The Momma Clan

Once upon a time, in the age when gods and mortals walked the earth together, there
existed a magnificent kingdom nestled between towering mountains and lush forests. This
kingdom was ruled by a wise and just king named Arion, whose lineage traced back to the
gods themselves.

Arion was beloved by his people, for he governed with fairness and compassion. Yet, his
kingdom harboured a dark secret. Deep within the heart of the forest, there dwelled a
fearsome creature known as the Shadow Serpent. This monstrous serpent was said to have
been born from the darkest depths of the underworld, its scales as black as midnight and its
eyes blazing with malevolence.

For centuries, the Shadow Serpent had terrorised the kingdom, preying upon travellers and
villagers alike. Despite numerous attempts to slay the beast, none had succeeded, and the
serpent’s reign of terror continued unabated.

Fearing for the safety of his people, King Arion sought counsel from the Oracle of Delphi, a
wise seeress blessed with the gift of foresight. The Oracle foretold that only a hero of great
courage and purity of heart could vanquish the Shadow Serpent and bring peace to the
kingdom once more.

Determined to fulfill his duty as king, Arion issued a decree, offering a handsome reward to
whoever could rid the land of the dreaded serpent. Warriors from far and wide answered the
call, but one by one, they fell to the serpent’s venomous fangs.

As hope began to wane, a humble shepherd named Lyros stepped forward. Though he
possessed no weapons or armour, Lyros carried within him a heart filled with bravery and a
spirit untainted by fear. Determined to protect his homeland and his people, Lyros set out
into the forest alone, armed only with his wits and his shepherd’s staff.

For days, Lyros journeyed through the dark and treacherous woods, guided only by the light
of the moon and the whispered guidance of the gods. Finally, he came face to face with the
Shadow Serpent, its massive form coiled around the ancient trees like a living nightmare.
Undaunted, Lyros confronted the serpent, his eyes burning with a fierce determination. In a
battle that shook the very foundations of the earth, Lyros and the Shadow Serpent clashed,
their struggle echoing through the forest like thunder.

With every ounce of strength and courage he possessed, Lyros fought against the serpent’s
relentless onslaught, dodging its venomous strikes and striking back with all the fury of a
storm. And in the end, it was not the might of his arm or the sharpness of his blade that
brought victory, but the purity of his heart and the strength of his resolve.

With a final, mighty blow, Lyros drove his shepherd’s staff deep into the heart of the Shadow
Serpent, piercing its blackened scales and banishing it back to the depths from whence it
came. As the serpent’s monstrous form dissolved into shadow and mist, the forest was
bathed in a warm, golden light, and peace was restored to the land once more.

In the wake of his triumph, Lyros was hailed as a hero throughout the kingdom, his name
spoken with reverence and gratitude by all who dwelled within its borders. And though he
returned to his simple life as a shepherd, Lyros would forever be remembered as the brave
soul who had saved his homeland from the darkness that threatened to consume it.

-Arwa Saifi