We soared over the trees as we got closer to our destination. In the distance, I could see mountains.
"We will stop by one of the mountain packs to inform them that we have arrived in their land and so they can inform the King pack that we are on our way." My father then begins his descent to one of the mountains.
We followed with him down till I saw many houses coming into view. As we got lower, I could see wolves and people down there coming to see us as we landed.
A large wolf came up to us and changed into a man; my father switched to his human form and greeted him; I didn't pay much attention, more looking at all the different people and the houses. This place was different from home but still had the natural feel to it. I looked at some of them. Their wolf forms looked larger than ordinary wolves, from black to brown to aburn, and many variations, being as different as dragons.
My father turned back to us and nodded before turning back to the alpha and nodding, then taking off; we followed after him.
"So, how did things go?" I asked him since things went relatively quickly, and I wished we could have stayed longer, but we did need to get going.
"He welcomed us and said he'd send a message to the Alpha King."
I nod, and Dylan speaks up. "Do my sisters know we're coming?"
"Your older sister does but not the younger one, but they will know when we get there."
As we fly, I look over the land and see how it was an extension of the great forest but was different in many ways, from the rivers to the lakes and even the mountains that gave way to the vast forest.
"So Dylan, what do you think of the forest? I imagine you'll visit here a lot."
"It's nice and reminds me of Omnis so that I won't feel too homesick. Wait, would this place be my home or Omnis?"
"I think both can be your home; it's not like we will stop you."
"I know; I just don't want to lose one of my sisters." He pats my neck to tell me that he meant me, which made me smile, but I didn't respond, just kept flying till we got near a lake.
We landed next to it, and I could see houses in the distance on the other side of the lake, probably another pack. I looked to my father, who was already helping my mother set up camp, so I let Dylan off then helped them.
As we are setting up when I feel something behind me and turn to see a woman in white and blue clothes.
She bowed once my father turned to see her. "Hello, I am Ilya."
My father bows in return. "Drakerious Elzax, the Draconis of the Dragon council. You didn't need to bow to me Ilya, your rank is higher than mine, being the wife of the Alpha King."
"It is proper etiquette to greet a member of a royal family with a bow."
My father nods. "You are welcomed to join us. We will be on our way to the King pack tomorrow."
She nods and sits down. I look at her, curious, and I could tell that Dylan was too.
She looks over to Dylan. "You smell interesting, Dylan; I can smell the family sent that your sisters have on you, but you also smell like you spend time with werewolves, but it's your sent, quite intriguing."
He nods. "I believe it is because I have some werewolf in me; I'm just not a werewolf, like my sisters."
"That could do it, and your sisters have wanted to see you, Retsuko especially."
"I can imagine. I've wanted to see them for a long time, but I made a promise that I would only go once Drake said it's ok."
I let them talk and sit by the lake edge, looking out at the water as the sun was setting and the moon was rising. "..so much is happening within a month. We're meeting the werewolves, Dylan is meeting his sisters, and I will have my awakening ceremony when we get back."
My mother sits beside me. "Don't forget that Grey is coming back from the Elven lands. You two became friends while he was staying with us."
I nod, fondly remembering my time with him. "Yeah, I just hope the Elven civil war wasn't too hard on them..they seem to have one every few centuries."
My mother looks over the lake, not responding, but I understood that the elves were their own; it wasn't our job to worry about what they did so long as it didn't interfere with us or the world they had always kept their civil wars internal.
As I watch the lake, she wraps an arm around me and pulls me against her, my father sits next to us with Dylan, and we all watch the lake for a bit before my father gets up.
"Let's eat; after that, we can talk and enjoy the night sky. Even this far away from home, you can tell the difference."
I nod and get up. I could see that Ilya was still here but was sitting on a tree branch watching the sky.
Once my father takes the food off the fire, I go to offer Ilya some. "You want to eat with us? We don't mind."
"I'm good. I ate before coming here, but thank you." She smiled warmly at me then looked up at the moon again. "I can hear her call. It gets stronger as the moon rises and blooms."
I look up and open myself up like my father had taught me, hearing all the creatures of the forest, but I couldn't hear the moon as Ilya could. "I..don't hear it..sorry."
"It's ok, Sendria; you haven't awoken yet, so you don't even know how it feels to hear the moon or even Arca."
I nod and look to the moon before heading to the fire again, eating with everyone else.
I go back to the tree to see Ilya asleep in it. I climb up to another branch and watch the sky, allowing my mind to reach out to everything around me. I start to drift off as I feel something, like a warm embrace pulling me into a dream.
As I open my eyes I look around, it seemed to be the same place, but nobody else was there, I looked over to the campsite, but there was nothing, then I spot on the lakeshore a woman in a blue dress with moonlight seeming to shine down on her.
I walk over to the woman. "H...Hello? Where is everyone?"
She looks at me and smiles; I feel the same warmth from before. "Sit, child, you are simply dreaming, I could feel you reaching out for the moon, and I decided that we should talk a bit."
I sit next to her. "Are you the Moon Goddess?" with how she was talking and how she looked, she must be.
"No, my child, but you can see her as my boss, thou we call each other friends, and I do hold a connection to the moon."
"Oh, sorry." I feel a bit embarrassed at getting it wrong.
"It's ok, child, you still have much to learn and many trials ahead. I am here to help guide you and warn you."
I look back at her, confused. "Warn me about what?"
"First, you should know that you will find your mate, and sooner than you think, but please take your time; all moments in life should be savored."
"Wait, my mate?! How do you know that? Do I already know them?" She must be a goddess if she knows this, but why tell me? Isn't it better for me to find out on my own?
She looked at me amused and raised her hand. "Child, you will learn in time; I am simply telling you so you can understand that every moment you have with them, even before you make them, your mate should be savored."
I nod understanding a bit, but it was still so much for me to take in.
"Breath, child, I still have one more thing to tell you."
I nod and take a few deep breaths, then look at her. "What else do I need to know? And why me?"
"You already know why child, you are special among your kind, meant to help protect them, which is why you must heed this next part. Corruption can affect even the most resolute and twist them away from their path."
I wait for more but realize that was it. "What do you mean? Who's corrupted?"
"You are not yet ready child, the answers will find you in time, now wake up; it's time you continued your journey." She taps my forehead, and I could feel darkness clouding my vision.
I wake up to the birds chirping and see the others packing up camp. I look to Ilyas branch to see her watching me.
"So, seems you got to someone, even if it wasn't the moon."
"You can tell?" I was a bit stunned. I had heard that some people have visions from the gods but never knew another could tell if you did.
"Yes, I am from the lunar pack. We have a greater connection to the moon and its magic. The one You connected to also has a link to the moon.
I nod, now understanding how she could tell. "We should get going. Will I see you again?"
"I'm sure you will, and I also must be off." She starts walking to the lake and changes into a beautiful white wolf before walking further into the woods and out of sight.
I go back to the others who are almost done packing. "Well, I guess there isn't much for me to help with."
"It's ok. Ilya seemed to have some things to tell you, so we packed up while waiting." My father seemed not concerned and like he knew her, but I guess he would since she has a strong connection to the moon goddess with what she told me and was the wife of the Alpha King.
We soon take off into the sky, flying high up as the sun rises.
I soon see another few houses coming into view and a few fields where it looked like they were growing plants.
My father starts to descend, and we follow him, landing on the edge of one of the fields as a few wolves approached us.
My father changed back to his human form, as did my mother; I let Dylan get off before doing the same.
I look around at the scenery, seeing large healthy trees give way to bountiful fields with log cabins sprinkled around. This place felt like it genuinely wanted to be a part of nature while not losing the benefits of modern life.
I saw Ilya walk up to My father again. How she got here before us, I didn't know, there was a man with her who seemed to radiate power and authority almost as my father did, and with how they greeted each other formally, I could guess that he was the Alpha King possibly.
I saw another white wolf start to approach us, but this one didn't have the same radiance that Ilya did, more like a silent authority; The wolf had a scar over their right eye, which were red; her fur was white but seemed almost like a dirty white with black around her ears and snout. The others seemed to give them room as she changed t werewolf form.
She was taller than even my father with a fantastic figure, with her almost form-fitting black shirt and jeans showing that she didn't seem to care about bras and her white coat somehow hugging her body. I could tell that if it wasn't for her almost intimidating aura, many of the guys around here might be chasing after her.
She seemed to half-smile at Dylan before hugging him. "I see you've grown up, little brother, now you won't have trouble getting any girl you like."
Dylan smiled and hugged back. "I see I'll never be taller than you, May, and look at how you've grown, but still as fierce as ever, especially with that scar; I bet any guy that wants you will need to try."
She pulled back and smirked. "I've put a few on their ass that got a bit too touchy and who tried to chase after Suky."
"Speaking of our little sister, where is sh-."
As he talked, I saw another wolf tackle him and was about to jump in when May held up her hand. The other wolf seemed almost to glow as its purple and white fur looked like no wolf I had ever seen, and I could feel the power radiating from her as I saw her change to a girl a bit smaller than Dylan and hug him.
Dylan chuckled and hugged back. "So you missed me to Suky? I'm glad to meet you, but can I get up?"
Retsuko got off him as he got up. I could see her werewolf form better now, her tail and ears didn't glow like in wolf form but were white with dark purple, and she wore clothes to match, with white shoes that had fur a the top leading to her stockings that stopped just before her short skirt then her dark purple shirt that had white fur again at the caller. Her figure was almost as stunning as May, but she had a cuteness to her that made me feel more easygoing.
"Danny, I missed you." She hugged him again, and I smiled.
"I take it you're the cute young one I head about?" I walk over, and she looks at me, blushing a bit.
"I...I'm not cute; I'm um.. what's the word again."
I laugh and put a hand on her shoulder. "It's ok; I meant it as a compliment. I'm Sendria, the one who grew up with your annoying brother."
I heard May speak up behind me. "So that's who you are. Danny gets a beautiful girl by his side to make sure he doesn't flirt too much with others, good."
I chuckle. "I'm not that beautiful, and he's more annoying than anything."
I hear Dylan cough behind me, and we all look at him. "I'm right here, you know, and I'm not that annoying."
My and May look at each other, smirking as I notice Retsuko a bit confused.
I look to Retsuko. "So what do you think? Is your brother annoying?"
"I haven't seen him in like, um, twelve years. I just want to be with my brother."
I nod, understanding. "Well, he can visit whenever he wants now, and We'll be here for a couple of days."
This seemed to make her pout and smile as she hugged him again, probably half a foot shorter. Dylan hugged back, smiling, then looked at May. "Want to do another sparring since it's been so long?"
"What we did when we were younger wasn't sparring, but we can properly do it now...if Suko ever lets go of you."
I smile again and tap Retsuko shoulder, who looks at me. "Hey, want to let Dylan and May spar while we watch?"
She nods and lets go of Dylan. "May will kick his ass, and it will be funny."
"Hey, I'm not bad, and I might beat May." He seemed a little hurt by her comment.
"Nope, May is the best." She had the confidence that someone half her age would have in their older siblings.
May and Dylan head to some sparring rings. People look at them, and a large man approaches and talks to May.
"Whos this, May? You want to spar with him?" He seemed respectful to her.
"This is my brother. We are going to spar and see who is better."
He laughs then motions to a ring. "I'll be the referee then."
She nods and goes in; Dylan follows, both taking positions on opposite sides.
I stand at the edge with Retsuko as we watch. May and Dylan watch each other.
"Best two out of three?" Dylan asks, probably to really test them.
"Yeah, but each one we step it up. First one no weapons or powers, the second one we can use weapons, and third we can use our powers." She smiled like she knew who was going to win.
"Sounds fun." Dylan smiled as he takes up a stance, but May just stands there, not doing anything, yet she gave off the same feeling my father did, quiet confidence like you were going to lose; it was only a question of time.
The man nods, and Dylan starts to approach May, who still just stands there watching him with a slight smile. Once Dylan was in range, he went for a jab to her mid, which had been a feint for him trying to sweep her legs. May caught his arm and blocked his leg, turning the sweep around on him and spinning him as he fell, so he landed on his stomach with her on top of him, pinning his arm behind his back.
"I'd say I win." She seemed almost to be smiling as she got off Dylan.
"Yeah, I would say you won, and I guess I should have taken you more seriously. So weapons next?"
"Yes, I will use my knives." She pulled out two knives from her coat; they had long blades with brass knuckles as handguards.
"Well, that is some long knives, but I guess I can't complain with my Katana." he pulls it out and holds it with both hands.
"I see that they trained you well, but let's see if you're good with that blade."
He doesn't respond as he slowly moves closer, I could tell he was taking this far more seriously, but May stood there like before.
He held out his blade towards her and started to move in range, and she simply backed up. Once May was a foot from the edge, she jumped forward, and Dylan moved his sword to block as he backed up, making her knives glance at his sword as they both stopped, barely in reach of his sword.
"Seems you're not as arrogant as before. Good, I hate arrogant men." May smiled a bit, and anyone could tell she was enjoying this.
"Well, normally, people aren't able to keep up with me since I only fight people like Drake, and he's almost impossible to beat." He tries to move closer as they talk, but May sidesteps and backs away.
I hear her laugh. "You sure are comfortable with the Elzax family, but I do understand what your saying. I don't think anyone here is foolish enough to think they can beat him." She then moves forward quickly, using one knife to push his sword away, bringing her other knife to his neck.
"But you aren't him and still need a lot more experience." She back away as this match was called.
"I can see that, and I am glad that it's you teaching me; after all, I could never beat you anyways." He sheaths his sword. "Now, let's get to the main event that I'm sure they've all been waiting for.
May sheaths her knives and nods. I see fur grow on her neck and hands as her fingers gain claws. Dylan makes a spear out of pure energy.
"I see you have been training in how to use our father's power?" May seemed both happy and annoyed by this for some reason.
"I have it, and I might as well use it if for no other reason than to protect those close to me." Dylan seemed to understand why May was annoyed; I will ask him later.
"Good, now come on, show me what you've learned." She starts to run at him with a speed that surprised me, giving off a weaker but similar feeling to Dylan now.
Dylan disappeared, causing May to stop, only to appear behind her and swing his spear at her legs like a staff, but she seemed to of sensed him and blocked it before going for a kick which he barely avoids by disappearing and then appearing at the opposite side of the ring.
"Teleporting like Suky, that will make this interesting." May seemed to be a lot more warry now.
"Most are surprised by it for the first time. You have great reflexes and senses, May." Dylan seemed pleasantly surprised and looked like he intended to enjoy this last fight now.
They slowly start to circle each other like Dylan, and I do when we spar. I could tell they were having fun and testing each other, almost like the sibling rivalry I had seen with others.
Dylan starts to run forward with more speed than a human but was still nothing compared to May speed as she lounged to meet him, but just before she would have hit him, he disappeared and then appeared above her swinging his spear down at her, only for may to turn and catch it as she hits the ground then use it to toss him away. Dylan lands a few feet away, and they both quickly get to their feet.
"Maybe because we share the same blood, or maybe it's our father's power inside me, but I can sense where your going to be, not perfectly thou." I was a bit surprised to hear this, but it made sense May could; they were siblings, after all, with the same parents.
"That makes this an even better test for me, so let's make sure this fight is a real test."
"Well, I might need to end it early, Danny, since I have things I need to get to."
"Then let's see how long this takes."
Dylan disappears again, but I could tell it was over. May was moving before he had even appeared again, and just as he did, her fist met his stomach, and she had her other hand at his throat in the next moment. "You rely on that power too much; learn to deal without it."
I could see the defeat in Dylan's eyes as he sighed and his spear vanished. "You and Drake both tell me that, but I'm so used to it."
"She lets go and pats his shoulder. "Don't feel too bad; most don't last this long with me at full power."
He nods as Retsuko tackle hugs him. "You were amazing. Can you teach me?!"
He looks at May, who nods then picks up Retsuko. "We can see, but for now, how about we go to your house? I'd like to know where I'll be staying."
She nods and points the way.
I look at May, who motioned me over. I walk over to her.
"I want to talk with you and have you meet Delco; he's Gaius Son and the next Alpha king; I am to be his beta, and well, you are special in your ways from what I've heard."
I nod. "I'd love to. I don't get to meet many around my age since most are well...they treat me different, and it gets annoying."
"I understand, and that's why I'm happy Danny has you, and hopefully, you and Suky can get along."
I nod and follow May to the packhouse.