I fell to my knees. My skin went pale, my eyes wide at the ground. Her memories flood into mine, her love and her hate the only thing I had left. My ears fell, my tail didn't twitch, I just stared. I couldn't hear anything, couldn't feel anything other than the whisper of her touch. The good and the bad. I started feeling Lloyd's touch as he shook my arm and my sorrow filled eyes met his worried green ones. The green that pulled me back together, my glue to this world. "Liz, I'm so sorry," he said, hugging me.
Storm wasn't looking at me, just at the ground as if he could raise her out of it again with his sheer will. I waited until he met my gaze again to speak. "Take me to her," I softly whispered. Only he could hear it and he nodded as I started to stand up. As I followed Storm back through the thick woods towards camp, Lloyd grabbed my hand and he offered me a smile. I couldn't find myself to return it. Wu sighed. "Our last advantage is gone," Wu whispered. Lloyd's smile fell.
"That's what you're thinking about?" he asked with a venom in his voice I've never heard before. "Do you even care?"
I squeezed Lloyd's hand. "Lloyd, it's ok."
"No it's not!" he snapped.
"If you don't want to wake the whole camp up," Storm said over his sholder, "I'd suggest waiting until you can take it outside."
"But we are outside," Lloyd spat.
"Super hearing, remember?" I told him, pointing at my ears.
Lloyd looked at me in realization, a bit of a blush appearing on his face.
We quickly arrived at the camp and I saw Lloyd's face lit up.
"Sunbloods, aren't allowed in Moonblood camps. You're welcome, for making it even feasible," Storm said as we walked in.
I looked around at the familiarity of the camp. The cabins, the caves, the shops, the life.
"The grave yard is this way," Storm said.
My feet betrayed my brain as we moved towards her resting place. I didn't want to see her, but yet I'm still walking towards the clearing. Here, in the pocket of the town was a small meadow decorated with flowers and death, but oh, how they made death so beautiful.
I tugged Lloyd to follow me but Storm stood in front of us with his hands up. "Sorry, Sunbloods aren't allowed in here."
I turned to Wu and he nodded, but Lloyd was still holding my hand, promising never to let go. "Who's to tell you I'm a Sunblood?" Lloyd asked. Storm narrowed his eyes. "You do smell weird. You and your other companion. Then again, I haven't smelled you're kind's flesh in a long time."
I looked up at Storm. "Please let them come, I need them."
Storm seemed to hesitate but one look in my pleading gaze and he caved. "Ok, but be quick so I don't get in trouble."
I nodded with a small grin and I lead Wu and Lloyd into the yard and I breathed in it's earthy scents.
There she was, her name engraved on the stone that would stay here forever and be forgotten as time went on. Lloyd let go of my hand as I fell to my knees in front of it. I could feel something pulling me down towards it, like a magnet that couldn't be turned off. The spark when I touched the stone was different than Lloyd's, it was softer and fuller, stronger. It was like I could feel her within my veins as I started at the grave, the thing that would hold the proof that she ever existed and tears fell down my face. Sure, she was terrible... but she was still my mother. The last of my family I had left. "Please," I barely whispered, however I knew Storm could hear me. "The moon is supposed to be full tonight, I can feel it. I got to be able to talk to my mother with the moonstone."
Storm shook his head. "No one has been able to speak with her, Wild tried the day she died."
"How come? What. Happened?"
Storm's eyes clouded over. "She was murdered."
I just stare back at him, holding my breath.
"The Thetas believe she's become a trapped spirit."
"A 'Theta?'" Lloyd asked, speaking up. "What's that? And who's Wild?"
"A Theta is a Moonblood with great wisdom and they're very powerful," Storm replied. "They're usually teachers and mediators with the other packs."
I nodded. "Wildwood is our Alpha."
Lloyd scratched the back of his neck rustling his blond hair that looked so soft. "Why does everyone have nicknames?" he asks.
"They're called 'day names'," Storm responded. "We're given our names at birth and our day names are what we're referred to by each other on a day to day basis."
"Then why do you have a long one?"
"Moonblood tradition," I tell him. "It's who we are, our names are powerful. They're mainly used for identification, ceremonies, and what not. But these names are from legends, legacies, and our culture."
Storm nodded. "We give you a part of us to have and to use, our day name. Our full name holds a lot of meaning, so when we're just in casual conversation, we will just use a day name."
Lloyd was nodding but I could sense he was still a little confused and turned to Wu as he tried explaining it a better way. I turned back to the storm where "Foxstorm Wolfadeer" was carved and I sighed. My ears perked as I heard Lloyd's gasp and I turned to see him staring at the grave next to my mother's.
"Isn't that... your name?" he asked me. I turned to the stone and read it.
Elizabeth Silverstream.
"I spell my name differently but... yes. It is."
Storm came up in front of us and behind the stone and sighed. "Elizabeth. She was actually a Sunblood."
I gasped. "Really? What is she doing here?"
"She fought in the war with the Ninja Hunters along side the Moonbloods and was a very dear friend of your mother's. When she was killed in battle protecting the nursery, we gave her a grave here, her real home, the one she chose to die for. We thought your mother would want to rest next to her. We even gave her a day name. Eliza."
"You gave her a day name?" Wu asked.
Storm smiled. "Wildwood saw power in her and her dedication. She was practically one of us. It's considered a great honor if you're given a day name by the Moonbloods, it's our way of showing that we accept you."
His eyes darkened. "Your mother named you after her. She wanted to save the name until she felt like it was time to use it. You, Liz, were the time."
I stare at the grave and I feel empty. Empty without the knowledge of who I was named after, and I was hungry for more.
"What is the meaning of this?"
The four of us whipped around to see none other than Alpha Wildwood standing in front of us. His brown hair glowed in the sun, his brown jacket framed his powerful shoulders. You could see the tan ears against his hair and his tail was fluffed up with black and white details. He always reminded me of my mother. His brown eyes full with fury, his green Alpha Crystal neckless hung loosely around his neck. "What are Sunbloods doing in the camp! Let alone here?"
"I can explain-" Storm said, his hands raised.
"You better, we can't-" Wild paused and looked at me in shock. "Lizabeth?" he asked.
I nodded. "It's good to see you, too."
Wu bowed his head, ushering Lloyd do the same. "Our pleasure to meet you, Alpha Wildwood."
Wild waved his hand and snorted. "Please, no need for formalities. However I do have a need to know what the hell is going on here?"
"These are my friends from Ninjago, they came with me to visit my mother."
"I see. They don't really smell like Sunbloods."
"Why does everyone say that?" Lloyd asked.
Wild smirked. "Because you don't. Young Liz seems to smell more like them than you do."
"Excuse the smell, I'm using an old suit I found on the streets."
"But-" Wu quickly stomped on Lloyd's foot before he could dig my early grave right next to my mother and Wu awkwardly smiled. "We'll leave your resting place be now that Liz no longer needs us. We'll wait for you out side."
I nodded my thanks and turned back to Wild as he watched the two leave.
"Liz, did you really think I don't know what you're doing? Why you left when you were told you weren't allowed to leave? Who you are? What you are?"
My heart drops down into my stomach. Scratch that. I don't know where it's fallen. I desperately look at Storm but he doesn't meet my gaze. "Lizabeth, your mother didn't just fight in a war with the Ninja Hunters. She also fought in one that happened in Ninajgo."
"I think I remember someone mentioning that to me."
"Foxy was in hiding during the Purge of the Ninja Hunters. But she was sought out by two warriors of Ninjago. After they pleaded for her to help, she did, but with one condition. That we'd let her live here. So we allowed her to stay, but her nor her children are allowed to leave and must stay loyal no matter what."
"Wait, why didn't anyone tell me that? Why did you lock us in here?" I snapped.
"Liz, we couldn't risk you learning to get a power. We didn't even want Foxy to tell you that you could get one. We wanted you and your siblings to stay dormant so we could protect you!" Wild grunted, his hand in his face. "Do you know what a pack of assassins would do to get your family's blood on your hands? What people might do outside of Pawstocious? Word travels fast, even if it happens in Ninjago and not here."
I glared at the Alpha. "You're just trying to scare me!"
"Liz-" Storm reached for me.
"No! I have a potential to be something great! My siblings were sent away by my crazy mother who you all thought was a hero and you let them leave! I didn't want my mother to send me to where my siblings went so I ran! And no one tried to stop me!" I turned to Storm. "Not even you."
"Your mother..." Wild continued. "There's a lot you don't know. Same with your siblings."
"Then tell me! I deserve to know!" I screamed.
Wild sighed. "Not today, but eventually when I think you're ready for that. You and your friends are welcome to stay for the Gathering, but then they must leave and you will return to your house and be watched by one of the Thetas."
"What? No, my team... they need me."
"They'll be fine without you. We'll talk about this more in the morning."
I narrowed my eyes as Wild walked out, Storm behind him, and I stood there in silence. I walked out into the main part of town where Lloyd and Wu were trying some Beet Root juice. However, they weren't so keen of it like I was and they spat it out. Lloyd lasted a little longer than Wu and I smiled at the two. I walked up to them and grabbed one of the samples and took a swig. "Oh, how I've missed this stuff," I groaned. Lloyd cringed and Wu just sighed. "What happened?" he asked.
"They invited us to the Gathering tonight and the moonstone event. Then you two must leave, and... I must stay."
"What? You can't stay!" Lloyd cried.
Wu rested a hand on his shoulder with another sigh. "Young nephew, that's not our choice to make."
"Don't worry, I have an idea," I assured them. Lloyd's eyes lacing with that dangerous look of hope. "At the moonstone, I'll have the ability to talk to my ancestors. That is, if I'm focus enough. I'd been prepping as I got older, but I usually was overcome with training as an assassin to focus on that. However, I will be able to at least try."
"What happens if it rejects you?" Wu asks.
"It's a little embarrassing, but nothing crazy, at least in this sense. The moonstone is connected to the Departed Realm. After the pack leaders share news, we all go to the moonstone to speak with our ancestors before going home. The moonstone can see straight into you soul and the Departed Realm can reject you for several reasons." I held up my hand, starting to count them off.
"Reason one is you're just not ready. You can't reach through the stone to the other side, not because your family doesn't want to talk to you. Reason two is because you seek the great elders. These could be past Alphas, the dragon queens, or even Queen Crystal herself. Only the Alphas can connect and ask for guidance with them thanks to their Alpha Crystals. Reason three, you must have pure intent and cannot be seeking harm or damage."
"That was a lot of information in 30 seconds," Lloyd says.
I grinned. "Welcome to my life."
"I love it," Lloyd said with a smiles, causing mine to burn brighter.
"So how will it work?" Wu asked.
"We'll go to the Gathering and I'll walk up with everyone to share news with my ancestors, hopefully, and be able to ge their guidance on how to get out. But I also want to try to talk to the Queen."
"Hell no," Storm interrupts, walking from behind me. "You're well aware that only the Great Alphas are able to speak with Queen Crystal. Even the Alpha Crystals can't reach them and that's because they don't want to reach us."
"Yes, but I have to try," I told him. "Please don't tell Wild. I need to at least try."
Storm crossed his arms and scoffed. "You're lucky I like you," he said with a tiny grin.
"Thank you, Storm," I said.
"Now, you're also aware than you're a Ninja Hunter that's whole thing is you have energy and your powers come from energy and the need for balance. Well the moonstone is also energy and it might show everyone that you're a Ninja Hunter. It's happened in the past. However that might actually give you an advantage. Are you ready to find out?"
I nodded and looked at Lloyd and Wu. "I will do whatever it takes."