The Moon's Reckoning

24 YEARS BEFORE THE CRIMSON WAR

The labour was long and overwhelming, and with each passing diminutive, Helda's strength disappeared. The total moon, which was a source of spiritualist vitality in Chanthorn, appeared to cast a strongly and unforgiving light upon the couple. Geralt, torn between his human and werewolf instinctual, battled to stay by his wife's side, battling the internal encourage to reply the call of the moon and transform.

Dr. Larson, a prepared doctor in Chanthorn, talked with urgency as she directed the restorative group. "We got to speed up the method. We can't let her persevere this torment any longer. Plan for a C-section."

Geralt gestured, his eyes glinting with a primal encourage. "Do anything it takes to spare her and the baby."

As the therapeutic group worked resolutely, Geralt paced restlessly. "If you don't mind, rush! Helda, remain with me. You're so strong."

Helda's cries of misery filled the room, and Geralt's heart throbbed with weakness. He clenched his clench hands, feeling the monster inside him clawing at the edges of his consciousness. Finally, after what felt like an endlessness, their daughter was born, but it was a minute that came at the edge of life and passing. The room appeared to breathe out a collective breath of help as her cries filled the discuss. Helda, although depleted and debilitated, clung to awareness, her eyes filled with love and alleviation as she looked upon her infant daughter.

Geralt stooped by Helda's side, tears of help gushing down his confront. "You did it, Helda. You're amazing." Helda overseen a powerless grin. "We did it, Geralt."

A small young lady with a tuft of curly brown hair and shinning green eyes, was a confirmation to the mettle and strength of her guardians. She had arrived in this world during the most challenging of circumstances, an image of their persevering adores and the unwavering soul of Chanthorn. In the repercussions of the birth, the healing centre staff assembled around, advertising congrats and bolster. Dr. Larson talked with adoration. "You both showed strong resilience and quality today. What will her name be?"

A moment of silence fell upon the room.

"Nora...her name will be Nora. Just like her grandmother", Helda's tired voice said.

Geralt gestured, his eyes never clearing out his spouse and infant girl. "Thank you, Doctor. Thank you all."

And as they looked upon their precious girl, Geralt and Helda knew that Nora's birth would until the end of time be carved into the chronicles of Chanthorn's history as a confirmation to the persevering control of adore, assurance, and the enchanted strengths that formed their lives. It was no coincidence she was born on the same night as the moon goddess celebration.

After Nora's birth, Geralt and Helda were at long last able to take off the healing center and return to their cozy domestic in Chanthorn. The moon was still tall within the sky as they strolled hand in hand, their steps overwhelming with the weight of fatigue and the bliss of parenthood. As they entered their curious bungalow, Geralt made a difference Helda settle into a comfortable chair by the chimney. The warmth from the crackling fire filled the room, casting moving shadows on the walls. Helda let out a moan, supporting Nora in her arms.

"She's so lovely, Geralt. Our small miracle." Geralt grinned, his eyes filled with pride. "Yes, she is. I can't believe she's at last here."

Their delight was discernable, but it was moreover tinged with the depletion and push of the challenging birth. As the night wore on, Helda's fatigue extended, and her confront developed paler. Geralt couldn't help but take note. "Helda, are you feeling okay?"

Helda gestured feebly, but her voice was strained. "I'm justtired, Geralt. It was a troublesome birth, but I'll be fine." But as the hours passed, Helda's condition did not progress. She started to shudder wildly, her skin developing clammy. Fear grasped Geralt's heart as he realized something was truly wrong.

"Helda, we require to urge you back to the healing center," he said urgently. Helda's eyes filled with tears. "No, Geralt, I can't go back there. I just need to be with our daughter." Geralt's dissatisfaction and stress bubbled over, and he raised his voice.

"Helda, this is often almost your wellbeing. We can't disregard it. Nora needs her mother to be healthy." Tears spilled down Helda's confront as she clung to Nora. "I can't lose her, Geralt. I can't."

Geralt's outrage gave way to edginess, and he come to for his phone to call the healing centre. "I won't let anything happen to you or Nora, Helda. We require help presently.

The contention between Geralt and Helda had heightened, their voices rising within the little cabin. The warmth of the fire appeared to offer no comfort to the cold fracture that had formed between them.

"Helda, if it's not too much trouble, you've got to go back to the healing centre," Geralt argued, his disappointment palpable. Helda's tears streamed openly presently, her confront a cover of anguish. "I won't leave our girl, Geralt. I can't."

Their words hung intensely within the discuss, the pressure terrible. But fair as Geralt was almost to demand advance, a sudden alter came over Helda. She clutched her midriff, panting in pain.

Geralt's eyes broadened in caution. "Helda, what's happening?" Blood began to seep through Helda's outfit, recolouring it dark red. She fell on a chair and after that collapsed to the floor, unconscious. Panic surged through Geralt as he bowed next to his spouse, supporting her head in his hands. "Helda! Wake up!" Frantically, he dialed for an ambulance and attempted to staunch the dying with a towel, his hands trembling.

Nora, unconscious of the desperate circumstance, proceeded to rest in her bunk, her guiltless nearness a stark contrast to the chaos that had erupted. Minutes felt like hours as Geralt held up for the rescue vehicle, his heart beating in his chest. He whispered words of adore and franticness to his oblivious spouse, asking her to hold on.

Feeling a strong sense of desperation, Geralt picked up his phone again and dialed the number of his sister-in-law. She picked up. "Oh my God, has it happened already?", the elated voice of Helda's older sister could be heard on the other end of the phone.

"Come over to the house and take the baby", Geralt shouted quickly.

"What do you m---", she tried to say but was abruptly cut short.

Geralt didn't have time for clarifications. He hung up and delicately set Nora in her bunk. His hands shook as he moved back to Helda, who remained oblivious on the cabin floor. With awesome care, he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the car.

Geralt didn't have time for clarifications. He hung up and delicately set Nora in her bunk. His hands shook as he moved back to Helda, who remained oblivious on the cabin floor. With awesome care, he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the car. As he settled Helda into the rearward sitting arrangement, he felt a surge of uneasiness and dissatisfaction. The motor thundered to life, and the car sped into the moonlit night, tires shrieking on the rock street. Geralt's knuckles turned white as he grasped the wheel tightly, and he mumbled curses beneath his breath. The street to the nearby healing centre was tricky, winding through the thick timberland, but Geralt was decided to urge Helda the assistance she required. He may listen her shallow breaths from the rearward sitting arrangement, each one a agonizing update of her breaking down condition. His intellect hustled, a tornado of fear and outrage. He wished he had been more understanding, more understanding amid their contention. Blame chewed at him as he drove, the weight of the contention overwhelming on his shoulders. And at that point, within the obscurity of the night, calamity struck. Geralt's vision obscured for a minute as he battled to keep control of the car. Panic held him as the vehicle veered off the street and smashed into a tree with a loud bang.

365 DAYS BEFORE THE CRIMSON WAR "How many times do I need to tell you, I don't work with lazy wolves, you piece of trash!" The old Celine shouted at every female pack nurse in the room. One of the female pack nurses was a twenty-year-old young lady. As a pack nurse, she was living the worst form of life any human being could possibly hope not to experience. From ensuring that medications were prescribed to all pack members, to making cleaning in up the Pack HQ, she did it all.

On this occasion, she had missed the morning duties because she had a fever, but old Celine was not being considerate. "I am sorry Celine, I promise it will not happen again," Nora continued to plead with the head nurse. Nora knew that none of the pack nurses would get this form of bad treatment like she would easily get due to her predicament. Just when she thought things couldn't get worse, the door opened, and in that moment, Nora felt goosebumps of fear strike her. Apparently, her worst nightmare had just stepped into the room. It was Lucy, the daughter of the highest-ranking pack officer, second to the Alpha, the Beta and one of the very popular persons that detested Nora so much. As Lucy stepped into the room, every nurse stood at attention and bowed their heads in respect. Silence engulfed the crevices of the entire room. "She and the rest of the nurses failed to perform their duties; I want you to deal with her especially, so she serves as a lesson to be learned by others to never abscond from their responsibilities in this pack again," Celine explained to Lucy. It wasn't strange for the old lady to be answering to Lucy because in a werewolf pack, rank was what mattered. She was the daughter of the second most powerful werewolf and every single person, old or young had to give her that respect. Lucy smirked, nodded and approached Nora briskly like a predator circling her prey, still with that smirk on her face; she grabbed hold of Nora's hair and pulled it back, Nora could feel her scalp tearing up. "You weakling, I find it hard to believe that the Alpha would even let you live...you are a disgrace to this pack and every member in it. You haven't transformed yet and you still don't have a mate. What a failure" she said aggressively as she slammed Nora's head onto the wall. Everyone in the room watched in disbelief. Lucy turned to the rest of the nurses and shouted at them to leave. They all fled the scene except old Celine. "You weakling, I find it hard to believe...you are a disgrace to this pack and every member in it," she said aggressively as she slammed Nora's head onto the wall. Everyone in the room watched in disbelief. Lucy turned to the rest of the pack nurses and yelled at them to leave the place. Nora, her voice trembling with pain and fear, tried to reason with Lucy as the torment continued. "Lucy, please, there's no need for this brutality. I had a fever, and I couldn't carry out my duties. I'm trying my best." Lucy, fueled by anger, sneered at Nora's plea. "Your best is worthless, Nora. You've always been a burden to this pack, and we're all tired of it." Struggling to hold back tears, Nora replied, "I don't want to be a burden. I want to belong here, to contribute like everyone else." Lucy's grip on Nora's hair momentarily loosened, and she hesitated for a moment. "Belong? You'll never truly belong when you still haven't transformed. Or have you forgotten, werewolves transform We transform when we are 13 or 14? You are not even a late bloomer. There isn't going to be any blooming for you" Nora, even in her battered state, looked into Lucy's eyes with determination. "I may not have transformed yet, but I have a strong will to serve this pack. I won't stop trying." Lucy spat on the ground beside her and left the room, leaving Nora alone in the room. She used the solitude as an outlet to release her pain in tears. She knew she was weak and was even more human that wolf and that's why she was incessantly bullied. But the question she kept asking herself was, when would it all end? While sobbing Nora reflected on her life for the past few years and how it has been nothing but pain and all she wished for above everything is to find peace. She had been rejected by her mate during the mate ceremony and she sought solace in her work as a nurse but she found no form of comfort in it. She stood up from the corner, still in pains took out the mop and brooms and ensured she cleaned the room before old Celine returned. Once Nora was done checking on some of the sick members of the pack in the sick bay, she retired for the night and went to her room. It was a reserved area commonly meant for the serving nurse and it was relatively small, and it had no window with only the sound of squeaking rats as company at night. Cleaning up her room to sleep, she heard the old metal door that hung across his room open; it was Hannah, her best friend. Hannah had been Nora's friend since the previous year. Hannah had developed a soft spot for poor Nora when she noticed how terribly she was being treated by old Celine and other nurses. "You should eat some food before going to bed, it will help you get strength" Hannah said as she came into the room. She hadn't noticed the horrific bruises and injuries that hung tightly to Nora's body. "What do you think of tomorrow's moon goddess celebration. I know you have some PTSD because of the last one but you can try again to get a mate" Hannah said as she sat on the mat across the room watching her friend eat. Hannah stopped eating and looks at her friend, and with wide eye asked, "Tomorrow is the moon goddess celebration day?" Hannah stared blankly at her friend. "Who in the Pack does not know that the celebration is always once in every blood moon?" Nora just shrugged and something struck her mind and in swift movement turned and looked at her friend "Tomorrow is my birthday" Hannah's eyes went wide as she remembered Nora had told her once that she was born on the same day as the moon goddess celebration day. "That is great news, you get to finally meet your mate" at the sound of the word mate, Nora began to panic for so many reasons. The memories of that night flashed through her mind and tears formed in her eyes. Hannah noticed the countenance of her friend had changed and so asked "Something bothering you?" Nora heaved a sigh and said "Take a look at me, I am all bruised up and have endued so much pain in the hands of everyone" Hannah finally noticed Nora's injuries and she came closer to her friend to observe her body. Her back and head was covered in bruises. Hannah couldn't believe someone her age would go through series of brutal torture in the hands of people she called family, few drop of tears dropped from her eyes as she thought of what her friend is going through and said. "Nora, you have gone through a lot, and I know the moon goddess is watching and would not want any of her children to suffer till infinity. I need you to cast your mind of the past and look to the future. Think about it this way, your mate being someone that would love you for who you are, regardless of the fact you are a serving nurse or regardless of all these flimsy excuses you gave me just now. All that matters is that by tomorrow, you will be blessed with a mate and I can finally see you being all happy once again" and with that Hannah hugged her friend in a comforting manner as Nora cried on her shoulders.

62 DAYS BEFORE THE CRIMSON WAR

The sun was setting as the rogues approached the town, their shadows stretching long and dark across the ground. The air was still and silent, save for the sound of their paws against the earth. And then, a piercing howl broke the silence, sending a shiver down the spine of every person in the town. The rogues' snarls grew louder, and then, they were upon the town with a deafening roar, the rogues burst into the town, shattering windows and tearing down fences.

They swarmed through the streets, snapping at anything that moved. People screamed and ran for cover, while the rogues tore through houses and shops, sending possessions and furniture flying. The smell of smoke filled the air as buildings were set ablaze. And as the humans huddled together in terror, the rogues howled with glee, their eyes gleaming with bloodlust.

Shane, the leader of the rogues scammed through the houses, while clawing out the heart of one of the humans they had seen.

His eyes caught on one of the men running for his dear life and in one swift moment, he dashed forward and launched directly at the moving man.

He grabbed the man by the neck, as he was stricken with fear. Shane's scar was a thing of worry and his ever-puffy red eyes made him a full monster.

"Where is your leader?" Shane asked shaking the innocent man. Seeing the young man was hesitant to speak, Shane used his claw once more and plucked out contents from the man's belly, while leaving him to his pool of blood.

"Please, don't hurt anyone anymore! I am here" They all looked up to an old man, who was filled with anxiety. Shane had a smile on his face as he noticed the man's fear and couldn't wait to feast on it.

The moment Shane stood before the town head, his eyes cold and unforgiving, he declared. "From this moment on, everything you own belongs to us," he snarled. "You will give us what we want, or there will be consequences." The town head trembled, his face pale with fear. "We don't have anything to give you," he stammered. Shane's lip curled into a sneer. "You will find a way," he growled. "Or there will be blood." He walked closer to the town head, sizing him up and down, licking up his lips in the process

"You have till the full moon to meet our requirement" He finished up and turned around, ordering the rest of the soldiers to leave with him, while the town head and everyone watched.

While they were all gone, the Town head, summoned one of his spies.

"Go to the neighboring pack and speak to Damien" Shane said to two of his spies. "Tell him of what has happened here and ask for his help." The spies nodded and disappeared into the night, their paws barely making a sound. The town head could only hope.

Meanwhile, in the neighboring pack, Logan was sitting by the fire, deep in thought. He had been feeling restless all day, as if something was about to happen when the spies arrived. He noticed they were out of breath and allowed them catch up their breathing pattern.

"What is the matter?" He demanded.

"Our town has been attacked by Rogues and help is needed." Logan became alarmed by the news; he knew there was something that needed to be done.

He called on some of his pack soldiers, who were patrolling around. He needed no permission from his father before he could do what needed to be done.

Logan stood, determination in his eyes. He turned to his pack and spoke with authority. "We must go to the neighboring town, and offer our assistance," he said. "There is trouble there, and we must help." His packmates nodded, ready to follow their leader into battle. And so, they set off, their paws pounding against the earth.

When they arrived at the scene, Logan and the pack soldiers were dismayed by the amount of havoc that had been reigned on the town by the rogues.

"I am sorry if we came too late chief", Logan explained.

"The rogues have caused so much damage, and they've taken whatever they wanted. They even threatened us and we had to give in." Logan listened intently, his expression hardening. He knew that he had to put an end to the rogues' reign of terror. "We will take care of this," he said, his voice resolute. "You and your people will be safe." He assured and Logan realize this battle was going to be a full-blooded battle and he needed to be equipped.

When Logan returned, he gathered the elders and warriors together, he explained the situation. "We cannot allow the rogues to terrorize this town any longer," he said. "We must take action and show them that we will not tolerate their behavior." The elders and warriors nodded; their faces set with determination. "We will fight alongside you," one of the elders said. "It is our duty to protect our allies, and we will not stand by and do nothing." Logan felt a surge of pride and gratitude, and he knew that with their help, they would prevail.

He returned to his chamber after the meeting, to observe his customary silence, when he heard a knock on the door.