MOONLIT HEART: A LUNA'S REBIRTH

Hazel's gaze rested on the sight before her, her eyes tracing the environment of the moonlit forest. The slivery light casts an earthly glow on the trees, their branches swaying to the rhythm of the wind.

Hazel's thoughts were far removed from the serenity of the beauty that was placed before her.

"What's wrong with me," Hazel whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over her own heartbeat.

"Why can't I transform into a wolf?" She pondered.

"Is there something wrong with me or is this a curse from the moon goddess?" She pondered.

"Have I done something wrong that had incurred the wrath of the moon goddess?" She plunged into deeper thoughts.

She turned away from the window and began to pace all over the room, her footsteps echoing in the stone walls.

Her eyes fell upon the large ornate mirror that hanged in the fireplace and she felt an overwhelming urge to confront the reflection that stared back at her.

"Hazel, you are over 800 years old," she said, her voice firm but had a little bit of desperation in it.

"You have witnessed how empires rise and fall, witnessed the evolution of the werewolf race, witnessed the transformation of wolves. And yet, here you are, still alone. Still waiting."

Hazel reflection stared back at her, her eyes emanating deep sadness. She stretched forth her hand and touched the glass, a frown settled on her face as she felt the disconnection between her and her reflection.

"I've tried everything," she continued, frustration could be seen on her face. "I have attended every festival, gathering, and walked in the street under the full moon".

"I have done literally everything that would bring me closer to transforming into a wolf but nothing worked. It had never worked."

Hazel thoughts drifted back to the moon festivals as she looked at the wolf who had transformed with longing in her eyes, wandering in the forest and associating with other wolves.

Hoping within herself that the moon goddess would notice her and bestow upon her the ability to transform into a wolf but it was not yielding any results.

She remembered the way the moonlight had filtered through the trees casting shadows on the ground below. Sighing as she remembered the way the wind had rustled through the leaves, whispering secrets in her ears.

"I remember the strange feelings I had," Hazel's voice dropped to a whisper, sadness could be felt from her voice.

"I feel so lonely, alone, like I am the only wolf in the wolf race, searching for something that seems to be always out of reach".

Hazel's eyes filled with tears as she thought back to all the times that she had come close to giving up. All the times that she had felt like she just couldn't keep going.

"But I did." She said, her voice firm. "I kept going. I kept searching. Because deep down, I know that my wolf is within me, waiting for its manifestation".

Hazel reflection stared back at her, her eyes filled with deep longing. She reached out to touch the glass, a look of gratitude could be seen in her as she sensed the connection between them.

"I just wish I knew what I was doing wrong" Hazel pondered

"Have I committed mistakes in the past that have hindered my transformation?"

"Is it something I haven't done? Or is my luck that bad?" A confused expression could be seen on her face as she wondered what was wrong.

The room fell silent, the only sound that could be heard was the silent crackling of the fire. Hazel's reflection continued to stare back at her, her eyes filled with deep sorrow.

And Hazel knew that she could not give up, not yet, not ever.

"Why is it so hard for me," Hazel pondered, her expression was sorrowful.

"Why can't I transform into a wolf and be happy?"

"Is that too much of a request?" She plunged into deeper thought.

The fire ignited, the flames dancing across the hearth. Hazel knew that she would keep searching, keep hoping until the day that she finally found the one that is being destined to be by her side.

Hazel's thoughts drifted back to her childhood. Tears ran down her cheeks as she remembered the way her parents treated her when they realized that she had not yet transformed into a wolf.

She shuddered as she remembered the look of disappointment on their faces, the way they had turned away from her.

FLASHBACK

"You're not like us Hazel," Her mother said, her voice cold and detached.

"You will never be able to shift which will hinder you from running the affairs of the pack smoothly,"

"You're different" She ended on this note.

Hazel turned to look at her father, eagerly waiting for her father's response.

Hazel's father nodded in agreement, his eyes filled with deep sorrow.

"We are sorry Hazel, we never planned this for you," He said.

Hazel's heart had broken that day, shattered into a million pieces. She had felt that she was no longer a part of the family, no longer part of a pack.

BACK TO REALITY

As she grew older, Hazel had struggled to terms with her identity, she had always felt like an outcast, like she didn't belong.. And now she stood alone in her room, she couldn't help but pondered if she would ever find a place in the pack.

With a newfound resolve, Hazel turned away from the mirror and walked over to the window. She pushed it open, feeling the cool breeze rushing in.

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and allowing the scent of the forest washing over her.

"I'll transform," She said, her voice carried away by the wind.

"The transformation would cause a huge leap, and nothing will remain the same again"

The forest seemed to whisper back to her, its trees swaying gently in the breeze. Hazel knew that she was not alone, she knew that her wolf was deep within her eagerly waiting for the time of its manifestation.

Hazel was determined to unlock its potential, no matter how long it took.

Hazel thoughts wandered far, her longing to be transformed into a wolf overwhelmed her.

Her mind wandering through the forests and fields, searching for a glimpse of one who was destined to be by her side.

She stood by the window, her eyes fixed on the moonlit landscape, her heart heavy with the weight of her own loneliness.

"Am I really cursed?" Hazel thought to herself.

"I had a huge fantasy on how the day of my transformation would look like, how I would wag my tail and howl over the moon" Hazel continue wailing.

"Am I missing out on an important detail about my transformation??? What's the missing piece?" She thought to herself.

As she stood there lost in thought, Hazel failed to notice the presence of a being, standing at the entrance of the room.

The figure stood silently, watching her with a worried look on it's face.

"I have been searching for so long," Hazel continued wailing, having a mixture of a confused and downcast expression.

"I have been to every gathering, festivals. I have walked in the forest, under the light of the full moon. I have done everything I have been told that will bring me closer to transforming into my wolf but nothing has seemed to work and it's taking a huge toll on me,". She plunged into deeper thoughts.

The being watched Hazel with a deep sense of understanding, it's eyes filled with compassion that Hazel could not see.

"I feel so alone," Hazel said, her voice trembling with sadness.

"I feel like I am the only one searching for the impossibility, I feel like I am the only one who is broken beyond repair,"

The being took a step forward, it's movement silent as a ghost, Hazel didn't noticed that she was being watched as she was drowned in her thoughts.

"I wish I knew where I have missed it," Hazel plungered into deeper thoughts.

"I wish I knew the reason for the delay in the transformation, is it something that I haven't done, or am I fated with bad luck?" She continued.

The being had a somber expression on it's face, it had the loving look on it's face as it behold Hazel in her misery.

It knew that it had to reveal itself, had to make it presence known.

At the present moment, the being remained silent, watching Hazel with a tender look on it's face.

As the moment ticked by, Hazel's thought began to slow, her mind growing still at each moment, as she stood there lost in the world of her imagination. And as the silence deepened, the being reached out a hand, it's fingers brushing against Hazel's shoulder.

Hazel's eyes snapped open, her heart racing as she spun around, her eyes meeting the being's. And as she looked in the eyes, she felt a jolt of surprise, a sense of wonder that she hadn't felt in centuries.

"Who are you?" Hazel asked, her voice trembling as she looked at the being fearfully.

"Do not be scared little one, I am not here to harm you" The being said.

Hazel had a weird feeling crept up her chest. She held to her chest tightly and was dumbfounded by the look of concern that was shown in the being's face.

"Who are you?" Hazel asked again as hereyes was filled with questioning gaze.

The being smiled, it's eyes scanning through the corners.

"Someone who has been watching you for a very long time," It replied, it's voice low and smooth.

Hazel's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with questions. But before she could ask further questions, the being turned and disappered into the shadows.

Leaving Hazel standing alone in her room, her heart pounding with excitement and curiosity.

Hazel's thought were interrupted as a maid entered her room, a look of urgency was seen on her face.

"Milady, your presence is needed at the council grounds," The maid said

"Alright then, you may leave" Hazel said.

The maid bowed her head and left the room, Hazel had a confused expression on her face.

Hazel's heart sank, her mind racing with possibilities.

"What could the council want with her?" She pondered.

She had not been summoned to the council grounds in years.

A knock was heard at her door.

"Come in," Hazel said.

The maid entered the room having a worried expression on her face.

"Is anything the matter?" Hazel asked as she looked at the maid intensely.

"I don't know milady," The maid replied, bowing her head as she was shaking profusely.

"The council leader said that it was urgent, it required your immediate attention" The maid said.

Hazel heart raced at a faster pace. She placed her hands on her chest trying to calm her heart down. Her mind racing with worst-case scenerios.

Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm her racing heart.

"Very well then" Hazel said, her voice steeled with determination.

The maid nodded, backing away slowly.

"I'll show you the way milady" The maid said.

Hazel followed the maid out of the room, her heart pounding against her chest.

"What did the council want with her? And why did they need to see her so urgently?"

As they walked through the castle corridors, Hazel began to feel uneasy. She had always been a bit of an outcast among the council members and she had a feeling that they were about to lecture her or do something worse.

"Is this my end?" She thought to herself as she approached the council grounds.

Arriving at the council grounds, she was greeted by the councilor, her expression turned grace although she tried to mask it.

"Thanks for honoring the invitation," The council leader said, a little bit polite.

Hazel nodded, her heart still racing.

"What's the matter?" She asked in a firm voice, although she was shaking but she tried not to let it out.

"Something tragic happened to the pack lately," The council leader began.

Hazel had a confused expression on her face.

"What had that gotten to do with me?" She asked him.

"News reaching our end shows that you're one of the perpetrators of the act," The council leader said.

Hazel's eyes widened as saucers as she was trying to comprehend the information that she had heard.

Hazel had a dumbfounded look on her face, she looked at the council leader with widened eyes.

"Perpetrator of what exactly?" She asked him.

"There's an ongoing rumor, there's a wild wolf that had been attacking both rogues and werewolf alike," The council leader said.

A confused expression was seen on Hazel's face.

"How does the attack has to do with me?" She asked, although her voice was trembling a bit.

The council leader's expression turned grave.

"We believe that you are connected to these occurrence," He said.

"We need to ask you some questions," He added.

Hazel's mind was racing, her heart was filled with uncertainty.

"What did the council think she had to do with the wild wolf? What was their plans towards her?" She pondered.

"I don't know what you are talking about," Hazel said, trying to keep her voice steady.

The council leader had a skeptical expression on his face.

"Don't try to play dumb, Hazel" He said.

"We all know your condition..... we know that you are different from the others," He added.

Hazel's eyes narrowed as she heard the words, her heart pounding heavily.

"What did the council leader mean by her "condition"?" She pondered.

"Am I safe?" She thought within herself.

"I don't know what you are talking about," Hazel repeated, hiding the nervousness that portrayed out of her lips.

The council leader's expression turned grave

"Don't lie to me, Hazel" He said.

"We know the truth and we would get to the root of it." The council leader added.

Hazel thoughts wandered, her heart racing at a faster beat.

"What truth?" She pondered, contemplating deeply on the councillor words.

As the council leader words hung in the air, a sense of dread washed over her, Hazel knew that she was in trouble, but she didn't know how to get out of such trouble.

Hazel sat down in the council chambers, her mind reeling from the earlier incident. The surroundings seemed quiet as she noticed that the councillor mouth was moving but no sound was coming out from it.

"...and so Hazel, we need to know the information you have concerning the wild wolf," The council leader said, his voice firm but polite.

Hazel nodded her head trying to appear attentive, but her mind wandered far, her thoughts consumed by the rumors of the wild wolf.

"What if it is true?" She thought to herself

"What if the wild wolf is real?" She plunged into deeper thought.

The council leader had a confused expression on his face as he glanced at Hazel.

"Hazel are you listening?" The council leader asked, his voice firm but sounded helpless.

Hazel jerked back to reality and nodded her head.

"I am listening," she replied.

Her mind was racing, her thoughts consumed by the thoughts of the wild wolf.

"What if it is connected to me?" She thought.

"What if I am the reason why it is attacking both rogues and werewolf alike?" She plunged into deeper thoughts.

The council leader's voice was like a distant hum, drained by the rowdiness of her own thoughts.

She was too busy thinking about the wild wolf, too busy wondering if it was real.

"Hazel, we need to know the information that you were able to gather," The councillor repeated, his gaze locking into Hazel's gaze.

Hazel nodded, her expression was a mixture of a confused and focused look.

"I don't know anything"Hazel said, her voice was barely audible.

Her expression was a mixture of confusion and anxiety but she quickly masked it up.

Hazel's mind was racing at a faster pace. Her thoughts consumed by rumors of the wild wolf and it's actions.

"Why can't I control my thoughts?" She pondered.

"I don't know what the "council members" are discussing" She plunged into deeper thought.

As the meeting continued, Hazel thoughts grew more and more wild. She couldn't focus on what the councillor was saying, was distracted by her thoughts that the meeting was becoming annoying for her.

"It's of no use," She thought to herself.

"I will never be able to control my thoughts," She plunged into deeper thoughts.

As the meeting drew to a close, the councillor turned to Hazel.

"Hazel we expect you to cooperate with us," He said, his voice firm.

Hazel nodded trying to appear attentive, her mind had gone on a far journey and would not be returning anytime soon.

As she left the council chambers, Hazel felt a sense of relief washed over her. She was glad to be out of the meeting, away from the council leader's prying eyes.

But as she walked through the castle corridors, Hazel's thoughts appeared more and more wild.

She couldn't shake off the feeling that the council leader was hiding something away from her.

"Why do I feel that the wild wolf have some sort of connection with me?" Hazel pondered.

"What's going on? What exactly is going on?" Hazel plunged into deeper thoughts.

As she walked, Hazel's thoughts grew more and more intense. She lost focus on her surroundings, couldn't concentrate on anything, her mind sounding out a word "wild wolf".

Suddenly, Hazel stopped walking. She stood still, her heart pounding in her chest.

"I have to know the truth," She thought to herself.

"I have to know what's going on," She plunged into deeper thoughts.

With a newfound sense of determination, Hazel turned and walked back to the council

leader chambers, she was determined to discover the truth, no matter what it took.

As she entered the council leader chambers, a look of surprise could be seen by on the council leader's face but he quickly masked it up, the act could not slip away from Hazel's prying eyes.

"Hazel what are you doing here?" The council leader asked, his voice trembling but he hid it under a stern look.

"I want to know the truth," Hazel said, her voice firm.

"I want to know what exactly is going on?" She added.

The council leader chuckled and a puzzled expression could be seen on Hazel's face.