"We must hurry, Ayla. Move quickly."

Ayla nodded to Bruce. Then she turned to Mariah, who was carrying Usher. Together they walked down the long corridor.

"So, the war is really happening, Bruce?" Ayla asked in a quiet voice. Her tone was one of deep concern. "Is there no way to avoid it?"

Bruce hesitated for a moment, seemingly unsure of how to answer. But finally, he nodded. "Actually, the war has been going on since the Nimbria Pack attacked us that night. All we can do now is fight them and defeat them. That's the only way to end it."

Ayla said nothing more. Instead, her mind was filled...