Forgotten Luna

Lightning struck through the dark sky as rain pattered on the ground.

"Run, Elsa, run!" I could hear my mother scream in the midst of the confusion. The flashes of thunder let me see the carnage as dead bodies laid on the ground. The Heads of wolves decapitated from their bodies, littered the ground.

My father knelt some distance away with an enormous wolf, swiping his head from his shoulders. My mother's calls came once more.

"Elsa, run!"

I turned in her direction, watching as they dragged her away from me. The sound of horses sounded from my back just as a flash of lightning lit up the sky. I turned around to face a swinging paw, knocking me into a swiveling darkness.

I woke up screaming with my hands flailing into the sky. "Another nightmare," I muttered to myself as I dropped the sheets from my body. I was soaked in my sweat as I stepped out, feeling the chilly wind of the night.

"Elsa!" Damian called out as he burst into my room.

I wrapped my clothes around my body, as I had expected no one to step into my room. "Don't you know this is a woman's room?"

He stopped, stuttering as it seemed it had skipped his mind. "I heard.. you scream... screaming," he stuttered, dropping his head to the ground. "And I thought you were in trouble."

I heaved a deep breath as I stared at the lad. He was a ruddy boy, the same age as I was, but seemed to keep to himself. "I'm fine now. It was just a nightmare," I said, inhaling deeper.

"You should know I am here for you at any time," he said with a smile.

"Doesn't mean you'd have to barge into my room like that."

"I'm sorry, but I genuinely thought you were in trouble."

"It's fine," I muttered, rubbing my hand across my face, eager to change the topic. "What do we have to do for the night? It seems the pack is rowdy."

He looked outside the door as flames flickered in the hallway. "We have run out of food supplies and have to make a run for some more. Meat supplies, at least to keep us for the coming winter. We are werewolves and need meat."

"Can't we just raise these animals ourselves?" I asked as I picked out clothes for myself to wear.

"You should know we do not have the time to raise animals by ourselves as they could give us out to both humans and werewolves. Hence our need for raids in the human settlement," he said as he turned around, letting me dress up.

"Do we have to raid human settlements for food?" I asked.

I could hear him breathe deeply before he answered. "They are the easiest people we can pick on before we can have something to eat."

"And then they have to retaliate, coming at us with wooden stakes and pitchforks," I said as I slipped on the hood.

"At least they haven't caught one of us yet," he said as he turned around to face me.

I stared at him with slitted eyes. "I did not tell you to turn."

"I turned even when you never asked, but right now you are fully dressed," he said, turning backwards once more.

"I'll let you know when to turn," I said as I turned towards the mirror, checking how I looked in its reflection.

A knock sounded at my door as we spoke, with a lad entering my room. "I knew you would be in her room if you weren't in yours."

"What's the matter?" I asked as I turned to face the newcomer in my room.

"Not anybody important, but I'll need to take your boyfriend for a minute," the lad said as he grabbed Damian's hand.

A blush formed on my face as I stood from the chair. "Well, you can take him for as long as you want," I said as I walked towards the both of them. "And please, let the rumors stop. We have nothing in common."

"Yeah, right?" The lad said as he looked at me from my head to my feet. "Still do not know what he is doing with you."

"That's enough. Let's go," Damian said as he pushed the person away. "I'll come back for you whenever we finish whatever it is they are calling me for," he said to me before dropping the curtain over my doorway.

I sighed as I flopped on my bed, but I could still over hear their voices.

"What do you see in a girl who we consider a human? No one has seen her transform into a wolf ever," the lad said as they stood outside.

"Even if she is human, she has never given us up for a day," Damian replied.

"She is definitely a human until I can see her transform. Until then, I say you stay away from her like the rest of us."

Damian sighed as his silhouette pointed as he was staring at my room. "We can leave for whatever it is you called me for."

They nodded their heads, walking away from my room while I sat still. It was nothing for me, as I could feel their stares whenever I came out in their midst.

"What do I do?" I said to myself as I walked to my window. I knew I was a werewolf like all of us here, but there was something inhibiting me from transforming.

I sighed as I stared at the full moon shining through the cloudy sky. It felt like there was going to be a downpour tonight. A perfect time for them to do what they wanted to do, as humans tended to lock themselves inside whenever there was a downpour.

"Nothing," I muttered after thinking for a while. Outside felt like it was a Fiesta as everyone was outside, standing with smiles on their faces until they saw me.

"Don't get lost with some humans when we get to their territory," a guy said as he walked past me.

"Let her be," a girl standing next to him said as the guys laughed.

"It's fine. I'm used to it," I said as I walked past them, standing in a spot I knew no one would disturb me. At least I wouldn't be a hindrance to anyone until after the raid.

I stood inside the room with all the supposed leaders of our supposed pack. Each of them had a look of seriousness on their face as I came inside.

"Are we leaving now?" I asked as I looked around the room.

A boy with red hair grunted as he stood with the flame flickering from his movements. "Not yet, as we are waiting for when it is closest for the rain to pour. That is the moment humans stay inside more."

"But that isn't the reason you called me here, Dennis," I said, realizing even before them of their plan.

"You are the only one who associates with her," He said, looking around the room like everyone inside had the discussion already.

"She helped us escape when the humans attacked our former hideout two years ago, yet we all ostracized her because she has never transformed," I said, gritting my teeth.

Dennis heaved a sigh. "She is not one of us until she transforms, Damian. Even she would slow us down when we try to escape."

"You should have her stay behind with the young ones if you don't trust her capabilities," I said, fuming at how easily they had concluded.

"That is not what we mean." another boy with blonde hair stood - Pharrell was his name and he was a beta just like Dennis, but his blood purity was lesser.

"I will take care of her in this raid, if that is what you want," I said as I swung my hand in the air.

Dennis heaved a deep breath as the other members of their group standing with him. "Then this is settled."

I nodded, moving out of the room before them.

"Is it time to leave?" Elsa asked as she saw me coming outside of the castle.

I nodded as I placed my hoodie over my head, helping her cover her head as well.

Dennis stood in front of us, looking around at the people present. "Everyone should get back home safe and without being tracked. That is the only word I can say," he said as he turned around.

We moved out with our sights on the closest village less than four hours close to our camp with the rain drizzling. It was a wonder the people still had not noticed us. Probably out of fear, or it was our luck as we got closer.

The village was quiet, with Dennis giving direction to everyone. We moved out according to our direction.

I went with Elsa, braking into a barn filled with chickens. I smiled as I took two chickens, giving it to Elsa while I took some for myself.

"Thief!" someone screamed as we stepped out of the barn.

Cries of thief suddenly changed to shout of wolves. I turned to Elsa, seeing the fear on her face.

"Run," I mouthed to her with the both of running towards the forest.

Lights flickered on over the little town as we made away with as much animals as we could get from their farms.

"After those damned werewolves!" Screams came out of the house as they chased at us.

I could see my friends morph, escaping swiftly through the village while I held on to Elsa. Fear enveloped me, knowing there was no way I could take her on me as the villager rounded us as the only ones who hadn't escaped yet.

"What do I do?" I asked myself as we broke through into a corn farm, separating while we ran. "Fuck!" I cursed, knowing I could not call her name without them realizing where she was.

Leaves rustled some distance away, and I could tell it was her, but I could not call out to her, walking closer to reach her.

"They are in the corn plantation!" someone screamed.

I felt my heart leap as I stood at a place. If I transformed; I could escape, but that would involve me leaving Elsa to the humans.

The chase continued, stopping after a while, with dogs barking and men muttering.

"Elsa," I muttered as followed the sound of the barking dogs, watching as the flames flickered with the men surrounding her.

"Are you a werewolf like them, or you are one of us?" They asked her as they cornered her.

I fell back to the ground, gasping for air, as I did not know what to do.

"She seams to be one of them. Let's take her with us. Maybe she would tell us the truth," another voice said.

"I have to help her," I said to myself as I readied myself to transform, when I heard shrieks of terror. Elsa growled at the men with her body transforming.

I was startled as I watched her changed, moving when I realized they would kill her. "Run!" I screamed, transforming to my wolf's form as I stepped out of my hideout to take their attention when I saw blood splash in the air.

She growled, dropping to the ground after the people ran away with one of them dead at Elsa's feet.

I swallowed hard as I reached to her side. "How could you pass out from just transforming?" I asked myself as placed her on my back, transforming before they could regroup and come for us.

"You are a wolf," I muttered as I ran across the field, heading back for the castle before they could track our scent. The rains were another reason we raided when it fell, as it would wash our scents away.

"They made it back," a voice said as they saw me return with Elsa, with her retreating wolf attributes.

I was happy, for saving her life and also the look in their faces. Now they had to accept her fully for who she was and not what they thought she was.

"Give me that," I said as I dragged a coat from someone, realizing she was naked and she had no extra clothes with her.

Dennis nodded his head at me, causing the crowd to give me the chance to take her inside. I nodded at him as I carried her in my arms, heading to her room. I could feel my heart beating as I stared at her lovely face, unaware of what was happening.

I could tell I felt something for this girl in my arms, but I had to make sure she felt the same way for me as well. I sighed, shaking the thought from my head as I dropped her on her bed while I waited for her to wake.

"Where am I?" she asked as her eyes flickered open. Her hands flailed in the air with fear in her eyes.

I rushed to her side, holding her still. "It's Damian," I whispered as I tried to calm her.

"Damian?" she repeated my name as she fell into my hands, sobbing.

I understood her fears, as she was close to losing her life with those humans around her. "I'm never leaving your side. Never again," I said, wrapping my hands firmly around her.

The rain poured through our dilapidated castle, even as we huddled together to ward off the cold. I couldn't say much for myself as I stood outside, listening to the thunder roll.

My first transformation had me overcoming the fear of my dreams with a fear more palpable and in front of me.

"I killed a human," I said as I stared into the distance.

"It was your first time," Damian said, like he meant to comfort me.

I heaved a deep breath as I could see eyes staring at me.

My little ragtag group of werewolves accepted me more. They believed I was more of a wolf than a human after what they saw when Damian brought me home.

We barely escaped whatever those human had for us, trudging under the rain back to our hideout to escape.

"What's happening?" I asked as howls sounded, with people stepping out. The rain faded with growls sounding behind me and in front of me.

"Elsa," Damian called as he moved towards me, dragging me behind the line.

The people came out with a male leading them. "This is where you hide and have your fun?" He said as he looked at all of standing in front of the castle.

"What is the matter with you and where we hide to do our things?" Dennis asked. He was the makeshift leader of our group, being a beta.

"You will achieve less if you continue here, hidden in your little fortification. Very soon the human will come and I hope you can keep them away with your little......" the man looked at our group with a sneer on his face as he spoke. "Little rascals."

Dennis stepped forward, facing this newcomer even when I knew he was afraid. "We have survived in this place far longer, almost as long as any surviving wolf pack, and we will continue as it is."

The newcomer laughed, turning to his members behind him. "Do you hear what he said?" They laughed at Dennis as they came closer, gathering closer to him in a semicircle.

He moved back, closer to us, when he noticed the noose forming around him. "Who are you?" Dennis asked when he saw he was closer to us.

"You can call me Caspian," the lad said as he filed his nails, turning to us with a look of confidence. "An important vassal from alpha Hector."

"We've had no run-ins with alpha Hector. What would his vassal want with us?" Dennis asked as more men joined his side.

"Let's just say you guys are having business very close to his territory and are without an alpha." Caspian clicked his tongue. "It doesn't seem you guy will survive long in the coming winter with the activities I saw last night."

"Is that the reason you came to us with torches, even in the rain? To act like humans and scare us into submission?" Dennis asked with growing confidence as all of us gathered behind him.

"We have survived countless winters, and this one is one less winter for us to survive," Damian said as he joined Dennis in the front.

Caspian chuckled. "You have a load of balls to say that to my face, but I will offer you another chance from the magnanimous alpha Hector. Join us and you do not have to fear attacks from the humans."

I could hear murmurs from our side. It was an excellent offer from him without running around and a sense of protection from a recognized alpha."

"Don't tell me you are thinking of joining this alpha after all we've been through?" Damian asked as he noticed the uprising stretching its neck from our group.

"I only gave a choice to everyone here," Caspian said with a grin on his face."

"And we do not need your option," I said as I stood out with them.

Caspian laughed as he looked at me. "Do you also allow women to speak for you? Must be a lot of hell you guys pass her for a woman to speak."

Damian stood in front of me with a protective look in his eyes. "That is the reason we will never join your pack. Tell your alpha we refuse to be a member of his pack."

I raised my head to stare at the lad in front of me. He was the first person I met after my last hideout got raided by humans in a bid to get rid of us.

"Till another time," Caspian said as he turned around with his men. "Hopefully, the humans to get to you before us."

His words stuck out to me with a hidden meaning to me, like a threat.

"There will never be a next time," Dennis shouted at his retreating back.

"We will see about that," Caspian answered before they faded into the darkness of the forest.

"I haven't thanked you for saving me from being mauled to death by those humans," I said as I lowered my head, fiddling with my fingers."

He chuckled, combing his hands through his hair. "It's not like I could leave you with those monsters."

"To them we are the monsters," I said as I looked out towards the village we barely escaped as it shone like stars in the distance.

"We are only trying to survive," Damian answered, puffing.

I sighed as I looked at him. "Does our survival mean we have to lower the survival of others?"

"You should try to get some rest. You should try to rest for a while instead of thinking which one of us would survive," he advised as he pushed me with himself towards the castle.

"Does it always hurt like this?" I asked as I felt for my body. I was sore from the top of my head to the sole of my feet.

"It was your first time. It always hurts that way," he answered, stopping in front of my room. "You will get used to it with time. You would barely feel it when you transform," he continued, morphing his hand into a wolf's arm.

"Show off," I said as I threw him a smile.

He chuckled, dropping his hand on the wall. I stopped, feeling my heart beat faster at how close he was to me. "If I wanted to show off; it wouldn't be just my hand," he said with fangs growing from the side of his lips.

I felt like I wanted to kiss him. "Maybe I need that rest right now," I said as I pushed the curtain away from him, stepping into my room.

"Goodnight, Elsa," he said with his footsteps echoing away from my room.

"What's happening to me?" I asked myself as I fell to the bed. I sighed as I rolled to my side. "Let's hope all of this is just a dream."