is, we can defeat it." His gaze meets Caspian's, and he offers his friend a reassuring nod.

"I say we bash it to death with the tree's stick!" Aurora exclaimed, her voice surprising even herself. She had never been much of a fighter, preferring to use her correction with nature and charm to get her out of trouble. But something about this ancient creature, this ancient power, made her feel brave and strong.

Caspian and Soren gave her a surprised look but didn't object to her suggestion. They knew that Aurora was not a fighter, but they also knew that she was strong in her own way. And right now, they needed all the strength they could muster.

"Solaris, you are as fierce as you are beautiful," Soren said with a grin, trying to lighten the mood. "But I think we should approach this cautiously. We don't want to provoke it unnecessarily." He turned back to Caspian. "Let's wait for the creature to reveal itself. Once we know what we're up against, we can decide on our best course of action."

Caspian nodded in agreement, his hazel eyes scanning the darkness around them. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves, and then turned to face Soren. "You're right," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "We should wait for it to reveal itself."

From the edge of the darkness, a figure slowly emerged. It was tall and broad-shouldered, and its skin was a pallid white that seemed to glow in the dim light. Its eyes were two pools of shining gold, and its long, flowing hair was the color of midnight. It was dressed in robes that fluttered in the night breeze, the fabric seeming to shift and change color as it moved.

"What is that thing?!" Aurora whispered, her blue eyes wide with fear and fascination. "It's like something out of a nightmare." She tries to hide in her green cloak, feeling more vulnerable than ever.

"It's neither human nor a wolf-shifter." Soren whispered to Aurora, his voice barely audible even to his own ears. "I've never seen anything like it before." His heart was racing and his muscles were tense, but he forced himself to remain calm. "We must be cautious," he continued, taking a step forward. "This creature is ancient and powerful. It might not see us as a threat, but it will not hesitate to defend itself if it feels we are a danger to it."

The creature raises its hand in surprise as it sees them. "I mean you no harm, children. I am but a watcher, a guardian of this place. I have sensed your presence for some time now, and I was merely curious as to who or what you were. It has been eons since I've encountered such power within the forest. Its voice was gentle and soothing, yet it carried a weight of authority that made the three shifters feel small and insignificant in comparison. It strangely sounds feminine.

Caspian raises an eyebrow as he studies the ancient creature, feeling a mixture of fascination and apprehension. "You speak of power, and yet we sense no malice from you," he says slowly. "Perhaps there is more to this place than we realized."

The creature nods to Caspian. "Indeed, there is much more to this place than even the wisest of shifters could ever hope to understand. This is a place of power, a nexus between the mortal world and the realms beyond. It is a place where ancient forces gather and great events unfold. You three have been brought here for a reason, and it is up to you to discover what that reason is."

Caspian had so many questions to understand: why he smells like burnt vanilla since birth, why he can shift into a wolf, and why he had dreams of this ancient being before meeting her. But he knew that the creature was right; they must discover the reason why they were brought here. He turns to Aurora and Soren, their eyes meeting. "My friends, we have been chosen for a greater purpose. Let us embrace it and see where it leads us." He takes a deep breath and steps forward. "I am Caspian, the future alpha of the lunar eclipse pack. It is an honor to meet you."