Moonlit Prophecy: Bound by Fate

Elara sat by Atlas's side in the slave infirmary, her heart heavy with worry. It had been four days since he had lost consciousness, and she and Devin had taken it upon themselves to care for his wounds. They changed his bandages more frequently and carefully than the doctors assigned to the slaves, but they couldn't help but share nervous glances, afraid of getting caught.

As they worked, they tried to pass the time by talking. Devin eventually shared that he was 22 years old, which meant he had been a slave since he was just 10. Elara revealed that she was 25. The thought of how long Devin had been enduring this life made Elara's heart ache even more.

"How old do you think Atlas is?" Elara asked one day, glancing at the pale and motionless figure beside them.

Devin shook his head. "I don't know. He grew up here, so he must be around our age, maybe a bit older."

As each hour passed without Atlas waking, they both grew more nervous. Elara, always worried for the worst, began to fear that he might never come back. Devin tried to reassure her, telling her stories about Atlas that highlighted his resilience and strength.

"Let me tell you about something that happened a while back," Devin began one day as they tended to Atlas's wounds. "We were out in the fields, working as usual, when the ground started falling out from below us. It was like the earth itself was collapsing into a massive sinkhole."

Elara listened intently, her eyes wide with concern.

"The overseers darted away to safety instantly," Devin continued. "But we, the slaves, couldn't move. We were bolted in chains to the ground we worked on. One by one, people started falling into the sinkhole, their screams suffocating the air around us."

Atlas, chained further away as part of his continual punishment, did not fall, but almost everyone else did. The screams for help grew deafening, yet the overseers stood fast where they were, safe from the danger below.

"Atlas heard the screams for help," Devin said, his voice filled with admiration. "He asked the overseers to help, but they spat in his face and said slaves deserved what happened to them."

Elara's eyes filled with anger and sadness. "What did he do?"

Devin's expression grew serious. "This angered Atlas beyond measure. He ripped his silver chains from the ground, surprising the overseers as werewolves' weakness is silver, and jumped into the pit to help the others. One by one, he dragged them out, digging and pushing stones, working for days to save those who were trapped."

Elara could hardly believe what she was hearing. "He did all that?"

"Yes," Devin confirmed. "It wasn't an easy recovery for them, but Atlas never gave up. He was rewarded for his actions with another merciless beating. They chained him up in the dungeons and beat him senseless for a month, but his stance never wavered."

Elara felt tears welling up in her eyes. "He's been through so much. Why do they hate him so much?"

Devin sighed, a deep sadness in his eyes. "Because he represents hope and defiance. The overseers fear that his strength and compassion will inspire the other slaves to rise up. That's why they try so hard to break him."

Elara took a deep breath, her resolve strengthening. "We can't let them break him. We have to do everything we can to help him recover."

Devin nodded in agreement. "The other slaves started calling him Atlas after that incident. They saw him bear the weight of our world on his shoulders with no remorse or regret for his actions. He's our beacon of hope."

As they continued to care for Atlas, Elara and Devin grew closer, their bond forged through shared suffering and a mutual determination to protect their friend. They knew the road ahead would be difficult, but they were ready to face it together, united by their love and respect for Atlas.