{"Born of night and bound to tide, she dances with wolves and weeps for men."}
Rurik trembled, his body twisting under the sheer weight of her presence. The Moon Goddess had not lifted a finger, and yet it looked as if he bore the weight of the entire moon on his back. He let out a guttural cry, pushing against the invisible force that pinned him to the ground. His claws scraped the earth, his breath ragged, eyes wild. Shadows still clung to him like chains, but slowly, they began to crack.
"I didn't know what she truly was…" he gasped, his voice choking with desperation. "Ashanai promised me salvation… She promised me a purpose!"
The Moon Goddess stood unmoving, eyes cold and unreadable.
"Ashanai promised you corruption," she replied. "And you took it willingly."
