The Gathering buzzed with life as my old pack mates and those from other packs talked and shared. Lloyd and I sat with Wu by a tree in the clearing as we waited for the Gathering to begin. The Moonbloods either ignored us or stared at us. Lloyd sighed as he watched yet another Moonblood glare at him.
"When does this start again?" he asked.
"Whenever the leaders are ready," I responded.
"So, Liz, how exactly does this work?" Wu asked.
"The leaders, the Alphas and Betas, will go to that giant tree in the middle and talk to each other sharing news. Then after that, those who decided to come will follow them to go to the moonstone."
Wu nodded as we watched the leaders start joining together by the tree. The Alphas took a seat in the giant open tree as their Betas stood on the roots of the tree.
I recognized them all immediately except for one of the Betas.
Alpha Pumkinclaw took her seat first. Her decorated outfit made her look mighty and strong with her red eyes and fur striking against the letter material. She always was someone I looked up to, someone I hopped to be one day. She was Spidertail Pack's leader, the makers of potions and medicines, we often traded with them a lot. Her Beta was the one I couldn't recognize.
Alpha Winterleaf was right behind her from Sundial Pack. She wore just a basic white t-shirt decorated with vines and flowers on the sleeves and her back with some brown baggy pants. Her hair was in a bun with a green plain bandana on her head, letting her blue eyes pop. Her white and grey pelt always reminded me of Storm's. Her Beta, Sunchaser, stood just below her.
Then right behind Wild was Alpha Tiderunner of Riverrock Pack, his day name, Runner, was my favorite. He was smaller than Wild but that made you underestimate him. He had a mean punch and was one of the best fighters and assassins alive. He was actually originally from my pack but his father was from Riverrock so we transferred. Seemed to work out enough for him. According to all my pack mates, he was gorgeous and made everyone at the gatherings swoon for him. I couldn't see the appeal. His Beta, Lunalin took her stance, officially starting the Gathering.
"Moonbloods of Pawstocious!," Pumpkin's voice boomed. "Welcome to our monthly Gathering!"
The Moonbloods cheered loudly. I always believed we got to piss off the Sunbloods that lived a few miles away every Gathering, and I still do.
"We have some important matters to discuss. First off, Spidertail Pack has a new Beta, Shadowsight."
The packs clapped and whistled as Shadowsight looked around with a smile on his face and offered a small wave.
"We've also gotten many more resources for making more herbs and remedies for the packs, we will begin distributing them in a few days. That's all we have for us. What's going on in Riverrock?"
I started zoning out as Runner begun talking when Lloyd caught my attention with a soft shove. "Who are these people?" he asked.
I smiled at him as I turned back to the Moonbloods talking. "The one who's talking is Runner from Riverrock pack. The one next to him is Winter, then there's Pumpkin, and of course you already met Wild."
Wu turned to me in interest. "You used their day names?"
I nodded. "It's common to use the Alpha's day name when you're apart of their own pack. A little more bold if you use it outside of that pack when you're not a higher member of the pack. Luckily for me, I belong to no pack and they never deserved my respect."
"But what if you can't get the guidance you need? Wouldn't you have to stay?" Lloyd asked.
I scoffed lightly. "I'm an assassin, I can get out just as easily as I did the first time."
"Aren't you an assassin in a pack of assassins?" Wu teased.
I huffed. "Alright, fine, it might be harder to do it the second time."
Lloyd fidgeted with his hands, avoiding my gaze. "What if you never come back?" he whispered quietly, so quietly that I bet only I could hear it.
I rested my hand on Lloyd's shoulder and waited for those green eyes to meet mine. "They can never take me away from you, you hear me?" I told him. "You're my best friend, no matter what, no matter how far, how dangerous, how stupid. I will always find you. I will come back, Lloyd, one way or another."
Lloyd's eyes reflected the moon with his tears as he pulled me in for a hug. I quickly returned it and buried my face in his shoulder. I wanted to stay here forever, but I pulled away at the sound of Winter's voice addressing the clearing and she sighed. "Thank you, Runner for that report. However, before I give mine, I'd like to ask a question, Wild."
Wild perked his head, Storm turning towards me and I swallowed.
"Who are the two Sunbloods and why the hell are they here?" she asked, pointing at us.
The crowd was nodding in agreement, begging for answers as they waited for Wild to speak. My old Alpha cleared his throat as he glared at Winter. "Well, if you must know, these two traveled a long way with one of our Moonbloods who escaped to Ninjago-"
"She did, what?" Pumpkin asked. It hurt a little bit to hear her say it with that much venom in her voice but I don't care anymore.
Wild sighed. "Lizabeth Wolfadeer ran away from home a few weeks ago but she's back now and the Sunbloods will be gone in the morning. Due to their long journey, I offered them to stay for the moonstone ceremony-"
Runner interrupted. "Wild, are you out of your mind? Why didn't Foxy stop this madness?!"
Wild shook his head. "Her mother was murdered." The crowed went silent. The only sound being the loud thump of my barely beating heart. "It was the least I could offer the girl and her travel companions after coming all this way to see her."
The Alpha's seemed to back off with tiny nods of acknowledge it. "Apologies," Runner said, looking at me and giving me a nod. I was living some other girl's dream right now.
"Now that you brought it up, since I don't have anything else to report, why don't we just head there now?"
"Wait, I haven't actually gone yet!" Winter mentions.
Runner snorted. "All that you got to say is probably something about how some moss was missing from your trees and you got laid last night."
Winter gasped but the leaders all around laughed and started leaving the tree with Winter right behind them, knowing it was probably true.
I stood up from my seat, leading Lloyd and Wu to follow the crowd to the moonstone's resting place. We walked through the trees for a few paces towards a giant cave entrance before we stopped, the Alphas turning around the face us.
Pumpkin smiled at the crowd, seemingly to try to forget tonights events ever happened. "Welcome to the highlight of the night where we will get the opportunity to speak with our ancestors. Remember not to push and make sure everyone gets their turn."
With that, we were off to inside of the cave. About 50 of us came along but it barely crowded the cave as it was gigantic. As we entered, I heard Wu and Lloyd gasp as the giant moonstone came in sight. It was a giant beautiful crystal forged by Queen Crystal herself. There only about 3 ever documented in existence. No one knows where the other 2 are or if they're even in Molotoke, but we've been lucky enough to have access to one.
People immediately started running up to the stone. It was the only night that any Moonblood could talk to their ancestors, thanks to the full moon. The Alpha's were lucky enough to be able to do it whenever they pleased however they only did it if they absolutely had to. Everything was like it usually went, at least until I walked up. Lloyd and Wu waited in the back of the cave as I made my way to find a place by the stone. I told myself to breathe and do as Storm said. I tried to push my grief down as my hand touched the stone's smooth surface, however my grief was too strong, too desperate. Suddenly, the spark shot through my veins. Not Lloyd's spark, not my mother's, but something a lot more powerful.
Everyone gasped, grabbing the attention of every Moonblood in the cave as the crystal practically exploded with light and power, causing our sensitive eyes to physically hurt. But as quick as it happened, it was over and all that remained of it was a floating figure of light.
"Stop!" My mouth spoke for me. The light above the stone was lighting up the whole cave as I felt myself lose control over my body. Was that light in me? My body turned around, my eyes glowed as they looked over everyone. Yup, the creepy light was in me. But then we all realized that it wasn't just a creepy light. The dragon that was spoken off my tongue, the power I felt, it was someone.
Everyone had backed away, some even fell to their knees in absolute shock as they stared at me. At her.
"Queen Crystal?" Runner breathed. Then I saw the crowd, they were asleep. Lloyd and Wu included. All that remained were the Alphas.
"I've never felt the grief of a child this strong before," she spoke through me. "The determination. I've searched her soul and been watching her for quite some time now. Her mother's death the only thing in her mind."
Wild walked up to me shaking his head. "She ran away when she wasn't allowed. She must stay with her pack! If anything, she'd want to in order to be closer to her mother!"
"SILENCE! You think I would just let her walk out of here like that? I encouraged her to! Her mother wasn't thinking straight and neither were YOU Wildwood."
"But her mother's oath-"
"Doesn't matter, not in my presence. And in case you forgot, her mother is DEAD so I believe I have a say in what she can and CAN'T do."
The Queen moved in my body, my legs starting a steady pace towards Wild and the Alphas, my hands behind my back. "Her soul is full of purity, her heart full of determination. She's here for a specific purpose and that purpose is NOT here."
"Queen Crystal, what could that possibly be? You know what she is! She shouldn't even had been allowed to live!"
"I know EXACTLY who and what Lizabeth Wolfadeer is." Crystal hissed. "She must go back and if you try to stop her, I will pay a very PERSONAL visit, am I understood?"
Wild hesitated, his green eyes darting to the ground before he finally nodded. "Yes, your Majesty."
I could feel Crystal's smile in my veins as she started to pull away. "Good," said her final whisper. Then she was gone, the crowed woke up and Wild was staring at me with something I couldn't quite read while Lloyd and Wu ran up to me.
"What happened?" Lloyd asked.
"I get to go home," was the only thing I could say as I grabbed Lloyd and pulled him and Wu in for a hug.
"Why isn't this your home?" Wild asked quietly.
"Because it's not," I told him, backing away from them. "You heard the Queen. I don't belong here. Not anymore."
Without another word, Wild left with a sigh as I turned back to my real home. My family.
"The Queen?" Wu asked.
"I'll fill you in on the way back, but right now, all I want is to hear Kai call me a... what was it?"
"A hot dog vender?" Lloyd asked with a snort.
"Yes," I laughed. "Now can somebody tell me what the hell a hot dog is?"
Wu chuckled. "You have a lot to learn, but we have some extra time to learn it. Welcome home, Liz."