The moon was blushing in a scarlet shade that night.
Mrs Mylar, switching the radio on, prepared herself with her spatula. The radio kept on the kitchen slab, tuned to the melodious beats followed by the classic song You're My best friend.
Closing her eyes, she moved her spatulas in a moton. Swinging her body over the beat. Soon after, her solo dance becomes a duet, as her beloved captured her fragile frame with his strong hands.
"Somebody is looking happy today?" Mr Mylar whispered in his wife's ear, twirling her around. Although he knew the reason very well.
In response, she just laughed. Indeed it was a beautiful night. Out of all the dates listed in their lunar calendar, that night was special.
People would gather that night, under the moon. They would pray and dance while waiting for their partner The Moon's Grandmother chooses for them. And at last, they would go home, glowing in happiness, hand in hand with their partners.
Their people were happy. So, they were happy. The moment they decided to dedicate their lives to the people of their clan, the couple lived for only them.
"Have some shame, dad! At this age, you are still romancing with your wife, with the whole clan watching?" Their daughter asked, astonished. No matter how old the couple would be, their love was still fresh like the new leaf on the top of a tree.
"Don't be jealous daughter! Your days are coming soon." her father winked at her. Her mother was still red like the moon outside.
Tesla rolled her eyes. After so many years, these two oldies are still hoping that she could find her partner.
"Dad, come on, I do not want a mate. Not now. Not anymore." Tesla's voice was soft. She didn't want to ruin their mood on a day like this. So, she chooses the only option she found best. Walking out of the kitchen.
"This brat!" Her father exclaimed. While her mother refrained him from going any further.
"Don't worry, David! I am confident that she would find her partner this year." His wife assured him. Though her own heart felt the uneasiness. Something clutched her heart with an unknown fear. Fear of facing the same reality her daughter believed.
What if she was doomed to live without a partner?
***
The wild breeze brushed through her hair. She watched everything carefully, while sniffing for a particular smell.
The smell of humans.
Her eyes captured the smiling teenagers jumping around the bonfire. Their innocent faces were glowing. She saw those laughing elders by the side of the river, sitting on wooden chairs. And at last, she saw her parents, drinking champagne together.
Their eyes were content. Gleaming in happiness. And she vowed to protect that glow.
There was a pleasant aura in the air. Gleam radiated from her people as they cried out in joy looking at their life partners. That instinct of protection, satisfaction and love blessed the environment.
But her heart felt the void. She knew it was too late for her to find her partner. Her mind believed the fact that she was doomed to live without one.
Perhaps her partner was dead. A martyr, while fighting the enemies, like all those people of her kind.
Or, perhaps she wasn't sanctified enough to be blessed with a life partner by The Moon's Grandma.
She kept herself busy thinking. While her nose caught the scent, she detested the most.
Her nose scrunched up, eyelids shut themselves as her lungs squeezed and her heartbeat fastened.
It was a human.
She couldn't stop herself. Her mind commanded automatically while her legs squinted. Cold winds couldn't match her speed as soon after her furs could feel the breeze rustling the woods.
***
She could feel her breathing laboured. She followed the scent for too long. But it was difficult for odours to travel this far.
As she watched from afar, the man looked thin. His back was what she was seeing. He was like a live shadow lurking in the woods.
Her eyes recognised the gun in his hands. While his thin figure moved reluctantly around the bash.
A hunter.
Her sclera turned red. Claws on her fingertips evolved larger.
She jumped forward. tearing the air, her body crushed with the human. It was cowardly to attack from behind. But she just returned the favour just as they did with her kind.
Soon after she was on top of him. He felt lighter for an unknown reason. She stared at those half-closed eyes before roaming all over his torso.
There was a puncture near the right chest. Dried red droplets stung near his lips and some on his cheeks. Even in the faint moonlight, her eyes could figure the oozing of blood out of his template.
He was already injured. He was defenceless.
Tesla removed her gaze from him. Her lips curled a bit in the corner. She carried her face near his, mouth closed to his ears. While her hot breath fanned over him, his own stopped for a moment.
"Do you think acting weak can save you? You are so wrong, boy. Neither your kind showed mercy on my kind nor I will show on you, tonight." A whisper that could be only heard by him, before his eyes saw claws marched forwards.
He thought his heart would beat faster in fear but he found them motionless already. His heavy eyelids were commanded to shut down embracing death.
But something flickered inside Tesla suddenly. Her stomach flipped upside down while her nose captured that intoxicating smell.
The claws stopped in the mid-air. Instead, soft hands covered his cold cheeks. Something inside her growled loudly. As Tesla eventually situated her soft petals on his chapped ones breathlessly.
Mate!
That night, both The Moon's Grandma and nature witnessed a beautiful bond forming. Blessing them with all their heart.
As those two souls' fates intertwined in the twisted maze soon after.
~Rose