Rise of the Moon
As the harsh arctic winds blow, a lone wolf padded across the snowy terrain in desperation of shelter. The moon shone at its brightest, casting a ghostly light across the snowy grounds. What felt like an eternity, the loner could no longer move forward without their legs collapsing beneath them, did she stop, panting heavily and muscles trembling A light snowfall began to drift around her, littering the ground with a light dusting of white. Her silver pelt, once a glistering white, is now matted with dirt and grim; it clung onto her frame with her rib cage visible despite her swollen belly. Now, at last, her pregnancy was in full development; by the next moon cycle she would deliver again, hopefully. The thought of motherhood frightened the Luna, especially in these conditions it is a miracle by Mother Moon that she survived this far.
It has been two moons since her journey and for the past few days her meals were consists of scraps from scavengers. Her movements were faltering as if each step pained her. She yearned for a warm nest by now, all cozy with her packmates, her tail wrapped around her nose as the den protected her from the harsh climates. For a moment she wished she stayed home and submitted to the Alpha’s demands. A sickening groan interrupted those proud thoughts, the Luna’s hungry stomach protesting against her hesitation.
Taking a few more final steps she collapsed once more onto the snow out of exhaustion. With a defeated sigh the Luna let out a low whine, her breath were visible short puffs from her pants. This is it. This is how it all ends.
Crunch.
Her ears flickered at the sound of the snow crunching against paws. Whipping her head around, the Luna let out a snarl in warning only to meet a pair of gentle yellow. Struggling to her feet her expression softened at the sight before her “Faolan.” She whispered. The Luna could have leap for joy, if it weren't her joints being stiff from her long travels
Standing before her was a male, his dark pelt was a drastic color against the blinding snow. It covered his broad shoulders with a splash of white on his muzzle with enormous paws that seemed to hold power; an Alpha at best. Although he seemed monstrous to others, his tail gave a wag at the mere sight of the Luna. Quickly, he helped her up and gave her cheek a loving lick. “Nyra,” he breathed, taking in her familiar scent. His starlight, his Luna. “You look...great.”
Nyra looked at him, her eyes squinted, “Really? Is that all you have to say?”
Faolan grinned, “I’m sorry, where are my manners? I missed you!” He rubbed his muzzle against her, his tail giving the other loving strokes. Her touch, their sweet scent--it was all perfect. Pulling back Faolan straightened himself, “We need to leave, the others are waiting.” Nyra looked at him, puzzled “Others?”
Without another word, he guided the loner towards the campsite; there was a small number of wolves gathered below the cliff side, eagerly biting into what seemed to be the remains of a carcass. Nyra’s body became tense and as if he knew what she was thinking, Faolan gave her ear a comforting lick. “Do not worry, they’re friends.”
Nyra relaxed taking his comforting words to heart as she followed him, "Faolan…?" A voice, quiet as the wind, called out to the larger wolf. A female, as white as the moon above, walked towards the pair. "Whose this? " Stopping before them, the female looked down to the newcomer, hazel eyes swimming with kindness. "Tell me, what is your name?"
The Luna stared at the other for a moment, feeling almost calmed by the other's presence. “Nyra, and who are you to be?” Came the Luna's reply, hoarse and weak. Faolan greeted the stranger with a gentle touch to the cheek, “This is Naomi, our Healer. I found her starving near the ledge. She’s been a great help with the wounded, she was like us, Nyra. Kicked out of our packs for...disagreements.” Nyra looked between the two and a twinge of jealousy sparked in her heart. Long, slender legs caused the Healer to be almost a shoulder taller than her mate, her slim shoulders a stark contrast to Faolan’s. Her muzzle was long, effeminate, with doe-like eyes and round ears that framed her face perfectly. No doubt she was beautiful.
Nyra’s felt uneasy about her appearance, she looked up at her mate. “Does she know of delivery?” Naomi nodded, “I do, I was a previous Healer to my old pack--Sunset. I would be happy to be of great service, my Alpha.” Dipping her head, the she-wolf gave Nyra a respectful lick to the chin. She shivered, not used to the action.
“When I first met your mate, he was very kind to help me return to my health. I was surprised to see him without you, you two have been the talk of the whole forest. The Eclipse runaways," She chuckled, "Every pack in each direction are looking for you both."
Nyra swallowed thickly, how could their pups survive if the whole world was in search of them? "From how far we are, I doubt they’ll find us. Of course, you need all the help you can get." The Healer chimed in, gesturing her nose towards the other wolves.
“If you excuse us, Naomi, I have much to show to Nyra.” Faolan said, as he pushed Nyra towards the forest.
Dwelling deep inside the forest, the two walked in silence, it was Nyra who decided to speak that broke the silence, “Faolan, what if they’re still looking for us? What if our pack turns against us if they truly know of our nature. What if that Healer gives us away, our pups…” Straying away from the other, Faolan looked at Nyra with a smirk, “You dislike her.” He commented. Nyra looked at him in shock, surprised on how easy she was being read. “Excuse me?” The male chuckled, slowing to a walk to move beside the white female, bumping her shoulder with his own.
“She’s beautiful, no doubt about it,” Faolan continued. Stopping, he turned to her, “But she is nothing like you. I choose you to be my right paw, and now, we’re going to have a few more little paws.” He said as he paused his stride and nosed her belly. Faolan could almost feel them moving, it made his heart swell. “She won’t betray us, she took an oath. You’re my starlight.”
The Alpha female smiled warmly, her tail wagging at the thought of the pups meeting their father. “Just about two moons ago you were a loner looking for a pack, and now, here we are. Together at last,” she looked up at him, “What do you call it?”
Faolan paused, “Moon Valley,” he murmured. “If it weren’t for Mother Moon’s gentle guidance I think I would have been lost. For two moons I have been following Lupin’s light, hoping to be far away from our old home. It was her strength that followed through my paws that carried me here. The place seemed abandoned, a whole new territory untouched.” His eyes seemed to glisten with excitement, “There were dens, permanent dens for us, Nyra!" The male looked at her, his cheek pressed against hers, “A home, for us. For them.” He nosed her belly.
Faolan paused, ears flicking lightly. The male then sighed, his head still hung low.
"I am sorry for causing the break between you and your family. He was right, I brought unnecessary trouble."
The female then took her turn to chuckle, pushing her nose beneath the male's chin to raise his head. “If it weren’t for you, we would not have this. Follow Lupin’s light, you said, and now, I am brought to you.”
The male huffed a laugh, licking the white wolf's nose. “What now?” he murmured.
Suddenly, Nyra looked up at the sky; A ribbon of color graced the sky as it slithered across with streams of emerald and pink twirling, each color slowly fading into another. She watched as the moon’s gentle face gazed upon the youngsters. The frosty winter air nipped at Nyra fur coat and surely she knew the answer to his question.
“We rule.”
It has been two moons since her journey and for the past few days her meals were consists of scraps from scavengers. Her movements were faltering as if each step pained her. She yearned for a warm nest by now, all cozy with her packmates, her tail wrapped around her nose as the den protected her from the harsh climates. For a moment she wished she stayed home and submitted to the Alpha’s demands. A sickening groan interrupted those proud thoughts, the Luna’s hungry stomach protesting against her hesitation.
Taking a few more final steps she collapsed once more onto the snow out of exhaustion. With a defeated sigh the Luna let out a low whine, her breath were visible short puffs from her pants. This is it. This is how it all ends.
Crunch.
Her ears flickered at the sound of the snow crunching against paws. Whipping her head around, the Luna let out a snarl in warning only to meet a pair of gentle yellow. Struggling to her feet her expression softened at the sight before her “Faolan.” She whispered. The Luna could have leap for joy, if it weren't her joints being stiff from her long travels
Standing before her was a male, his dark pelt was a drastic color against the blinding snow. It covered his broad shoulders with a splash of white on his muzzle with enormous paws that seemed to hold power; an Alpha at best. Although he seemed monstrous to others, his tail gave a wag at the mere sight of the Luna. Quickly, he helped her up and gave her cheek a loving lick. “Nyra,” he breathed, taking in her familiar scent. His starlight, his Luna. “You look...great.”
Nyra looked at him, her eyes squinted, “Really? Is that all you have to say?”
Faolan grinned, “I’m sorry, where are my manners? I missed you!” He rubbed his muzzle against her, his tail giving the other loving strokes. Her touch, their sweet scent--it was all perfect. Pulling back Faolan straightened himself, “We need to leave, the others are waiting.” Nyra looked at him, puzzled “Others?”
Without another word, he guided the loner towards the campsite; there was a small number of wolves gathered below the cliff side, eagerly biting into what seemed to be the remains of a carcass. Nyra’s body became tense and as if he knew what she was thinking, Faolan gave her ear a comforting lick. “Do not worry, they’re friends.”
Nyra relaxed taking his comforting words to heart as she followed him, "Faolan…?" A voice, quiet as the wind, called out to the larger wolf. A female, as white as the moon above, walked towards the pair. "Whose this? " Stopping before them, the female looked down to the newcomer, hazel eyes swimming with kindness. "Tell me, what is your name?"
The Luna stared at the other for a moment, feeling almost calmed by the other's presence. “Nyra, and who are you to be?” Came the Luna's reply, hoarse and weak. Faolan greeted the stranger with a gentle touch to the cheek, “This is Naomi, our Healer. I found her starving near the ledge. She’s been a great help with the wounded, she was like us, Nyra. Kicked out of our packs for...disagreements.” Nyra looked between the two and a twinge of jealousy sparked in her heart. Long, slender legs caused the Healer to be almost a shoulder taller than her mate, her slim shoulders a stark contrast to Faolan’s. Her muzzle was long, effeminate, with doe-like eyes and round ears that framed her face perfectly. No doubt she was beautiful.
Nyra’s felt uneasy about her appearance, she looked up at her mate. “Does she know of delivery?” Naomi nodded, “I do, I was a previous Healer to my old pack--Sunset. I would be happy to be of great service, my Alpha.” Dipping her head, the she-wolf gave Nyra a respectful lick to the chin. She shivered, not used to the action.
“When I first met your mate, he was very kind to help me return to my health. I was surprised to see him without you, you two have been the talk of the whole forest. The Eclipse runaways," She chuckled, "Every pack in each direction are looking for you both."
Nyra swallowed thickly, how could their pups survive if the whole world was in search of them? "From how far we are, I doubt they’ll find us. Of course, you need all the help you can get." The Healer chimed in, gesturing her nose towards the other wolves.
“If you excuse us, Naomi, I have much to show to Nyra.” Faolan said, as he pushed Nyra towards the forest.
Dwelling deep inside the forest, the two walked in silence, it was Nyra who decided to speak that broke the silence, “Faolan, what if they’re still looking for us? What if our pack turns against us if they truly know of our nature. What if that Healer gives us away, our pups…” Straying away from the other, Faolan looked at Nyra with a smirk, “You dislike her.” He commented. Nyra looked at him in shock, surprised on how easy she was being read. “Excuse me?” The male chuckled, slowing to a walk to move beside the white female, bumping her shoulder with his own.
“She’s beautiful, no doubt about it,” Faolan continued. Stopping, he turned to her, “But she is nothing like you. I choose you to be my right paw, and now, we’re going to have a few more little paws.” He said as he paused his stride and nosed her belly. Faolan could almost feel them moving, it made his heart swell. “She won’t betray us, she took an oath. You’re my starlight.”
The Alpha female smiled warmly, her tail wagging at the thought of the pups meeting their father. “Just about two moons ago you were a loner looking for a pack, and now, here we are. Together at last,” she looked up at him, “What do you call it?”
Faolan paused, “Moon Valley,” he murmured. “If it weren’t for Mother Moon’s gentle guidance I think I would have been lost. For two moons I have been following Lupin’s light, hoping to be far away from our old home. It was her strength that followed through my paws that carried me here. The place seemed abandoned, a whole new territory untouched.” His eyes seemed to glisten with excitement, “There were dens, permanent dens for us, Nyra!" The male looked at her, his cheek pressed against hers, “A home, for us. For them.” He nosed her belly.
Faolan paused, ears flicking lightly. The male then sighed, his head still hung low.
"I am sorry for causing the break between you and your family. He was right, I brought unnecessary trouble."
The female then took her turn to chuckle, pushing her nose beneath the male's chin to raise his head. “If it weren’t for you, we would not have this. Follow Lupin’s light, you said, and now, I am brought to you.”
The male huffed a laugh, licking the white wolf's nose. “What now?” he murmured.
Suddenly, Nyra looked up at the sky; A ribbon of color graced the sky as it slithered across with streams of emerald and pink twirling, each color slowly fading into another. She watched as the moon’s gentle face gazed upon the youngsters. The frosty winter air nipped at Nyra fur coat and surely she knew the answer to his question.
“We rule.”