Chapter 4 Final decision

Diana had prepared to enjoy the moment; she was happy she could finally get accepted by the little pup gifted to her by the moon goddess. Closing her eyes with tight lips which formed a line as Diana didn't want to release the squeal she was holding in just yet, she started a breathing exercise, in and out while wondering what was taking the pup too long to do the deed.

'Is she shy?' Was the thought that came to Diana's mind.

After waiting a long number of years and getting her patience stretched out to its limit today, this little delay when she could finally stare success in the eye wasn't going to hurt.

'I'd just start counting then.' This was to keep her mind busy from giving in to the temptation of opening her eyes or verbally urging her to get done with her intended action.

'26...27...32." And Diana felt a little tug at her hand.

Opening her left eye first to peek at the Akira, she met the little girl's eyes looking straight at her with different emotions swirling in it. Clearing her throat as if it would have a positive effect on the awkwardness she felt, Diana opened her other eye.

In Akira's near watery pair of eyes, she could see confusion. Okay she had to admit her behavior was a little weird but when she stared into Akira's eye again, she saw longing and that threw her into a dark room of thoughts with no definite answer.

Diana forgot why she had opened her eyes in the first place until Akira's face morphed into a frown, a cute frown that would have made her want to laugh but the creases on her forehead got thicker and deeper by the minutes and then the tug drew her attention again.

Looking down towards where the tug came from, Diana saw the cute little finger of Akira tightly holding the petal of the flower in her hand, giving it a tug once in every five seconds. Finally having a knowledge of what she wanted, Diana could not get herself to stop staring her the finger she wished was tugging her fur instead.

"Ouch! That hurts." Diana said before she could stop herself.

The strong tug came again and the selfish part of Diana refused to let go, she desperately wanted to be the one hugged, she could almost see herself crying and asking to be hugged and acknowledged by Akira. While all these went on in her head, Diana caught herself staring into the eyes of the lad and the conflicting emotions there as if not understanding Diana's motive for holding on to the flower made her let go of it but not without a tinge of disappointment discoloring the initial bright colors of happiness she felt moments ago.

After unhanding the flower she forgot was still in her possession, she watched the lad admire it for a while before going ahead to sniff it.

With her eyes closed and face red, Akira snorted in the sudden visible white particles from the flower muttering 'mama' over and again like a broken record. Streams of tears lined her face, mucus peeked from her nostril as if afraid to come in contact with the beautiful flower held close to it.

Diana should have rushed in to inquire what the problem was but she did not. Somewhere within her, she had a strong feeling she was not to intervene and put a stop to whatever was going on. It just registered in her mind that this must be done to enable her have final possession of the lad, she could not understand the reason.

"Ma...ma..." That was the final time in the span of some years Diana was to hear that word again.

On the opening of her eyes, the flower in Akira's hands withered and she could only stare again at the figure before her. This time, it was different. Instead of the cute inquisitive nature, Diana was met with a dull and almost lifeless gaze.

'What had happened?'

After that, something Diana could not explain started happening. There was a soft glow around Akira that got intense by the second and kept changing into other bright colors. After the intense display of colors, each color took turns to diminish till it became non-existent. Only the white glow was left alongside Akira.

Her eyes tripled to the size of a saucer but she was afraid of whatever was happening.

"Akira?" Diana called but bricks of silence were thrown at her. Now, she wished the little girl had continued her never ending muttering of mama.

"Uuhm...Do you want to go home?" She asked slowly and with extreme caution as she wasn't ready to scare her away even in this bad state.

Akira looked at her for a moment before nodding her head ever so slowly that one could have missed that slight movement of her head.

Diana wanted to convert into her wolf but thought against it, it would be better not to intimidate the pup with her size so she stretched forth her hands. When the lad wouldn't move, she place herself forward and scooped the still child.

With agility and speed, she found her way up into the Nightshade's Hill and before stepping into the boundary, she left the quiet child by the tree and stepped aside to transform into her wolf. Something just clicked in her head few moments before she stepped into the boundary. Any rogue or strange wolf would be spotted and perceived the instant he or she set their foot into the Nightshade's Hill.

While painlessly transforming, she kept an eye on the child to stop her from moving in case she tried to. Picking up her clothes, she harmlessly advanced towards the child but instead of flinching or showing fear, Akira was as emotionless as the rock. Her eyes only followed Diana's step and nothing more.

Taking her into her hairy forearms, Diana engulfed the little girl in a big hug. She needed to get rid of any strange smell not belonging to the pack and submerge her soon to be daughter into the known scent any Nightshade would have.

After a long period of an emotional hug for Diana covered with the intent of initiating her new daughter into the pack, she went ahead to take Akira into the Nightshade's territory.

"What are you hiding?"