Rebirth Of The Rejected Luna Chapter 167: Rogue Attack

**Tiana's POV**

At first, everything seemed normal. The birds were singing their usual morning songs, and the forest was alive with the rustling of leaves and snapping of twigs. But then, without warning, the birds fell silent. The sudden stillness sent a shiver down my spine. I stiffened my ears, straining to pick up any unusual sounds. The wind whispered through the trees, but that was all.

I reached for the dagger at my waist, my hand wrapping around the hilt. A shadow darted between the trees, and I spun around, scanning the area. But there was nothing. Just a trick of the light, I told myself. But then, a twig snapped, close by. My muscles tensed, and I froze, waiting. "I know you're there," I said aloud, trying to keep my voice steady.

For a while, it was eerily silent and then suddenly, a battered figure stumbled into view, covered in dirt and blood. The man's clothes were torn and tattered, and his breathing labored. He looked like he'd been running for his life, pursued by a wild animal. "Help..." His hoarse voice cracked, and he added, "They're coming."

Before I could react, a low, ominous growl rumbled through the trees. Four pairs of glowing yellow eyes materialized out of nowhere, sending a shiver down my spine. I muttered a curse under my breath. Rogues. They emerged slowly, and menacingly, knowing that we were at their mercy.

The thoughts of Cecilia telling me why rogues were the way they were— how the first blood awakened within them made me more scared. All I could do was thank God these were normal rogue wolves as a memory of dealing with mutated rogue wolves in Shadowclaw flashed through my brain.

The leader, a towering male with a jagged scar down his cheek, flashed a wicked grin, baring his teeth. "Well, well," he drawled, his voice like rough gravel. "Looks like we've caught ourselves a prize."

I kept my focus on the rogues, ignoring the wounded man for the moment. "I don't want trouble," I said, trying to sound calm despite the tension building inside me.

Scarface laughed, the sound sharp and mocking. “Trouble found you, little girl.”

I gritted my teeth, anticipating the fight ahead. But maybe I could outsmart them instead. I took a slow step back, my fingers brushing against the hidden blade in my sleeve. "You're right," I said, feigning surrender. "You've caught me."

Scarface's grin widened, his ego inflated by my apparent defeat. The other rogues chuckled, closing in on me. But that was their mistake. In one swift motion, I twisted my wrist and sent the dagger flying straight into the neck of the rogue closest to me. He let out a strangled cry before collapsing to the ground.

Chaos erupted. I ducked as another rogue lunged for me, sidestepping just in time to slash my second blade across his arm. He howled in pain, but I didn't hesitate. I turned and kicked Scarface square in the chest, sending him stumbling backwards. The wounded man took advantage of the distraction to scramble away, disappearing into the woods.

I didn't wait for the others to recover. I turned and ran, weaving through the trees as branches whipped at my face. My heart pounded in my chest, but I didn't dare look back. The rogues were fast, but I was faster. The terrain worked in my favour - narrow paths, dense undergrowth, and steep hills. I leapt over a fallen log, sliding down a hill before landing in a shallow stream. I didn't stop running until the howls faded into the distance. Only then did I allow myself to breathe.

Just then, I realized that I stumbled upon the ruins by accident.

As the trees parted, I caught sight of crumbling stone walls smothered in ivy. Moss blanketed the remnants of what once might have been a thriving village. There were several houses reduced to rubble, an ancient well standing in the centre. A shiver of unease settled over me. Shadowclaw's history was steeped in bloodshed, but I had no knowledge of any abandoned villages this close to its borders.

I ventured deeper, my boots crunching over the brittle remnants of what might have been a road. Symbols etched into the stones caught my eye. It was somehow familiar or as if someone had put it there as a warning. A chill coursed down my spine. I wasn't alone.

I spun around, anticipating another attack. But instead, standing just beyond the ruins, was my horse. I blinked, incredulous. Impossible. My horse couldn't be here. I must have been seeing things. Yet, there he stood, watching me with an unblinking gaze.

I had sent it back hours ago.

Slowly, I stepped forward. “How…?”

The horse remained still, its eyes fixed on me as it cocked its head slightly to one side. I reached out a hand, my fingers brushing against its mane, and in that instant, it dissolved into thin air. A gentle breeze stirred the leaves, and a warmth spread through my chest, filling me with a sense of comfort. A soft smile spread across my face. Cecilia. She was watching over me. And for the first time since I'd left, I felt a sense of connection, a sense that I was no longer alone.

I settled onto a large rock at the edge of the ruins, unwrapping a bandage from my pack. My shoulder throbbed from the rogue's graze, and a deep bruise was forming on my ribs from the earlier fight. I tended to my wounds in silence, my mind drifting to the questions that had been plaguing me.

Why was I really going to Shadowclaw? The easy answer was obligation and necessity. But deep down, I knew the truth was more complex. What Corvin was planning was dangerous and somehow connected with my death and of course Erika's death. I vividly remembered everything Cecilia had told me. She had trained me and prepared me for this moment. Yet, as I sat amidst the ruins, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd made a mistake by leaving her. Would I even survive the journey to Shadowclaw?