Ambessa lay sprawled on the cold, hard ground of the battlefield, the stench of death and smoke hanging thick in the air. Her side throbbed with pain, an arrow protruding cruelly from her flesh. As she struggled to catch her breath, the world around her blurred. This was it, she thought. The end.

But then, from the swirling chaos of shadows and debris, a large dark wolf emerged, its eyes gleaming like twin stars against the night. Ambessa felt a chill wash over her as the beast approached, its massive frame a stark contrast to her vulnerable position. Every instinct screamed at her to flee, yet she couldn’t move, could barely breathe.

The wolf stepped closer, its fur rippling like liquid night, and lowered its snout to her side. Ambessa's heart raced, the pain in her body momentarily forgotten as she awaited the inevitable. Would it be a swift end? Would it tear her apart? But as it sniffed at the wound, something unexpected happened: the beast pulled back, its gaze piercing through the dimness of her fading consciousness.

Ambessa blinked, and the wolf was gone. Instead, she felt a warm presence beside her. Confused, she opened her eyes fully, expecting the void of death to swallow her whole. Instead, she found herself staring into the eyes of a woman, whose silhouette radiated strength and compassion amidst the chaos.

“Stay with me,” the woman urged, her voice a soothing balm over Ambessa’s pain. “You’re not alone.”

In that moment, the battlefield faded, replaced by a bond forged in shared strength and survival. Ambessa reached out, grasping the woman’s hand, the warmth grounding her as she fought against the encroaching darkness. Hope flickered, and she knew she would rise again.