Seraphina felt tired after her big fight with Fang. As the sun went down and long shadows stretched across the yard, she realized how hard things were. Her muscles hurt a lot, and every move she made was painful. Fighting with Fang showed her that her moon power was different from the strong werewolf strength.
Volkov had given her a little respect at first, but soon he was mean again. He made her do hard jobs like carrying heavy things and cleaning dirty places. It seemed like he wanted to make her feel weak and sad.
Every day was the same. Seraphina woke up early, feeling stiff and sore. She heard clanging metal and growling wolves all day. She did boring chores, with Volkov always watching her and the young wolves teasing her.
One morning, while she struggled with a heavy bag of grain, someone spoke to her. "Need help, Luna?"
She looked up and saw a young woman with red hair tied back in a braid, like hers. The woman's green eyes seemed amused but also kind. She wore simple clothes, not fancy like Seraphina's from her old pack.
"I'm not Luna anymore," Seraphina said proudly, despite her sore back. "Call me Cinder now."
The woman chuckled. "Sure," she said, teasing a bit. "Cinder, the warrior who beat Fang with moon magic."
Seraphina felt tired just thinking about the fight. "It wasn't magic," she said, feeling annoyed. "But I guess you forget things easily."
The woman laughed, sounding familiar somehow. "You got me there, Cinder," she said, wiping a tear away. "I'm Zara. I've heard all about the Luna who couldn't change."
Seraphina felt embarrassed. It seemed like everyone knew about her. She took a deep breath. "What do you want, Zara?"
Zara smiled kindly. "Just wanted to help. And maybe keep you company. We're all stuck in this together, right?" With a strong grip, she lifted one side of the heavy sack, helping Seraphina carry it.
As they walked together, Zara told Seraphina about life under Volkov's strict rule. She described tough training, the fear of getting punished, and how everyone felt empty inside the fortress. But even in all the sadness, Zara shared stories of a secret plan to fight back and dreams of being free.
Seraphina felt a bit better having Zara as a friend. Zara seemed tough on the outside but had a strong spirit that Seraphina admired. Maybe, Seraphina thought, she could learn a lot from Zara about surviving in Volkov's pack.
But their moment of peace didn't last long. That evening, after Seraphina had finished cleaning the dirty kennels, she overheard Volkov angrily talking about her. He wanted her to give him information about moonstone mines that she didn't have.
Seraphina felt scared and froze where she stood. Then Grimfang, with his scary scars, came out of nowhere. He looked at Seraphina with a mean grin and threatened to make her talk.
Seraphina stepped back, feeling very small and weak. She was trapped, and everything seemed dark and scary.
Suddenly, Zara appeared like magic. Her face was serious, and she told Grimfang to leave Seraphina alone. Grimfang was surprised by Zara's bravery but warned that being defiant would only make things worse.
After Grimfang left, Zara comforted Seraphina and helped her get cleaned up. Seraphina felt thankful and weak with relief.
"Thank you," Seraphina whispered.
"We help each other here, Cinder," Zara said with a squeeze of Seraphina's arm. "Let's get you cleaned up before you catch a cold from these smelly kennels."
Over the next few days, Seraphina and Zara became close friends. They shared their stories, their worries, and their dreams of escaping from Volkov's tough fortress. Zara, who seemed tough on the outside, told Seraphina about her sad past. She came from a peaceful village that was attacked by mean werewolves. After the attack, she was caught and taken to Volkov's fortress.
Seraphina shared her own struggles too. She couldn't shift unlike the other werewolves, this has made her feel like she didn't belong to her own pack. Zara listened carefully and said something that made Seraphina to have a rethink.
"Maybe not shifting isn't a bad thing," Zara said one evening while they sat together in their small room. "Maybe you have something special that Volkov doesn't understand."
Seraphina looked at Zara with hope in her eyes. Maybe Zara was right. Maybe not being able to shift was a sign of something important, connected to the mysterious messages in her grandmother's journal.
But their hope didn't last long. One morning, they heard shouting in the fortress courtyard. When they went to see what was happening, they found Volkov punishing a young werewolf. He was in pain because he didn't tell Volkov what he wanted to know.
Seraphina felt sick to her stomach. The young werewolf had been kind to her, and now he was suffering because he defied Volkov. Instead of scaring her, though, this cruelty made Seraphina more determined. She wouldn't let Volkov hurt her like this. She wouldn't give up.
As time passed, things got harder for Seraphina. Grimfang, a scary werewolf, watched her every move and made her life miserable with his threats. Volkov tried to force her to reveal secrets about moonstone mines using his magic, but Seraphina stayed strong.
She held onto the hope Zara had given her – the hope that her special connection to the moon could help her. Seraphina studied her grandmother's journal even more, looking for clues about her unique abilities.
One night, under the bright light of the full moon, Seraphina had a breakthrough. She found a drawing in the journal that felt familiar to her. It showed symbols and described a special ceremony to honor the moon during a certain time. Seraphina felt sure about it. This wasn't just about her family's history; it was a way to use the moon's power in a special way that no other werewolf could.
Seraphina was both excited and scared. Could this discovery help her escape from Volkov? Or would it lead to more problems? She didn't know, but she felt desperate to try something, something different, anything at all, to get herself away from Volkov's control.
The next morning, Seraphina found Zara working in the herb garden inside the fortress. She couldn't hold it in any longer – she had to tell Zara about what she found.
Zara listened carefully as Seraphina explained. "A ritual under the full moon," Zara repeated softly, drawing a crescent moon shape in the dirt. "I've heard stories about werewolves with special powers connected to the moon."
Seraphina felt hopeful. "Do you know about these rituals? Can you help me?"
Zara shook her head sadly. "The old stories are almost forgotten now. But," she paused, looking determined, "I know someone who might help."
Seraphina's heart raced. "Who?" she asked eagerly.
"There's an old woman named Elara," Zara explained. "She lives in a village that's been abandoned for a long time, on the edge of our territory. They say she knows things that others have forgotten."
Seraphina felt a surge of hope. Elara might have the knowledge she needed, even though it would be dangerous to go find her. Staying with Volkov was worse than any danger they might face.
"I have to go," Seraphina said firmly. "I can't stay here anymore."
Zara nodded, looking at her with respect. "I wouldn't expect you to stay though," she said. "But escaping won't be that easy. We need a plan."
And so, Seraphina and Zara began to plan their escape. They knew it was risky – if they were caught, Volkov would punish them. But they couldn't give up on their chance for freedom.
Weeks passed as they prepared. Zara knew the fortress very well and she had mapped out the best way to escape. Meanwhile, Seraphina has practiced the moon ritual in secret, believing it would give her the strength she needs to overcome the challenges ahead of her.
On the night of the full moon, they made their escape move has planned. They crept away from the fortress in the dark, careful enough not to make a sound. Every noise made them scared, but they were determined to succeed.
They made it past the guards and reached the edge of the fortress grounds. Ahead lay the abandoned village, its old houses crumbling and silent. Seraphina felt relieved but nervous. Would they find Elara? Could she really help Seraphina discover her true potential?
With a deep breath, Seraphina and Zara stepped into the village, ready to begin their journey for freedom and to learn more about Seraphina's special abilities.