Episode 109: Hollow Path

Written By Karl White

How do you untangle the twisted history of an ancient bloodline to someone who’s spent a lifetime searching for the truth about themselves? Uti laid out the creation of the Wolf Tribe and the path of their dark lineage the best he could. Bess Bishop, had been seeking an explanation of what she was for a long time. And in the intersection of their quiet conversation at a roadside diner safely past the North Dakota border, both were satisfied with the answers. 

Bess took Uti’s warning of the Dark seeking her rare power seriously, and agreed to go into hiding with he, and Sara Ivy. The werewolf curse passed to Bess had stolen her life. It made her a recluse, afraid of the world. But hearing there were others like her, a community wanting to preserve life for all mankind, and she’d be accepted among them, she was overwhelmed with emotions. But they’d need to leave at once. 

Trouble is near - © 2026 Headless Horseman Productions, LLC

As the pair stepped outside, they found themselves surrounded by an unnatural black fog that had settled over the parking lot. Every instinct within Uti flared, danger was near…

He summoned the Wind, commanding it to scatter the suffocating mist. But even a powerful gust failed to carve a path through it. That’s when he knew, the Dark had found them. 

UTI: Be ready. Evil is here.

The wind answered Uti's call, spiraling around them like an invisible shield. Beside him, Bess instinctively reached inward, calling upon the power of Light. A warm radiance blossomed from within, pushing back the darkness and illuminating the fog in every direction.

And from the murky mist stepped Orem Black. Without a word, he raised his hand and the world erupted. The pavement beneath their feet cracked as a dark force tore through the parking lot. Vehicles were hurled aside like toys. Windows shattered from nearby storefronts. Uti answered summoning a violent gale, deflecting the attack away from Bess. Only then did she understand what they were facing. 

Orem attacks - © 2026 Headless Horseman Productions, LLC

Uti kept up the attack, the wind forming a swirling vortex that sent debris and gravel racing towards Orem like bullets. But the dark one stood his ground. With one hand, his magic broke the storm apart. With his other hand, he unleashed an invisible blast that slammed into Uti like a freight train. His body was hurled across the parking lot, crashing through the wall of an abandoned building in an eruption of brick and splintered wood.

Orem turned his attention to Bess. The Light inside her brightened again. Radiance erupted from her body in a brilliant wave, illuminating the darkness for hundreds of feet in every direction. The fog recoiled. Shadows vanished. The power struck Orem head-on. He fell back, the blast burning through him. She was far stronger than he anticipated. 

Bess wasn’t done. Her Light swelled again, unleashing a blast to finish Orem off...But another figure stepped quietly from the darkness, Joseph Frost.

Joseph absorbs the light - © 2026 Headless Horseman Productions, LLC

Unlike Orem, Joseph made no attempt to avoid the Light, stepping in its path. At first, Bess didn't understand what was happening. Then she felt it. Streams of luminous energy peeled away from her body, flowing into Joseph. Her radiance flickered...then steadily dimmed. Every ounce of strength and fragment of elemental power was being drawn by the Harvester.

Her knees buckled. Exhausted, powerless, and barely conscious, Bess collapsed to the pavement. Joseph fell as well, overwhelmed by the tremendous force he’d absorbed.

Nearby, Uti clawed his way out of the rubble. Bloodied, but determined to stop them from taking Bess, he surrendered his human form. A thunderous roar split the night as his muscles expanded, and fur erupted across his body.

Uti transforms - © 2026 Headless Horseman Productions, LLC

Within seconds, a towering werewolf launched itself at Orem with terrifying speed. For a moment, the beast actually drove the dark magician backwards. Then, as Uti leapt, Orem extended his hands, and time slowed...

Orem reached past flesh, unleashing a massive surge of Dark power directly into Uti's body. As the magic spread through him, shadowy energy raced beneath his skin. The beast let out an anguished howl as Orem wasn’t merely attacking Uti, but undoing the elemental essence at the core of the Child of Nature.

Uti collapsed. His werewolf body struck the pavement with enough force to fracture the asphalt beneath him. For a moment, he twitched, trying to get up and continue the fight. But his last ounce of strength failed...he did not rise again.

As sudden as it began, the battle was over. And the Dark had won.

Though the fight with Uti demanded much of him, Orem still possessed more than enough strength. With Bess unconscious in his arms and Joseph weakened but able to stand, he carried them through space itself, arriving in an instant at the encampment of the Rooted Ones. Their show had ended and lanterns burned softly between trailers, as they disassembled their tent under the starry night. But the sudden appearance of the strangers, and the motionless young woman cradled in Orem’s arms, brought the peaceful scene to an abrupt halt. 

Amongst wolves - © 2026 Headless Horseman Productions, LLC

Figures emerged from the darkness. Fire danced between Kur's hands. Maer summoned the earth beneath her feet. Wind gathered around Rhod. Sof drew water vapor from the night air. And before anyone could take another step, Xaron shaped an invisible barrier of sound between them and the newcomers. The Wolf Tribe, being in league with the forces of nature, knew the supernatural when they saw it. Every one of them stood ready to attack. But they didn't.

Even from a distance they could see the Light. Though Bess remained unconscious, a faint radiance shimmered beneath her skin. Joseph's harvesting left it weakened, but not extinguished. The power they’d spent centuries searching for stood before them at last. The Light Bearer had been found.

A narrow path opened through the gathered, as Orem carried Bess forward. Suspicion hung heavily in the air. The Rooted Ones devoted generations to locating the Light Bearer. They’d crossed continents, and sacrificed much in pursuit of their singular goal. Now a complete stranger simply appeared...with her in tow. Nothing about it felt right.  

Their leader, Kur, stepped forward. The old werewolf studied Orem carefully. There was tremendous power in the man standing before him. Dangerous power. Yet that’s not what troubled Kur the most.

Kur steps forward - © 2026 Headless Horseman Productions, LLC

KUR: Who are you?

OREM: Merely a humble man...offering you what you’ve been seeking.

All eyes directed at Orem, suspiciously narrowed.

KUR: Nothing is given freely. Especially destiny.

OREM: Then perhaps you'll understand me better than most. There was once a time my own destiny was presented to me. A purpose revealed from beyond. And I chose to follow it.

For a moment, Orem's eyes drifted up to the night sky, remembering.

OREM: The road it set before me proved far longer than I ever imagined. And demanded more than I care to remember. But every road, every sacrifice, every victory and failure eventually led me here.

Orem gently lowered Bess to the ground. The soft glow of her Light illuminated the faces of the ancient tribe gathered around her.

OREM: Whatever awaits you, has finally arrived. And I’d be doing a great disservice if I stood in its way. Perhaps this moment, will lead me to my next step. Perhaps together, we’re all part of a story greater than ourselves. 

Behind their back, a faint smile spread across Orem’s face. Their’s was a hollow path...and unlike the Wolf Tribe, he knew exactly what Fate had in store.

TO BE CONTINUED…