TALES OF KEERA, THE BLOOD MOON CHOSEN

(Keera's POV)

*Put your hand on the crystal and close your hands, draw out the beast that resides in you from within, only then can you be called a werewolf, the noble beasts of the seven kingdoms.*

The voice echoed as I stood alone in the dark tent, my only source of light was the shining crystal mounted on the altar. This was not my first attempt, in fact, this was my eighteenth time in this tent, desperately trying to force out the 'soul' within me.

I took a deep breath and flexed my hands, cracking every bone in my fingers and wrists, which helped calm my anxious heart. Removing all thoughts from my mind, I made my way to the altar placing my hands on the orb.

The electric sensation crept suddenly to my fingers, numbing my entire body, but my heart was strangely at ease. It felt as if I was pulled to a calm island and all I needed to do was force the entity that resides in there to come out.

"Hello," I tried to communicate but I could not even speak before a force dragged me out of the Island.

"What the heck?" I screamed at the person at the back, my face scrunched up like a rag.

"Are you stupid? You are seriously bleeding and you are still holding on? You are not ready Keera." Mason scolded me while wiping out the blood from my nose. That was when it occurred to me that I was actually bleeding.

My face fell faster than a crashing plane, and before I could comprehend, I ran off, ignoring Mason's calls behind me.

"How long? I have been waiting desperately to clock 18 so I can summon my wolf, I'm 18 now and suddenly can't shift like every normal wolf. Everyone in my age have already summoned their wolf, what is this?" I cried out, my eyes swollen beyond recognition.

"Why are they so miserable? It's so frustrating." I shouted punching a rock with full force. The rock flew with speed and almost crashed into a delicate and petite girl of my age.

"No," I closed my eyes and held my hands on my head, my entire body shivering with fear.

"Are you done? You crybaby. Apart from whining and crying, what actually do you do all day?" A cold childish voice sounded.

"Eh," my mouth stood agape as I tried to comprehend how a girl that was almost 50miles could reach me in a millisecond.

"What?" The girl raised her eyebrows at me, staring at me like I was a fool. Her arrogance came as a shock to me. No matter how everyone treats me, no one usually shows their hatred so openly due to my mother's status.

"Do you know who I am?" I asked, rapidly regaining my composure.

"Of course I know, who does not know who you are? You are Keera, the daughter of the purest wolf, Viva Lovebird. You are the waste that cannot get her wolf out at age eighteen, the entitled brat who believes her life is miserable even when you literally have the entire wolf clan at your beck and call, that miserable being, isn't that you?"

"I know you, you are Alana right?" My smile instantly brought back the memory of who the girl was. I met her in the last foggy hunt, she won then. She became my once in a while talking friend since then. But each time I don't seem to recognize her at sight.

"Yes, you're right. Alana, the storm wolf, the chosen one of brute strength." She replied, grining.

"I wish that rock had smashed your head." I hissed and walked past Alana.

The chosen one of brute strength? So what? She is just a storm wolf, the lowest wolf of the Clan, no matter how much she tries, she can never get rid of her bloodline limitations. She can't be compared to me even when I'm a wannabe wolf with just some animalistic strength. I am way better.

This was my confidence! No matter how much I fail to awaken my wolf, as the only surviving Lovebird, the purest bloodline of the wolf tribe, I am already destined to be far more competent than any wolf.

"It could even be possible that I am facing such setbacks because of how unique my blood is?" I tried to make myself happy as I proceeded to the square.

(Alana's POV)

"What a waste of space." I could not help but utter. "How can someone be so shameless? She has no power at all, absolutely no physical strength and yet she tries to feel on top of the world? A total closer on every count."

Her arrogance poseed me off to no end, and in this maze battle, I will make sure she understands just what kind of loser she is.

(THE FOGGY HUNT)

The foggy Hunt, an annual celebration held after every awakening ceremony. The younglings will be left in a foggy forest, and they must find their way out of the foggy forest. The purpose is to teach the newly transformed wolves how to use their transformation to their own advantage.

"You may now begin." Without wasting much time, the governor blew the whistle. Immediately, the entire wolf boys began to transform into full-fledged wolves, some could only transform halfway, but one, one unique person standing out like a sore thumb... KEERA.

What is Keera doing here?

"Seriously, what are you doing here? Are you not tired of this hunt?"

We both asked no one in particular, just staring at each other dead in the eyes.

"Loser" I muttered as I sped past Keera.

"You damned storm wolf", I could hear Keera's furious roar from afar as she struggled to even run after my shadow. It was honestly so laughable, my curiosity arose, I was curious to see how long she would last trying to win without a wolf.

"It has been three hours, she should be tired and stopped by now." I paused and turned around surprised to see Keera swinging her entire weight forward, her face pale with fear while the demon ran after her trying to catch up with her.

"Careful!" I warned. I don't even know why I care.

I ran towards her and roared at the shadow behind her. A greul, a devilish creature of the ant that feeds on emotions and fear.

"Run and do not look back, just run straight, the fog will reveal itself," I shouted, transforming into a white colored wolf with grey strips all over. My fangs extended, and my long nails looked to rip the devilish being apart.

Luckily I did, but hewwwhhh!

I fell to my back, greedily gasping for air, because I lay dead the mangled body of the greul.

"I'd better start running", I exclaim, shooting up from the floor and running, despite my gait. As I came out of the fog, I could hear the loud cheers of the clansmen, even the elders, who are rarely seen, were excitedly talking.

"What? Did something good happen?" I have won the foggy hunt more than thrice and I have never seen this amount of jubilation."

"What happened? Why the cheer?" I quickly held a passing wolf.

"Are you deaf? The loser girl, Keera, actually worked the foggy hunt, and she has just been engaged to the son of thunder, Mason." The wolf explained, saliva pouring everywhere.

"This is so frustrating, she is a pure wolf, and Mason is the son of thunder wolf, can't they let us ordinary wolves breathe ohh?"

SMASH!

I could not think, I did not want to think, not, not.. MASON!

I WILL NOT ALLOW IT!

(ALANA'S POV)

"If...if I didn't help her out, if I just let that monster kill Keera, I would have....no, noooooh!"

My heart felt as if it were torn to shreds. I couldn't think anymore; I didn't even want to think.

The cheers and smiles of Keera felt like daggers going in and out of my heart.

"What right does she have to smile?" The rage in me was shimmering like pork in a pan.

"Alana, nice game, I told you, Very soon, I will wipe that smug look off your face. See" Keera pats me on the back showing off her victory.

GAME!

My entire eyesight blurred, and my hate for Keera went out of proportion. Mason was my life's goal and to her, he was just a game.

What right does someone like her have to even deserve him?

In the heat of my fury, I made a decision that dragged everyone into a whirlpool of suffering and pain.

"Keera, congratulations," I said, propping myself up with my feet as I gave her a friendly hug.

"You may have won this but don't forget, your main obstacle...your Wolf!" I whispered as I held her head closer.

After my words, I retreated immediately from her, heading back deep into the fog.

(KEERA'S POV)

"That damn storm wolf, how does she manage to ruin the mood all the time?"

My excited heart calmed down as the last words of Alana kept haunting me like a tiger stalking its prey.

"Stupid girl, why did she leave without finishing her sentence? What exactly is she thinking? Does she have a way of helping me call out my wolf? Is she bluffing? What.....Ahhh, I can't do it anymore"

I gave up on thinking and ran towards Alana's tent to extract the truth from her mouth. I must get to the root of this once and for all. Everyone seems to know the reason for my predicament except me.

(After 1 hour)

"What ...in the world, is Alana a recluse? Why is she living in such isolation?"

I flopped to the floor immediately to scoop a handful of water. I have been running and searching for Alana's house for the past hour and yet...no sight!

After more than twenty minutes, I finally got sight of a tent nestled between two rocks; the tent was abnormally plain and simple. From a distance, it appeared to be just a white cloth on a stick.

"This... This is it?" My entire frustration almost came out as a roar. "Ohhh, Alana, I have to get the truth from you or else...What!"

My ranting got interrupted by Alana who opened up her tent and brought a chair outside with a cup of tea she was sipping.

"Never mind, whatsup?" I immediately played the mute game.

"What's up? I don't understand?" Alana gave me a bewildered look.

"Eh, what's up, you know you were about to tell me something a few hours ago?" I nervously smiled, drinking the cup of tea in front of Alana.

"I am honestly confused, I have nothing to tell you?" Alan shrugged. "Wait, did you come all the way here to ask me this? You are funny, I tell you." Alana gave a weird laugh.

Originally, I would have teased her laughter, but her eyes were red in anger. What the heck? Is she pretending?

"Stop playing the fool, Alana, I know you know why I can't summon my wolf and you know how I can, so spit it out!"

"Spit it out?" Alana repeated my sentence and toyed with disbelief, she spat on the floor. "Did you see what you were looking for?"

"Alana, that's enough from you," I overturned the table in anger, glaring at Alana with hateful spite.

The spite came from anger...anger that I cannot even beat her if I wanted to, anger that the only hope I have to get my wolf was about to get snuffed out...again!

"BRACELET"

Alana finally said something as I was about to leave in distress.

"This is just my theory but don't you think only upor mother's last keepsake can help you out now? I mean, you are a lovebird, she's a lovebird, she must have a way for you to call out your wolf?" Alana finally dropped the bomb.

"You are kidding?" I looked at Alana in disbelief. "That restricted property, I have no right to even go near that room, not to mention touching it? How do you expect me to use this knowledge?"

"I don't know," Alana shrugged and stood up. "How much do you actually crave to get stronger, how much do you want to be the best? The ball is in your court now."

Her words left a ringing in my ears, my eyes clouded with determination, a fierce determination that burned from the depths of my soul.

I could almost imagine the scenes, everyone looking at me with the same referential fear as they do my mom's statue.

When I call out my wolf and inherit the lovebird's name fully, I will become my only Challenger. No one will be my equal, not Alana, not even Mason.

"It's just a bracelet for honouring my mother, whether I take it or not, my mom is still being honoured," I convinced myself of my own lies and headed to the sacred altar.

"I will just borrow it, once I am done awakening my wolf, I will keep it back in a jiffy."

(MASON'S POV)

"Father" I stormed into my father's chambers, my face still in disbelief from the news I just received. I am being engaged to Keera? I and Keera are just friends. I haven't even thought of getting close to her in such a way.

"Father, what am I hearing? When did I get engaged to Keera, no less?"

"Mason, it is exactly as you heard," my father weakly said, his hands still holding his ancient pipe strongly. You're the most powerful wolf in the Pack, and you are to engage whoever wins the foggy hunt which she did. So get used to that fact

"Father, I don't understand, this is not possible at..."

"Why is it not?" Hus' word prompted my silence.

"I....Yes, why?" That was a question I didn't even ask myself. Something about the entire engagement just felt off, like...like it's wrong.

"Do you hate Keera?" Father asked me and I replied NO faster than I have ever replied before.

"Then what's the problem? I don't see an issue? You don't hate her, she does not hate you, why make it so complicated?"

"Father,..." I still wanted to argue, to tell him she's just a friend, but the clan's distress signal went off.

"What was that?" I looked back in fear, and before I knew it, a thunderbolt went off beside my ear, and my father was long gone.

"Everyone, prepare, hunt down the thief! Hunt down the thief!"

My father's emotionless voice came from the void;

DEAD OR ALIVE!

(ALANA'S POV)

"Thief" the distress sound sent a real shock crashing through my heart.

They must have been talking about another thief, right? It cannot...it shouldn't be Keera.

Deep down, I knew the truth but I subconsciously did not want to believe it. It seems too good to be true. The reverend Keera will one day be called a thief, whose life and death are now uncertain.

I couldn't control my legs from moving quickly with the other wolves. I was scared a bit deep in my heart, and a faint cluster of joy was rapidly spreading.

If she dies, no one will stand in my way with Mason.

(KEERA'S POV)

What the heck!

A distress sound for this bracelet, it ain't even costly. It's just wood!

I glanced at the woody but comfortable bracelet in my hand and my entire body was filled with shock. No matter how precious it was, surely it could not be more than my life?

Where am I even headed to? It suddenly occurred to me that I did not know where I was going. I was supposed to find a quiet place to place my blood on the bracelet for it to recognise me, but the distress sound shocked me to the core and made me start running.

"Ehhhh, a cliff" my steps braked immediately as I approached a dangerous cliff. From a distance, I could see the world faintly on the other side.

The world I have never been allowed to explore. The feelings of my childhood suddenly flooded back to me with even more vigour.

I wanted to go down the mountain, I want to explore, I want to be a free werewolf, not a trapped girl in some mountain living off her mother's name.

"Keera!" A deep voice resounded in my ears, numbing my entire body.

"First elder," I automatically responded. The first elder was basically my adopted father; he was the one who was always with me and the main reason no one could bully me to my face in the tribe.

I....I wanted to speak, but his face of disappointment scared me into silence. When have I ever been looked at like this?

"What's wrong? What did I do? I just took this lousy bracelet? Why the look?" I screamed, my heart hurt, my head hurt, and my fragile ego was crushed.

It seems no matter how good I want to be, how I want to prove myself, I will never compare to a bracelet from a dead lady, is that not so unfair?

"Keera, what are you doing here? Step away from the cliff?" Mason thundered right over, at his heels was Alana.

My heart was comforted a little on seeing Alana, and I tried to communicate with her, but she immediately shifted aside.

Huh!

Her behaviour irritated me. We were both in this together, so what was she trying to do?

"Keera, I will only say this one time, and that is because of your identity as a Lovebird, immediately return the bracelet to me and come to serve your punishment?" The first elder's voice resounded again.

I subconsciously wanted to agree but a flame in my heart refused. Why should I be punished?

I refuse!

My voice sounded loud and clear.

"Keera, do not be absurd!" Mason shouted at me. "No matter how wronged you feel, no matter what your reason is, you must come back to the tribe with us."

"No, why is this bracelet even a problem to start with? This belongs to my mother. I want what belongs to my mother; is that not allowed?"

"No one, absolutely no one, tells me anything around here. I have no clue what was mother was like, what she even accomplished, who my father even is or how I was even born. The only thing I know is that I am a lovebird, the person from the chosen bloodline and... I chuckled at the reality of the matter, that's it."

"You do not need to know anything else. The secrets of the world are more fragile than you think. A poke in the wrong place can unleash irreparable damage. Whatever was hidden was hidden for your protection. You have not even summoned your wolf. What makes you think you can handle the weight that comes with secrets?"

"That's the reason!" I screamed at the first elder, fully losing it. "Up to this moment, I have not even summoned my wolf; the reason lies here for all to see. How can I? How can I summon an entity when I am unsure of what I even am? Am I even truly a wolf, I ask myself most times?"

"I don't know who I am, I don't know my identity, this bracelet is the only thing, the only thing that can cause me to find that out." I took a brief moment to catch my breath.

"In fact, I want to go down the mountain? I have a strong feeling, a feeling that whatever it is, you are hiding is down there? In that other world, over there."

"Grab her", the first elder suddenly spoke, he could not be calm to talk nonsense with me anymore.

"Really, you cannot wik my reason so you chose brute force instead?" I screamed, inching closer towards the cliff.

Alana suddenly came so close to me, thinking that she was about to help me find a way to get out of this entrapment, and I even held her hands.

"Keera, each time, you prove to me just how incredibly stupid you are. Why were you even born?" A cold whisper of Alana brushed past my ears.

I almost couldn't believe my ears, almost stumbling from disbelief. I looked at Alana once again, this time closely, and I noticed she had hatred for me in her eyes.

It was so obvious I felt like a fool but not seeing it all this while. "Did you set me up?" I squeezed her hands so tightly.

"No, you did this to yourself?" Alana whispered.

(MASON'S POV)

I was beginning to get seriously worried and freaked out. Alana was just standing so close to the cliff with Keera.

Their body movement showed that something was going on between them but I could not relate.

"Guys, step away from the cliff to talk," I had to speak up. The cliff was so deep that no one could ever survive a fall from there, certainly not two rookie werewolves.

"Is it because of him?" I vaguely heard Keera chuckle, staring at me with wild eyes before reverting back to Alana.

"What is because of me?" I wanted to ask, but I couldn't get a word in because the next moment, Keera.... Keera fell.

What happened?

HOW DID KEERA, WHO WAS JUST TALKING, FALL OFF THE CLIFF?