Aristide takes Kira's hand, kissing the back of it. He has an ivory suit and a night blue cape covering his left side. His dark blonde hair is adorned on one side by a chain of seven braids.
"My princess, the moon awaits you. Let us open the way for lost souls so that they can visit us," the boy recites without getting up.
"Let's start then, moon knight," she smiles, calming down a little.
Anastasia gives three slaps before several things descend from between the branches: baskets with candles, baskets with petals that look like the same fire, crystal skulls, and other baskets with raw meat.
The children carrying the petals began to walk first, throwing the petals to the ground, making the path appear to be on fire, illuminated by the fire of the petals. The skulls begin to glow and emit a slow, melodious song as they are touched by the moonlight entering through the leaves of the trees.
The children begin their march away into the forest. Anastasia pulls out of a chrome gold trunk a marble-like sphere the size of a melon and a glass jar with a silver liquid. Kira grabs the sphere and Aristide the jar before starting the walk between the trees, a slow and soft song is heard in the background accompanied by several voices at once.
The two children walk through the forest, The background songs become clearer and more coherent. They come to a small valley in the middle of the vegetable fortress.
A natural amphitheater is formed in the center, the whole pack and some guests occupy the stone seats wearing white clothes and painted faces in violet and blue tones. The smell of food and the steaming vapors that expel the small campfires at certain points, causing the petals to shine more intensely.
In the middle stands a hollow circular table, allowing you to see the beauty of a marble, gold and obsidian statue of a woman of supernatural elegance. The Goddess Dianica receives everyone for the ceremony of the First Moon of the Winter, one of the most important holidays for Russian lycans, after Samhain. This day allowed the connection with the goddess and that loved ones could visit them.
Kira feels nervous again, her godmother is no longer with her although she has Aristide nearby, her role there is only known by her and Anastasia, as is part of the tradition in the royal family. She starts walking again, heading towards the center, feeling the look of her pack on her until she reaches in front of the statue and puts the sphere in the hands of the sacred idol.
The other first-time children approached with their objects, putting each one on the table. Candles are lit in front of photos of ancient kings, queens and a small figure of a howling wolf.
Kira receives Aristide's vessel, it would be the last step to start everything. Arseni approaches them and lifts her in his arms to shoulder height, enough so that she can reach to surpass the statue a little.
Kira pours the liquid over the idol's head, while in the background the songs are heard again, being slow and steady. Silver rivers fall like circuits in the grooves of the statue, adorning it in more detail before falling at the foot of it.
As soon as it is finished falling, blue flames with a humanoid appearance and barely larger than an adult hand, shoots out of the ground, the forest, and even buildings in the distance. They laugh like children dancing between altars and people, leading to spiritual spheres, the souls of the dead.
"Let the festival begin!" declares Arseni loudly and enthusiastically
People scream in jubilation, as more souls keep appearing and reuniting with their families. Music runs through the place, coming out of light wooden instruments being played by some elves.
The group of children go with their families, while Kira stays with her father, laughing when one of the fatuous fires floats around her.
"Do you think Grandpa and Grandma will visit us tonight?" she asks as her mother and siblings join the main altar with Anastasia and the Beta's family.
"They're here, let's enjoy the festival." They smile as they join the dinner with the spirits still hanging around.
People laugh and joke, remembering the times with their loved ones, younger children wear handmade masks and dance to the rhythm of the music in front of the table of the royal family and the families who are most trusted to them.
Kira is next to Aristide, Sarka, two dark-skinned children, Naina's eldest children, half lycan, half lycaon: Cameron and Akadje.
"Do you think you'll see something tonight, Kira?" asks Akadje, wearing a suit similar to Aristide's, except his is cream-toned. He participated in the initial ritual.
"We all see something. Only, everyone don't know how to interpret it," Sarka replies before putting in his mouth a little sweet bread, although one of the spirit fires takes it away laughing. "Hey, that's mine! Go get your own."
But the fatuous fire makes a trumpet sound where his mouth should be, before the small humanoid figure flies away with its prize.
"Those fires are annoying."
"They only come a few times a year, don't complain so much, Sarka," says Cameron, she has four braids on her lower ponytail. Akadje has six and Sarka has five.
"There is enough food for everyone and those who visit us, so calm down," Kira speaks, enjoying the meat that her father prepares.
Even though he is a king, Arseni enjoys having moments with his pack. They did very often meet to make great grills, including the lycaons who are part of the pack. It's not only for the festivities, that they do meet; everyone participates and takes part in the preparations. Even if some do work in the event, they do also enjoy the moment; including other lower-level omegas.
Kira looks at her father discussing something amicably with his Zeta, Moroni and Syaorang. He is much loved and respected by those who follow him, although there are arguments or problems, the elite and the kings are in charge with a firm but fair hand.
When the party starts to calm down, some parents start to take their little ones to the palace, where communal rooms are ready for the minors. Leaving only adults and young people ten years and older.
"My family, my friends, my pack," Arseni speaks loudly, while some priestesses walk with several glass barrels, full of the sacred drink: The Mead of the Moon. "We have welcomed our ancestors, those who live in the heavens of our mother goddess. It is now time to allow ourselves to join her, to guide us or give us a sign of what awaits us." He approaches his queen who is next to their children, caressing each other's head before kissing Sonia. "This year is important, a new generation will take another step in this tradition and join us. My litter will begin its first ceremony this year."
The pack erupts in jubilation, not only those of the elite are there, but also those of the pack at the same age. The other senior children just smile, receiving the glasses with the drink from the priestesses, the last being the royal family. The smell of this drink is strong from the fermentation of some roots.
"For the moon goddess, let us receive her gifts tonight, let us connect with her," Sonia continues, lifting the cup up in the air before swallowing it in one go.
The quintuplets look at their drinks before doing the same, enduring the strong taste of that thing, although theirs is a minimal dose.
Kira immediately feels the effects, her eyesight begins to look distorted and full of colors that she has never seen, describing it as seeing the traces of heat and aura of the world around her. She walks slowly when perceiving an intense and strange smell, although very nice. Something she loves, a smell she remembers as new books, to the forest and chocolate. It's a very strange mix of smells but pleasant. Following her instinct she begins to walk away from the amphitheater, following the scent without realizing that everything around her begins to look foggy.
Nothing is seen around her anymore, she can only hear her own footsteps hitting the floor made of dirt. The smell persists and increases at every step, but now another one begins to appear, leaving a metallic taste in her mouth. Little by little her visual field begins to clear, blood stains cover the stones and snow, the trees are charred or split, bodies of all kinds are scattered on the ground without life. The air is charged with death and destruction, war cries are heard in the background, steel and fire colliding with each other.
Frightened, Kira runs in that direction, ignoring the delicious aroma. Something is wrong, very wrong. The landscape becomes more familiar, it is no longer the countryside but a large city covered with plants; in the background she recognizes her home, the castle of her father. She stops in her tracks before even reaching the stairs, her face turns pale like paper from what she sees at the base of the staircase.
A giant black wolf stands on the dying body of her father, while her mother and weak siblings are under his shadow. His red eyes shine from the flames that are in the garden, illuminating his scar and burns on the sides in his face. He looks in her direction, causing her heart to accelerate, unable to concentrate on anything other than those scarlet orbs, which are hypnotizing.
A sonic explosion bursts into the air, followed by a multicolored and bright light. A golden circle with runes and numbers, opening a portal to another site. She barely sees a few shadows of warriors coming out of this tunnel before her whole vision turns black.
Kira wakes up suddenly in her bed screaming, breathing heavily and her heart beating like a runaway horse. Her body and sheets are bathed in sweat
"Finally you wake up, princess Kira," says Ava, Kira's personal maid, looking relieved. "You had your parents worried." She helps Kira get out of bed to change the sheets and have the princess change her clothes.
"Why?" asks Kira, while she gets out of bed and starts taking off her pajamas.
"Miss, you have been unconscious for a week, your parents were very scared but the witch of the royal family, Agatha, said that you would be fine and come out of the trance in time," she says on the way to the dressing room, connected to the bedroom with sliding doors close to the window/bathroom.
The quintuplets already each have their own room, that are connected by the secret passages.
Ava returns in a special suit, resembling a blue Ninja kimono in shorts. They use it in training, but each suit is unique and is custom made for each individual, made by their teachers or relatives. She also takes out other more normal clothes.
"How do you feel?" Ava comes out of the dressing room with her clothes and boots. "Any dizziness?"
"No, I'm fine. Why was I unconscious for so long? " Kira frowns.
"Not sure, Agatha says that the drink reacts differently for everyone."
"I want to talk to her."
"Miss, you must take a bath first. I will go to find your parents and Agatha. I don't even know if you want to stay calm today or train as usual. "
"I'm training, I lost a week." Kira walks to the bathroom, taking off her underwear when she reaches the shower. It doesn't take long for her to hear her maid leave the room.
She opens the faucet before entering and letting the water take away her sweat. She tries to remember the strange vision, that wolf - she cannot forget it - those eyes were etched into her mind. The only thing she doesn't understand is why she felt that strange smell, so pleasant and exciting.
She snorts as she unties the braids. She had hoped to at least find a clue as to who her soulmate would be. Not a bizarre encounter of war and blood, should she take it as a warning?
"I was expecting a quiet night at my first ceremony," she runs her hands through her hair. "To see who my knight in shining armor would be in the future," she growls softly with irony. "Like I'm going to need one."
"Speaking out loud again, honey?" her mother's voice resonates in her mind.
Kira takes a deep breath, she knows that her mother is already in her room with her father and Agatha for sure.
"Only in my thoughts, sometimes it helps to say it out loud," she responds the same way.
"Can you get out of the bathroom when you're done? We need to see that you are okay."
"Give me a few minutes."
She finishes cleaning her body and hair before she comes out of the shower. Looking at her clothes while she dries, she would probably go to train afterwards. She puts on the two-piece suit and boots, grabs a brush before heading out to her room.
Sonia hugs her as soon as she comes out of the bathroom. Kira hugs her back as well.
"You had us very worried, cub," says Arseni, hugging her afterwards.
"I didn't do it on purpose, Dad," Kira half smiles while squeezing her father gently.
"I doubt it, princess," speaks this time the petite woman wearing a violet robe. "It's the gift that the goddess gave you," she says, while she approaches Kira. Agatha checks her, passing her hands that are covered by a reddish aura gently in front of Kira. "Your vision must be very strong or special for it to affect you for so long."
"I wouldn't call that special," Kira mutters somewhat down.
Agatha looks at her with suspicion and concern before speaking.
"What did you see?"
"I'm still not sure what happened, it's all so confusing and weird." Kira begins to narrate what happened to her that night, the wolf of four years ago, the sensations of war and the mysterious smell.
Arseni and Sonia look at each other worriedly, before looking at their friend Agatha, hoping she can give them an explanation.
The witch caresses her chin thoughtfully, which is seriously problematic. It is a vision of the future that is clear; but how literal they must interpret it and more importantly when it will happen, is a different question altogether.
"This sounds problematic. It remains in doubt whether it is really a vision or an interpretation of what this beast is capable of. Smell can signal your soulmate."
"But it smelled too much like blood, I couldn't see who or what it was," growls Kira.