I got closer to the clearing, my heart thrumming loudly in my chest. I picked up the already cold heart. "Brother, we need to leave now - the villages!" Ray sprinted back to the road.
I held the beating heart, pressed my lips together, and said a word of prayer to the moon goddess, consecrating its soul. I dug the ground, putting the heart on the ground and covering it up with sand, giving it a last minute of respect.
I followed Ray back to the road. My thoughts were flying. What does the Shadow want with Mum's heart, and more importantly, who was Father?
"Derek, we need to go to the villages now," Ray cut in.
I hopped in, staring outside as he drove. We reached the Raven Village, the first among the other two villages Father asked us to visit. There was fire surrounding the village as the young men and women sought to quench it.
"Pour more water!" a young man spoke to the others.
"What happened here?" I asked, getting out.
"The dark creatures, that's what happened," the young man replied, his voice breaking as he rubbed the black soot on his nose. "It took most of our young men while we were sparring. It happened so quickly that we couldn't defend ourselves from the fire."
"We could have saved them, Derek, but we failed them," Ray said, running his hands through his hair. "That figure in the cloak was just stalling us."
"No, brother, at least we know how to get them back," I replied.
"By doing what exactly? Stealing Mother's heart?" Ray asked, rushing to help our people. "You know Dad will never allow us near it."
He was right; Father would never let us take our mother's heart to save the pack. God knows what he was using the heart for.
"Ray, we need to leave now. We still have two more villages to scour," I screamed. "Probably with some luck, we would be able to save the other two villages."
"I can't just leave these people here, they need us," Ray replied, helping an elderly woman to her feet and taking her to where they would receive treatment.
"Brother, this wouldn't be the only village it attacks," I said, feeling uneasy about the fate of the other village.
"I can't go, Derek. They need me here," Ray replied, helping the others.
An elderly woman wailed in pain as the doctor treated her wounds. "Don't worry, you will be alright," Ray quickly strode beside the woman, holding her hands.
"Your brother is right," she held Ray's cheek with her left hand. "If you don't go now, more women and children will die." She touched his shoulders, melting his resolve.
" promise me you will take your treatment," Ray held up his pinky finger.
"Don't worry, I will," she responded.
I was surprised that Ray could have feelings for people like this. I had always seen him as a cold and distant brother, but today I had seen a side of him I never knew existed.
He walked towards our car, his eyes cloudy as he sniffed back the tears threatening to pour.
"Brother, I am sorry that we couldn't save them," I tried to start a conversation with him as we hopped inside the car.
He snubbed me, turning the key into the car and driving off. I looked at him, keeping to myself as we drove in awful silence.
The next village we were driving to was the Moon Fire Village, among the tiny villages that make up our pack. They are known to be healers and warriors; some could even foretell the future. They are a gifted bunch of werewolves, but they had a little population.
An average number of men and very few women; marriages among them were rare because the women were rare findings, and they carried themselves with pride.
I once joked about the idea of marrying from this particular village because of my curse, but my dad shunned me, and I never brought it up again. But now I wonder why?
After several minutes of driving, Ray spoke up for the first time.
"I think we should tell Lalia what's happening here. She would be able to stop this."
"No, we can't - not yet. Until I find out what this creature truly wants and why they appeared all of a sudden," I replied.
"Brother, I hope you are not using me as an excuse not to fight these demonic creatures," my brother asked, staring at me unsure of what my stance was.
"No," I lied, turning my view to the car window, not meeting his stare. I didn't want Ray in any harm against these things; it was better leaving Lalia out of it for now.
My phone ringing snapped me out of my thoughts as I grabbed my phone to look at the caller ID...it was Ariel. "How did she get a phone?" I murmured, picking the call.
"Ariel, what's that?" My body moved nervously on the car seat, unsure of what to expect.
"I don't feel well... my body is changing... dark bumps keep popping up on my skin," she swallowed hard on the end of the phone.
"Where are you?" I asked.
"I am in my room, Derek. I am scared," she replied.
"I am not close by, but don't leave your room, Ariel, are you there?" I asked, but there was no response.
I dialed back her line, but it went straight to voicemail.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" I threw up my hands in frustration.
"Who was that on the phone?" Ray looked at me.
"It's Ariel. She's in trouble," I replied.
"We should head back," Ray halted the car.
"No, we are too far from the packhouse. People will die if we don't try to save them," I said.
"How can we save these people when we don't know what we are fighting against?" Ray muttered under his breath.